Page 23 of Studious
“Well… I do want to try something new. I took this job because I wasn’t feeling so welcome at my old firm.”
“You’re welcome here. Come on.”
“Let me shut things down. Where do I meet you?”
“Just in the break room. We don’t bother going far. The point of getting together is, the owners didn’t want there to be a separation between attorneys and staff. They wanted us all to be a team, and they figure a moment on Fridays when everyone can chat is a good way to do it.”
“Wow. Okay. See you there.”
A few minutes later, I walk into the crowded space. While I’ve met just about everyone, they—unsurprisingly, I suppose—seem looser at happy hour. Shoes are off, ties are undone, sleeves are rolled up, and long hair’s piled in messy buns. A tall woman hands me a glass of red wine. I know I could have a Diet Coke or one of the funky fruit-flavored sodas, but that seems like such an Alden thing to do, and I want to be someone else. Someone more interesting. “Uh, thanks,” I say, trying to remember the woman’s name.
“You’re welcome, Alden. And it’s Reyna,” she says.
“Thanks for the reminder,” I mutter. “It’s hard to keep track when I’ve met so many people this week.” I take a sip and manage to not make a face. It’s not the first alcohol I’ve ever had, but I don’t make a habit of drinking wine except at Passover, and this tastes nothing like kiddush wine. I guess I’m not a fan. It does warm my cheeks a bit.
“You’ll learn the names soon enough.” She gives me a huge smile. “If you forget someone, just ask. Everyone’s pretty mellow. Except Charlie. He’s an asshole.” She must read the shock on my face, because she laughs. “He’s my brother. I’m allowed to make fun of him.”
“Ah.” Before I can say more, Shelby whirls by, hooks my arm in his, and tugs me away. I wave goodbye to Reyna, and Shelby involves me in a conversation with Noah, August, Sam, and a guy named Owen about where they’re each going for vacation this summer. Sisters named Lavender and Miel join us, as does another attorney named Briony.
I don’t see Danny, so maybe he’s still in his office. I keep looking for him while trying not to be obvious. I’m pretty sure I’m not doing a very good job of being sly.
I feel like I’m in high school and the hot guy on the football team has a locker by mine. How long can I hang out in hopes of having him say hi before I feel like a dork? All day and into the early evening, apparently.
Shelby whispers in my ear, “Noah and August have been best friends since the dawn of time. They grew up next door, went all through school together, including law school, and started this firm together.”
I grin. “That’s so cool.”
“It’s an open secret that they should betogethertogether. Everyone knows it except them—or, more accurately, everyone knows it except August.”
August is a tall, confident man with a precisely tailored suit and an even more precise fade haircut. The look on Noah’s face as he watches August gesture and talk tells me that Shelby may be on to something. “How long has this been going on?”
“Their whole lives, I think.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “Do you think they’ll ever, you know…”
“Get their heads out of their asses? One can only hope. There’s an office pool on it—let me know if you want in.” Shelby grins mischievously and calls out, “Hey, Noah. I wanted to know, does Weston& Ramirez have a no-fraternizing policy?”
Noah chokes on his wine. “Um, no. I don’t think we do.” August thumps Noah’s back and grins, slinging an arm around him. I don’t miss the pained look Noah gives him—not as if he’s in physical pain, but a flash of longing.
“Oh my God, will they just kiss already,” Shelby mutters under his breath.
“Should we?” August asks, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s not responding to Shelby’s suggestion but to his earlier policy question.
Having recovered from his dangerous sip, Noah shakes his head. “I suppose we could do what some places do—if people who work together start dating, we could have them sign a love contract.”
Shelby laughs. “A love contract?”
Someone refills my wine, and I nod my thanks.
“Basically insulating the firm from a sexual harassment claim. It says that the relationship is consensual. But I think that’s all we’d do.”
“Is that an official HR position?” Shelby asks. Weston& Ramirez isn’t big enough for a separate HR department, so what the partners say goes.
August and Noah nod in unison.
“Good to know.”
I keep listening to the chatter, and after a while, Shelby gestures at my glass. “Let me get you another drink.”
