Page 55 of Ten Day Affair
“Happy to hear that.”
I don’t answer.
Angela leans back in her chair, satisfied. “Alright, boss. I’ll hold the fort. Text me if anything changes.”
I close the laptop without replying. I’m not sure what tonight is.
But I want to find out.
THIRTEEN
Sam
Kip glances up from his notes. “Jesus, you look like someone ran over your puppy.”
“I feel like someone ran over me, and then backed over me. Twice. One too many glasses of wine last night. Maybe two too many.”
He grins and hands me a cup of coffee like this is a routine we’ve done before. It is. “Hangover? I thought you knew your limit.”
“Please don’t say it like that. It sounds irresponsible. Say… post-wine fatigue.”
“Ah. Arden strikes again, huh?”
“Arden,” I confirm, taking a grateful sip of my coffee.
“She still on her crusade to get you to loosen up and live a little? Isn't that what she always says?"
I nod. “Still at it. She’s dragging me to Swifty’s tonight. Dave Matthews Band cover band.”
Kip lifts both brows. “That sounds fun.”
“It will be. I'm just exhausted right now. I'm glad I have the day off tomorrow, so I can nurse my post-wine fatigue on my couch all day.”
He leans on his elbows. “Swifty’s is fun, though. Good drinks. Decent crowd. You’ll be halfway to dancing on a table by your second vodka soda.”
“I don’t drink vodka sodas.”
“Exactly.”
I roll my eyes, but the tension behind it softens. This is why I love Kip. He never pushes, just shows up with sarcasm when I'm going dark.
He glances at me over his glasses. “Sounds like a girl’s night I’d totally crash if I didn’t have the overnight shift.”
A slow smile pulls at my lips. One man already crashing is more than enough.
“Why are you smiling like that? That’s not a ‘Kip said something funny smile. That’s a ‘something wicked this way comes’ smile.”
I try to brush it off with a shrug. “I’m just thinking about the setlist. ‘Crash Into Me’ always makes me nostalgic.”
His eyes narrow. “Oh, you’re hiding something. Come on. Spill. Who’s going to be there?”
“You're good. Arden invited someone else.”
He stares at me for half a beat. “Someone who makes you smile like that?”
I avoid his gaze, pretending to be very interested in the label on my coffee cup. “Maybe.”
“Is this the board guy?”
