14. Realizations
Realizations
"Oh, c'mon. That shit doesn't happen!" Lucinda cried out.
"It's fiction, Luce. You're supposed to suspend your belief. In this reality, it's totally believable that a rich, handsome man could fall in love with a messy-bun, no makeup girl the very second he lays eyes on her."
Claire laughed as her friend mumbled something undecipherable on her end. For tonight's movie night, they'd chosen a popular, though cheesy rom-com.
"You cannot convince me insta-love is real." Her friend continued her rant as the credits rolled. "You can't love someone you don't know. Now, insta-lust? Oh, yeah… I'm all about getting all hot and bothered by a stranger. Mm-hmm." A chomping noise followed Luce's declaration.
"Are you eating?" Claire asked. It was late, and she was already tucked up in bed ready for sleep.
"Yes. Time difference. Don't judge me."
Claire snickered. Lucinda never was one for a regular schedule. "So, speaking of weird chemistry…" Claire trailed off. She hadn't wanted to put a name to it, but the film had gotten her thinking.
She winced when something scratched across Lucinda's mic as her friend moved around to get comfortable. "Yes? Do tell."
"Okay, let me bounce something off you. There's this guy at work?—"
"Ha! About time. Is he cute?"
Claire blew her hair out of her face. "Yes, he's good-looking. But he's also confusing."
"Confusing how?"
Claire twirled her hair around her finger as she contemplated the mystery of Noah Raines.
"He's a real pain in the patootie. He's gruff and grouchy.
And distant, even when we're working together on something specific.
But then he turns around and does something sweet.
And today, he said something…" She huffed.
"I'm getting mixed signals and it's frustrating. "
"Wait. Are you talking about Mr. Grumpy Pants?"
Claire pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes squeezed shut. "Yes."
Ignoring what she was sure was Lucinda's muffled laughter, Claire shared what she learned during today's team meeting and the follow-up with Noah in her office. Heat rose to her face and she was glad this wasn't a video call. Luce would not have let a blush pass by without commenting on it.
"Hmm. He's mean to you, but you like it? I never took you for a masochist, Claire-bear." Lucinda's chuckle came through.
"He's not really mean, though. Mean is saying ugly things, which he doesn't do. He's just straightforward and says the bare minimum needed to make his point."
"Are you attracted to him?"
Claire let out a surprised laugh. "I mean, what is attraction? Other guys I've dated, I've liked. They made me laugh, and we had fun together. And the few times I've—uh, you know—I enjoyed it." She sighed. "But they never tied my stomach in knots."
She clenched her fists, then stretched her fingers wide before plunging ahead.
"Okay, here's what I know. The first time I met him, I was stupidly aware of him.
Like the world disappeared, and he was all I could see.
And now, I catch myself looking for him in the hallways, then disappointed when he's not around.
I think I'm crushing pretty hard on someone who doesn't reciprocate those feelings. "
She paused. "Then today, he said something that made me question everything."
"The 'I don't date coworkers' thing?"
"Yeah. Why would he say that?"
"Listen, if the man is setting boundaries about what he won't do, it's because he's already imagined doing it. Trust me. The gruffness? That might be him trying to keep his distance so he doesn't sweep you into his arms and kiss you silly."
Claire groaned. "Okay, no. That is not what's happening. Stop putting ideas like that in my head."
Too late. Now she'd be watching him even more closely, looking for hints he might actually like her. And what would she do with that, anyway? She knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of unwelcome attention from someone you worked with.
"Eh, you're probably right. He's a massive grouch." Lucinda gasped. "Wait—oh my god. You're in a romance trope! He's the grump and you're the sunshine."
A loud thump came through the phone, followed by Lucinda's laughter.
"Luce? You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. I laughed so hard I fell off the bed."
Claire rolled her eyes. "Just so you know, you are not making me feel better.
" Time for a topic change. "Okay, forget about Mr. Raines.
" She sat up straighter. "Are you coming for Thanksgiving or not?
The Crawford Cookers are doing a Friendsgiving.
