Page 103 of Faithful

He doesn’t respond.

* * *

On Monday when I arrive at work, I find Val’s desk overflowing with flowers. It’s a huge arrangement, at least three dozen beautiful red roses, and then there’s a cake on the drink station. Winona’s already eating it from a paper plate while standing in front of the OSHA posters we need to update. I was actually tasked with that last week and it’s a reminder that I need to get my ass in gear.

“What’s going on?” I jerk my chin at the flowers as I head over to my cubicle.

“Steven is here,” Winona says around the bite of cake she’s chewing. She waves a hand in the general direction of Gin’s office.

“Oh shit.” I glance at Val, who's frowning.

“Pendejo,” she mutters under her breath and gets back to whatever it is she was doing before I came in.

“I take it it’s not me she just called that, right?” I check with Winona.

“Nah, you’d need to do a lot more dumb stuff for her to start insulting you in Spanish.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“Will you guys stop bringing him up?” Val says through gritted teeth from behind her computer.

“Sorry.” Winona and I apologize in unison.

The first half of the morning is a little tense with Steven being in Gin’s office. I suspect they’re discussing one of the cases Blue Sun Project has been handling, and when they’re finally done and show up in the reception area, everything goes silent.

“Hope you have a good Christmas, guys,” he says lightheartedly as if that nasty fight between him and Val never happened.

“Thanks. Same to you,” Winona blurts out.

I mumble something too just because it would be impolite if I don’t.

Gin walks Steven to the door. They exchange farewells. She returns to her office without saying a word.

Val remains quiet through it all.

Winona speaks first. “It was sweet of him to bring the cake and the flowers.”

Val shrugs. “He’s a misogynistic asshole.”

I listen to them arguing in low voices for a bit, then get up and go to see my boss.

“Yes. Come in!” she calls as I announce myself with a knock.

“Hey…” I slither inside and gently shut the door. “I know you’re busy with all the end of year reports, but do you have a minute?”

She lifts her head from the stack of forms laid out in front of her and says, “I always have a minute for you, kid. What’s up?”

“So, it’s about this Christmas party we’re having here in a couple of weeks.”

“What about it?”

“Ummm… I want to… well, I’m considering inviting someone.”

“Aha.” Gin tilts her head to the side, eyes narrowing. “Is that the same person we discussed a while back? The public one?”

“Yes.”

“And he hasn’t come out yet?”

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