Page 73 of Pit
“How did you meet Atlas?” I ask, changing the subject. Maybe talking about herself might ease the tension.
“How about we go for dinner after work and I’ll tell you?” I give a nod, and she smiles before heading back into her office.
I’m nervous as we enter the restaurant. All I’ve thought about all day is Pit and how far he’s gone to make sure I’m okay. And I have a thousand unanswered questions, like has he done all this because of guilt or because deep down he likes me?
We’re seated and given menus. I stare at the prices and bite my lower lip with worry. As if sensing my unease, Anita places her hand over mine and offers a reassuring smile. “Relax, it’s on the business. We’ll call it a meeting. Order whatever you want.”
“Do you get a lot of work from the club?” I ask, and she laughs out loud.
“Yes. I handle most of their legal work these days.”
We fall silent, studying the menu, and when the waiter returns with two glasses of wine, we each order a steak and salad.
I take a sip of the sweet white. “So, you and Atlas?”
“Me and Atlas,” she repeats, sighing heavily. “We hook up.”
“He seems way more into it than that.”
“Yeah, well, I try to break it off when he gets too much, but somehow, he always convinces me to stick around.”
“You don’t want a relationship?” I ask.
The waiter places some bread and olives between us. Anita pops one into her mouth before taking a chunk of bread and dipping it into the oils. “I like being free.”
“He does seem quite grumpy.”
She smirks. “That’s one of the reasons I love . . . like him,” she says, blushing slightly at her error.
“So, if youlikehim so much, what’s the problem?”
“What about you and Pit?” she asks, ignoring my question. “How did you guys meet?”
It’s my turn to laugh. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” I say vaguely. I’m not sure if Anita knows the ways of the club or if she’d understand our situation.
“So, it wasn’t love at first sight?” I shake my head. “And now, he’s avoiding you?”
I groan. “Don’t remind me. He just left one day, and I wasn’t expecting it.”
“But now, he’s back,” she says with a shrug.
“Clearly not for me.”
“Maybe you should take the choice away from him,” she suggests.
I take some of the bread. “What do you mean?”
“He’s into you, Tessa, but for whatever reason, he’s holding back in the shadows. If he’s anything like Atlas, he’ll make sure you never meet anyone else.”
“I don’t think he cares,” I admit. “I met the guys on Friday, right?”
“And he showed up and took you home,” she points out. “Mark gave you his number, do you still have it?”
I frown and take out my phone, opening the contacts. “No,” I say. “Are you sure he gave it to me?”
She nods. “I handed him your phone myself. Pit deleted it.”
“He wouldn’t,” I mutter.