Page 157 of Glitched Play

I look across the glass wall separating my office from Maci’s. She doesn’t know yet. She has mentioned Margarita Night twice since the launch, not because of the margaritas, but because she was looking forward to belonging. To being included in something casual and easy, the kind of belonging other people seem to find without trying.

My phone buzzes again.

Annika: Someone let Witt know so he can tell his girlfriend! Feels so weird to say Witt has a girlfriend.

Me: I’m here.

Parker: Should we add Maci to the siblings chat? Or is that a step you’re not ready to take.

I’m ready but that’s valuable information that I’m not ready for them to have.

Me: Aren’t you supposed to be practicing? Home opener next week.

Birdie: Rain check next week?

Everyone agrees.

I don't. Because it’s Maci’s decision on whether she wants to go next week.

I know Maci will be disappointed. I pause, lean against my window looking out over the city. It’s a slightly different view than the penthouse and I don’t appreciate it enough. It faces west and the sunsets are fantastic. It gives me an idea. I tap out a message to Dara, knowing exactly what I’m going to do.

As I step into Maci’s office, I smile at the new name plaque. Managing Partner.

She looks up with that smile that's begun appearing whenever she notices me first.

"Everything okay?" She looks up with that smile that makes me feel like there’s a glitch in my heart.

"Yes."

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The one where you've already solved something I don't know is a problem."

Accurate.

I walk around her desk, not the one that was already here. It was too sleek and modern. She needed one with lots of drawers. Mainly so she can throw everything in there when I walk in. When I interviewed her, I thought she was neat. The first week she tried so hard for everything to have a place, but in the end, her creativity won out.

“Witt?”

She looks up at me with those amber eyes.

"Margarita Night is postponed."

Her shoulders fall before she catches herself.

"Oh."

"I know you were looking forward to it."

"It's okay,” she says as the corners of her mouth turn upside down

"It isn't. Noelle and Sutton’s kids are sick and Birdie has to go to Nashville to record."

She waves a hand. "I understand," she says smiling, much too quickly.

One thing about Maci is, she’s polite, but I’ve become remarkably good at recognizing all of Maci’s moods and emotions. This is disappointment disguised as maturity.