Page 69 of Sassy Love
Fucking hell.
Chapter 18
LAWSON
Lamont is late. It’s raining cats and dogs outside, and she’s not here.
Actually, at ten a.m., I think that’s considered a no-show. I wander to reception to ask Nadia if Carlie’s contacted the office. The receptionist is nowhere to be found. I walk twenty feet and knock on Serelle’s door.
“Come in.”
“Oh hey, Carlie isn’t here.”
“Yes, she called in sick this morning. She sounded awful. Kept repeating herself in the hoarsest voice, poor girl.”
Dammit.
“Right, thanks.”
Serelle holds a hand up. “Are you okay?”
I tap the wall with my knuckles. “Yep, good. Thanks.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “If you need the day off for any reason, I’m okay with that. Laptops were built to be mobile.” She winks before waving for me to close her door.
I nod and shut the door.
Settling back into the office, I run through the numbers, double-checking the balances against last quarter, this quarter, and the projections. After I come to the same conclusion fourtimes, I decide there is somewhere else I’d rather be. I stare at the empty desk across the room.
I fling Carlie a text asking how she is.
It sends but doesn’t get read.
Should I go check on her?
No, I can’t.
I shouldn’t.
Could I?
I can’t show up at Carlie’s place. That’s certified stalker shit. Isn’t it?
Then I think of her home alone, having to parent a kid while she’s ill. Stressing over work and being sick. Dammit, I wasn’t raised to ignore my gut. Right now, it says I should be taking care of her.
Maybe I could just check in?
Take some food.
To lighten the load.
That’s reasonable. That’s what a friend would do.
I pack up my laptop and reports and grab my bag and jacket. Shoving my phone into my pocket, I head for the front desk again, hoping Nadia is there this time.
“Hi Lawson, how was the retreat?” Nadia beams at me.
“Good, it was good. Do you have Lamont’s address? I have to drop around to check on her.”
