Page 16 of Common Grounds

“Excellent,” Randall purrs. The Cheshire-cat grin that spreads its way across his face is probably meant to be foreboding, but the joke’s on him. I’ve already decided I have nothing left to lose.

***

A few hours later, as the workday is winding down, Randall slinks out of his office and down the hall to the elevator. As soon as the doors close behind him, Ethan peeks over my cubicle wall above my computer monitor. “How’s it going, Madame Stone Ovaries?”

I grimace. “That’s a terrible nickname.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, “but I don’t know how else to describe what you did in there today.”

“You could pick something that sounds less like I’m running a seventeenth-century brothel,” I grumble.

Ethan chuckles. “I’ll keep thinking.” He folds his arms on top of the cubicle wall and rests his cheek on them with a sigh. “But you standing up to Randall was sexy as hell.”

I cock an eyebrow. “I’m not your type.”

“I might not be interested in the ovaries, but I can recognize how objectively sexy a good pair of them is,” he counters. “And don’t think I missed that excellent writer pun. Well played.”

I tilt my head at him in thanks.

Josie’s red head pops up to my right, and she has a wicked smile on her face. “I am also taking great pleasure in this deal.” When I frown at her, her eyes widen. “Oh, I’m rooting for you, for sure. Even the promise of leaving letters to the editor behind me isn’t shiny enough for me to wish for that over you putting Randall in his place for once.” Then, she smirks. “But, this is a win for me either way.”

I look back and forth between their giddy faces. “Don’t get too excited. I have no idea what to pitch tomorrow. I’ve been sitting here all day, trolling the internet for the latest viral feel-good pieces, and nothing seems like it’s good enough to strike gold twice.”

“You can’t redo a viral piece,” Ethan scolds.

“Not the same piece, exactly, but I was hoping to latch onto something similar,” I say. “Ride a trend.”

Josie frowns, her little button nose scrunching her freckles together. “That’s what everyone does. They try to jump on a viral trend, but it hardly ever works. You need something fresh and new.”

“Cool, cool. No pressure. Thanks,” I deadpan. She shrugs.

Ethan jumps in. “She’s right. But you’re in luck, because my date canceled tonight, so I have nothing but time to help you come up with something spectacular. And, honey, I can go all night long.” He raises his eyebrows meaningfully.

I groan and make a disgusted face. “Never say that again, please,” I plead.

“I’m in, too,” Josie offers. We both look at her questioningly, and she shrugs. “I told you, I want to see you win this thing. It’ll be good for morale.”

I check my watch, then slump in my chair. “I can’t right now. I’m supposed to meet my pregnant sister at the diner in thirty minutes, and she hates it when I’m late.” It’s been a week and a half since I’ve seen her, and I know she’s been anticipating this diner date ever since my best friend betrayed me and told her all about leaving me in the dust with a hot guy at the bar just over a week ago. She has bugged me every day for the juicy details, but I felt like it wasn’t a conversation I was willing to have over the phone. She hasn’t said so, but I’m sure Vi will tag along, too, since I haven’t talked to her about it either.

“Donna’s? I love Donna’s,” Ethan states matter-of-factly as he grabs his satchel and brings the strap across his chest.

“Best milkshakes in town,” Josie says, shouldering her purse.

“Oh, no. This is kind of a… sister thing?” No way am I taking these two busybodies to meet with my sister. She won’t care who’s sitting there; she’ll just dive right in and ask, and then I’ll have to face the workplace teasing about a one-night stand I’d rather keep under wraps.

Ethan purses his lips and dips his chin, looking at me as if I’m a complete idiot. “When were you planning on coming up with an excellent pitch for Randall, then? Did you think you’d happen upon one in your sad, lonely apartment at midnight tonight? Or maybe that it’d come to you in a dream?”

I narrow my eyes at him, then turn to Josie for backup, but she just shrugs. “He has a point,” she says. Traitor. Maybe if I can jump in and explain to Cass what’s going on, she’ll take the hint and realize this is more important than me dishing about some guy I’ll never see again. It’s not like it’s some secret that I’m not looking for a relationship. It’s been five years since Derek and I split, and I have made it pretty clear that my intention is to avoid another disaster relationship at all costs. It will never stop the sisterly teasing, but she might recognize the hierarchy of importance if I can explain fast enough.

I sigh, resigned, and push my rolling chair away from my desk. “Fine,” I say, standing. “But once we come up with an idea, we are all going our separate ways. This isn’t social hour; this is work.”

They both agree, and we make our way outside, where we are met with cloudy skies and a few droplets of rain starting to fall. I look upward, grimacing. “I didn’t realize it was supposed to rain today,” I mutter.

“Me either, but it looks like it’s going to open up any minute. We’d better hurry,” Ethan suggests. We all take off at a power-walk pace toward the diner. My legs are longer than the two of theirs, so I try to hold myself back while they scramble to catch up. Anyone who might be watching us would laugh at how comical this looks, me with my navy slacks and red kitten heels leading the triangle, with Josie and her red curls bouncing on her shoulders and Ethan sweating in his sweater vest and loafers just behind me.

We make it the four blocks to Donna’s right as the downpour starts. Cass and Vi are waiting under the awning where it’s dry, Cass with her arms folded on top of her baby bump, and Vi with her arm around her. When I get a little closer, I can see Cass is pouting.

I take a guess at what the pout is about. “Hey, Cass. Sorry I had to bring these two along. I can explain inside.” I reach to pull the door open, but it doesn’t budge.

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