Chapter 7
After that, whenever I saw Hamish, he'd always be hiding out in some corner, keeping his distance, but still sneaking glances at me when he thought I wouldn't notice.
But I never acknowledged him.
I thought Andrew would be able to do the same.
But he didn't.
Andrew thought things between him and Maisy were totally clear,no funny business, nothing to hide.
"Why are you here again?" Andrew said, shooting me a quick look as he grabbed some water in the break room.
"I invited Aleeza," Hamish replied.
Hamish moved in front of me, blocking Andrew's line of sight.
I quietly took a sip of water, the temperature just right,not too hot, not too cold.
Hamish handed me a flower,a special toy, and when I peeled back the fabric, it was stuffed with fruity gummy candies.
"Why did you bring her to the office?" Andrew asked, frowning as he watched Hamish.
"It's for the Romance Event," Hamish replied.
He glanced at Andrew, then grabbed a hairpin and tried to put it in my hair. "This would look really pretty on you."
But he didn't actually get to put it in.
Andrew grabbed his wrist.
"What are you doing?" Andrew's eyes were cold.
Hamish shot him a look. "Just putting a flower hairpin on her. What's the big deal? Can't I do that?"
"Can't she do it herself?" Andrew shot back.
"I make it look good on her," Hamish replied coolly, pulling his wrist free. Then he turned to me, his eyes shining. "Aleeza, you look great."
He was always pushing boundaries.
"Not calling me 'Aleeza' anymore?" I glanced at Andrew and turned my gaze back to Hamish.
His face went bright red. "Aleeza," he stammered.
Andrew yanked the fabric flower out of my hand and grabbed me. "Step outside with me."
I shook my head, slipping my hand free from his grasp.
"I'm not here to see you today," I said.
"Then who are you here for?" Andrew shot back.
He looked down at his hand and then back up at me.
"So you're here for him?" Andrew shot back. "Aleeza, what's that supposed to mean?"
I looked up at him, totally puzzled.
"What did I do? How have I ever wronged you?" I asked.
Nothing was going on between Hamish and me,no sneaking off to hotels, no holding hands, and definitely no matching couple luggage.
"What's your problem?" I shot back. "Didn't we already break up?"
He squinted at me. "Is this payback? I told you, it's not like that with Maisy and me."
"So what more do you want?" Hamish suddenly chimed in.
I blinked, totally thrown off, and didn't expect him to butt in right then.
"Everyone at the office already thinks you two are a thing. Why not just go for it and make it official?" Hamish said.
"Hamish, what does this have to do with you?" Andrew turned to him, giving him a cold look.
"I like her," Hamish said quietly, eyes lowered. "I can't bear to watch."
The tension around Andrew spiked, his mood darkening.
"Who is it you like?" Andrew asked.
"Aleeza," Hamish answered.
He gave me a glance, cheeks still burning, but he spoke up,voice steady and sure.
Andrew swung at him without warning.
Hamish just stood there and took it.
"Andrew, are you out of your mind?" I snapped.
I pulled Hamish over, looking at the mark on his face. His eyes were red as he looked at me, a little hurt and aggrieved.
"It hurts," Hamish muttered.
Andrew's phone started ringing. He gave us both a frosty glare before picking up.
He kept it brief, hung up, and then looked straight at me.
"Are you still coming to my place this weekend? My mom still has no idea we're breaking off the engagement," he said.
Even if his mother had never been fond of me, I guessed I still needed to clear things up with her.
"What time?" I asked.
"9 AM. I'll come pick you up," he replied.
"Can I take Aleeza?" Hamish piped up.
Andrew's eyes were half-lidded as he methodically adjusted his sleeves, rolling them up bit by bit.
I caught a glimpse of his knuckles, faintly tinged with blue and red.
"Andrew!" I called out.
He paused and looked at me.
"So you're going to protect him now?" he asked.
"We're done," I said. "It's my choice who I stand up for now."
"Fair enough," he replied.
He let out a mocking laugh. "Looks like anyone can love you now."
Hamish punched him.
Maisy called out, "Andrew!"
She came over with a hairpin in hand, only to find Andrew and Hamish tangled up in a fight.
I pulled them apart. Both their faces were already bruised.
I grabbed Hamish's hand. His fingers trembled for a second and then slid between mine, locking our hands together.
Andrew didn't even look at Maisy. He just stared at our hands, shut his eyes for a second, and said, "Aleeza. Don't come crying to me later."
"I'm not going to," I replied.
I glanced at the hairpin in Maisy's hand, grabbed Hamish, and swept right past Andrew.
*****
After three years, I was back in the stairwell with Hamish.