11. The Office

THE OFFICE

My head achesas I put a ridiculous amount of concealer under my eyes and pop two Tylenol.

As shitty as I feel right now, I don't regret last night.

It was the most fun I've had in a long time and seeing Lincoln actually carefree and happy is worth feeling run over by a truck.

Even though I wanted to call out and lie in bed all day today, I knew that wasn't an option. Collin's funeral was hard on everyone, but especially Aiden. I need to be there for him today.

Hangovers are a state of mind.

I repeat it to myself, even as my stomach churns. Maybe I'll go get something greasy and delicious for lunch to soak this all up.

I'm dressed and ready for the day, and I no longer look like a reanimated corpse as I leave my apartment and head toward the elevator.

It stops on Lincoln's floor and he enters; I give him a soft smile, and he doesn't return it.

"How are you feeling today?" I ask.

"Like shit," he grumbles, not looking at me.

I sigh, wondering if it's the hangover or if he regrets opening up to me last night. Either way, now is not the time to get into it.

"Do you need a ride to work?" His tone is sharp, businesslike.

"If you don't mind."

He gives me a curt nod, and he drops me off at Kemper's Sports Supply without a word between us.

The office is tense, not just because we're all still reeling after the funeral, but because word has gotten around that Aiden has offered a job to Collin Kemper's secret daughter.

I'm handling an influx of emails from other businesses wishing their deepest sympathies, when a familiar-looking woman enters and heads to my desk.

"Hello, can I help you?"

"I'm Jessa Peters. I'm supposed to meet with Aiden," she says. I then realize she was the woman who was trying to hold back her laughter at the funeral.

She looks a lot like Collin and Zach, with her dark hair, brown eyes, and olive-toned skin.

"Oh yes, Mr. Carlson is expecting you. Follow me." I stand up from behind my desk, and she follows as we walk throughout the cubicles and closed door offices on the left. "My name is Penny. I work the front desk, if you ever need anything."

"Thanks, Penny. I'm Jessa," she repeats.

I give her a smile, finding her awkwardness kind of charming and sweet. Part of me automatically wants to be her friend, not only cause we're close in age, but I doubt she knows anyone in the area.

"Oh yes, everyone knows who you are." I regret the words as I say them. I guess I'm also not as smooth with meeting new people. I direct her to take a seat and head back to my desk.

I can't imagine what she's going through. I also can't imagine Collin abandoning his child. I hate that it makes me see him in a different light. Maybe it's my own issues floating to the surface. But if a good man like Collin can do something shitty, is there hope for any decent men out there?

With the funeral, seeing a different side of Lincoln, and Jessa's arrival to the office, I haven't had time to think about the other things looming in my life. Like how I'm still sensitive as hell over the fact that Wayne hasn't requested me again at Key Club, or how the PI hasn't gotten any additional information about my biological parents.

I feel like I'm attempting to improve myself and it's going nowhere.

Well, getting a true friend was on my to-do list. I can start there. I get Jessa set up with all the items she'll need and I overhear Zach being an absolute dick to her. Collin has to be rolling over in his grave with the drama he's caused.

What a douche. I head over to Jessa's cubicle and try not to fumble with my words.

"You've really caused quite the stir here at Kemper's."

"I didn't mean to," she says and I wince. Really fucking crushing this whole new friendship.

"Oh, honey. It's not your fault. Everyone here loved Collin. When he got sick, we were all devastated. When he was on his deathbed, we learned about his secret daughter. It was a shock to us all."

"Everyone knows?" she asks, looking around the cubicle hallway, and I wonder if she's worried about another confrontation with Zach.

I grimace and nod. "Everyone knows. I'm guessing that's why Zach's been a bigger dick than usual." I cover my mouth after I say it and shake my head. "Sorry, I shouldn't say things like that."

"If the shoe fits," she replies with a smirk, and I find myself liking Jessa Peters more with each passing moment.

"He was always kind of a tool before, but ever since his dad got sick, he's been on a real power trip. We all heard about the shares," I say softly. I'm not trying to gossip with her, well maybe I am. That's what girlfriends do, right? "Zach really likes to talk about himself." I shrug and realize getting out of the office will be the best place to really get to know each other. "Hey, want to get some lunch?"

"That would be great," she smiles and I feel some level of accomplishment.

"Do you like Mexican food? There's an amazing food truck right around the corner."

"That sounds great."

We make our way out of Kemper's and start the short walk to the food truck.

"So, where are you from?"

"I've lived mostly in Virginia."

