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"I work with Claire. That didn't work out so well for me last time." Noah wanted to look anywhere but Tristan's face, to hide from this discussion, but something drove him to watch and gauge his brother's reactions.
Tristan frowned. "Things didn't work out because Julie was a prime bitch. Nothing to do with being workmates. Do you think Claire would treat you the same way?"
No, he didn't. Claire didn't have a bitchy bone in her body. She was the most open, giving person he knew. Even when she was angry, she was still kind in her delivery. Like that time when Vicki interrupted her during a meeting and Claire patiently waited for her to finish, then continued with her report.
He sighed again. "My number one rule for the last twelve years has been no dallying with anyone from work. Claire has me wanting to chuck that rule right out the door. Hell, I've already demolished it." He glanced at his brother. "We've been chatting every night."
Tristan's face turned triumphant. "I knew it! Eva and I have a running bet on when everyone else will realize she's the one."
"What?" Noah gaped at his little brother. He replayed the words in his head and slammed his jaw shut, while gulping down unease. Noah tugged at his collar and wondered how it had gotten hot so quickly. He fiddled with the temperature knob again.
"Oh, Eva and I knew it that night. But everyone else seemed puzzled by your relationship with her. They expected to meet your girlfriend. After all, you were bringing a woman around to meet your family, which never happens. But then you guys actually acted like colleagues. Nice plan for throwing everyone off, by the way. The wife and I, however, saw right through it." He paused.
Noah guessed Tristan was mentally reviewing the dinner and waited with dread for whatever revelation he might throw out next. "The lack of physical touching confused us, but knowing you haven't slept together… it makes more sense. Why haven't you slept together?"
"Because I'm stupid?" Noah quipped. He rubbed his face, wishing his brother would leave it alone.
"Well, yeah, but answer the question." They laughed at the burn. Just like when they were schoolboys.
"We've come close," he admitted. "But the whole coworker thing has me spinning inside my head."
As they pulled into the car park for the wood supply place, Tristan asked, "When do you see her again?"
"Ten days." His lips curved up into a soft smile.
Tristan's grin lit up the truck cab. "Man, you are smitten." He held out a fist. "Game on, big brother."
As Noah contemplated everything they'd discussed, everything he'd been feeling, his smile slowly spread. Julie was his past. And Tristan was right. She'd treated him terribly. Claire could be his future. If he'd just give them a chance. His shoulders relaxed unexpectedly, freed from a burden he hadn't known he was carrying.
"Game on, little brother." He bumped his fist against Tristan's.
Chapter 28
On the Road Again
Today's weekly update meeting was slow. People were still hung over from Christmas and many folks were out on vacation during this awkward time between Christmas and New Year's. The smell of coffee permeated the conference room as team members used caffeine as an energy infusion.
Claire gave her update on both her MADS coding assignments and her side project involving the Eastern Hemisphere accounting group, since the two efforts were so closely tied to each other.
Rick asked her a few pointed questions about her assigned code blocks, then checked off items on his list and moved to the next team member. While Teresa talked about some issue with product codes, a notification popped up on her laptop. She opened the network chat app and read Noah's name.
Noah R: Your hair looks different. What did you do?
Claire blushed and looked around the room to see if anyone noticed. For Pete's sake, they were in a meeting! She peeked at the screen with the virtual attendees, where Noah flashed a lopsided grin before resuming his all-business face again.
Before she could respond to the chat message, Simon wrapped up the updates. "Okay, listen up, people. Prior to this meeting, we found out about a class coming up that Jackie thinks we should attend. It's a deep dive into the new MADAS version rolling out next year. It's imperative we confirm the changes we're making today aren't going to get waylaid by a whole new version twelve months from now."
A heavy silence descended while the developers absorbed this announcement.
"… globe-trotting again…" Claire turned her head Vicki's way. The woman was mumbling to herself, and Claire wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. Before she could ask, Delbert spoke.
"We're writing everything within wrappers and making no changes to the original source code. That was the number one criterion for doing any of this. What's going on with MADAS that concerns you?"
"The rumor is they're doing a complete overhaul and the next version will have major changes. They're adopting popular customer customizations and making them part of the base code. Also, they've designed a new user interface to work with mainstream operating systems. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean what we're doing here needs to change. But we should verify for ourselves."
Simon looked at Rick. "Jackie and I spoke with Dan Vickerman, and he agrees that you and Delbert should attend the course. From Caprock, we'll send Claire, Noah, Larry, and myself. Rick, you'll handle travel arrangements for the VIG folks?"
"All right. When is the course? And where?" Rick clicked on his laptop, presumably opening up a calendar.
