Page 23 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

I gaped at him. “This was a slow day?”

He clapped me on the shoulder and laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”

We went through the main lobby and I dug out my badge. We needed it to exit the building too. I held it up to the scanner.

“Good night, Miss Sommers. Adam.”

“Good night, Tom.”

“You seem to be fitting right in here,” Adam said.

We stepped out and went down the steps to the parking lot. “Yeah, I think so. I really like it so far and love the people I’m working with.”

In between calls, I’d met the rest of the people in the room. I hadn’t detected any weird vibes towards the new girl; so far, so good. Everyone seemed great. They all appeared to be in their twenties and thirties with the exception of the other two supervisors who kept mainly to themselves. It was clear that Adam was the one who interacted with the operators.

“Feel like grabbing a bite to eat?” He raised an eyebrow. “Or a drink?”

I eyed him. He could just be acting friendly, or he could be interested. My instincts told me it was more towards the latter, but either way, I was comfortable with him. He had that air about him, and not a single creepy feeling was making its way over to me. I did very much want to be friends with him, and in another life, I might have even pursued him. He was easygoing and attractive. He looked fun, and I liked that a lot.

“Thanks, Adam, but I just feel like heading straight home tonight.”

“All right. See you tomorrow, Perry.”

“See ya.”

He waved, then walked in the opposite direction to his car. Even if I didn’t have my current arrangement with Dre, I’d still be hesitant to take things beyond the friend zone with a guy I worked with. Everyone I’d known who thought they could make it work was wrong. It never worked. The end results were always ugly with a big fat U stamped to their ass.

Forget that. It didn’t matter if I was single or not. Getting naked with someone at the office could only end in disaster, and I liked my new job way too much to screw it up.

Iwas relaxed and happy and slightly buzzed. I was laughing a hell of a lot and no longer felt leery about getting that buzz in the first place. Drinking during a mandatory work meeting—what kind of crazy shit was that? I couldn’t determine if I was relaxed and happy because of the sweet frosty drink or if I was drinking because I was relaxed and happy. It was all an awesome circle that didn’t appear to be ending soon. But wasn’t that the point of circles—they didn’t end?

“I think Perry needs another drink before she starts dancing on the tables.”

“That doesn’t make sense. She needs to get cut off before she starts snorting out margarita from her nose.”

I looked between Adam and Kate who were both smiling at me. “Neither, you guys. I’m just right.” I was still finishing my first one, and I was in a good place. I especially loved that it was Friday nightand I didn’t have to wake up early in the morning.

“Wait, what am I saying?” Adam pushed my glass towards me. “Drink up. I think I’d like to see you dance on the tables. How many more before it takes you to do that?”

“Considering the really good mood I’m in, probably just the one.”

Almost too good. I tried to dredge up a little guilt for bailing on Dre, but I couldn’t force the feeling. Maybe if it’d actually bothered him that I had to cancel our night out, but that hadn’t been the case. He was totally fine with it and said he’d meet up with me afterwards.

“Damn, a cheap date. I knew you were my dream girl.”

I smacked him on the arm, grinning. “Hey, when are we going to start doing the work stuff?” We’d been there over a half hour already and the only thing accomplished was starting a tab. On the company dime, of course. The appetizers were starting to make their rounds, so soon we could add stuffing our faces to the agenda too.

“Whenever more people get here,” Kate said. “We’re supposed to come straight from work but not everyone does or can.”

I glanced around our reserved back room. I’d never been in Nic’s before but was told this was their place of choice. I’d driven over with Kate since it wasn’t too far from work and I could go back and get my car later.

“I guess not everyone got the same memo as you,” she said as more people filed in. “It doesn’t look like it’s employees only. You could have brought someone. Was it your boyfriend you had plans with tonight?”

“Boyfriend?” Adam clenched his chest. “You’re breaking my heart, Perry.”

I rolled my eyes. He was such a flirt. All week he’d been teasing me, but he was the kind of guy who joked around with everyone. He was way too good-natured to be threatening.

“So, what’s his name?” Kate asked.

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