More Than Meets the Eye - Page 114

“It suits you.”

His eyebrows twitched together.“What?”

Which part of him eating his weight in sugary treats after letting down everyone was flattering?

“This is the most authentic version of you I’ve ever seen.I kind of like the guy who doesn’t just live to please others.”

And that from her, the very person who had told him an eighty-hour week was the minimum if he wanted to get ahead?

“You liked it when I tried to please you.”

“Because I’m awesome and you should try to live up to my standard.But there’s more to life than work.I wasn’t always sure you knew that.”

“Wonder where I got it from.You’re just as bad as I am.”

Six years, and aside from him, the only friend he knew she had was Erika.

“No.You just never were all that interested in my life outside of work.”

Baz felt his jaw dropping.He couldn’t catch it in time.That wasn’t true.Of course he cared.Aya was his best friend, certainly his longest.If he had known she was interested in sharing more, he would have loved that.Or had she tried, and he had been too busy reducing her to a tool to feed his ambition instead?

“I’m a dick,” Baz realized.

“No more than the rest of us.You had a goal, I was happy to help you get there.Though this change of course was a curveball, I’ll admit.”Aya smiled.“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

Baz nodded.He was sorry too, about so many things.“Thank you for coming by.”

“I figured you needed a friend again.”

Baz sniffled through his stuffed-up nose.Aya had every right to be furious with him; after all, she had struggled and fought to get where she was now, and Baz had wasted her time.To receive kindness instead…

He knuckled a tear away.“Thank you.”

Aya pushed the cake box closer.Screw it.On a day such as today, there was no such thing as too much sugar.

The basbousa stuck to the napkin he grabbed it with.The sandy texture melted in his mouth, leaving a buttery taste behind.A slice of heaven that, yes, did make the pain in his chest slightly more bearable.

“I love you, you know that?And I appreciate all you do for me.I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that.”Certainly not enough.

“It was implied.But thank you.”Aya smiled.

If she could forgive him for today, maybe things weren’t quite so unsalvageable.

Knock knock.

Baz shot upright, sending the crumbs on his chest flying to the floor.Sami?Would he come here to confront Baz about being stupid earlier?Would he take back that he didn’t want to see Baz again?

Aya beat him to jumping up.Baz shifted to his knees, twirling his wrists.Even if Sami only came by to tell Baz it truly was over, to lose his number, he’d take it for the chance to apologize in person and tell him what their time together had meant—Eevee stormed inside with a face as though she had stepped on a cat’s tail.Her mouth grew pouty when she saw him.

“Hey, superstar.”

Baz grimaced.He didn’t deserve that title anymore.

“Aya told me what happened.I can’t believe they kicked you off the case.”

He could, now that he was thinking clearly again.It would have been shocking if Erika had allowed him to carry on besmirching the name of her firm after the allegations Ian had raised against him.

Besides, “Arguably the least terrible thing that happened today.”