Sam:What's wrong?
Tiel:Nothing. I've just had undergrads in my office, bitching about their grades all damn day
Tiel:I got an email from someone's mother asking me to reevaluate an essay grade
Tiel:It took 100% of my willpower to not respond "are you FUCKING kidding me?"
Sam:Wow
Tiel:Yes. Exactly.
Tiel:But please…tell me good things
Sam:Riley and I are meeting with a staging crew later in the afternoon, but I can grab some Thai food. We have a new episode ofOutlanderto watch
Tiel:Hell yes. I love everything about that show and I'm going to read those books as soon as I make tenure my bitch
Sam:There's the Turlan party this weekend
Tiel:I'm super worried that I'm going to embarrass the entire world when I meet Eddie Turlan.
Sam:Unlikely
Tiel:Ummm, have you met me?
Sam:You will be perfect
Sam:I think Magnolia is going to be at the event too
Tiel:Of course. She did the roof garden, right?
Sam:Yeah, I just wanted you to know. I didn't want it to be a surprise.
Tiel:It's not a big deal, as long as she doesn't try to steal you from me
Sam:I can't be stolen.
12
Tiel
February
This media showcasewasn't fancy, it waselegant. Tuxedos, formal dresses, valet outside, champagne and crystal stemware inside, and punk-rock-royalty-turned-eco-conscious-hipsters in every corner.
The dress I was wearing cost more than the monthly rent on my old apartment, and I was standing statue-still with my hands knotted in front of me because I was convinced I'd trip and cause a series of red-wine-spilling events otherwise.
I hadn't wanted a new, spendy dress that I'd only wear once, and initially thought one of Ellie's would work for the grand unveiling event at the Turlan restoration, but that idea didn't fly with Sam. He sent me to Neiman Marcus, and dispatched Shannon to assist in my shopping.
Interestingly, that endeavor wasn't awful. The most complicated part was looking at the prices without throwing up in my mouth. And hanging out with Shannon—just the two of us, for once—was fun. The last time we'd been together without some other wife, girlfriend, or Walsh within arm's reach was that afternoon when Sam was on his wilderness adventure and we'd squared off in the coffee shop. Almost a full year had passed us by, and in that time, everything had changed, even us.
In a sense, we were different people now: her Shannon Halsted, and me Tiel Walsh.
Shannon had badgered me into selecting a long, full-skirted dress with a bright, abstract floral pattern. It was the most wonderful thing I'd ever seen, but the price tag was terrifying.
In addition to my not-causing-mayhem project, I was also working hard at keeping an open, neutral expression on my face while Sam chatted with a reporter about this home's sustainability features. That wouldn't have been too difficult if I didn't have to watch one legendary musician after another move through the brownstone and not glom all over them or squeal like a crazed fangirl.
"Do you want some wine? Champagne?" Sam asked when his interview wrapped. His fingers ghosted down my back, and without thinking, I sighed into his touch.
