Tears rolled down my cheeks and I clutched my gut. I’d inherited my lack of swearing from my mom, but like me, when the mood took her, she’d have a lapse and all manner of cussing would spill forth. And every time it did, I would end up collapsed on the floor and gasping for breath from my amusement.
“—you knew he would do that, you rotten—”
It was too much. My stomach hurt, cramps forming as I struggled to breathe, laughter spilling over, but making me sound like I was deranged.
“—toad. You think that’s funny? Just you wait till I tell Tanner what I caught you doing when you were sixteen with that Ken doll.”
My laughter stopped abruptly and I gasped in horror. She may as well have threatened to cut off my balls and been an inch away from doing it, my reaction was that quick. “You wouldn’t?”
She stood in the open doorway, hair disheveled, arms crossed over her chest, and looking so happy with herself. I looked at her and then at Tanner, knowing he’d heard her. How could he not have? It was time to act fast. “I’ll tell Aunt Betsy what really happened to the candlesticks that were ‘damaged’ when you moved.” I’d pulled out the big guns as I eyed her warily, wondering how far she’d take this.
Mom’s eyes rounded, growing as big as saucers as we stared each other off. She opened her mouth to speak but Dad’s voice got there first. “All righty then, and welcome to the family, Tanner.” I heard a small thud like sound, as if Dad was giving Tanner a commiserative pat on the back. I would have looked, but there was no chance I was letting Mom out of my line of sight just yet. She was standing right by the fruit bowl, and everybody knows fruit’s just ammunition. I seriously would not put it past her.
Tanner’s laughter swept over me, melting my tense shoulders a little and reminding me I was supposed to be the sane one. If this carried on, I’d only have myself to blame if after this week he decided to run. “Okay.” He clapped his hands, humor evident just in that single word. “Is it safe to cut through and start the grill?”
Mom recovered quicker than I did. She patted down her hair and smiled sweetly. “Of course, Tanner. Lead the way and I’ll help. It’ll give us the chance to have a chat.”
I focused hard on my mom, willing her to look again in my direction, trying to warn her to not appear insane, and to please God, not share the Ken doll story.
* * *
It wasmidweek and had been a pretty crappy one at that, at least work wise, and I was desperate to get home. Monday I’d had to put Mr. Pollack’s sweet dog, Bessie, to sleep, which was a heartache; Tuesday I’d felt decidedly uncomfortable when Scott had started the process of internal reviews, which meant he’d breathed down my neck during an operation and a couple of appointments; and to top things off, there was a new email from Denver. He had already delayed his return once, making my time at the hospital increasingly uncomfortable with Scott’s cutting remarks and looks of disgust once more becoming a regular occurrence, but the email sneering at me from my inbox left me catching my breath. Denver was officially retiring and had announced Scott as the official manager, and new director, since he was apparently buying into the business.
Lauren had given me a smile of commiseration when just before we’d attempted to leave work that night, Scott had called the whole team for an impromptu meeting. She didn’t know the full extent of Scott’s bigotry, but she was observant enough to know that something wasn’t right between the two of us.
Since that one time at the bar months earlier, nothing as blatant had happened, which was a relief. There’d been no more cancellations, no outward vile remarks. But his looks, his tone, his general attitude when “dealing” with me, as truly that was what it felt like, as though I was an inconvenience, made work a challenge. I was no longer as eager to start the day, becoming increasingly anxious and frustrated by the hostility I would encounter.
Across the room, I watched as Scott smugly announced his new appointment and accepted the congratulatory backslaps and handshakes. I couldn’t not reach out to shake his hand and offer a nod of congrats. The difficulty was the rest of the staff liked him. The self-assured turd had charmed them all into believing he was a good guy. But I knew so much better.
I struggled to not flinch when he gripped my hand just a little too tightly and fought hard not to then wipe his touch from my palm. This guy was a creep. He gave Joffrey, the psycho fromGame of Thrones,a run for his money. Admittedly that was probably a slight exaggeration unless of course Scott headed home to kill and maim, but still, he left me wanting to scrub his nastiness off me.
I headed back toward the door, ready to exit as soon as was appropriate to do so, Lauren close on my heels. Coming up beside me, she pinched the skin at my waist, causing me to flinch. “Hey!” I glanced down to her and was immediately confused by her raised brows. “What?”
“Did you not hear?”
I shook my head. “Hear what?” All I wanted to do was to leave, head home to where I knew my mom was cooking my favorite, and cuddle up with Tanner before I sucked him off.
“Drinks on Friday.”
I tilted my head and frowned. “Who, us?” I couldn’t remember her arranging anything with me.
“Nope.” She shook her head and then indicated with a small flick in the direction of Scott. “The new big man expects us all to be available on Friday for celebratory drinks.”
My stomach dipped. There was no way I was going to give up any of my free time to Scott.
“It’s compulsory.”
I snorted. “How does he figure that?” I whisper-hissed. Who the heck did this douche think he was? Nobody could make heading out for drinks compulsory.
“It’s at twelve thirty, so still in work time. He’s shutting up shop, and has a couple of on-call doctors available.” Her tone was low as she shared this with me. How could I have not heard Scott say anything?
I groaned. “You’re serious, right?”
With a scrunch of her nose, Lauren nodded. “As a heart attack.” She placed her hand on my forearm and gave me a small squeeze. “At least you finish work early on Fridays though, so you can start your weekend before the rest of us suckers.”
This was true. There was a small ray of light at least.
“Better than hanging out with some of these boring blockheads.” She threw me a wide smirk and I laughed loudly.
