Page 11 of Paging Dr. Breakup
“No, the staff.”
“They do a great job, and the camaraderie is excellent. I don’t want to mess with their teamwork. But they’re applying that teamwork to other areas of my life.” He took a sip. “It’s more about them having conversations and poking gentle fun. I’m not looking to get anyone in trouble.”
Deirdre shook her head. “I thought it was mostly me that the staff had focused on. Mav, too. Seems like ever since he got hooked up, Mav has time to spare to evaluate my nonexistent dating life.”
“Not sure about Maverick’s motives, but with the staff I’m sure they have good intentions. We’re all friends here, so I don’t take offense.”
“It’s not interfering with your work?”
“Nope.”
“Do you feel comfortable stopping it if need be?”
“Yep.” He flashed a thoughtful expression. “Although, I’d hate to take away all of their fun.”
With a laugh that bubbled up from deep inside, she stared at Calvin’s familiar but handsome face. Her old friend.We’re all friends here, he had said. Old friends who could put a plan together like no one’s business.
Something resembling an idea started to take shape. Deirdre tapped the mug with a finger.
“Uh-oh. You’re plotting.” He gently bumped her upper arm with his elbow.
“Just thinking that”—she dumped cream in her coffee and stirred—“your problem sounds exactly like my problem.”
“Huh.”
“My problem is being the focus of the staff’s machinations. Looks like they have similar goals for you.”
“It’s also uncomfortable for you when they ask kind but probing questions?”
“Yes!” she said too loudly, then quickly smiled at the employee nearby. She sipped the coffee to lower the fluid level in the mug so that any wild gesture of hers was less likely to spill.
Calvin’s dark eyebrows shot up. “We have the same problem.” He looked around to make sure no eavesdroppers lurked nearby. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
No. No way. She shivered. The plan had risk, but also a chance of relieving the pressure.
It could work. “I think I am. And I believe we should have a meeting. Right now.”
“Where?” He made a face before taking a drink of his coffee.
“My office.” She tilted her head toward the staff milling around in the cafeteria. “You’d rather we meet here?”
“No, I do not.” He paused and pulled his buzzing phone from the vest pocket. “Pardon me a second.” She tried not to peek as Calvin studied the screen, frowned, swiped the screen, and put the phone back in his pocket.
“Everything okay?” she said.
His expression smoothed out in a split second, but his smile was tighter than normal. “Nothing we need to worry about. Let’s go.” He mirrored her businesslike stride and posture as they collegially walked side-by-side to the administration suite.
Once safely in her office, Calvin shut the door with a gentle, solid sound.
A sound of finality and promise.
She wetted her lips and motioned toward her small round meeting table. Calvin settled in a chair, and Deirdre took the seat next to him and scooted it to face him. “Don’t get me wrong. I love the staff. It’s very nice that they’re trying to help me out. It’s nice that they care about others,” she began.
“I agree. However, they are wearing me down, and I’ve only been here for two shifts. There’s a lot more scheduled. If I have to answer one more question about when am I settling down and having kids, I might jump out the window.”
A snort-laugh erupted, and Deirdre was darn lucky she hadn’t been mid-sip of coffee. “This is a one-story building!”
“I didn’t say my action would be effective. Mostly demonstrative.” Even though Calvin sat casually with an ankle resting on his knee, leaning back in the chair, he somehow managed to take up space and air in the small room. He put the coffee tumbler on the table. “You’re suggesting we work together to remove us as targets for the staff’s plotting pleasure?”
