“Just…” Willa clears her throat and shakes the scowl off her face. “Fort Bender, California. If I know my parents at all, you’ll understand completely before the end of Thanksgiving dinner. Just remember, you asked to come.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WILLA
Trevor
Caught an early flight. Can I bring you lunch?
Me
Uh, sure? You know where the studio is?
Trevor
I have this handy little gadget called GPS…
What sounds good?
Me
Veggie sub from Subbie’s, hold the sarcasm.
Trevor
LOL. Gimme 20.
Setting my phone to the side, I fiddle with the exposure on the Crockett family portrait.
“Working through lunch again?” Emily stops in front of my desk, tucking her short black hair behind her ear. She pulls the sleeves of her baggy cable-knit sweater over her knuckles.
I save the portrait and pull up the Brown family’s file. “No. I have someone bringing melunch.”
“Ooh, like someonespecial?”
“Yes.” The answer flies out of my mouth so fast, my hand slapping over my lips is almost comical.
Emily’s face reflects my surprise as she leans over my desk. “The suspense! The intrigue! Tell me more…”
“He’s just a friend.” I stare at my screen, avoiding her gaze.
“Aspecialfriend, huh? Good for you, finally getting out there.”
The tips of my ears burn as I try to focus on anything but the heat sliding up my neck. “I’m notgettinganywhere. He’s a friend—that’s it. Not special or anything. Only a friend.”
“Oh, okay. Got it. A super not special friend who turns the tips of your ears red.Totallyjust a friend.”
Glaring over the monitor, I resist my impulse to crack a smile at my smirking assistant. She squints, staring me down, but a clearing of my throat has her snapping straight. “Okay, okay. I’m going to lunch now.” She takes a slow step toward the door. “I won’t ask anything else about yourspecialfriend.” Another hesitant step. “Ordecide to order in so I can meet him…”
“Emily, go.”
“Ugh, fine,” she says over her shoulder, quickening her pace. “You’re always so secretive, Boss Lady. I promise I won’t te?—”
Emily bumps right into Trevor, smashing the Subbie’s bag in his hand. “Ope! I’m sorry. You okay?” he asks, grabbing her shoulder while she steadies herself. The stretch Emily’s neck has to make as she looks up at him is cartoonish.
“Whew! You’re a tall drink!” Emily turns to me with no attempts to be subtle and says, “Good job, boss!”
I roll my eyes.
