Looking around, my office was something I was grateful for. My brother did a fantastic job with it. He knew my style and the design was perfect. He did threaten to not put in a wet bar, but he pussied out. It’s not as big as his, but it’s in the corner, fully stocked.
“Knock, knock.” The girl who walked through my door could bring me to my knees. We gravitated to one another like fireflies to a light. Our embrace in the middle of the room was something we couldn’t do freely before, and I was thankful for it now.
“You weren’t at your desk when I walked by earlier.” My arms stayed around her waist, not wanting to let her go.
She pulled away before she answered.
“Yeah, I had a few things to do outside the office before my meeting at the coffee shop with Harper.” She increased the distance between us. “Mallory seems really nice. And Gage is happy with her performance so far. I mean, it’s only day one, butit can be overwhelming. It’s a good sign she’s not running to the restroom crying.”
I’d learned that not pushing her was the best strategy. Getting used to showing any type of affection while at the office would take time for her.
“You and Harper are planning the party, right?”
She nodded. Her attention was pulled to her phone. She held it in a shaky hand as her eyes blinked rapidly at whatever message she read.
“I have to go,” she said as she spun on her heels and started for the door. No explanation, no nothing.
As she reached the door, I grasped her hand and turned her toward me. A pair of red-rimmed eyes stared up at me. “Hey, what happened? Are you OK?”
Her lips trembled.
“I missed a meeting with Gage.”
The strength with which she pulled her hand from mine alarmed me. The door flung open, and she briskly walked out.
“Will I see you later, Maryellen?” Mallory asked her as Maryellen flew by her new coworker’s desk.
Maryellen ignored the question and hurried across to the other side of the floor. I was in hot pursuit. Before I could reach her, she made it to Gage’s office and was already knocking.
“Come in,” Gage said.
I thought she would have at least looked at me before going in.
There was no way I wasn’t following her.
“Hey, Maryellen,” Gage said.
“Gage, sir, I am so sorry I missed our meeting,” Maryellen said. Her words were a plea as if she’d committed a crime. Her head hung and she sunk into a chair, defeated.
“It’s OK,” he said at the same time I belted out, “It wasn’t her fault.”
Unaware I’d entered the office, Maryellen turned toward me and squeezed her eyes tightly closed, as if hoping to make this all go away.
Gage came from around his desk, unclear what was going on as he looked between us. He lifted his chin toward her, silently asking me what was wrong with her. My shoulders went up in response.
“Mare.” I approached her from behind and put my hand gently on her shoulder. “It’s OK, babe.”
Her gaze met mine. The sadness in her eyes and across her face broke me. This was more than her missing a meeting.
“Maryellen,” Gage said. “If this has anything to do with the text I sent you, I’m sorry if I upset you. It wasn’t a formal meeting we had on the calendar or anything. We said we would talk after your meeting with Harper, that’s all.”
She cleared her throat before looking at her boss. I watched as a mask concealed her anguish, a wall between her and us.
“I guess I misunderstood, I’m sorry.” Her words came out stronger than expected.
Gage didn’t know what to do. He knew as well as I did this was unusual for her. He scratched at his neck yet never took his eyes from her. The amount of concern he exhibited was admirable. I appreciated it.
But it wasn’t going to help tell us what was going on with her.
