Page 20 of The Interns

“It’s weird that he’s meeting you here, though.” Maya sat cross-legged on Adam’s bed as he rushed around his bedroom in a white undershirt and jeans, stopping just long enough to cast a sidelong glance on his way to the closet.

“Hold that thought.” He turned around and held up two nearly identical button-down shirts. “Green or blue?”

“Green. It goes well with your big brown eyes.”

He put the blue one back based on her vote, and slipped the green one on, turning to continue their conversation as he buttoned up.

“Why is it weird? I think it’s sort of old-fashioned and sweet.”

“Meeting a blind date at your house? You just don’t do that. It should be a public place, well-lit with a lot of people around.”

“You should probably lay off the true crime podcasts, love. Evan’s a friend of a friend,” Adam argued. “It’s not like he’s some random guy off the street…or the internet. Anyway, I have you here to keep me safe.”

She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow at the assumption that she’d be up for playing bodyguard for him if things went south.

“See?” he said pointing at her sour look. “If I didn’t know what a doll you were, I’d be intimidated.”

“A doll,” Maya scoffed. She smiled as she watched him straighten his collar and check his hair one last time. Of the two of them, he was the doll. Sweet, kind, and with not one mean bone in his body.

He caught her eye in the mirror and a small frown formed on his face. “So you’re really gonna stay in and work tonight?”

“Yep.

“Maya, it’s Saturday night.”

“Uh, Darby is working tonight,” she pointed out. “Nobody’s giving her shit about it.”

“That’s different.” He turned away from the mirror to give her a look.

“Not really.”

“She’s a resident! You’re a—”

Before he could bring the conversation back to his concern about her lack of a social life, he was mercifully cut short by a knock at the door. His eyes widened, and she jumped up from the bed to follow him.

“He’s here,” she sang.

She trailed him out of the room and down the hall, staying on his heels until she reached the end, choosing to hide around the corner so she could get a peek at his date without being intrusive.

He walked to the door, taking a moment to look back at her for one last check, and she gave him a thumbs up. He opened the door, and if he was trying to play it cool, he failed because his face lit up at the sight of the man standing at the doorstep. Adam had impeccable taste in men, so this guy must have been something. She craned her neck around the corner to get a better look and what she saw made her jaw drop.

“Evan?” Adam asked.

“No, sorry,” the man stammered with a familiar southern drawl. “I’m Reed. Is Maya here?”

“Yes. Yes, she is.”

Adam turned to call for her, but she was already walking into the foyer. Any disappointment over this, objectively speaking, very good-looking man standing on their porch in a faded blue Braves cap, gray t-shirt, and jeans not being his date was outweighed by intrigue given the way he looked at her with wide eyes and mouthed Oh my God. Thank God Adam had his back to Reed as he fawned over him.

“Reed? What are you doing here?”

He shoved his hands into his front pockets and shyly mouthed a hey, then stared at her for a moment. She realized just how different she must look to him, as well, so casual in a tight white tank, jeans slung low on her hips, and bare feet exposing the fresh bubble gum pink pedicure she’d treated herself to that morning. When his eyes drifted downward, she self-consciously tugged at the hem of her tank to cover the hint of midriff showing. Just because she’d taken him up on his offer to drop her off at home on their way back from yesterday’s field trip didn’t mean he now had a free pass to show up whenever he pleased.

“Adam?”

Reed looked away from her and turned to find a cute, light-skinned man dressed in crisp jeans, a t-shirt, and blazer watching him with a big smile on his face.

“No, I’m—” Reed sighed, probably realizing it didn’t matter who he was as it would only create more questions. “I think this is who you’re looking for,” he said, stepping aside and pointing toward Adam.

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