Page 57 of So Much More
“You and Randall, huh?” My co-worker Brian smirks at me from my office doorway on Monday morning.
My heart stops. I forgot Brian saw Randall and me holding hands in the parking garage after work on Friday, and I don’t know how to respond.
“Cat got your tongue?” He steps into my office, takes a seat on the couch, and makes himself comfortable. Brian asked me out soon after I started working at Carter-Jenkins, and I turned him down, but he didn’t make things weird and has always treated me with respect. Usually I enjoy chatting with him, but his presence is making me nervous since I don’t know what to tell him.
“I like Randall,” he says. “He’s a good guy.”
“He is,” I finally say. “We … uh, we’ve been spending some time together.”
“I’m surprised you’re not being more open about this. You’re not worried about what people will think about you dating a co-worker, are you?”
“No,” I say, maybe too quickly. “We’re taking things slow. Not much to tell at this point.”
“Hmmm.”
Brian obviously doesn’t believe me, but there’s nothing I can do about it. There’s a zero percent chance I’ll tell him the whole truth.
“Did you need something else?” I ask him pointedly.
“No.” He stands. “But I can take a hint.” As he walks out, he adds, “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I’m not ashamed,” I call after him, but he’s gone.
I give him thirty seconds to return to his office, and then I’m out the door like a shot, headed to Leslie’s office. I don’t bother knocking, and I swing the door shut behind me.
Leslie sits back in her chair and studies me as I take my usual seat in the plush purple chair by her desk.
“You need something?” she finally asks.
“Brian thinks I’m dating Randall.”
She nods slowly. “Okay. What did you tell him?”
“We’re are spending time together and taking things slow.”
She shrugs. “You didn’t lie. There’s nothing wrong with telling people that.”
“I don’t think he believed me.”
“Why do you care if he believes you, especially when you told him the truth?”
“He also suggested I’m ashamed.”
“Ashamed of what?”
“He didn’t specify, but I’m afraid he thinks I’m ashamed of dating Randall.”
“Are you?” she asks. “I mean, you aren’t technically dating anymore, but are you ashamed of him?”
“No!”
“Not after what he did this weekend?”
“No,” I say in a much softer tone of voice.
“What if everyone here knew what he did?”
“Still no.”
