Denver:Are you kidding me? The only person who knows we’re not allowed to listen to modern music is Allie. That most certainly counts as a secret.
Shepard:Fine. I think it’s a cop-out, but I’ll allow it.
Shepard:I’m curious though…what kind of music did you think I listen to?
Denver:I don’t know…Justin Bieber? Yeah, you totally seem like you have Bieber fever.
Shepard:I’m starting to rethink our wedding album…
Denver:You said forever, Cap.
Shepard:Forever, Bucky. Forever.
Seven
Shepard
“I’m here to see Denny.”
The receptionist sitting behind the counter drops the pen he’s holding, and the phone glued to his ear almost slips from his grasp as his jaw hits the floor.
“I am going to need to call you back, Henry. There’s a…well, someone important is here and I’m sure his time is worth a lot more than yours.” He slams the phone down on the receiver and beams up at me. “How may I help you, dear?”
“Good morning…” I glance down at the nameplate on his desk. “Eric. I’m here to see Denny.”
“Denny?” He purses his lips. “Ah, yes. Miss Andrews?” He leans forward, moving the pen between his fingers with curious, excited eyes. “Are you on her appointment book for the day?”
I quirk a brow. “I’m not, but I have a feeling I can talk you into making an exception for me.”
He laughs, tossing the pen onto the calendar covering his desk and pushing his chair back to stand. “You’d be right. I’ll take you to her.” He struts around the desk. “Follow me.”
Eric leads me down a hallway filled with fingers clacking against keyboards, shouts for more coffee, and a flurry of people bustling from desk to desk.
Tucked away in a corner in the back of the building, Denny’s head is bent over her laptop, her eyes glued to the screen.
It reminds me of college, the two of us working on the school paper together.
I’d have to talk my dick down every day watching her work her magic in that computer lab. It didn’t matter that she ignored me every chance she got; that never stopped me from watching her every moment I could, because watching Denver was pure gold.
She loved working on the paper, loved the chance to get creative, to voice her opinion while still giving the facts. She was a master at it, a far better writer than I ever was.
Wearing headphones, she’s completely absorbed in whatever’s on the screen in front of her, so she doesn’t hear us approach.
Eric waves a hand across the screen and she nearly jumps out of her seat at the unexpected interruption.
“Dammit, E!” she shouts, hitting the space bar and pulling her earbuds out. She glares up at him with annoyance. “It’s a good thing I’m wearing a panty liner—I just peed a little bit!”
He chuckles. “Sorry, but you have a guest.”
Finally, she spots me standing behind him, and her face pales.
I can’t help but serve her my famous grin. “Morning, Den.”
Groaning, she drops her head into her hands and mutters, “Eff you, universe. Eff you.”
She takes another moment to compose herself before looking back up and smiling sweetly—it’s false sweetness, by the way—at Eric.
“Thank you for bringing him over here. I’ll take it from here.”
