Page 96 of When You Had Me Adapting

“God, I honestly didn’t think she was ever going to stop talking about those modules,” Gray says.

“Right?” I laugh. “Did y’all see her look right at me when she was giving her little lecture about watching them ‘thoroughly.’ Like she doesn’t click through every single one like the rest of us.”

“Could you imagine how low our productivity would be if we actually watched the entire video every time?” Chloe asks.

“Oh we would all for sure be put on some sort of action plan.”

“Personally, I’m glad she clarified she would in fact hire a man. I was worried she might be sexist against them,” Gray says dryly, causing both Wren and I to howl with laughter.

We stop in front of 307. “This is me.”

“You still owe us all the details about the kiss,” Gray says, walking backwards down the hallway.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I say, knocking on the door. “I’m swamped this morning, but I promise to tell y’all everything at lunch.” My friends both turn and disappear around the corner.

“Ms. Clara, it’s Lacey. Can I come in?”

“It’s open,” I hear her call.

I swing the door open to find she’s still in bed. She’s sitting up reading a book and wearing a purple mumu covered in little shooting stars and rocket ships. A bouquet of red roses sits on her bedside table.

“Another good book?” I ask walking towards her.

“Pride and Prejudice,” she says, marking her page and setting the paperback on her bed.

“That’s not your usual cup of tea.”

“No, but you can’t beat a classic and now that I’ve met Eugene, I don’t have to just find my spice in books.”

My eyes go wide and I try to control my facial expression with a smile. “Alright then, let’s get to work. Are we changing this morning or are we wearing the mumu to therapy?”

“No need to change. I’m a taken woman and he likes my mumus.”

“Great.”

“If you go in my closet I have a pair of matching shoes. Be a lamb and grab them for me, would you?”

I walk over and open the closet door. A pair of purple bedazzled shoes sit on one of the shelves. I grab them and thenher walker. When I get to her bedside, she’s already sitting with her feet on the floor.

“Those flowers are pretty. Did your son visit this weekend?”

“Oh no. Eugene had those delivered on Saturday.”

“Wow, someone is smitten.” I offer her a smile and kneel down to help her with her shoes.

“He’s more than smitten. Men are all the same, honey. When they start sending you your favorite flowers for no reason, that’s how you know you got ‘em. They’re in love.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Has a man that was not in love with you ever bought you flowers?” I think for a minute. The last time someone bought me flowers was… God I can’t even remember… surely it wasn’t Jace.Fuck, maybe it was Jace.Have I really not had anyone buy me flowers since I was seventeen? How fucking depressing. Then again, I never really gave anyone the chance to either.

“Come to think of it, I guess not,” I say.

“See. I told you.” She slides on her shoes and then stands with a little less help than she needed before I left for the cabin.

“I think you’re getting stronger, Ms. Clara. That was great.”

“That friend of yours worked me to death all weekend. Where have you been?”

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