In his office, Salinger is not pacing. More unnerving, he’s just standing there by his desk, watching me.
Jess crosses her arms. “Look, I can’t believe I’m offering this, but Lauren can come.”
“I don’t understandwhy you’re not going to a club or a bar to pick up guys. A movie night is so lame,” Lauren whines.
I check the car’s mirrors for signs of Jaxon. It isn’t abnormal for me to go home then return to the office. I’m planning on driving to the office, going into the parking garage, then driving out again to try throwing him off thetrail. Jaxon won’t think it suspicious, and hopefully, he won’t follow me to Jess’s apartment.
“We’re having margaritas on a work night. We’re living on the edge.”
“You are so old.”
I’ve only been in the car with her for three minutes, and I am already seriously regretting inviting my little sister.
“I’ve skipped trying to hold onto my youth. I’m ready to be a fifty-something divorced lady who wears New Balance shoes to the grocery store and answers the door for the cute FedEx guy in her bathrobe. What’s wrong with Mexican and Reese Witherspoon movies?”
“It’s lame!”
“Reese Witherspoon is way better than any smelly, expensive club.”
“Oh my gawwwd.” Lauren draws out the last word. “Ugh, Amy. Look!”
“I’m driving, Lauren,” I remind my sister when she tries to stick her phone, displaying Amy’s latest Instagram post, in my face.
“He took her to the same hotel he used to take me.”
“I’m sure Kenny also took his wife there.”
“No.” Lauren sniffs. “He didn’t. It was our thing.” She reaches to change the radio station. Hip-hop music blares out of the car’s speakers.
I let out a loud sigh as I head down the street to the Rainier Equity office tower, backlit by the setting sun.
In Lauren’s lap, Pepper echoes the sigh.
“Seriously! Amy’s not even showing. She’s not that far along, and she’s just trying to make her baby bump look bigger than it actually is. Oh my god, like, who are you looking for?” Lauren demands as I drive into the parkingdeck then slow to a crawl, not wanting to park and cause questions but just linger and run out the clock.
“No one.”
“Yummy!” Lauren crows as we approach the elevator bank where Salinger and another man with his same coloring are arguing.
Cursing, I duck my head down as the car crawls by.
Please don’t see me, please don’t see me.I send up a silent prayer.
Lauren, who cannot take a hint, blatantly turns around in her seat to stare behind her. “I knew it!” She jabs me in the side. “You have a crush on your boss.”
“I do not,” I hiss as I circle the parking deck, hoping I can string it out so Salinger drives out before me.
“You came here to creep on your hot boss! You slut!” Cackling, my sister grabs my arm.
“Salinger? No way.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Just habit. You know how people are so used to taking a certain route that they automatically go that way?”
“Uh-huh.” Lauren isn’t buying it.
“So has Amy said anything about an engagement party?” I quickly change the subject. That thankfully sets Lauren off, and she forgets all about Salinger as we head to the Mexican restaurant.
