Ava
Itake a seat at my desk and pause for a second to catch my breath.
Across the way, a woman on one of the other teams glares at me.
What the hell is her problem? I return her stare and refuse to blink until she does.
As she returns her attention to her computer, her lips are white with rage. I’ll have to keep an eye on her.
“What’s up?” a young Hispanic man asks as he leans against the door to my cube.
“Usual first-day madness. What’s up with you?”
“Carlos Alvarez, at your service,” he says with a low bow. “The woman who used to occupy your cube was my work wife, and I’m interviewing for a replacement. I wondered if you might be interested in the job.”
I’m instantly amused by him. He’s a total hipster in his skinny khakis, formfitting dress shirt and funky glasses. His dark hair is styled into a dramatic wave on top and shaved close on the sides. “What’s the job description?”
He comes in and takes a seat in my visitor chair. “Coffee debrief in the morning, regular lunches, office gossip, Friday night happy hour and emotional support for all personal and professional drama.”
“What number wife would I be?”
“Two,” he says, his expression glum. “Tanya divorced me after a five-year marriage when she got a better offer from another company. She hit the road and never looked back.”
I press my lips together so I won’t be tempted to laugh. “Answer a question for me, and I’ll consider your proposal.”
“Anything for you.”
“Blondie across the hall… No, don’t look! She’ll know I’m talking about her. I thought you knew how to do office gossip?”
“Darling, I am the boss of office gossip.”
“Why’s she glaring at me?”
He leans forward and lowers his voice considerably. “Because she wants to be the one to heal Miles’s broken heart, but you were the one chosen to work on his passion project.”
“So, they’re dating?”
He snorts. “She wishes. To my knowledge, Miles hasn’t dated anyone since Emerson died.”
That makes me incredibly sad for him.
“Steer clear of Catty Caitlyn. She’s a venomous viper.”
“Good to know.”
“About our work marriage…”
I already know I’d love nothing more than to be best friends with this entertaining, comical man, but I’m going to make him work for it. “I’ll consider a thirty-day probationary period. Bring your A game, my friend.”
“Oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong.”
I snort with laughter. “Get out of here. I’ve got interviews to line up at the Today show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“I didn’t realize you were a name-dropping bitch. Now that I’ve seen your mean side, I may have to reconsider my proposal.”
“Or I could offer to bring you with me to the Today show… If you’re willing to carry my purse for me, that is.”
He grins widely. “How do you take your coffee, my love?”
“Large and full of cream.”
He shudders dramatically before he sweeps out of my cube. “This’ll be a match made in heaven.”
So far, other than Catty Caitlyn, I love this place. I take one second to dash off a quick text to Eric.
Guess what project I’ve been assigned to? Star of the High Seas family group lawsuit publicity. Can’t make this up!
He responds within seconds. Oh damn. Are you sure you ought to be doing that?
Absolutely not, but it’s a great opportunity, so I’m trying to stay focused on that.
Should you maybe ask the shrink if it’s a good idea?
Yeah, probably. I’ll hit her up.
Sounds like a plan. Can’t stop thinking about you and the best weekend ever (not counting parental meltdown).
Me too.
Dinner tonight to celebrate your new job?
Sure, I’ll text you when I’m leaving.
I’ll be waiting.
He leaves me feeling happy and excited to see him and moved by his concern for me.
The relief of no longer having to carry my heavy burden alone continues to be pervasive days after I unloaded on three different people.
I feel a thousand times better now that Eric knows, and I appreciate that he didn’t run for his life from me after hearing about what happened with John. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he had.
But he didn’t, and no matter what happens between us, I’ll always be thankful for that.
Eric
I’m concerned about Ava being assigned to the family group project just when she’s starting to show signs of having survived her own trauma.
The weekend with her was nothing short of blissful.
I haven’t felt that good in well, ever… Even when things were fantastic with Brittany, it was never easy the way it is with Ava.
I don’t have to think before I speak with her or weigh the potential for fallout if I express an unpopular opinion.
It’s a fucking relief to be completely myself with Ava.
And yes, I realize now, with the power of hindsight, that I was never completely myself with Brittany, which should’ve been a huge red flag.
It’s nice to think that maybe I learned something from that debacle, which would give it meaning it’s lacked up to now.
If the nightmare with Brittany was leading me to Ava, that also gives it meaning.
The phone on my desk buzzes with a call from my assistant, Taylor.
