Survival

Chapter 25 Your woman

Edward strode down the hall on his way to the lab. He flashed a dashing smile at everyone he passed and many were friendly right back. Damn straight! He imagined a whole freaking orchestra behind him, a soundtrack to this beautiful morning. Upswing, baby! He would run this place someday if his good luck kept up. Screw the attractive upper class, the present belonged to the bold and the dreamers. He ran into Ruiz, and a smile flashed across the Latin American man’s face.

“Looking sharp, Edward.”

“Likewise, Alfonzo.” The baby blue scrubs could have offered a bit more appeal, but Alfonzo didn’t need it. His dark hair, bedroom eyes, and hearty laugh probably got him plenty of play.

“Drinks tonight?”

“You know it. Your place?”

Alfonzo nodded and held up his hand for a high five. They continued on to different departments. Edward liked Alfonzo’s company; he was a solid guy with a decent sense of humour. He wished he could divulge every dirty detail about his night, but his mind argued against it if he ever wanted a repeat session. He most certainly did. 

Nate arrived at the lab ten minutes after Edward and wore a curious smile. The thin man sat down on the stool beside him. Edward whistled away with the vague notion that Nate watched him reconstruct a damaged laptop fan.

“You’re the talk of the office, Edward.”

“Really?” Had word got out already about his and Olivia’s arrangement? She had emphasized this whole arrangement required secrecy, but maybe she had changed her mind. Couldn’t help but share such a good thing, could you, sweetheart? “Why is that?”

“Your extremely pleasant mood, it seems to be contagious.”

“Oh,” Edward said, disappointment settled in for a brief moment like the funk of unwashed socks and stale bread. “I think good sleep is catching up to me.”

Nate laughed. “Well, sleep doesn’t make you grin like that.”

Edward smiled even wider and turned back to the fan. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Nate still watched him.

“You know, I had the same look on my face the day I met my wife.”

“She’s definitely not looking to be someone’s wife,” Edward said and laughed before his eyes went wide. He had to watch out to avoid another long, lonely dry spell. She was his warrior princess, rescuing him from not one but two deserts with her sultry wiles. “But, you’ll keep that between the two of us, won’t you.”

“Of course, I’m not looking to ruin whatever arrangement you’ve found yourself.”

“Thanks Nate.” Edward went looking for a new screw driver. Nate turned out to be a pretty stand up guy after all. “How does marriage hold up after all these years?”

”If I knew, I would tell you. Unfortunately, Rose left this world ten years ago. I would trade the rest of my time for just another day with her.”       

“I’m sorry, Nate, I didn’t know.”

“I’ve learned to come to term with it. I’ve been blessed with my wonderful daughter Mischa who gives me a reason to wake up every morning.”

Edward couldn’t help but wonder if Mischa was searching for something behind her father’s back. He made a mental note to do some more snooping when she stopped by later. Nate was a really decent guy and teenage girls could be, well teenage girls.

Edward kept an eye out for Olivia at lunch but she was surrounded by her work colleagues. He didn’t bother going over. Unfortunately for his sense of masculinity, Williams happened to be one of those colleagues. The man kept casting her glances after each story or conversation, rather desperate. Edward hadn’t even had to try and he landed her in his bed. The sweetest victory.