Brinnie's organizing it, and there's gonna be a ton of food. "
Lucinda's laughter trailed off. "I really wanted to, but we're supposed to roll out a major update the week after and aren't anywhere near ready.
We're all working around the clock to get there.
This is my first night off in weeks. I'm afraid I have to miss this year.
Say hi to your dad for me, though. And Miss Brinnie! "
Claire frowned. It would have been nice to have Lucinda over for the holiday. But she knew how crazy it was when rolling out new versions, and she felt bad for her friend. "I will. Sorry you can't come. We'll plan something for another weekend. Hopefully Christmas."
"Sounds good. Now get to bed. I can hear the yawns you're trying to cover up."
"Night, Luce. Love you."
"Back at ya. Sweet dreams about Mr. Grumpy Pants."
Claire opened her mouth to respond, but Lucinda had already hung up.
"Full house." Noah laid down his cards and reached for the pile of chips. He grinned when Larry threw down his cards in disgust and Rick got up to refill his drink.
"You're lucky tonight," Larry griped.
Noah snorted. "Or you're unlucky. You've been folding hand after hand." He grabbed the deck and shuffled for a new round. Technically Rick was the next dealer, but he could start the shuffle for him while the man got the drinks situated.
Jenny, her legs draped over the arms of the easy chair in Rick's temporary living room, chimed in. "Larry's perpetually unlucky." She turned another page of her book.
"Hey, at least I'm still in the game. You flamed out half an hour ago." He patted the pockets on his shirt and grinned when Jenny flipped him off. "I need a smoke break. Five minutes?"
"Yep. Bio break, everyone." Noah stood and stretched. "Hey, Jack, thanks for joining us tonight. I didn't know you played poker." He addressed the big guy from the Houston IT department whom he'd met before, but never spent time with.
"Yeah, we've held tournaments before at my place. When Larry told me y'all play regularly, I thought I'd see if you guys wanted to join us the next time we have one."
Rick handed him a beer, and he nodded thanks. "How does a tourney work at your house?"
"Similar to here with the twenty-dollar buy in. We set up several tables and randomly assign you to one, then you play until you're out. Once someone wins each table, we go to round two."
Noah moved to the kitchen, where everyone had chipped in for snacks.
The layout in Rick's place matched his. Monthly rent for corporate housing was cheaper in Houston than paying weekly hotel rates for the group, so they all had one-bedroom apartments at a complex in the Galleria area.
Their living quarters were within walking distance of eating places and other conveniences, and—because not everyone got a rental car—they carpooled to work every day.
Five minutes later, Larry was back, and the next hand was in play. Noah folded and watched Rick take Larry's remaining chips.
"When are we going to invite the little hottie to our poker night?" Larry asked.
Here we go , Noah thought as he glared at Larry. It happened every time. Once Larry was out of the game, he grew bored. And when he was bored, he liked to stir up shit with everyone. Most days, it was all good fun, but sometimes he picked the wrong person or the wrong topic to poke at.
Jack's brows lifted in surprise and Del grunted as he dealt the next hand.
"I'm already here, darling," Jenny spoke up from the couch again, then giggled. Noah spied her empty margarita glass on the floor and realized she'd practically inhaled her last drink.
"No more tequila for you, Jen," he said.
"Yes, father." More giggles sounded from the couch and Noah shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm talking about the redhead. We should invite her. I'd like to take some of her money." Larry waggled his eyebrows.
Del kept his eyes on his cards and delivered a deadpan response. "I'm sure that's what you want to take from her."
"Enough, guys. She's part of the team. And do you really think she would blend in with all our drinking, smoking, and cursing?
" Noah grumped. He couldn't imagine Claire being comfortable in this "boys only" environment.
He checked himself, wondering when Jenny had become one of the boys in his mind.
Perhaps Claire would enjoy hanging out with them.
If nothing else, she could join Jenny when she eventually got bored with their shenanigans.
Larry frowned at him. "Since when are you against mixing it up with colleagues? I seem to remember a time when you?—"
"Fold!" He glared at Larry, effectively shutting him down. The man's memory was longer than an elephant's, for Pete's sake. He threw his cards down, then picked up the second deck and shuffled while Jack and Rick eyed each other over their hands.
