Page 19 of Between Us

I hold up my hand and show her the small cut on my palm. “Yeah, I know those little fuckers.”

She grimaces. “I heard they bit you, I didn’t know it broke the skin.”

Dropping my hand, I lean on the desk and shrug. Sometimes I handle the animals, but that day Quinn wanted to introduce her parrot Jellybean to one of the kids in the waiting room. It was a busy afternoon, and he got spooked.

Thankfully, he somehow flew toward the desk rather than the kid’s head.

Needless to say, my dad has to emphasize the importance of keeping animals restrained on the premises now.

“Well, she took her shot.”

My mouth and stomach drop. Picking up the former, I ask, “What do you mean?” It’s a stupid question, but I never thought one of the clients would show actual interest in him.

Is that even allowed?

She watches me with a curious expression for a second before confirming what I know. “Quinn asked Adrian if she could have his number.”

To be fair, Quinn is probably about three years older than Adrian and gorgeous. She’s also insanely nice—flying nightmares aside.

“Uhm.” Rolling my lips between my teeth, I think through my words before accidentally word-vomiting. “What is the record he broke?”

Slower this time, almost cautiously, she answers, “How soon into a shift a client asked for his number, or a date.”

“He getshit on?” I mean, I know he does. I’ve watched it happen. But none of the women I’ve seen him interact with have taken it that far before.

There’s a gentle lilt to her voice now. “He’s never said yes. It’s not technically forbidden, but it wouldn’t be a good look for a young, new employee either.”

Nodding, I twist my lips but don’t say anything. Outside of a professional setting, I know Adrian wouldn’t be doing anything wrong if he had taken any of those women up on their offers. But it still leaves me feeling…

Well, to be honest, it leaves me feeling jealous.

I hate the idea of him showing interest in another woman before I’ve figured out what this crush means.

Not that he’s shown any in me necessarily, but he’snevershown any during the encounters I’ve witnessed.

“To be honest,” Olivia turns toward the computer screen and adds in a nonchalant voice, “I don’t think his reputation at work is the only reason he didn’t say yes. I think he really wasn’t interested inthem.”

I’ve known Olivia for nearly a decade now—though our friendship has grown exponentially since I started to work here last spring. Which means she knows me well enough to read beyond my faux aloofness.

So, even if I want to believe her, I can’t overcome the voice in my head saying she was only placating me.

In response, I offer her a pathetic attempt at a smile when she glances at me from the corner of her eye. Before the conversation goes any further, my dad comes through the double doors and slows when he spots me.

“Hi, honey.” It’s his normal greeting, but today his words feel weighted.

Pushing off the desk, I wave a little awkwardly. “Hey, Dad.”

He nods toward his office. “Let’s talk for a minute.”

“Oh. Uhm. Okay…” I start following him but make the mistake of glancing toward Olivia on my way.

Her sad smile tells me everything I need to know about this conversation.

He settles in his chair, and I plop down across from him.

“What’s going on, Dad?” My thumb starts to tap across my fingers. Usually, I try harder to fight off the habit, but I can feel the looming dread in the room.

He lets out a sigh and leans forward on the desk. “Have you talked to Lela today?”

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