Free Through Glass (The Glass Series Book 1) by Kari Fisher Page B

jeans, a white shirt and a blue button up sweater. He’s clean shaven, and his hair is messy, like he just got out of bed.
    “Where do you work?” he asks.
    “Uh, I actually work here.”
    “Oh.”
    “Yeah, today was my first shift. I needed a second job other than painting, and they were hiring. I always come here anyway. I may as well work here,” I explain.
    “Oh, that’s awesome.”
    He continues talking but I’m not listening. Oliver is watching us.
    He must have been in the back room, but he was standing at the counter now, looking this way. I smile and he nods. He grabs a rag and begins cleaning off tables.
    Is he jealous?
    I hear Chase say something about how he has to start work tomorrow.
    Oliver is cleaning the table right behind us. I wonder if he’s listening.
    “I guess you’re going home to bed, then, after your long drive?” I ask Chase.
    “That’s the plan. I just need to get my bed set up.”
    “Where’s Pickles, right now? Did you bring her with you?”
    “Not yet. I left her with my mom back home and I’m going to pick her up next weekend.”
    “Hey, Laur. Sorry I hadn’t texted you yet. Are we still doing something tonight?” Oliver asks, interrupting us. From the way he is standing by our table, I think he’s about to sit down with us—but he doesn’t.
    “I don’t think so. I’m pretty exhausted, Oliver. I think I’m just going to head home and call it a night,” I say. “Oh, this is Chase. Chase, this is Oliver. He’s my boss.”
    I hope you’re jealous.
    They shake hands and it seems almost awkward.
    “Okay, well, send me a text tomorrow then, since you don’t work until the weekend, and we can get together,” Oliver suggests. He walks back over to the counter and pulls his notebook out of his messenger bag. He begins to write.
    I wonder what he’s writing about. He must be writing about me.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
     
    I need a new reason to live
     
    I unlock the door to my apartment and turn around to say goodnight to Chase. He’s standing there across the hall from me, just watching.
    “I guess I’ll see you around, neighbor.” I grin.
    “Sure will.” He smiles.
    “Do you need anything else?”
    “May I borrow a pillow, by any chance? I noticed earlier that I forgot to bring mine.”
    “Yeah, sure. Come on in and grab one.” I open the door and he follows me in.
    NyQuil circles Chase, who bends down to pet him.
    “That’s surprising. My cat is usually shy around strangers,” I say.
    Chase shrugs his shoulders. “I think he likes me.”
    I retrieve a pillow from my bedroom and hand it to Chase. Our hands touch.
    Chase kisses me and then pulls back immediately.
    “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I just did that. You don’t even know me. I just—I don’t know. You were standing there, and—Lauren, I’m sorry.” He seems shaken.
    I stand there, staring at him, not sure what to say. I reach out and tug on his shirt, so that he’s closer to me, and then I put my lips on his.
    This time, the kiss seems to last forever. We stand there, holding each other, with our lips touching. He drops the pillow onto the floor and puts both hands around my waist.
    I slowly pull back, and look him in the eyes.
    “There’s something about you, Lauren. Something I’m really attracted to,” he whispers.
    Not knowing what to say, I tell him he should probably get home to bed so that he can go to work well-rested in the morning. He complies reluctantly and then he’s gone.
    I’m in bed. My warm, comfortable bed. I lie awake, thinking of tonight’s events. Meeting Chase must have been fate. I’ve felt that way about someone upon meeting them for the first time. It was instant. I feel conflicted, though. I’m worried that if I pursue this to see if feelings develop, I’m going to have my heart ripped from my chest once again.
    I don’t even know him. How could I kiss a man I don’t know?
    Lauren, you fool.
    I