Page 117 of Debugging Love

I settle back into my seat, chuckling to myself. “Don’t forget to create your Chai World slides.”

He gives me a thumbs-up.

When it’s time for our team meeting, Chance marches to the conference room with the Ostrichpillow on his head, tripping over his feet along the way and plowing into Juanita’s back.

“Watch where you’re going,” Juanita barks. “What is that puffy thing on your head?”

He doesn’t answer, or if he does, I can’t hear because I’m behind him admiring his swagger, two left feet and all.

We gather around the conference room table, Morgan next to Drew, Drew with his blinkers on, Juanita and Violet holding up one end of the table. Heng and Abeer are looking at something under the table. Probably Abeer’s phone in case Juanita goes off about something in Spanish.

“What’s this about?” Bruce asks. He’s lounged comfortably in his chair with his hands on his stomach.

“Somebody left their milk carton in the fridge for a month and a half and stunk up the place,” Juanita says.

All eyes land on Drew. “It was not mine,” he says.

“Yeah, right,” Juanita quips. “You’re the one who mixes up those muscle-building drinks every day that give you the burps and the farts.”

“He’s taking Lactaid now,” Morgan says.

“Lactaid doesn’t keep milk from going sour,” Violet says.

“This meeting is not about a milk carton,” Drew says.

“I think we’re getting telework,” Bruce says smugly. The room erupts with comments.

“How do you know?”

“How many days?”

“Is it full-time?”

“Does that mean I don’t have to see you crybabies anymore?”

Christopher walks in amidst the chatter. He sets his laptop on the table before taking a seat. “The rumor is true,” he says over the competing voices.

Everyone shuts up and looks at him.

“The CEO approved telework starting Monday.”

Cheers erupt from every side of the table. I sit quietly, waiting to hear more, hoping it’s not one hundred percent.

Christopher pumps his hands to get us to be quiet. “Two days a week in the office. You choose the days. The rest of the days, you can work from home.”

Gasps of excitement thin the atmosphere in the room. Okay, it’s not bad. Morgan, Kayla, and I can come in on the same days. And Drew and Chance can…I don’t know. Are Morgan and Drew a couple? Are Chance and I a couple?

“You have the rest of the week to work with the help desk to get your VPN up and running. You should probably test it from home by Friday to see if you can connect remotely. Also, I’m sending you a form to sign. You have to agree to keep your work area free of wires that might cause you to trip. Among other things. Chance, what is that on your head?”

“An Ostrichpillow,” he answers, sounding like his mouth is full of cotton.

“Do you mind taking it off for the meeting?”

“Only if Drew takes off his blinkers.”

Drew’s eyes scan left and right. Once again, he forgot he was wearing them.

“Drew,” Christopher says, sounding uncharacteristically grumpy, “You’re not pulling a carriage down Anson Street. You can take off the eye panel thingies.”

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