Page 40 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
“You run the whole building, top to bottom?”
Ash nodded.
Collin moaned. “Fine. I wanted to impress them, okay. It was stupid. I kept saying I was fine.”
Ash shook his head. “Stupid. Yes. You are stupidest smart man I know. Anyway, you bought me more food. I need to give you more money.” He took a wad of cash out of his pocket and held it out.
Collin put up his hand. “Wait a sec.”
“No waiting. Take.” Ash pushed the money toward Collin.
Collin closed his eyes and put his knuckles to his forehead. “Not here, okay? Let’s do this in the dungeon.”
A giggle broke out in the hallway. Collin opened one eye. It was Janice, hand over her mouth, face turning red.
“It’s not… I didn’t… Gah! Janice!”
The woman was entirely unrepentant.
Ash looked between Collin and Janice. “What’s wrong with you two?”
“Cash. Dungeon. You look like you’re trying to pay Collin for spicy times.”
Ash turned four shades of red and stuffed the money back into his jeans. “The fuck!” He looked to Collin, eyes wide and pleading.
Collin groaned. “Janice! Seriously. The dude is seventeen.”
“I know. If it was the other way around, I’d be hitting you with my purse.”
“Thanks.” Collin rolled his eyes. “Ash, let’s talk in your office. You overpaid.”
“Overpaid?”
“Yeah.” Collin grabbed Ash’s hand since the teenager seemed to have forgotten he had feet and dragged him into the tech dungeon. He shut the door and pulled out his phone, bringing up his notes app. “Look, this is how much money you gave the first time. I counted it and wrote it down. This is how much I’ve spent on your lunches, before and after. This is how much money I still have from what you gave me before.”
Ash grabbed the phone and put the screen up near his face. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” Collin tapped the number of how much money was still left to be spent. “Look, I can share this note with you and tell you when it gets low. Then, and only then, give me more money.”
“I just really want to pull my own weight, you know.” Ash looked kind of devastated. He shifted his feet back and forth on the floor. “I’m not stupid. You keep buying me stuff, like the bed.”
“Believe me, you are pulling your weight.”
Ash huffed. “Don’t lie to me. You don’t have to help other people in the office like this.”
“Everyone has things they need help with, Ash. Like Carrie getting sick because she was allergic to that lawyer dude’s cologne. Or Veronica getting Damian to help her with her stupid hookup. Unless you have a stupid hookup you need help with?”
Ash shook his head. “The only guy who tried ate it.”
Collin’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. “Ate it? Ash, please, please, don’t confess to murder right now even in self-defense. I cannot handle any more complications.”
Ash giggled. “Naw, I didn’t murder him. He lost a couple of teeth though. And for the record, I think girls are my lane. Like ninety-five percent sure.”
“That’s cool. I’m leaving plenty of girls for you. I’m just glad you didn’t have to kill anyone, but if you need to, like, I totally get that. We’d be here for you, but maybe just try to avoid it for at least three more months? I’ve already had two ER visits in four weeks, and evidently, I have to give testimony in court next month? I don’t know. Damian is on top of that. And now I’m on a first-name basis with, like, three police officers.” Collin sucked in air.
Ash snickered. “Okay, okay, jeez, Collin. You’re like super red.” He patted Collin on the arm. “You really need to relax though. You, like, went off the deep end there.”
Collin heaved a sigh and leaned against a filing cabinet. “I really need to get to my desk. No, before that, I have to see Mr. Reevesworth, but I was wondering if you know any gamers. I’m going to ask my sister too, but I thought I’d ask you.”
