Never let anyone see your search history
1024 Words
Teagan
Five years later
I stare at the glimmering screen of my laptop in front of me. If there is a Google search history that should never see the light of day, it’s mine. Yep. It’s this one right here.
‘What to do when you fall for your boss?’
‘Is there such a thing as alcohol-induced amnesia?’
‘When are you officially ‘desperate’ for pining after a guy?’
‘Max Cummings’
‘Max Cummings shirtless.’
‘Max Cummings shirtless tattoos’
"F*ck." My hand rubbing over my face doesn’t do much to help the situation. I HAVE, in fact, googled half-naked photos of my boss. The man I have been working with for more than five years. A snort leaves me. Goddess, something must be seriously wrong with me.
For years, I have had no interest in my boss at all. I never understood what all those girls saw in him. Okay, I do have eyes. I get the general appeal of that dimply smile, the hair, and the rugged handsomeness… What I mean is that I get to see behind all this, and though sparkly, Max Cummings’s personality is not one I would want to deal with. Or so I thought.
Apparently, six vodka Red Bulls are enough to change that. What the hell possessed me? I still cringe when I think of last New Year’s. And then I tell myself I shouldn’t since I seem to be the only one who remembers it.
Max has been living his life like usual, and so have I.. until today. When work is s**t, I need Häagen-Dazs to get me through the night. Only I topped it off with half a bottle of whiskey (hey, I can handle my liquor! Don’t judge me!)
Must have been enough to trigger a memory or something because I have been googling like I’m stuck in a haze, I’m just now waking up out of.
And not a minute too early. Because the front door clicks. I close the tap I had open and stare blankly at the pie chart I have been taking a look at. Pat sent me his latest presentation for one of his AP classes, and I promised a detailed, brutal review. No idea what this is even about. Might want to at least read the Titel before going to bed. I will just tell him I need a little more time tomorrow at breakfast.
Heels click on the entryway tiles, and the high-pitched laughter has me rolling my eyes. Of course, Max isn’t alone. And in three, two, one…
“Oh my god! Your house is sooooooooo beautiful!”
“Thanks, gorgeous. Mind taking off your shoes?”
Just another Friday. It’s always this, or at least a variation of this. Coz god forbid someone scratches Mr. Cummings’ expensive tiles.
A few seconds later, they appear in my field of vision. The blonde is rosy-cheeked and wide-eyed. Like they all are. She is wearing a beautiful dress, smiling up at Max in that ‘I can’t believe my luck’- way. Like they all do. My stomach twists. Because I feel bad for her. Don’t get me wrong. Max never mistreats any of the girls he brings home. Still, they leave heartbroken because they don’t get what they thought they would out of this. And neither will she… Like they all do.
“Oh hey!” Her voice is cheery, but I hear the hint of a waver in it. The surprise that seeing me sitting in Max’s kitchen must have been to her. Not a lot of people know that I live with the boys. Just been easier. Especially in the beginning, I needed to be hands-on. Now, not so much anymore.
“Hi.” I give the girl my most practiced publicist smile. Professional but distant.
“Still up, Teags?” Max closes in on the kitchen island, tugging the girl along before he grabs an apple. Suddenly, a wide smile has his deep-set dimples appear. “Is Pat making you do his homework again?”
“He asked me to take a look at it, not the same.”
And his little chuckle makes me want to strangle him. “Oh, you’re so doing my brother’s homework for him.”
I flip him the bird, all while the blonde is watching us. Her eyes jumping back and forth between us.
“He asked me nicely. You should try that.”
“I pay you. That should be incentive enough.”
I snort. “Well, maybe I should renegotiate then. Been doing a lot of work that wasn’t in the original contract.”
Max raises his hands in mock offense and turns to the girl. “Do you hear what I have to deal with every day? My own publicist, who has been with me for YEARS, wants to rip me off.”
“Not ‘ripping off’ if it’s a deserved pay raise.” I hold his stare. He has been trying this on me since I started, and I never lost one of his little staring contests to him. Not a single one.
After another 30 seconds, he smiles again and nods. “Alright Teags.”
I can’t stop the satisfied grin from spreading on my face.
Then it’s quiet for a little.
“So… you guys… work together?” Oh, she is so confused. Poor thing. Time to put her out of her misery.
“Yeah. And he’s a real menace, so I better get my beauty sleep before he has me slave away again tomorrow.” I wink at her, closing my laptop before I pick it up from the island. “We have the meeting with Blood Moon and the Alpha from Gray Vale at ten. If you’re late, I’ll rip you a new one.”
Max salutes, pulling the blond closer. “Good.” Nodding, I pass by them and make my way over to the stairs.
“You guys have a good night.” I wave at them over my shoulder before my foot hits the first wooden step that creaks under my weight.
- Writer
