Page 100 of Friend Me

31

Two days later,as I stepped off the elevator onto the sixth floor, I could almost convince myself that my world was back to normal. I’d left my boxed-up home behind to rejoin the routine at Synergy.

I frowned at my desk. The temp had moved my things. I took a minute to slide my pen cup into its place on the corner and square up the file rack so I could reach it without looking. I tossed a celebrity magazine into the recycling bin under my desk. When the space looked the way it should, I unpacked my laptop and powered it up.

Cooper was back in his office. His low voice was the only sound in the early-morning silence on the sixth floor. A month ago, I’d made a pass at him in that office, and he’d shut me down. It felt like something a different woman had done years ago.

Straightening my spine, I strode to his door and knocked on the frame.

“Marlee! Glad you’re back. How’s your dad?” he asked, setting his phone face down on the desk. “Jackson said he wasn’t doing well.”

I gave him the brief version, but his face still creased in concern.

“I’m sorry. I knew he had some lapses from time to time, but I didn’t know it was that bad.”

“He’s safe now. That’s what’s important.” I scanned him from his golden hair to his crisp lavender dress shirt. “How are you? How was Europe?”

“Fine. Same.” He fluttered his hand.

Only Cooper Fallon could return from two weeks in London and Paris and say it was fine. “Okay. Well, I’m sure I have a mountain of work waiting for me. See you later.” With a dorky wave, I turned to go.

“It’s good to have you back.”

I smiled, glad to be back to our normal level of awkwardness.

Ten minutes later, Ben strode in, shaking out his rain-spattered coat. His mouth was pulled tight into a harried frown, but he stopped at my desk.

“Hey, Marlee, you’re back!” He darted a glance at Cooper’s door, but then his face relaxed into a broad smile. “Is your dad okay now?”

As I had with everyone except Jackson and Alicia, I’d given him only the basic information about Dad’s accident. “He broke his leg. He’s healing in a nursing facility. I—he—he’ll probably be there permanently. He has Alzheimer’s.” I had to own Dad’s condition now and the new reality it forced on me.

His whiskey-brown eyes were kind, and worry lines bracketed them. “I’m so sorry about that. Are you okay?”

My lip trembled, but I forced out, “I will be.”

He reached over and rubbed my arm. “Let me know how I can help. When you’re ready, we’ll go out for drinks and talk. Okay?” He held my gaze until I nodded.

I had more time for friends now. I’d be sure to take him up on his offer.

Twenty minutes later, Jackson bounded onto the floor. Without saying a word, he came behind my desk and pulled me up into a hug. His powerful arms around me assured me that everything would be okay in time.

We disengaged, but he held onto my hands. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay, boss. Ready to work.”

He shook his head. “No, really, Marlee. No bullshit. How are you?” His gaze held mine.

“It was…rough sending Dad there. I haven’t seen him yet. The nurses told me to give it a couple of days.”

“Want me to go with you? We can go tonight.”

“I’m planning to go after work, and I appreciate the offer, but I need to do this myself.” I pressed his hand. “You understand?”

He squeezed back. “I do. But tell me what I can do to help.”

“I’d love to do some work to take my mind off everything.”

“Then I have just the thing for you. We’re two weeks away from our holiday party, and Imayhave dropped the ball.”

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