Page 36 of Free to Live
I nod. “Meghan Murphy.”
Ali’s face turns thoughtful. Then she snaps her fingers. “I know who you’re talking about. She’s also fantastic at software design too. She helped with some of the tweaks on the scheduling software.”
My brows reach my hairline in shock. “Really? That wasn’t listed on her resume.”
Ali snorts. “We’ll educate her on proper resume building after we hire her on.”
“Nice employee-coaching skills. Are your husband’s techniques rubbing off on you?”
“I prefer other things of his to rub off on me.”
With a pointed glance at her still-flat stomach, I snicker. “So I’ve heard. Have you told him yet?”
Ali shakes her head, a small smile on her face.
“Why not? Is there something wrong?” Now, I’m genuinely concerned.
“Not a thing. I’ll just say he’ll know one way or another by the time we finish the 5K.”
“Jesus, you may have to staple Phil’s lips shut by then. I’m not sure how much longer big brother can hold out.”
The Devil’s dancing in Ali’s eyes when she smiles. “He’s under an NDA. I made him sign one before he left the office the morning I told everyone. If he spills the beans early—even to Jason—he’ll forfeit his rights to all profits for the upcoming quarter. He may look like he wants to wet his pants, but he won’t say a word.” She sits back smugly.
I fall back against the wall behind Ali’s desk in shock. “You completely neutered him. Again.”
“Of course I did. Otherwise, all of you would still be in the dark until I could tell Keene.”
“I’m aware you’re a genius, but that? Sheer brilliance.” Ali’s smile is cocky, but she has every right to be.
“Your idea about showing him Cori’s fake wedding gown was up there too.”
I polish my nails against my shirt before blowing on them like a gunslinger. “Did we get everyone’s bets on how he’s going to react?”
“Let me check.” Ali flips to a different spreadsheet. “Yep. I got Cassidy’s entry last night. We’re good for the showing at any time.”
“Outstanding.” We break into gales of laughter so hard we don’t hear the knock on the door. It isn’t until we hear a rough male voice ask, “Ali? I can come back if you’re busy?” that we regain our composure. Both our heads swing toward her doorway to find Joe standing there. Dressed in a thermal shirt beneath his uniform, he looks uncertain.
And delicious.
I decide to leave my sister to it.
“Send me a text with that number I was asking you about when I first came in,” I remind Ali. Her fingers tap her mouse a final time before she gestures me to look over her shoulder. My lips part. I tip my head her way and whisper, “No freaking way.”
“Yep. Cass says she expects it to go at least thirty-five percent higher too,” Ali says proudly.
Even the fifty-two thousand dollars we’ve helped the Victims Association raise is nothing to sneeze at. I slide my arm around her shoulder and squeeze hard. “You have a lot to be happy about. This is just one more thing.”
“This is something we all get to celebrate, Hols. I’ll ping the chat with updates as I confirm them.” She squeezes my hand, then lets it go. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Joe. I have some last-minute scheduling to go over with you. Cassidy is meeting with one of our regular clients and asked for me to take the meeting.”
“That’s not a problem at all…” He steps into the room, clearing the doorway for my escape. His eyes track my movements as I make my way from behind my sister’s desk and make a beeline for the door. “This meeting isn’t with both of you?”
“I’m just the girl behind the lens. The next time you have to deal with me will be race day,” My voice is polite and professional. He flinches. I ignore it.
I was surprised to find how much the way Joe behaved at our family dinner bothered me. It called up some ugly feelings I have about myself. I’ve had to spend time alone with my lens reminding myself that I am good enough to be around my family. That I am clean enough to touch them. I don’t know whether it was his words or his tone, but something there just hit me in the wrong spot—under my heart. So, I’ll just keep myself at a distance to avoid any other triggers.
“Have a good meeting.” I flick a wave behind my shoulder as I walk out of the room, closing the door behind me.
As much as a small part of my heart might feel the sting, I appreciate the honesty of Joe’s reaction the other night. After all I’m a stranger, but something told me when our eyes met across the bay that day at the firehouse I was someone who understood the pain he was in, who would have given a damn. I understand the complicated feelings behind grief, but I could have been an unbiased ear. I could have been a friend.
