Hard not to be when we’re all willing to acknowledge that if I’d gone on that stage last night as a man to offer an afternoon of playing my favorite video game over tea, I would’ve gone for a couple hundred dollars as a pity bid.
Instead, my ex-fling who helped me not die of suffocation in a dress last week got into a bidding war over me with an apparent local real estate mogul.
Those are the details my boss is sniffing for, but no matter how much I’m starting to feel relief at telling him I have to hold myself to a higher standard, I don’t want to go there with my personal life.
“It’s not boss-worthy. Very boring and inconsequential.”
“Addie…”
“We hung out for a while, and we don’t anymore. Nothing bad happened. Just no time. Both too busy. Obvious reasons.”
I don’t supply details of what constituteshanging outin my head.
He doesn’t ask.
But he does go somewhere else unexpected. “I heard a story last night about a dress and what happened to your shoulder.”
“From who?”
“Cooper.”
The bastard. “He was never my favorite.”
Tripp cracks another smile. “I look forward to being in the vicinity when you tell him that.”
“I’d prefer no witnesses. Except maybe Waverly. She’s a good friend. I’d hate to lose her because she has bad taste in men.”
Denise coughs. I glance at her, unsurprised to find her stifling a smile.
She’s one of my favorites in the office. Honestly, I like her as much as I truly like Cooper, despite what I’m telling Tripp.
And she’s being unusually quiet today.
“Why am I here?” I ask her.
“Community involvement opportunity,” she replies.
I look back at Tripp. “And this relates to the Thrusters?” I guess.
“It does. Which is why I’d like to know if you have a serious problem with Duncan Lavoie,” Tripp says.
“I do not.”
“You’re certain?”
“He’s a good guy who’s been put in some awkward positions anytime I’ve been around him through no fault of his own. There are no hard feelings.” Not like his erection this morning, which wasveryhard.
Which I need to stop thinking aboutimmediately.
“We’re partnering with the Thrusters for a new community outreach program aiming to get more adults involved with sports for fun,” Tripp says.
I blink. “Adults?”
“Adults. Sports are for all ages, and we’d like to promote that more.”
“That sounds…sweet, actually.”
“Glad you think so. I’ve been on the phone with Thrusters management off and on all morning. They want you and Duncan to be the primary spokespeople for the program.”
