She leans back, folds her arms, and studies the ceiling, as if she’s searching for divine answers. “Okay, look.” She finally meets my gaze. “I want to be supportive, and I really do mean it when I say I’m not here to judge, but I have to ask—are you out of your mind? I mean,threeguys? And they’re your bosses?”
“Technically, yes, but they want to make it like, official? And transparent? And not a secret anymore?”
Riley shakes her head. “And you think this will work?”
I grab my towel from the rack and then wrap it around my body. “I know it’s crazy, but everyone seems happy so far…”
“Yeah, I mean, you look happy.” Her tone is difficult to read, as she picks at the hem of her shirt. “You look like you just got back from a spa weekend where you’ve been pampered from head to toe for 72 hours straight.”
“That’s exactly how I feel.” I laugh, but she doesn’t join me.
She’s still not convinced. “You’re a grown-up, babe. If you want to shack up with three absurdly hot men who sign your paycheck, I guess I can’t stop you.”
I let out a sharp exhale. “Thanks, I think?”
“I’m just worried about you.” She frowns. “Please be careful and protect yourself. People at the office will talk when they find out. How do you all plan to handle that? They’re not just going to throw you to the wolves, right?”
“They won’t.” I feel myself growing defensive. I don’t know if I want to cry or laugh, but I hate the anxiety that’s now flooding my system.
“I hope not.” Riley stands and lets out a sigh before giving me a big hug. “I’m glad you didn’t disappear and die. I think we all need to have dinner tonight. So I can look them all in the eye. I need to know they’re not messing around with my girl.”
“Dinner?” I echo her, my eyes growing wide. “Tonight?”
“Yep.” She pops the‘p’sound in the word. “I can’t wait.”
“Me either,” I say. “I’m sure the guys will be excited.”
At least, I hope they’ll be.
Chapter 30
Beck
This is the latest I’ve been to work in a long time, and that’s saying something. However, there are alsozeroregrets on my end. Maddy is worth being late to work every fucking day. Though I doubt that this is something we’re going to be able to keep up.
People will definitely notice.
And for that reason, I take the long route, slinking down the long hallway that overlooks the construction site next door. I know that Adrian and Caleb probably slipped in earlier than me this exact same way.
I made it a point to wait until almost noon, trying to stagger our arrivals in a way that makes it less noticeable. It might be all in vain, I don’t know. Caleb and Adrian are never late, and Maddy isn’t either.
Not like me.
I pull open the side door onto the floor and slip through, intending to head straight to my office.
As soon as the door closes behind me, though, there’s Marissa, holding a stack of papers and glaring at me.
Fuck.
She blocks the entrance to my office, her focus entirely fixed on me. “You’re super late,” she says. The words are accusatory, and her eyes scan me from head to toe, studying my appearance like it might give her some kind of insight.
“Shit happens,” I snap, and then go to step around her. “I need to get busy.”
She steps aside, but only a foot, causing me to have to literally pass her, running into the wall in order not to brush up against her.
And she follows me in.
“I don’t think we have anything to discuss,” I say, pulling out my laptop and opening it. I make it a point not to look at her, in hopes it might encourage her to stop running her mouth.
