16
MILE SIXTEEN
THAT’S NOT ABOUT YOU
“My dear Jensen, it’s Kayla and Catherine. We have come to kidnap you!” Kayla cheers, her heels clicking as she strides into my office.
Grinning, I yank the earbud from my ear and turn my head toward my friends. Since our ladies’ trip a month ago, we’ve become extra tight. On top of our weekly brunch outing and daily lattes, we hit up Harkey’s Hideaway each Friday with Anker and Garrett, now that my brother has forgone his couch and returned to the land of functional humans. Between training and time with my friends, I can’t remember having such a full social schedule.
“I love that your kidnappers announce themselves.” Andrew drawls from his office.
“Oh, hush, Andrew, or we won’t bring you back a Danish,” Catherine teases.
“They have blueberry today. Your favorite. You don’t want to risk that, do you?” Hands on hips, Kayla coos.
“She-devils.” Humor fills his grumble.
Standing, I grab my purse. “Leave Andrew alone. He just found out Elise got into school in Boston and wants to go there.”
“Leave the purse. My treat.” Catherine claps her hands together. “After all, we need to celebrate the salary bump I’m about to get as Pemberley’s newest associate professor!”
“Shut up!” I squeal, rounding my desk.
“Yep!” She envelops me in a dancing hug. Her excitement vibrates her entire body. “Bay-Cheng made the offer on Friday, but I had to wait until HR sent the formal letter, which arrived this morning.”
“And our queen here also finished her book’s first draft last night.” Kayla shimmies her hips.
“Way to go, Catherine!” Andrew hoots.
“This is amazing!” Jutting my butt, I join Kayla in a silly dance which causes Catherine to laugh. “Also, this will be our treat, so we can properly celebrate you.”
“I’ve explained this to her, but you know Catherine…” Kayla says, her warm tone telegraphing the image of red painted lips tugged up into a broad grin.
“Hey, Grandma Flores would disown me for not sharing my good fortune with the people I care about.” Catherine loops her arm in mine, and then Kayla’s.
“Alright, details over lattes, but you have got to allow Kayla and me to properly celebrate you this weekend. Perhaps we can skip brunch and hit that steakhouse you love. We’ll get gussied up for a Saturday night out! I’ll even pull out my sexy push-up bra.” I shimmy just a bit.
“TMI!” Andrew bellows from his office, but we ignore him.
“Yes, please. Little black dresses, steak, and red wine. This sounds very American. Count me in,” Kayla hums.
“That does sound lovely, but I can’t.” Catherine sighs. “I have a date.”
“A date?” Kayla clears her throat. “I thought you weren’t doing the dating thing?”
“No, that’s you two. I’m just not doing theseriousdating thing. Just the casual dating thing,” she explains.
While Kayla and I remain on sabbatical, Catherine is mingling. Though, this is the first mingling she’s done since November. Much of her energy has been focused on the lengthy interview process with its multiple rounds and observed teaching sessions. Just watching her go through the process exhausts me, so I can’t imagine having the bandwidth to date on top of that.
“Guess we have lots to celebrate then. New position, possible hookup, and soon-to-be bestselling book?—”
“It’s just a first draft,” Catherine guffaws.
“A minor detail.” Kayla flicks her wrist. “We should do dinner in lieu of drinks tonight.”
“I can let Garrett and Anker know we won’t meet them at Harkey’s?—”
“Invite them. I kind of enjoy this little fivesome we have going on,” Catherine says.
