There was a light knock on my office door, and I sighed in disappointment.
“Come in,” I growled.
Nora walked into my office, a small wrapped box in her hand.
“You gonna bite my head off for bringing you a gift?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes, pulling my suit jacket on.
Nora smiled, turning toward Eve. “Hey! I haven’t seen you since opening night.”
“The last month has been insane with performances five days a week; I haven’t had a social life at all.”
It was true. She hadn’t done more than work and come straight home with an occasional day out with Olivia, who had more flexibility in her schedule than I did. I tried to remember that while her schedule was grueling, this was what she’d always wanted.
“We need to find a time to hang out soon. It’s been too long.”
“We definitely do,” Eve agreed. “Have your people call my people.”
I was thrilled that Eve got along so well with Nora. Nora’s whole life had become about work and keeping her younger siblings afloat. I knew she loved them, but she needed some friends to give her a dose of fun every now and again too, or she was going to become as uptight as Jack.
I was happy my girl was making plans to take Nora out. She could use some honest to God girlfriends. Eve had always had Olivia ever since college, but Nora didn’t have anyone she was close to, aside from me.
Nora set my gift on the desk. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, shaking the box. “Aren’t you coming out with us tonight?” I asked.
“I was going to, but Ian asked me to come in to speak with him about something.”
“Shit, what’d you do?” I teased.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong, but I don’t know. I’m not sure how long it will take, and I didn’t want you all waiting for me to eat.”
“Maybe he just wants to get you in a room alone with him,” Eve said with a wink.
“Yeah. Right. I’ve given up on the possibility of that ever happening.”
“I don’t like that kind of talk,” Eve said. “Where’s your sense of optimism?”
“Buried under months without sex,” Nora muttered.
“Seriously?” I griped. She always gave me shit about talking like that in front of her.
“Sorry, Ben,” she said sheepishly. “I forgot you were still here.”
“We can talk more when we have our girls’ day,” Eve said.
“Sure. Are you gonna open the present?” She gestured toward the box in my hand.
“Oh. Yeah.” I slid my thumb through the wrapping paper, pulling the leather box out and opening it with a click.
“It’s a watch,” she said excitedly. “Here, let me show you.” She tugged it out of my hand. “It has these little spinners and fidgets, see?”
I peered over at the watch. It was titanium and while at first glance it looked like any other watch, as I studied what she was doing I could see that the face of the watch could spin and the little things that looked like decorative gears could be turned this way and that.
“I thought it might come in handy during those super dull meetings that make you want to crawl out of your skin,” Nora said.
I pulled her in for a hug. “It’s perfect, Nora. Thank you.”
