Her shoulders scrunch as she enters. “You sounded like Kat. He’s terrified of her.”
“Does he talk to you and Robyn like that?”
Robyn and Marcie’s priorities may consist of nail care and the latest social media buzz, but they do a great job of ensuring they are on top of their duties, with the occasional inappropriate or TMI comment.
She shrugs. “I don’t think he has any friends,” she whispers. “Like, he has a guinea pig named . . .” She covers her mouth again, hunching down and trying not to laugh.
“Harry Pooter,” Robyn spits from around the doorway.
I raise my eyebrows. “What?!”
Both of them squeeze into my office, trying to hide their laughter.
“It was supposed to be Potter because apparently Cory is obsessed. I heard him on the phone with the vet one day. They had it listed as . . .” Marcie starts laughing again.
“Pooter,” Robyn wheezes.
I laugh. “Seriously?”
They nod in unison, tears in their eyes.
“He has a guinea pig named Harry Pooter?” I have to cover my mouth now to keep from bursting out laughing.
“He is nutso over the thing,” Robyn says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it sleeps with him.”
“When he’s especially rude and treats us like we’re stupid, we ask him questions about The Poots.” Marcie’s shoulders rise, and her eyes grow wide as she grins. “He hates it.”
I think about Brandon and his tiny, snarling wiener dog. “I have a neighbor who has a mini wiener . . .” I don’t even get to the last word, and they are bent over wheezing.
I laugh, too, and it feels really good. Who knew Cory had a heart in there for rodents? Then again, it kind of fits.
“I need a good dose of joy. What’s so funny?” Kat slides around them and plops into the chair. “Uh. What did you eat for lunch? Onions on a bed of cabbage?” Her nose wrinkles, and she waves a hand in the air, her beautifully bright-painted nails glimmering in the light.
Marcie holds up a finger. “I’ll be right back.”
“Cory was just here hassling Sarah again,” Robyn says, wiping under her eyes to ensure her eye makeup is intact.
“That shit. I’ll talk to Griffin and—”
I hold out my hand. “It’s fine. I finally told him to knock it off. If he doesn’t, I’ll say something to Griffin.”
Kat’s sly smirk appears in approval.
Marcie returns, squirting small puffs of perfume from a miniature travel-size bottle into the air. “It’s Dior. You deserve the good stuff.”
“This is great.” Robyn clasps her hands together. “Since you’re both here, Marcie and I were trying to organize a birthday happy hour for Seth.”
I watch Kat to see how she responds, wondering if she’s aware of Marcie’s crush on Seth.
Kat’s head falls to the side, her eyes lifting to Marcie. I should never underestimate her.
She presses her fuchsia lips together. “Ok, little pigeon. We’ve been over this.”
Marcie bites the corner of her lip, avoiding eye contact.
“Seth is a great guy, but he’s happy being a bachelor. When we were in law school, he didn’t even date, worried his mom would shove him down the aisle. After Alex called off the wedding, you can be sure he’s not looking to end up there again anytime soon.”
“It was clear as day he and Alex weren’t right for each other,” Robyn says.
