Free Hush by Micalea Smeltzer

fine,” I said with a wave of my hand.
    “Still,” he said. “My behavior was careless and I put you in a difficult situation with your job.”
    “Siva, I really have to go,” I said pointing to the building and trying to untangle myself from his grip.
    “Right,” he said and let go.
    “I’ll see you for dinner?” I asked.
    “Certainly,” he said and straightened in his seat tugging on his suit jacket.
    I closed the car door and waved. I didn’t know if Siva waved back. The windows were far to tinted.
    I scurried up the cement gray steps and hustled into the building. I could hear fingers clacking on keyboards and the sound of the coffee maker percolating. I made my way to my desk bracing myself for Mac’s wrath . I knew he’d be mad about the scuffle with Siva.
    He wasn’t at his desk and I sent up a silent prayer. I slid into my chair, pulled out my computer, and read over the assignment April had left on my desk.
    I had just started typing when a dark, ominous, shadow crept over me. I shivered.
    “Sloane.”
    S o much for my luck.
    “Mac,” I said, saving my document and sliding my chair around so that I could lean back and look up at him.
    His right eye was an ugly purple and green. Like Siva, cuts littered his face. His lip was split and he all around looked like hell.
    “Whew, you look terrible,” I said lightly .
    He laughed but it wasn’t his normal laugh. For some reason the sound frightened me. My grip tightened on my chair.
    “I’m sure you already know what happened. That pyscho boyfriend of yours attacked me,” Mac said.
    “He’s not my boyfriend,” I defended bristling.
    Mac leered down at me. “I don’t care what he is. The guy is crazy and I think you owe me.”
    I gulped. This was bad.
    “A drink. One. That’s all I ask,” he said flipping his shaggy curls over his eye so he could leer at me better.
    “One?” I swallowed thickly.
    “One,” he grinned realizing he was winning.
    “Fine,” I whispered.
    “Tonight,” he said. “Across the road. We can just walk over after work,” he said smiling like the Cheshire cat.
    I nodded my head and he took that as the affirmative and bounced over to his desk.
    At least someone was happy.
    * * *
    Whenever you’re dreading something the time beforehand always flies by and that’s what happened to me as the minutes ticked by until I had to share a drink with Mac . Just one. Only one. One.
    I hoped.
    I buried my head in my hands. Was I never allowed one day of peace?
    I pulled out my blackberry and sent Siva a quick email telling him that I was working late and I would take a taxi home. There was no way in hell that I was going to tell him that I agreed to have a drink with Mac . On the other hand… maybe I should. That way I would be able to get out of it. But knowing Mac, he would only finagle me into it at another time. It was best to do it and get it over with.
    I shoved my hair back and grabbed a hair tie from my desk drawer. I tightened the band around my hair until it was almost painful.
    My phone dinged with a return email from Siva. He said not to bother with a taxi that he’d come get me when I was done . I wrote back and said that was fine. At least I wouldn’t have to pay for a taxi.
    I finished my article and turned it into April. Mac was right behind me. His cree py hands touched me briefly on my back startling me.
    It’s going to be a long evening.
    I went back to my desk, turned my computer off, and gathered up my bags.
    Mac came back grinning.
    “Ready for that drink?”
    No.
    “Yes,” I said instead.
    “Great,” he grinned.
    “As friends,” I said. “Just two friends getting a drink and hanging out,” I clarified for him before he got any ideas.
    “Of course,” he said but his smile dimmed. “Just friends.”
    I smiled in a friendly manner , I didn’t want to hurt the guy after all, “Well, let’s go,” I said motioning to the door.
    He instantly brightened again for which I was thankful.
    We