Page 17 of Dear Grumpy Boss

“How are you settling in?” I asked.

“Really well.” She took a bite of her sandwich, indicating that was the end of her answer.

“We’re not keeping you too busy?”

Swallowing, she wiped her mouth with her napkin. “No. I like what I’m doing. Though there’s a lot of work, it’s interesting.”

“Good. I was concerned since you didn’t have time to stop for lunch.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders lowered. “Did Elliot ask you to do this?”

“Do what?”

She rubbed her lips together, her eyes flitting to the side. “Babysit me? Check to make sure I’m not going off the rails? That kind of thing.”

“Actually, no, he didn’t. But considering you work here and he’s my good friend, I feel somewhat responsible for ensuring you’re doing well.”

Elise raised her chin. She had always had a cute chin, with a cleft right in the center, like someone had pressed their thumb there and left a print behind. There was something elegant about it now. Elegant and stubborn.

“I’m doing well, which I’ve told my brother many times. He didn’t have to send you to double-check.”

“I told you he didn’t send me. This was voluntary.” I took a sip of water. “I’m relieved to know you like working here.”

“I do.”

We were so stilted. It hadn’t always been this way. I was four years older, so we hadn’t been best friends or anything, but up until I left for college, Elise had been something close to a little sister to me. When I came back for Thanksgiving break, she’d barely spoken to me. She’d shut down on me, though I kept caring about her.

“And…how is everything else?” I asked carefully.

She clasped her hands together on the table. Her nails were short and painted baby blue. She’d always kept them painted, usually some shade of blue. A lot had changed, but some things never did.

Lips rolling inward, her long lashes brushed the apples of her cheeks when she lowered her eyelids. “Being back here, for the reasons I came back…it’s taking time to adjust to.”

That was all she gave me.

Shut down.

She was reminding me of Elliot.

The Levys were experts at blocking out their emotions when they needed to.

“You’re unhappy.”

She raised her eyes to mine. Mostly brown with generous flecks of green and gold. In the sunlight, they sparkled. This wasn’t the first time I’d noticed the captivating color. It had just been years since I’d been close enough to really appreciate them.

“I’m adjusting to being single after four years in a relationship. So sometimes I’m unhappy, but not always. I know I’ll be better soon.”

I didn’t like that answer. “Does Elliot know this?” It came out gruff, but that’s how I was feeling.

A tinkling laugh burst out of her. “That I’m unhappy sometimes?”

I nodded.

She tilted her head, and the sun caught in her hair, turning it reflective. Almost too shiny to be anything but glass.

“Well, I haven’t explicitly told my brother I’m not always happy, but since he was the one who helped me move and knows what ended my relationship, I think he could guess I’m not sunshine and daisies every minute of the day.”

I folded my napkin into a square and tossed it on the table. “He should do something about it.”

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