What started as a bubbly social media liaison willing to help out the new man on campus has led to a friendship unlike any I’ve had before. If I go a day without seeing her, it’s been a bad one. She’s the first I call when I need to talk something out and the only person I trust to give me an honest answer—my opinionated daughter aside.
Keeley’s my rock, and I’ll forever be grateful for that first day she hid in my office.
“Why are you here so late on a Tuesday? I thought you went home,” I ask, taking a step closer.
“I did. I took a couple of hours off this morning to take Mom to an appointment. Iwasgoing to let myself have the time off without making it up, since I’ve well and truly earned it. But when I was sitting around at home, doomscrolling and being hit with far too many reels on anti-aging products, I decided tocome back, needing to catch up on a few things I missed ahead of the sponsorship meeting tomorrow.”
“You know you must have clicked on something about anti-aging for them to start showing you reels.”
“I do. And I did. I was curious about my skin-care routine. I’ve been noticing more fine lines lately and I wanted to get ahead of it.” She frowns as she pats the skin beside her eyes.
“Never one to let anything catch you off guard, are you?” I bite back a smirk, and Keeley’s infectious laughter returns, making the lines on her face more prominent on her high cheekbones, still looking as perfect as ever.
I can’t imagine anyone suggesting Keeley needs anti-aging anything. Least of all me.
She tucks her deep red hair behind one ear as her laughter softens to a smile, the dip of her dimples drawing me in.
“You know me. I’m always one step in front of the ball. I even knew you’d be here.” She points my way and I feign shock.
“Really? And yet, you jumped when I called out.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t expect you to throw open the door like that.”
“I heard a crash; I was worried.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
“So…you came running to save me?”
“I didn’t know it wasyouspecifically.”
“Fair enough. Are you going to be here much longer?”
“Probably. You?”
“A couple of hours.”
“My office or yours?”
“Always yours.” Keeley’s quick to respond, grabbing her bag from the floor. “I call dibs on the couch.”
“As I’ve said many times before, you are missing out. My desk chair is like a cloud on your back.”
“I know. And ergonomically tested.” She bounces her eyebrows, and a chuckle bubbles out of me. I’ve clearly talked about this chair often.
“Get in my office. I’ll grab us some snacks.” I smirk as I walk past her and she waves, singing her thanks as she glides toward my door.
“Don’t come back without chocolate,” she calls out, and I wave over my head without turning around.
“I never do.”Does she think I don’t know her by now?
Chapter Three
KEELEY
Iinhale deeply as I move through Sal’s office, letting his spicy cologne relax me as I make myself comfortable. I swear I work better here than in my own office, as though his scent triggers my productive mind. It’s probably why I end up here whenever I’m working late or when we’re both here on a Storm day off.Which is almost a weekly occurrence.
“Are you in the mood for milk or dark chocolate?” Sal asks when he reappears in the doorway, his hands behind his back.
I smile up at him before lowering my gaze and tilting my head, attempting to see around him. “Are you trying to make the vending machine candy sound more decadent than it is?”
