My phone rings, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hey Clint,” I answer.
“Tris was a bad idea,” he starts, sounding out of breath.
“What? I thought it was going well.”
He huffs as he keeps panting. “Yeah, well, so did I until about twenty minutes ago.”
“Oh no. This sounds bad,” I moan into the phone as I walk into the restaurant I ordered from.
I tell them my name and grab the food already sitting by the counter for me.
“She invited me over for some midafternoon, um…” He trails off.
“Nookie,” I supply.
“Yes. Nookie. I was like, ‘sure, why not?’ right? So I get there. We are mid-deed, and her boyfriend walks in. He’s shocked. I’m shocked. Hell, the fucking spider in the corner was shocked.”
“What a fucking hussy. I am so disappointed in Tris,” I murmur as I make my way through people back to the office.
“Oh yeah. It gets better. He lives on the West Coast. They have been together since they were in high school. He was going to marry her. He came to surprise her because they hadn’t had much time to talk recently.”
“Did he try to fight you?” I ask.
“No. He was heartbroken, but it didn’t look like he blamed me. She started screaming about how this was for their future. How I would give her money, and then when she came home, they could build a life together. I guess she thought I was rich.”
“Well, I mean, you do wear thousand-dollar suits and dropped a hefty tip that day at lunch,” I tease him.
“I like quality clothes, and I treat my waitstaff. Sue me.”
I snort. “You tipped her extra. I know you did.”
“Maybe. Still, it sucks.”
“Is that why you are huffing in my ear? You high-tailing it out of her neighborhood?”
He laughs. “I figured a walk would calm me down. That, and a chat with a good friend. Speaking of which, how is work? Max glaring at you as you talk to me?”
“No, smartass. I am actually grabbing lunch for us now. We have a meeting.”
“You do realize you aren’t his assistant anymore, right?”
“Ha ha,” I tell him. “I know, but I am about to propose some big ideas to him. I want to butter him up.”
He chuckles. “I think you could ask for the moon and he’d give it to you, no food required.”
“You’re wrong. I once wanted to dye my hair purple, and he told me no. So he has his lines. Especially when it comes to business.”
“Uh-huh. That was before he woke up. Ask about purple hair now. I bet it changes.”
“Goodbye, Clint.” I laugh into the phone. “Good luck with your gold digger.”
“This is all your fault, you know. You encouraged it. Bye, Iris. Have a good rest of your day.”
As we hang up, I reach our building. I smile to myself.
Yeah, I think life is treating me well right now.
