Devonne Brown

“I absolutely know what you want me to say,” said Thomas. He’d been with Celia all day and all evening. They’d worked all day together, been to the bar after work to celebrate with the public communications team, and now they were headed home. They were at the crossroads. “I can go right and head home, but turning left will take me to another level of knowing you Celia, and I just don’t want to know any more about you.”

Celia’s mouth flew open and tears welled in her eyes. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. She put her hand over her mouth, and turned bright red. “Thomas, turn left and take me home, then you can turn any fucking way you want. Just take my ass home and get out of my sight. I know all I want to know about you, too. We never have to see each other again. The project is over. There was never anything between us. What makes you think there was going to be a “next level” anyway?”

“You asked for a ride home.”

“I asked for a ride home because my car is in the shop and I didn’t want to Uber. I’m sorry I didn’t now. I’m one block out of your way. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. Do you think that every woman who speaks to you wants in your pants? If I thought you were that insecure I would never have agreed to work on your team in the first place.” Celia put him on the spot. 

It was Thomas’s turn to turn red. “I guess we both just wanted to go home.” 

“Yeah. Imagine what a little communication will get you.”