I push through the doors and head straight to my office. The second I walk in, I see a fresh mountain of request forms and follow-ups piled on my desk. I groan out loud, drop into my chair, and start flipping through them.
I’m not even halfway through the first stack when Barry strolls in like it’s his office.
“You know I’m your boss, right?” I say without looking up.
“Oof,” he whistles. “Youaregrumpy.”
I snap my head up. “What?”
“There is a rumor,” he announces dramatically, “that you got your panties in a bunch.”
I glare. “Seriously?”
“Fine,” he says, flopping into the chair across from me. “It is actually ‘avoid Sergeant Asshole,’ but I was trying to soften it.”
My jaw drops. “They are calling me that?”
Barry shrugs. “Only behind your back. Relax.”
I let out a slow breath and rub my temples. “Great. Perfect. Exactly what I need.”
Barry leans back, folding his arms. “Well, wanna tell me why you are stomping around like a bear that got poked too many times?”
I close the folder in front of me, tired down to my bones. “I quit drinking.”
Barry stares at me like I just confessed to murder. “When?”
“Today,” I answer. “For Lore.”
He lets out a long whistle. “Oh… wow. I mean, I get why, but why are you acting like you’re in withdrawal?”
Then he narrows his eyes at me. “What do you put in your coffee?”
I glare at him. “Nothing, you idiot. I’m just pissed that the case of Fire Eagle in the fridge is going to waste. It’s not like Lore can drink it.”
He nods slowly, leaning forward with the kind of exaggerated concern he reserves for messing with me. “If that’s the problem, I willtotallytake it off your hands.”
I stare at him.
He stares back, hopeful.
Unbelievable.
“I’m not giving you my beer, Barry.”
He shrugs. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yes, I can.”
He grins, smug as hell. “This sober version of you is fun.”
I drop my hand and level him with a look. “Get out of my office.”
Barry stands, stretching like he just finished a workout. “Sure thing, Sarg. But seriously… if you change your mind about that beer…”
“Barry.”
“Right, right. I’m going.”
