Page 65 of Here Comes Santa Paws

“Arizona?” The word came out loud and shrill.

“Shh. I don’t think the rest of the office heard you.”

Anisha dropped onto the nearest chair, which wobbled since it was the one that had one leg too short. The raw devastation on her face caught me by surprise.

“I can’t lose my work husband.”

As I processed her words, I filled her mug, grabbed her favorite peppermint mocha creamer from the fridge, and set it next to the cup before sitting opposite her at the break room table.

“I’m your work husband?”

Her stare, which had been off in the distance, snapped to me. “You sure as hell piss me off like my real one.”

I’d worked with dozens of people over the years and had seen work spouses in action, but I had never been remotely close enough to someone to be bestowed with the title. I’d never thought I was that important to any coworkers.

Anisha glared at me like I should’ve known and should’ve run the whole applying for jobs thing by her. Then she gave her head a shake. “Let me pout for a minute, then we’ll talk.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I waited.

“Okay, spill.” She wrapped her hands around her mug and leaned forward.

So, I did. I told her about the clinic, the PT director role, and what they wanted the new hire to help implement.

Anisha whistled. “Damn. I might apply. That sounds like a great job.”

I chuckled. “Not sure how your family would feel about that.”

She waved her hand. “They love sunshine. It’d be fine.”

My shoulders relaxed from my ears. “It is a great job.”

Anisha frowned. She hadn’t missed the dour tone of my words.

“I know moving is hard, but if it’s right, it’s right.” She shrugged.

“It’s not the moving.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “Then it’s something else?” Understanding dawned on her face. “The cute elf next door.”

I let out a rough sigh.

“What are you going to do about that?”

“I don’t know.” I really didn’t.

Her smile was kind. “Is it serious?”

“Not if I live in Arizona.” I dodged a direct answer, but Anisha’s eagle eyes studied me. I should’ve known she wouldn’t let me get away with it.

“Why are you leaving then? If it could be serious, why not stay?”

I straightened a stack of sugar packets. “I might not get the job.”

Anisha snorted. “We both know that’s bullshit. You’re damn good at what you do.” She softened her voice. “That job sounds great, but are you sure it’s a good fit?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? PT director is the next step.”

“Sure, but you love the in-home visits. It sounds like you wouldn’t get to do that in the new role.”

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