Animate Me Read Online Free PDF

that.” My stomach starts churning realizing that if Morgan thinks that, there’s a chance that Brooke does too.
    “Sure, sure,” she taunts. “Okay then, if you’re not working her up for your pitch, then what are you doing?”
    “We’re becoming friends,” I say quietly, realizing that I sound like I’m in the play yard of elementary school.
    “Friends? You do realize that her boyfriend is the president of our company, Evans?”
    I nod, and turn to leave before I lose it with the demon spawn. Right as I start to step away, I manage to have a flash of brilliance, and I turn back towards her.
    “Hey Morgan, would you like this drink? It’d make me happy if you’d enjoy it.”
    Her expression immediately softens. “Yeah, I’d like it, thanks. I can’t afford this stuff very often on
my
salary.”
    “It’s a caramel macchiato. Is that okay?”
    “Mochas are my favorite, but this sounds good. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. Thanks for your help.”
    She smiles, and I get a sudden strong sense that giving her that drink will pay off for me big time somewhere down the line.
    • • •
    On Friday the building feels more relaxed with all the executives still off site at meetings with the corporate bigwigs. There are open boxes of doughnuts everywhere and impromptu games of table football, and waste bin basketball. I even witness the
pin the tail on Arnauld
game that comes down from the break room wall almost as quickly as it went up. Around two-thirty, word spreads like wild fire that management has returned so everyone gets back to work.
    Around an hour later, Dani wanders into my cube and slides the color copy of the finished double-date caricature onto my desk. She’s put some serious time into it, certainly more than I would’ve expected.
    “Hey, thanks,” I enthuse. “It’s a work of art…a masterpiece.”
    “Oh, yeah.” She rolls her eyes and folds her arms before hitching herself up on my desk. I watch her swing her legs back and forth a few times as I wait for her to spill whatever is on her mind.
    She lifts her hand to her mouth and bites her thumbnail nervously. “Hey, does Nick ever still talk about me?”
    “You mean since you guys broke up?” I ask.
    “Yeah.” She watches me carefully to see if I’m going to dodge the question.
    “Well, remember that day you didn’t show up and didn’t call anyone?”
    “Yeah, the hangover from hell the day after Zara’s bridal shower. We got a little wild with the guys at the strip club.”
    “Spare me the details. Just believe me that he was really worried about you. He made me call you over and over until you answered your phone.”
    “And all this time I thought you had the hots for me.”
    “You did?”
    “Well, no, not actually, but I have noticed that I’m the only girl around here you talk to.”
    I scratch my elbow, and consider her words. “That must be cause you’ve always been one of the guys.”
    “You are so friggin’ charming, really.” She watches me lift a heavy pile of reference books off my desk to get them out of the way so I can get back to work. “Hey, do you work out a lot? You’re pretty built for a such a tall, lean guy.”
    I blush, but am secretly pleased to have someone finally notice all my efforts. Between running on my treadmill, playing tennis and lifting weights, like Curtis showed me, I’m in the best shape ever.
    “Yeah, I work out. Thanks for noticing.”
    Suddenly I realize that she’s stopped listening and I look up to see her surprised expression. I then turn to see Brooke at the entrance to my cube. She looks out of place, and very uncomfortable. My heart thumps so loudly I fear she can hear it.
    Oh wow, what’s she doing in my cube?
    “Hi Brooke,” I say. “This is Danielle.”
    “Dani,” she corrects me as she slides off my desk and waves to Brooke. “I need to get back to work anyway. Nice to meet you.”
    “You too,” Brooke responds and then looks back at me. “I’m sorry I