Page 47 of No Time for Traditions

“She texted me last night to tell me she got the promotion.”

Greg raised his head and nodded slowly. Brittany had talked about her job and how her boss mentioned a promotion before the holiday. She’d also confided in him about wanting to write rather than get sucked into climbing the ladder as an editor. This made Greg question if she’d changed her mind. Had she decided to give up on writing? Even worse (at least for him), had she decided to stay in New York for good?

“Good for her. When you talk to her again, tell her I said congrats.” Greg mustered a face of contentment when what he really wanted to do was scream and hit a brick wall.

Scott stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around. “You know, it’s none of my business, but I bet it would mean a lot more if you told her yourself.”

Greg shrugged. “I don’t know about that.”

Scott pulled his phone out of his pocket and began tapping the screen. “Tell you what. I’ll send you her contact info. That way, you’ll have her cell number, her office number, and her apartment address.”

“That’s not necessary.” Greg clutched the back of his neck, embarrassed he’d asked.

“No, hear me out. I want you to have it, because I think you two are good together. And more than anything, I want to see my sister happy. Once you have her info, you can decide if you want to use it.”

“Fair enough.” Greg nodded and took a step back. “Thanks, Scott.”

“Sure thing.”

Greg turned and walked back to his truck. By the time he made it to the door, his phone dinged. Brittany’s contact info. Greg laughed and rubbed his forehead. Now he literally had no excuse not to call her.

Sticking his phone in his shirt pocket, Greg climbed in his truck and drove back to his office. He was both surprised and annoyed to see Jake’s truck parked out back. He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now, especially someone who’d easily pick up on his mood.

Greg parked and grabbed his lunch. He stopped in the back to grab a bottle of water and continued to the front to face Jake.

“Hey, man.”

“What are you doing working on a Saturday?” Greg decided to joke around as usual, hoping Jake wouldn’t know he’d been pining over Brittany.

“We got home yesterday, and I needed to catch up on some things. You?”

“Same. Not the being gone, but the catching up.” Greg sat down and laid out his lunch. “How was it in the mountains, by the way?”

Jake laughed.

“What?” Greg crossed his arms after taking a huge bite of his barbecue sandwich.

“Since when have you cared about my vacations?”

“Can’t a guy ask his buddy about his trip?”

Jake shook his head, laughing more. “He can. But you don’t do that.”

Greg shrugged and opened his laptop. He continued eating and ignored Jake.

“Look, man. You’re not fooling me. Something’s up.”

Greg chewed faster and chugged his water. He refused to look at Jake. “Why would anything be up?”

“You’re acting strange.”

Refusing to acknowledge Jake, Greg opened his drafting program and continued eating.

“Okay, so that’s how you’re going to play this? Thanks, Greg. My vacation was great. How about your Christmas? Has Brittany gone home yet?”

Greg’s nostrils flared. He didn’t want to talk about Brittany. He polished off the rest of his sandwich, then balled up the wrapper and chucked it at Jake.

Jake ducked, and the wrapper sailed over his head and hit the wall behind him. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

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