Lena wheezes like she’s about to fall off the chair. “A tall glass of electrolytes with a beard and broad shoulders.”
I take the Lord’s name in vain under my breath. They’re not easing up.
Paige taps her pen on the table. “Also, every time Trace walks into the building, you touch your hair.”
My head jerks up. “No I don’t.”
Lena lifts her hand dramatically like she’s swearing into court. “Delta! Last Thursday he came to ask about feed inventory and you almost rubbed your edges off.”
I cover my face again. “I hate both of you.”
They howl laughing.
Paige wipes a fake tear. “Just tell us you’re happy. That’s all we want.”
I drop my hands and meet their eyes. They’re teasing, but the care is real underneath it.
I don’t smile… but my voice softens. “I am. I really am.”
Their laughter dies down and the room warms.
Lena nods once. “Good. You deserve that.”
Paige points her pen at me one more time. “But if your walk gets any looser, we’re getting you a support brace.”
I throw a paperclip at her. She dodges, cackling.
We eventually get ourselves together enough to actually do some work. Payroll gets approved, therapy schedule gets updated, Romeo and his duck budget get side-eyed again. Normal stuff.
I’m finishing an email when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Paige and Lena both look up like sharks smelling blood.
I ignore them, pull the phone out, glance at the screen… and my pulse stutters.
Unknown Caller.
Not a number I recognize, no name or location and I decline instantly. I slide the phone face-down on the desk like that’s the end of it.
Together, Paige and Lena say, “Who was that?”
“Spam,” I answer way too fast.
They stare at me like human lie detectors.
I sit back in my chair, forcing myself to breathe evenly. “It was nothing.”
They exchange a look that says they know enough not to push right now. These two play a lot, but they’re not stupid, they know when something isn’t funny.
Paige reaches for her tumbler. “Just say the word if you need anything.”
Lena nods. “And I do mean anything.”
I give a single nod to let them know I heard them… and that’s all either of us say about it.
We slide back into business like nothing happened, but the easy mood from earlier wasn’t quite recovered.
Paige and Lena go back to pretending to work, but I can feel them watching me out of the corners of their eyes. I try to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me, willing my heartbeat back to normal.
