Page 59 of Tickled Pink

“Okay,” she hums.

I clear my throat. “So, I’ll just go tell him that news, then.”

“Okay,” she says again, this time glancing around as she leans forward. “But don’t stay too long. The senior partners have us all on really short leashes right now.”

“Only need a second with him. Thank you.”

I push off the desk, beelining into the open office area. A dozen cubicles line the center of the space, that constant stream of paralegals marching from desk-to-desk to office-to-office.

No sign of Max, though.

I stride forward, taking purposeful steps to act important enough to be here. I listen for a familiar voice, but it’s all just a hum. At the end of the space is a conference room lined with windows. A group sits around the rectangular table, Max among them.

I head that way, and hide behind a tall plant just off to the side with a view of the room. I can’t stay here for long. Someone is going to notice me spying, eventually.

I watch Max. He’s focused and professional, his eyes locked on the man speaking at the head of the table. A senior partner, I assume.

Maybe he really is just busy.

The woman next to Max discreetly slides a sheet of paper toward him. I hadn’t noticed her before. My eyes are only for a specific redhead nowadays, but Max instantly looks at her. He reads the paper. His lips twitch. He scribbles something on the margin and slides the paper back to her.

Passing notes in class, I see.

The woman smiles.

Okay.

What the hell is going on there?

The group suddenly rises at once. I flinch, nearly knocking over the tall plant as the band of lawyers come rushing out and disperse in all directions.

I freeze in place, unsure of where to go. This plant offers little cover, but maybe if I keep my head hidden behind this leaf—

“Thad?”

Fuck.

I peek out, locking eyes with Max’s judgmental gaze. “Hey, buddy,” I say.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

“I… just… thought I’d swing by. See how you were holding up?”

“Holding up with what?”

“Well, Phoebe’s gone.”

“She’s been gone an hour, Thad.”

“And I’m already lonely. But you…” I gesture through the glass at the now empty conference room. “You seem to be handling it well. What’s her name?”

“Whose name?”

“The blonde I saw you passing notes with in there!”

“Karla?”

“Karla.” I sneer. “Yeah, she looks like a Karla.”

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