Page 131 of Homecoming

“Okay, I guess. We’re all hopeful for the preliminary hearing on Thursday.”

“What’s the plan for that?”

“I’m not really supposed to say anything about it, but Dan has a strategy that he’s hoping will work.”

“I’ll hope and pray that it does.”

“Me, too. Now, why are you sarcastically awesome?”

“Because I told Myles to back off, and he did.”

“Ummm… Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I thought it was until he actually did it.”

Kara laughed. “Can you see how ridiculous that is?”

“Yes! I know it is, but it was the right thing to tell him how my parents’ marriage was eventually ruined because of workplace drama.”

“You’re not your mother, and he’s not your father.”

“It’s a similar situation, though.”

“How so? He owns the company outright. It’s not like he has a brother-partner who’s going to be pissed about him secretly dating an employee foryearsbefore marrying her.”

“You’re supposed to tell me the many reasons why I absolutely shouldn’t date my boss, not give me permission.”

“If you’d like to send me a script, I’ll follow it to the letter, and then I’ll tell you you’re making a mountain out of what doesn’t even count as a molehill.”

“That’s not in the script!”

Kara, that bitch, laughed again. “You’re being ridiculous. You liked Myles—a lot, as I recall—before he was your boss. In fact, I thought you were on your way to dating him then.”

“The same thing stopped me. He wasn’t technically my boss, but I knew he would be someday soon.”

“Here’s a novel idea. Get another job. Then you’ll be free and clear to date the man you’ve wanted for quite some time but couldn’t allow yourself to have because of the job.”

“I like this job.”

“Do you like him more than the job?”

“How the hell do I know?”

“You know, Renata, which is why you’re all tied up in knots over this. You like him. A lot. You have for a long time. Do you have any idea how often his name comes up when we chat?Myles said this, Myles said that, Myles brought me a mocha shake, Myles did the funniest thing…”

“That isn’t true. I don’t talk about him like that.”

“You do, pal, and you have for years. I’ve been wondering when something was going to come of that. And you admitted, just the other night, that you’re attracted to him.”

Renata moaned. “I hate you since you married that goddamned lawyer.”

Kara cackled with laughter.

“It’s not funny. Your argumentativeness has gotten much worse.”

Kara just continued to laugh and laugh.

“I really do hate you.”

---