Love and War | book 1 #Wattys2016 #tbpa2016

>> chapter 15

"Harper? Are you awake?"

I spring up in my seat and glance around frantically. I search for the source of the voice and Pete's behind me, a headset around his neck. That's right I'm at work and it's Saturday. The week had completely flown by. After my run in with Grant I spent almost every night tossing and turning about the situation at hand. He was hard to ignore. I had spent most of my nights eating take out and watching tv with the occasional date out with Lola who was being a bit standoffish.

"You were out cold," Pete says while stifling a laugh. He points to my face and I raise an eyebrow at him.

On the many screens in front of us the news runs as normal. There are people in front of monitors and a lead producer walking around giving orders. Luckily for me it wasn't my turn to manage any screens or I would've been royally screwed.

I dug around in my purse for my compact mirror. Once I found it I flipped it open and looked at my reflection. There was a red mark on my left cheek from where my hand was propped up against my face. I turn red before I glare at Pete.

"Thanks for warning me, ass," I grumble at him.

He laughs and whispers back, "But you're so cute when you sleep."

"Shhhhh!" One of the other interns shushes us.

We both hold in our laughter and I try to turn my attention back to the screens. I wonder when Lola will get any actual airtime. She excelled in our mock trials. On the other hand I was struggling and running on nearly no sleep wasn't helping.

"Want to go out tonight?"

I barely catch Pete's question and I lean back, my eyes still fixated on the screen. "What?" I question not entirely sure if I understood him.

"Tonight, wanna grab a bite?" He asks again.

"Shhhhh!" The other intern does again.

I crack a smirk and turn to her. "So sorry and sure why not," I say absentmindedly. We were coworkers after all.

After about thirty more minutes the 'On Air' light flashes off and we all begin to stand in the rather small booth. Pete moves down to stand beside me as I gather up my belongings. I'm in a pair of jeans, a simple jacket, with my hair pulled back. Not having to dress up for work was becoming a saving grace.

   "So what did you want to do?" He questions as we walk out of the room together and it feels so much louder in the hallway.

   I shrug at him as I begin glancing around for Lola. She's usually here. I think. "Whatever's fine by me," I mumble not even looking at Pete.

   He finally groans and snaps his fingers in front of my face. I blink a few times before turning to him and attempting to give him a dirty look. "Pay attention. I'm. Asking. You. On. A. Date," he sounds out each word as if I might have a hearing problem.

   I look at him shocked and suddenly flush. "Oh Shit," I murmur, I hadn't even thought of the possibilities of a date.

   "Oh shit what?" Lola asked as she appeared beside me causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.

   She looked her normally beautiful self; hair straightened, a black slick pencil skirt and purple blouse. At first glance people might assume she was our boss.

   My mind begins to scatter at her question. I knew how interested she was in Pete and if she knew he asked me out I'd have to hear about it for a week if not longer. She was already being standoffish I didn't want to make it worse.

   "Not much Harper and I–"

   My hand jutted into Pete's face cutting him off. "We were talking about the segment today. Why didn't Melanie put you on?" I change the subject with a nervous laugh.

   Pete is rubbing his nose and it appears Lola doesn't notice my hostility because she begins to fill me in on the anchor drama as she calls it. I glare at Pete swiftly before turning and nodding to Lola.

   "She said that my performance could falter under pressure so she wants me to do a late night. Less of an audience," Lola says with a shrug as she starts to walk. I fall in step beside her.

   I nod slightly asking, "You're staying late tonight?"

   "Yep so go ahead without me. Grant called me about drinks but I'm probably going to be too exhausted you should call him," Lola says.

   I flush as I realize that Pete has just asked me on a date and Lola is blatantly talking about me calling her brother. Awkward. But not as much as I think as Pete appears not to mind, his drop dead gorgeous smile still on his face as he walks beside Lola.

   Maybe a night out with someone wouldn't be bad. It would definitely get my mind off Grant and that's what I needed more than anything right now.

   I snag my phone from my pocket and turn it on. It's suggested we turn phones off while in the booth. Right away I'm greeted with a missed call from Lola and one from Grant. There's also a text from him, of course.

   Demon Doctor 1:47pm: drinks tonight. My place @ 9

   Harper 5:06 pm: can't date.

   Demon Doctor 5:07 pm: bring him ;)

   I roll my eyes at the phone and tuck it away in my back pocket. Not in a million years. I think but of course I'm not going to text him that. I wasn't going to fuel that fire, at least not today.

   Lola begins to slow as we reach the elevators. She smiles at Pete and then me as she says, "Alright guys maybe we can get together tomorrow. Harp I'll call you."

   We nod to her before walking into the elevator. A few other people climb on with us and I shuffle towards the back.

   "So why did you hit me in the face earlier?" Pete laughs as he nudged me with his shoulder.

   I flush and glare at him but I'm unable to hide my smile. "Nothing. It's just we're hanging out and Lola's super into you. I didn't want her getting the wrong impression," I whisper to him suddenly feeling like I was breaking some rule.

   Pete shrugged at this asking, "Why? Does she normally get the wrong idea? Should she have the wrong idea?"

   "Definitely not!" I stutter out suddenly becoming flustered.

   We reach the parking garage and Pete laughs as we walk off side by side. He throws an arm over my shoulder and gives me a cheeky grin. "Well I'm into you that's why I asked you on a date," Pete laughs.

   "Date?!" I squeak suddenly recalling our small exchange from earlier.

   "Date," Pete confirms before placing a kiss on my cheek and heading off towards his car. "Text me your address I'll be by to pick you up around seven."

   Pete doesn't leave me the opportunity to object because he's already climbed into his car. I was so screwed, Lola would be pissed.

   I laughed lightly. I couldn't blame myself if Pete was interested in me and not Lola. We were both catches. Right? I wouldn't think more into it I needed to get home to get ready.

A/N: Harper is seriously the cutest haha just a cute chapter to help split up all this tension haha

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