"Never been. Well, we sat in traffic in Virginia on our way to Maine that one year, but I've never spent time there." If she doesn't think I'm a rambling idiot, it will be a miracle. "So you knew Collin was your dad?"

"I'd only ever met him twice." I nod and feel a pang of sadness for her. It's just so out of character for the man we all loved at the office. I guess it's true about never really knowing someone.

"He didn't seem the type to just abandon his kid."

"Men have a way of disappointing you like that."

"You're right about that. So the funeral was the first time you met Zach?"

"Yes, I didn't know my father had other children."

"Woof, this story keeps getting more messed up," I say, and grimace. I've really got to work on not saying every stupid little thing that comes through my head.

"You don't have to tell me how messed up it is. I'm living it."

"Well, I'm here if you need me. I know it can be hard to make friends in a new town," I say, lightly touching her forearm. She gives me a smile and I hope that maybe she'll stick around at Kemper's and we can really get to know one another.

It's hot and I feel like I'm sweating tequila as I suggest we take our food back to the office. While we're eating at my desk, Zach walks past looking pissed as hell and I have to hide my laughter.

"Sounds like someone just got put in his place."

Aiden walks up to reception. He doesn't look fazed in the least as he rests his elbow on the table. "Jessa, when you're done, will you come to my office?"

Jessa frantically goes to pack up her food and Aiden holds out a hand to calm her down. "No, finish your food, take your time. I'll see you shortly."

"At least the person who matters the most in the office seems to like you," I say, the hopeless, ridiculous romantic in me already shipping my cousin with his dead best-friend's secret daughter. Something is supremely wrong with me.

"What?" Jessa asks and I shake my head and take a bite of my burrito bowl as I start to plot on how to both make Jessa my best friend and see if my initial reaction to these two being a match is spot on or not.

The day seems to drag on for fucking ever and I don't know if it's because I hate my job, or if this hangover is just kicking my ass.

I try to give Jessa space and pray that she'll be back tomorrow. It's the end of the day and everyone starts filing out, including an overwhelmed looking Jessa.

"See you tomorrow, Jessa," I say, and she smiles back with a nod.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

I gather the potential clients' lead list to give to Aiden so he can divvy it up between the salespeople so they can start cold calling. Almost everyone in the office is gone, except the man himself.

He's tossing a stress ball in the air and squeezing it in his bad hand when I enter his office. I drop off the files and look at him questioningly. Is he stressed because Collin's daughter is pretty as hell and absolutely his dream girl? Probably.

"What?" he asks, annoyed.

"She's nice."

‘Okay?"

"I think…" I roll my eyes at him, and his shitty tone. "I think she needs a friend, and I plan on being that for her. I think she's sad."

"Of course she's sad."

"Maybe…"

"Listen, Penny. She's an employee, she's a shareholder. I'll be kind to her, not just because I'm her boss, but because she's Collin's daughter. Is there anything else?"

"Damn, don't chew my head off, or I'll call Aunt Maggie," I immediately throw out. Totally fine calling my aunt to tell her what a dick her son is being. Especially when Aiden is probably the kindest out of all of his brothers. This isn't like him.

"Seriously, you're going to call my mom when I tell you to mind your own business?"

"Yeah, maybe. I'm just saying. Everyone in the office is already gossiping about her; it's going to be hard. We have to make more of an effort. I'll make sure to ask her to lunch."

"That will be great. Is there anything else?"

I shake my head, clearing my throat to leave his office, when I stop at the door frame. "Will you be at family dinner on Sunday?"

He nods and I smile. It's been so long since he's really been a part of any of the family stuff and it makes me sad seeing him suffer.

I probably shouldn't be plotting ways to make him fall in love with our latest employee. But my break from dating men has me antsy and wanting to at least see someone else get their happy ending.

They'll be none the wiser as I plant my seeds of forbidden office romance.

I collect my belongings and make the walk to my building. I really need to start driving again, but the fact is I hate it. Every time I try to get in the driver's seat of a car, I just freak out. It's not worth it, it's why I was more than happy to take the apartment when my parents offered. I can walk to work and the best food spots, plus Lincoln will drive me when needed.

I eat the leftover Chinese food in my fridge and put on something mindless, trying to ignore the overwhelming loneliness that's eating me up inside.

My next appointment with Deb is in a few days, and it couldn't come at a better time.

My phone vibrates, and I pick it up, seeing the notification from Avalon.

A massive smile takes over my face. I shouldn't be so excited over a man I don't know wanting to see me again. Maybe he had a busy work schedule, or had something come up and was just now able to reach out. My days of spiraling over why this man wasn't interested in me seems ridiculous. All the feelings of disappointment are quickly replaced by anticipation.