I hit the intercom button. “What’s up?”
“Your brother is here to see you.”
He is? Rob has never been to my office. “Send him in. Thanks.”
I stand as Rob comes through the door, carrying two cups of coffee and wearing a conciliatory expression. He hands me one of the coffees. “I come in peace to apologize profusely for being a total asshole.”
I take the coffee from him. I’ve already forgiven him, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him off easy. What fun would that be? “I know you can’t help it sometimes.”
“That’s what my wife said, too.” He makes himself comfortable on the sofa by the window and props his feet on the coffee table.
I go over to join him. “I thought you’d be putting out fires at work today.”
“The fire hasn’t struck yet. The media hasn’t caught wind of the governor’s marital meltdown. I believe we’re in what’s commonly referred to as the calm before the storm.” He glances at me. “I’m really and truly sorry for what I said about Brittany. It was totally out of line and uncalled for.”
“Yes, it was, but it wasn’t entirely untrue.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “I’ve allowed myself to wallow in that pit far too long.”
“What she did goes beyond egregious to downright cruel. You didn’t deserve what she did to you.”
“No, I didn’t, but there were warning signs I chose to ignore.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself in any way for what she did.”
“Definitely not. I’m just pointing out that there were things I chose to ignore that with hindsight were a big deal.”
“I didn’t come here to force you to revisit that nightmare, and I’m sorry if something I said brought it all back. That’s the last fucking thing I’d ever want to do to you. I hope you know that.”
“I do. It was heat of the moment. I’m over it.”
“I’d understand if you wanted to punch it out the way we would’ve back in the day.”
“Nah. I’ve got better uses for my hands these days than beating the shit out of you.”
“A. You never once beat the shit out of me. B. Does that mean you’re using your hands on my sister-in-law?”
“A. Yes, I did, too, beat the shit out of you, and you know it. And B. None of your fucking business.”
“I knew it. I told Camille you two were getting busy.”
I smirk at him. “We weren’t getting busy until my brother hurt my feelings, and she offered comfort.”
He chokes on a mouthful of coffee and just manages to contain it before it would’ve gone all over the white dress shirt he’s wearing with a blue pinstripe suit and red tie.
“So, thanks for that, and if you breathe a word of it to her sister or anyone else, I will beat the shit out of you, and I will make it hurt. That you can count on.”
“I won’t say anything. I promise.”
I trust Rob, Amy and Jules more than anyone in this world, and I believe him when he says he won’t spill my secrets.
“So look at us,” he says, “married to and dating sisters. Kinda funny when you think about it.”
“And a potential minefield.”
“How do you figure?”
“I feel like the stakes are higher for Ava and me because of you and Camille.”
“Don’t put that pressure on yourself. We’re thrilled the two of you are hanging out. If it doesn’t work out, for whatever reason, that’s between you guys.”
“You say that now, but if I were to screw it up somehow and hurt your sister-in-law, that’s apt to cause trouble for you with your wife.”
“Are you planning to screw it up or hurt her?”
“Hell no. But we both know how these things can go bad.”
“It doesn’t always go bad, Eric. You know that as well as I do. Don’t let one chick ruin your sense of optimism. Ava is a great person. She’s nothing like Brittany. And you’re a pretty good guy, too. I told my wife that her sister couldn’t ask for better than my brother.”
“You did? Really?”
“Of course I did. Ava is lucky to have you, and by now, I’m sure she realizes that.”
“Do me a favor and don’t add to the already considerable pressure on both of us by making it into something it’s not. Not yet, anyway.”
He holds up his hands. “No pressure from me.”
“What’s the latest with the parents?”
“Haven’t heard a word from either of them. Amy was up there last night with Dad, and she said he’s surprisingly fine. She thinks maybe he’s known this was coming for quite some time and wasn’t as blindsided as we were.”
“Lucky him.”
“I know, right? I just can’t fathom why she would do it that way.”
“Maybe she’s tried the subtle approach in the past with no success.”
“Maybe,” he concedes. “It’s not like it’s a newsflash to any of us that they weren’t exactly happy.”
“At least we know why he isn’t interested in reelection or higher office.”
“That, too.”
“How bad will it be when the press catches wind of this?”
“As bad as it gets.”
Ava
I’m wrapping up my first day at FergusonMain when I get a text from Camille.
Call me 911.
What the hell? I find her at the top of my Favorites list and put through the call.
“Thank God you got my text.”
“What’s wrong?”