Indy wore a wedding ring.
I didn’t have a woman
to fit one on.
After college, Indy and I worked
as executives at Amazon.
It paid well for Seattle and the healthcare
would come in handy if Indy gave me a heart attack.
Because if she wears that beige secretary top,
that dark skirt that she smoothed below her knees,
I’ll croak by the spoiled child or regret;
temptation will do me in instead of the sin
baked into my eyes, I focused on anything else
until my thoughts returned to Indy.
I saw Indy’s office from mine.
She sat across, and to the left, fingers curled,
pecking away at reports, eyes trained on the monitor.
Indy narrowed her eyes and shifted her gaze to my office.
Our eyes locked.
I didn’t shift my glance.
Indy rested her hands on her hands,
elbows propped on the desk.
My face warmed, and my lips quivered.
Indy waved as if to acknowledge
my mesmerizing obsession with our
alluring exchanges.
I lifted my hand to flash a peace sign
and stuck out my tongue.
Indy smiled, and her chuckle escaped
her lips and missed my ears.
Shadows had replaced the bright rays.
And people filtered out of the building.
I shut down my computer.
I headed for swooped to file papers
in the file cabinet.
A knock startled me.
I grabbed my chest. “Come in,” I said, returning my attention to finishing the files.
The door cracked open and closed.
“What’d I do now?” I said, thinking it was my boss.
“Are you busy?” Indy said, motioning for the door. “Because if so, I can leave.”
I lifted and then lowered my hands. “Can I help you?” I swallowed hard.
“Don’t be so nervous.” Indy inched closer to me.
“We’ve worked together for two years, and you hardly talk to me.” Indy said. “Did I do something wrong?”
“I talk to you about work stuff all the time.” I folded my arms to shield myself from accusations.
“You know what I mean,” Indy said, biting her bottom lip.
“That skirt,” she said.
“What about it?”
Indy cupped her hand over her mouth. “I wore it for you,” she whispered in my ear.
“But you’re married.” I pointed at her finger.
Indy held her hand to her stomach and giggled. “Me, married?” Indy said as though I had a screw loose.
Indy gestured. “I’m a catch, but this was a chastity ring.”
“You serious?” I arched a brow.
“My dad gave it to me, and when he died, I decided to wear it until I found my partner.”
“I jump to conclusions.”
“Well, what do you say we get a coffee, partner?”
“I think I’d want nothing more than to be with my partner.”
We left for a coffee shop.
And we lived as partners.