One of the other discussions Harper and I had was the invite list. She sent me a tentative list. Of course, I knew their father would be invited. There was one other person on the list who required a phone call.
“Fiona’s,” the voice said on the line.
“Hi, Harper.”
“Oh, hey, Maryellen, I hope Gage hasn’t overwhelmed you with yet another party to plan. I told him I could handle more of it than he’s letting me,” Harper said. There were voices in the background, she was obviously busy at work.
“Not at all, I’m excited to be doing it with you. And congratulations, I’m so excited for you both. So, I have a quick question. It’s about the invite list.” And then I froze. How did I do this? It was not my place to ask her not to invite someone to her party.
“I know what you’re going to say. Hold on a sec.” There were shuffling sounds and muffled voices. “Sorry, Fiona and I were working on a project with a new girl, and they were talking kinda loud. I moved to another room. I know who you’re calling about. Is it Amanda?”
The breath I was holding sounded through the phone.
“I asked Gage why he wanted her there, and he said for Chase,” Harper said. “He is so blind to what’s going on around him, Maryellen. I mean, if anything, why wouldn’t he have put Lena on the list instead? If you’ve been nervous about him knowing anything about the two of you, he doesn’t, not at all.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing he has no clue, right?” I said.
“Is it?” she asked. “I mean, if Gage knew about you guys, we could get Amanda off this list. Why is it you don’t want him knowing, if you don’t mind me asking?”
The million-dollar question.
Why?
My decision to stick with my standby answer remained.
“Harper, I just don’t think Gage would think it’s right that I’m, one, dating his brother, and two, dating someone from work.”
There was silence on the line between us.
“But you are,” she said. “The fact that you don’t want Gage to know doesn’t change that you are, am I right? So, you guys are OK with seeing each other in secret? How long will that last?”
The sweat began forming on my forehead and that rock was back in my stomach. This conversation should not be happening while I was at my desk and Gage was literally on the other side of the wall in front of me.
“I’m sorry, Maryellen, this is really none of my business.”
“No, it’s OK,” I said. “I’m the one who called you. To ask aboutyourinvite list, of all things.”
A soft chuckle came over the line.
“Can we meet for coffee one day next week? I mean, we need to talk about the party, anyway. It would be good to catch up, dontcha think?” Harper asked.
Just then, Gage’s office door opened, and his head popped out. He saw I was on the phone and stood in his doorway, waiting for me to finish.
“I would love that, Harper.”
Gage’s eyes lit up at the mention of her name. His feet were light as he made his way to the front of my desk, standing by with no patience at all. His hand went out for the headset.
“I’ll call you later to set it up, someone here wants to talk to you.” I laughed as I handed the headset over.
While my boss was otherwise engaged, I decided to head to the thirty-fifth floor to discuss some business with his brother. It was Chase’s last day in that office, and he was supposed to be packing up. His door was open, but he wasn’t in his office. The floor was alive with people who seemed to be socializing more than working. No wonder he didn’t want to move up near Gage.
His laugh cut through the voices. It came from down the hall where I found him with a group who seemed to be sending him off with a small party.
He was moving five floors, and they were throwing him a party.
Chase was definitely the more loved Parker brother. I laughed quietly as I approached the gathering.
“Mare!” he yelled when he saw me. “Want some cake?”
