Free Dating For Decades by Tracy Krimmer

follows my lead and we stare each other down as we chew. Sweat pours down both our faces, and we can’t stop squinting our eyes. We both swallow at the same exact time.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie!”
    Lucas stands up and it takes me a minute. I’m miserable and my stomach is torturing me. I manage to stand and he takes my hand and lifts our arms in the air in victory. “Damn, girl, you sure held your own.”
    A smile breaks through as he squeezes my hand. I turn my head and he’s looking right at me. His eyes are watering from the peppers, but through the puddle of water, a sparkle shines through.  
    “I’m tough as nails.”
    Except when I’m not.

Chapter
    Ten

    A long night’s sleep is what was needed after burning my mouth and throat on the peppers. I think I’ll stay away from anything with pepper, even black pepper, for quite a while. The back to school event was a success, but I’m glad to be back into my routine. Straying from my day-to-day gets me into a bit of a tizzy sometimes. I welcome structure.  
    I’m at my desk peeking around some of the files. My end goal is to find the best solution to our problem without buying more server space. Lucas has a good idea, but I want the credit for this. Or even partial credit, maybe seventy percent me, and thirty percent him. I’ve given so many years to this company. Lucas can’t beat me to the punch. This project is mine .  
    Three cups of coffee later and my hair a ratted mess from racing my fingers through it in frustration, Lucas knocks on my door. I wave him in. Great. What the hell does he want? He can’t gloat about yesterday. We tied. No one won.
    “Good morning! And it’s a great one, isn’t it?” He hops into the room.
    Even with the florescent lights his skin is perfection and the most beautiful shade of brown. When he smiles, the right side twists up and the tip of his tongue pops through between his teeth. I hate him.  
    “I guess. What can I help you with?”
    “Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”
    “What does that even mean? I’ve never understood that saying. So I get out of bed on the right instead of left. It doesn’t change my mood.”
    He ignores me, and he’s right to because I’m not very happy to see him right now. I don’t like being interrupted when I’m trying to think. Especially if I’m trying to work in order to upstage him .  
    “Terrence and I went out for drinks last night to discuss the Pilot Project.”
    My body weakens and my heart drops. “Oh? Was this a business meeting I wasn’t aware of?” I click through my calendar. “I don’t see a meeting request.”
    He waves his hands at me. “It was very last minute. We stayed to help clean up after the back to school event, and I suggested drinks.”
    I stand up, attempting to tower over him, but he’s still taller than me, even though I’m in heels. “I’m a part of this project, too. Why didn’t you call me?” My voice is shaking, rolling in like thunder.
    “I checked your calendar. You had a pedicure the first time I wanted to do this and yesterday you left pretty soon after the contest.”
    I love I can access my boss’ calendar if I need to, but the fact Lucas can see mine really bothers me. He doesn’t need to know what I’m doing and with whom. “My friend needed some time with me the other day, and you could have mentioned this to me any of the eight hours of every day I see you.”
    “There’s no need to explain yourself.”
    “Well, I think you should explain. I’m part of this, too, and should be involved in every step. You did this on purpose.”
    “I swear, I didn’t.” He pulls at his collar. A sure tell. He knew very well what he was doing.
    “What happened during this meeting?” I’ll bypass his sneaky method of this secret meeting, but I need every single detail.
    “I presented my idea to Terrence —”
    “You what? I thought I told you not to do that.”
    “I did anyway.