She comes to the front of my desk and plops down in one of the leather chairs. “Since you guys almost fired her and now she acts like she has to treat this place like Fort Knox.”
“We didn’t almost fire her,” I say, looking over her head at Oliver. “We were …”
“Moving her,” Oliver says.
I nod. “We were moving her to Wade’s office.”
“Well, news alert—Rosie doesn’t want to work for Wade. She wants to work for you guys.”
“She’d love Wade. Eventually,” Oliver jokes.
I laugh again. “What brought you here? Don’t you have class today?”
“You do know I have a father who’s perfectly capable of interrogating me, don’t you?”
“I do. But I thought I’d ask in case he’s slipping.”
It’s her smile that makes my stomach twist. Her lips part, foreshadowing mischief.
She scoots around in her chair before finally sitting on the edge and gripping her armrest with both hands. Her nose wrinkles.
“I’m glad we’re asking questions today,” she pokes. “Because I have one for you.”
“Don’t. Please don’t,” Oliver whines. “We have a … thing to do … and …” He sighs, falling back in his chair. “Please just let me keep him focused.”
Larissa looks satisfied. “Well, even though that didn’t come from you, and I didn’t ask my question, I think it answers it.”
Ignoring the glare from Oliver is harder than it should be.
I tuck my tie into my jacket and sit across from Larissa. I ignore her eyes too.
“So …” She prods. “The fam is saying a real live woman is at your house.”
“Thanks, Oliver,” I say, blowing out a breath.
“Oliver?” Larissa looks over her shoulder at my brother before turning back to me. “Wade told me.”
“Wade?” I must look surprised because Larissa laughs. “Wadetold you?”
“I mean, he wasn’t celebrating it or anything. Actually, he said you were a … fool, I think was the word he chose. I’m just excited that it’s true.”
I dig around in my desk and find the envelope Larissa came for. Hopefully, she’ll take it and leave.
“Well, you need to settle down a little bit because it isn’t nearly as exciting as you’re making it out to be,” I say, giving her the package.
Her eyes light up as she takes it from me.
“I think the fact that Wade, of all people, brought it up means that it’s a little more exciting than just some ditz you’re bringing to an event,” she says.
I rock back in my chair. “I bring those ditzes, as you so affectionately call them, with me to places oftentimes as a favor. Someone needed a ticket to something or wanted to network a little bit. I’m not bringing them for me.”
“He picks the ones for him up at airports these days,” Oliver chimes in.
“That’s enough from the back of the room,” I say.
He laughs. “He met this girl at an airport, Riss.”
Larissa’s face breaks into a wide smile. “It’s like a movie!”
