Page 99 of The Scientist
“Hey, do you guys know if Jace started seeing anyone?” I felt Lex stiffen next to me, and I realized how that must have sounded.
Stuart grinned at the irritated look on Lex’s face. “Why? You sick of Lex already?”
“What? No!” Obviously, that’s not what I meant. “I’m asking because I think he might be a good match for Sarah.”
Lex’s posture relaxed a little as he resumed eating. I placed my hand over the one he had on my leg, holding it there.
“What?!” Stuart said, outraged. “Why wouldn’t you try to hookmeup with Sarah?”
I popped another roasted carrot in my mouth. “You lost your chance when you tried to pull that cheap line on her at faculty night.”
“So, I’m just supposed to sit by and watch while all my friends get paired up and I get bupkis? I thought we had a deal. I set you up and you set me up in return.”
“How exactly did you set me up?” I swished my fork at him. “Lex and I managed to get here all on our own. I don’t remember you being involved.”
“Oh, I was involved!” he said indignantly. “I’m the one who’s had to put up with his wallowing over these past few months. And it wasmewho was always telling him to quit being a baby and make a move because there were more guys like Jace and Merrick lining up. Or didn’t he tell you?”
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.“He never mentioned it.”
“What?” He narrowed his eyes at Lex. “Tell her!”
“I don’t recall you ever saying anything like that,” Lex said with a shrug.
“Oh, this is rich!” Stuart exclaimed. “My contribution to Halex is going to go completely unrecognized.” He got up and stormed off to the kitchen with his plate, while Lex and I burst out laughing.
“Wait! Stuart, come back! We were just teasing,” I called to him from the dining room, still laughing. “We definitely would not be here without you!”
He poked his head through the door. “So, you’ll set me up?” he asked, grinning with his eyebrows raised.
“Sure,” I said, shaking my head. “For your contribution to Halex, I willtryto set you up with someone.”
“Thanks, Hadley.” He took his seat again. “I knew I could count on you… unlike some people…” He narrowed his eyes at Lex.
“Halexisn’t going to become a thing, is it?” Lex asked me with a look of true concern.
???
Between taking care of my mom, driving her to all her appointments, and our busy work schedules, I had barely seenLex over the past week. We hadn’t been able to spend more than a few minutes each day together and that was only in passing since he had worked late almost every day this week.
I was growing antsy.
When I noticed his car wasn’t in the parking lot after I got home from my mom’s chemo appointment on Friday evening, I decided to give him a call.
“Hey,” Lex answered on the first ring.
“Are you sick of me?” I teased. “Is that why you refuse to spend time with me?”
“Of course not,” he said quietly. I could hear a shuffling noise and then the sound of a door shutting, and I knew he had walked away from the others at work. “I’m sorry about this week. We’re just at a critical point in the project. As soon as this part’s over, things will be better. I won’t have to be here as late.”
“Sure, whatever you say,” I said in a pitiful voice. “I’ll just have to find a way to occupy myself since I’m all alone.” I sighed, laying it on thick. “Don’t worry. I’ve been here before. I know just what to do. My hand and I are old friends.”
His voice deepened as he said, “You don’t need to do that. I can take care of it for you.”
I made atsknoise. “Promises, promises.”
“Give me an hour,” he said huskily.
“IguessI can wait,” I said, digging in my purse for my keys as I made my way up the sidewalk. “But don’t take too long or…”