He spins on his heels to face me. “What, really?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be a couple of hours.”
I hand my key fob to Carter and pat his back, listening to Benji’s excited chatter as he tells his dad the specifications of my car, from the size of the trims to the colour, just from sight alone.
Heading into my building, I say hi to Tim, the security guard, and Felix, my reception manager.
“Morning, Mr. Knight.”
“You dye your hair again?” I ask. Last week it was violet, this week it’s teal.
Running his fingers through the short strands, he smiles. “Yeah, my girlfriend is working on her ombre.”
“Well, tell her I said she did a good job.” Not that I know anything about hair.
When I reach my floor, I smile at Wendy in greeting, her headset plastered to her ear, talking as she types a mile a minute on her keyboard.
Entering my office, I undo my suit jacket and sit, starting up my PC. Minutes later, Wendy walks in with a cup in each hand and her iPad under her arm.
“Morning, Caleb,” she says, handing me my drink.
“Morning, Wendy-Bird.”
Rolling her eyes, she sits opposite, placing her iPad on the desk.
“Come on,” I say, sipping my coffee. “I’d be a lost boy without you.”
She laughs. “That you would.” She rubs over her stomach, and I swear she popped overnight—went home on Friday, and came in on Monday with a full baby bump. “You still haven’t entered the baby pool,” she says.
I bring my finger up to my lip. “That's because I’m still deliberating.” What can I say? I’m competitive.
“Hmm, well, don’t take too long. My maternity leave will be here before you know it.”
Wendy has worked with me for ten years; honestly, she’s not only an employee but a friend. She was there for me when I struggled with my feelings for Noah.
“Don’t remind me. We still have interviews lined up for maternity cover next week?”
She nods, sipping her herbal tea and pulling a face. “I miss freaking coffee.”
I shrug and then take a huge gulp of mine.
“Anyway.” She reaches for her iPad and flips the cover, swiping the screen. “Your meeting is on schedule for Ten AM. I’ve already set up the conference room, and the slides are ready.”
“See, lost without you.”
She glances down. “Yeah, you can prove how much when you and Noah come to my baby shower.” She slides an envelope towards me.
Snatching it up, I work my finger under the seal and read over the date. “We’ll be there,” I say, but I worry about Jessica in the back of my mind. If she’s still with us, there is no way I’m leaving her alone.
“I might need to add a third person if that’s okay?”
Glancing up, she eyes me. “Of course. Anyone I know?”
I shake my head. “No, a friend's sister will be staying with us.”
“Which friend? I know all your friends.”
There’s no point in hiding it from her.