“I was out of line," Andrew said, appearing beside my cubicle like a pop-up error message I couldn't dismiss.
I didn't look up. “You'll have to be more specific."
“The Carter résumé comment. The elevator jab. All of it."
I clicked into a floorplan. “You forgot the part where you hijacked my presentation Q&A."
“That was business," he said.
I snorted. “You mean ego."
He didn't deny it.
I finally glanced at him. He looked… tired. Jaw tight. Shirt rumpled like he hadn't slept.
“What do you want, Andrew?"
He hesitated. “Are you serious about Carter?"
I froze.
Then laughed once, sharp. “You don't get to ask me that."
“Maybe not," he said. “But I'm asking anyway."
I stood, grabbing my water bottle, trying to get away.
The wave hit fast—heat behind my eyes, a twist in my stomach. My
