The Hating Game

by Sally Thorne

He wears an identical business shirt every day, in a different color. White, off-white stripe, cream, pale yellow, mustard, baby blue, robin’s-egg blue, dove-gray, navy, and black. They are worn in their unchanging sequence.

Joshua is at least six-four. Five. Six. Maybe more. A giant of a human. And he’s built out of heavy materials.

When Josh smiles, he is blinding.

Instead of replying, he holds out his hand, palm up. His shirt sleeves are still rolled, and I look at the strong tendons and cords in his wrists. I notice for the first time he has those muscly-guy raised veins in his inner arms.

I spot a little origami bird made of notepaper I once flicked at him during a meeting. It is balanced on the edge of the bookshelf.

I notice my Post-it note with the kiss on it stuck to the fridge and point at it. He shrugs. “You put so much hard work into it. Seemed a shame to waste it.”

“I want to know what’s going on in your brain. I want to juice your head like a lemon.”

“You’ll have a life and a husband in no time.” “No time at all. Probably by next week. I hope he’s super nice.”

“You wouldn’t have been sitting there alone. I would have been there. It would have been me.”

“You’re beautiful. You’re always beautiful.”

“You’re kinda cute.” “Joshua Templeman thinks I’m kind of cute. Hell has officially frozen over.” We grin at each other.

If I’d let myself smile back, and be friends with you, I probably would have fallen in love with you.”

“It made no difference. I loved you the moment I saw you.”

“You love … What? Me?” “Lucinda Elizabeth Hutton. One and the same.” “Me.” “Lucy, heiress of the Sky Diamond Strawberries dynasty.” “Me.” “Could you show some ID so I can be certain?” His eyes are lit and the smile I love best of all is glowing on his face. “But I love you.” I can hear how incredulous I sound. He laughs. “I know.”

“How somebody can’t recognize their own eyes, I’ll never know.” “Seems I didn’t recognize a few things. Hey, Josh.” “Yes, Shortcake.” “You love me.”

“I love strawberries. I’m so lovesick, I eat them constantly. Can I nickname you Shortcake? It’ll be a dead giveaway that I love you.”

“I love you, Lucy Hutton. So much, you have no idea. Please be my best friend.”