Page 113 of Feels Like Home

Andy

“Tess,just wait untilwe’re all here,” Barrett’s voice yells down the hallway, and I scrunch my eyebrows together and throw the pen I had been spinning on my finger onto mydesk.

“Oh, you’re gonna stop me?Seriously?”

“Fine. Your funeral, prettygirl.”

“What the—?” I mumble as I stand up from my desk and slowly take a few steps to the open doorway of my office, only to be shoved back inside by my boss’s iratewife.

“Just where in the hell do you think you’regoing?”

“Uhh…”

“Did you warn him?” Josh’s voice comes out in a rush as he starts charging into my office. The second he sees Tess staring me down, he quickly begins backing away only to stumble into his wife and Carly. “Abort mission! Abort mission! Andy, it’s every man for himself! You’re on yourown!”

“Idiots,” Laurenmumbles.

“Complete morons,” Tessagrees.

“Ladies,” Carly says with a raise of her eyebrows and nod in mydirection.

“Oh, right. No. They’re not the moronic idiots. It seems you’re the current owner and the reigning champion of that particular title.” Tess glares atme.

“What did Ido?”

“Are you kidding me?” Carlyscreeches.

Lauren places a hand on Carly’s arm and motions to all of us to have a seat. Josh, suddenly super helpful dimwit that he is, pushes another one in from the office he shares with Barrett so all the women can have theirown.

“Aww, thanks, babe. You’re the best,” Lauren says in a voice so sickeningly sweet it makes me want tovomit.

“Anything for you, baby,” Joshcroons.

“Gag me,” I mutter, which, apparently, I didn’t do quiet enough, and six sets of eyes turn to me,glaring.

“Shut up. It’s not your turn to talk. We’ll tell you when it is,” Carly says, slamming her fist down on the desk, causing all of us to jump. Carly’s normally sweet and gentle nature is clearly hidden for the timebeing.

“You. Are a jackass. Supreme Grade A assholicjackass.”

“Wow, Tess. Tell me how you reallyfeel.”

“I would, but I’m a lady and don’t use unkindwords.”

“But youjust…”

“Right. That was me being kind.Jackass.”

“Is there a point to this meeting, aside from you guys calling menames?”

“Of course, there is. You’re being stupid, and we’re either going to slap the stupid out of you or you’re going to have to sit and listen to us. Which is it gonnabe?”

“I gotta be honest. Neither sounds appealing at themoment.”

“That means he’s all for the slapping!” James’s voice bellows from somewhere in theoffice.

“I thought you were on myside!”

“Not when you’re behaving like a total tool, I’mnot!”

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