Page 22 of Royally Rivalled

He had a good point.

“Parker, is something the matter?” Briggs looked disappointed.

“No, sir.”

“Great. Because I’d like you two to be friends and work closely. The chapter with a mixed-methods approach needs someone who can manage data well. You put the model together, and she can merge the data.”

That was one ofmychapters. I tried not to show my disappointment lest I look difficult.

“You think she’s capable of merging data better than me?”

Briggs laughed. “If you had any knowledge of her programming abilities, you wouldn’t ask.”

My face remained neutral. Arguing with my boss got me nowhere. I must put up with this little princess as we shared an advisor. No argument would end it. I knew when I was out-horsed. Here I was, fighting, but there was nothing more I could do.

“Are you still interested in assisting with the Model UN competition next weekend?” Briggs asked.

“I could.”

“Brilliant. My wife is scheduled for an induction on Thursday,” Briggs said.

“An induction… like the burners… on the hob?”

“She’s finally having the baby. We’re evicting the little guy,” Briggs said.

“Oh. Well, congrats!”

Briggs wasn’t teaching for the semester but maintained his supervisory and research responsibilities by choice. He and his wife were both PhDs. She taught in the African Studies program down the hall. It was their first child, and you could tell they were excited.

“I will help in any way I can,” I said.

“Good, because I’d added your name to the list of people eligible for hazard pay to chaperone that event in Glasgow.”

“Really?”

“Yes. My wife will murder me if I go.”

As she should!

“Sure. I’d be glad to.”

I had no idea what I signed up for.

fourteen

ASTRID

“Hello, darling!”

My sister’s voice finally rang through the airwaves.

“Hi, Alex,” I said.

“Did Odie and Ingy talk your ears off?”

“They did. I was afraid you’d never make it.

“I was feeding Linnea. Rick is putting her down now.”

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