"Are y'all talking about Claire Broussard?" Jack asked. "I've seen her around the office, but haven't interacted with her. Developers and server guys rarely cross paths. How is she doing?"
Noah considered Jack. He was huge—like American football huge—but known for being a kind soul.
Rick answered. "She's doing well. She has contributed nicely to the MADS update project in the two months she's been here."
"She's got a lotta hair," Larry added. "I bet it's silky. I keep wanting to touch it. Did you see that maneuver with her lipstick at lunch last month? Holy sh?—"
"Enough!" Noah barked. "She's our teammate. Show a little respect."
"Geez, Noah." Jenny put her book down and studied him. "What's with you? Larry just needs to get laid. And also, Claire does have pretty hair. Even I want to touch it." She pulled a pillow from the couch and launched it at Larry. "Also, Larry, that's disgusting. Don't be a douche."
Noah stood up again and walked to the kitchen area. "You guys are drunk."
Rick finished the round, going all in and taking both Jack's and Del's chips. "And the more drunk they are, the more I win. Just you and me now, Raines. You ready for me to take your money too?" Rick's calm demeanor steadied him and he sat back down.
Jack stood up. "I hate to lose and run, but it's a long drive home for me, so I'm heading out. Thanks for the game. I'll let you know when I'm hosting the next tourney if y'all are in town."
After seeing Jack off, they played a few more hands before Noah lost his last chips to Rick. Larry stowed the cards and poker chips in his case, while Del woke up Jenny, who'd fallen asleep in the chair. Those three left while Noah stayed to help Rick clean up.
"So," Rick said.
Noah raised an eyebrow at him and wiped the table. When he said nothing further, Noah stood still and waited.
"What's going on between you and the redhead?" Rick asked.
Noah stiffened. "Nothing."
Rick rinsed out the blender and loaded it into the dishwasher. "Sure about that? You've been awfully agitated for the last three weeks."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Rick laughed softly. "Okay." He placed the last glass on the top rack and reached under the cabinet for the soap. "I saw the adjustment move you made after the infamous lipstick trick."
Shit. Noah hung his head and silently weighed his options. Deny everything or spill the beans? Rick was his friend. He'd shared his fears about Peggy's pregnancy. And he was a good listener. Perhaps Rick could help him figure out how to handle this ridiculous fascination with the tiny ginger.
He looked up and watched Rick close the dishwasher and push the buttons to set the cycle, quietly waiting for him to decide.
"I'm fucked. I knew it the moment I met her.
" He paced, twisting the dishrag as he spoke.
"I just—" Noah blew out a breath. "Why? Why her?
And I don't think she knows. How does she not feel the tension between us? "
"Are you sure she doesn't? Hand me that rag before you destroy it." Noah tossed the dishrag to Rick and watched him wipe down the counters. "There was a lot of tension when she started due to the circumstances of her hiring. It could still feel the same to her, you know. Why don't you talk to her?"
"What's the point of that? We work together. Nothing's going to happen."
"Mm."
"What does that mean?" Noah stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his chest. He raised an eyebrow and waited for his friend to elaborate.
"I think something needs to happen, because you've been a bear to work with. You need to work off your excess adrenaline, in some form or fashion, or it's going to explode at the worst possible time."
Noah released a harsh breath and flexed his hands before balling them into fists. "You're right. I don't know what the appropriate move is."
"Try being nice to her instead of biting her head off?—"
"When did I bite her head off?" Noah asked, exasperated.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure that day you were explaining the site codes to her qualifies.
" Noah grimaced at the memory as Rick continued, "Anyway, as I was saying, try being nice and see what happens.
Maybe she'll set the tone for you. If nothing else, it would ease the team's restlessness.
They feel your stress, even if they don't understand it. "
Noah ran his hands over his face. "Shit. I hadn't realized."
"Hey, that's why I'm here. Call me sensei ." Rick grinned.
"Nice." Noah shook his head, then sighed. "I actually feel better talking about it. Thanks, mate."
"Anytime."