Page 23 of Objection to Love

“Sounds… fun. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you, I think I will. Don’t stay too late, Ms. Miller.”

Em offered him a halfhearted smile. “I won’t.”

He nodded and walked down the hall, leaving Em frozen in her doorway.

Just because Stephanie and Mr. Standson were both going to karaoke at the same place tonight didn’t mean they were going together as a group. It was just a coincidence.

The lights in the common areas clicked off. It didn’t make the office dark, as the summer evening light still streamed through the windows, but it did feel strangely lonely. Usually, Em found this time of day peaceful. She could work without disruption. But tonight… tonight she felt abandoned.

She returned to her desk but reread the same line in the brief six times without comprehending any of it. It was useless. Yesterday had ruined work for Em. At least for today.

Plus, she felt a ridiculous desire to find out if Mr. Standson had really been invited to join the office for karaoke. For some reason, knowing he might have been included, when she was not, hurt more than the fact that everyone she worked with seemed to think she was boring.

After a half hour, she gave up. She was too distracted and couldn’t work anymore.

She would just head home and work there.

And if she happened to pass Annie’s on her way, so be it.

Five minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of the popular bar. She felt creepy and a little stalkerish, but her mind would not calm down unless she knew the extent of her exclusion.

She thought she would feel better if she knew one way or another.

Unfortunately, she was wrong.

There, seated in a large corner booth, were three attorneys, two paralegals, andMr. Standson. As Em watched, a group of four more people from the office walked up to the table and smiled and chatted with those sitting down.

Em swallowed hard.

She wasn’t social… so why did it hurt to see all these people together, without a thought for the coworker they didn’t invite?

It felt like she was in fourth grade, eating alone at lunch because the other kids thought she was weird. But at least in fourth grade, she’d had friends. Somewhere along the way, she’d stopped having more than acquaintances in her life.

With more than a little force, Em punched the car into reverse and pulled back onto the road. She needed to talk to Garrett.

Chapter 9

Em

Garrettwasn’tonhisporch when Em got home that night, which was annoying. The man was always around, but the one time she needed him, he disappeared.

With a dirty look at his front door, she locked her car and stomped—or something resembling stomping but accomplished in heels—to her door. Mr. Winkles sidled up to her as she set her purse on the kitchen counter. The cat wound between her legs, purring deeply.

Em squatted to her level, scratching behind her ears. Her presence felt comforting, and Em smiled.

She didn’t need a social life. She had her job and her cat.

With a flick of her tail, Mr. Winkles wound through her legs one last time, then slinked back down the hall. Em stared after her. Well. She still had her job. And her family. April, at least, would always be there for her.

Heading the opposite way from her capricious cat, she opened her fridge. It was empty.

Not totally empty, but with the exception of a loaf of bread, some milk, and condiments, there wasn’t much to be had, which was fine. She would just order a pizza.

She walked back to her purse, pulling out her phone. She placed an order for a large pizza, though she knew she wouldn’t actually eat the whole thing, then sat at her counter and waited.

Her fingers drummed against the quartz, and she looked down at her blank phone screen. Maybe she should call April and tell her about all the work stuff. April gave great advice.

---