Cross the Line (Lights Out, #1)

by Simone Soltani

But after dozens of flat-out ignored applications, zero callbacks after interviews, and endless We’ll be in touch lies, I’m still unemployed.

we’re in the same boat queen

I’m tempted to stick my fingers in my ears and mockingly repeat Howard’s words back to him, but I have to remind myself that I’m a twenty-five-year-old man—the appropriate response at my big age is to tell him to go fuck himself.

“You should know better than anyone that people will forgive racism far faster than a sex scandal.” That gets me to snap my mouth shut. Because as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right.

like is that not crazy

And here I am—short as hell, baby-faced, and the CEO of the Itty-Bitty Titty Committee.

pls stop im actually begging

They aren’t people I’d share my deepest, darkest secrets with. But Oakley? He’s my guy. Or, well, he was until I did the one thing I could never tell him about.

It’s been a while since she got a true taste of my sense of humor, but she’s handling it the way she always has—with resignation and a refusal to laugh, no matter how hard it is for her to hold back. She finds me funny. She just won’t admit it.

ur not funny tho pls stop making jokes

I take a deep breath. It’s now or never. “You, Willow. I need you.”

Not only does she know what she’s doing professionally, she knows me. She knows my boundaries. Plus, she knows the sport, thanks to being raised around it. And I don’t have to explain shit about my backstory because she was there for almost all of it. It’s the perfect solution.

But soon enough, Oakley will be gone, and the only thing holding me back from doing anything ill-advised will be myself. And I’ve never been known for my self-control.

this is actually doing nothing for me

Willow draws in a breath. “Okay, I…I think we need to address the elephant in the room.” “I told you to never bring up the size of my nose,” I whine, going for distraction so we can avoid the conversation she’s intent on having. I can’t do this right now. Or ever.

i keep getting the ick

That’s one more thing I can credit Willow with. Not only is she my good luck charm, but she’s the only person I know who can leave me speechless.

finally something i can eat up! everything else has been cringe

my brain is too busy repeating, He bought two hundred macarons because you said you liked them.

She’s been careful to keep the balance between personal and professional. Yesterday she even suggested a series of posts that focus on my relationships with the team members I work closely with—a gratitude tour of sorts, to show my appreciation for what each one of them does for me. In comparison, Jani shared more shots of me shirtless in the gym than anything else. It was as if her go-to strategy was to make me look like a self-absorbed prick.

“There’s something wrong with the car,” he says. “We need to retire it. Slow down and box. Repeat, slow down and box.” I’m stunned into silence. The car feels as perfect as an Argonaut is capable of. “What’s the problem?” I demand. “I don’t feel anything wrong.” “There is an issue,” Branny repeats, though he doesn’t give any details.

fishy

She doesn’t even protest when I pile five tacos on her plate. I don’t expect her to eat them all, and she doesn’t, but she surprises me by eating three and a half once we find a table, though she broods the whole time.

bro i’d surprise tf outta him and ask for more

I barely notice the flashes in the crowd of photos being snapped, and I’m sure there will be a video clip of me online in no time. But that’s fine. Let them wonder who I’m trying to charm. All that matters is that she knows. And that she understands that I’m not holding back anymore.

“I saw her,” Chava says offhandedly, his attention still fixed on his phone. “She looks great. Glowing. And you look…” “Jaundiced,” Mark finishes for him.

HELP

“Zaid’s wrists are fractured. Axel’s pretty badly burned. And Lorenzo is…They’re saying he might be paralyzed from the waist down.”

omg