“Wow. So, when I download too much porn, you can get rid of all the viruses on my laptop?”
He turned to stare at me, his eyes narrowed like he couldn’t believe what I’d just said. When he realized I wasn’t serious, that handsome smile moved back into his lips and his eyes turned playful. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”
I chuckled and turned back to my computer. “Everyone is great, so I’m happy to be here.”
“Yeah, Matt is awesome, and the girls are great too. Everyone busts their asses around here because they love their jobs. It makes it a great place to work. It’s nice to do something that’s not life or death, you know? Making other people’s lives more convenient somehow makes you happier.”
“Life or death?” I asked with a laugh. “How many jobs are life and death?”
He shrugged and turned back to his computer.
“How long have you been working here?”
“A year. Where were you before this?”
“I worked in a pediatrician’s office for five years. But the doctor retired, so I had to find something else.”
“You couldn’t work for the next doctor coming in?”
I shook my head. “It’s turning into a pizzeria, apparently.”
“And you didn’t want to work there?” he asked incredulously. “Sounds like an upgrade.”
I loved that he made me laugh so easily. It made me forget all the baggage sitting on my chest. “If I worked in a pizza place, I’d probably get fired for eating on the job too much.”
He smiled then turned back to his laptop. “Let me know if you need anything. I’m happy to help.”
“Thanks.”
Cleo walked in a moment later. “Is that for 22A?”
“Yep,” Dex said. “Almost done.”
She turned to look at me. “Are you doing anything right now? Carrie has a big grocery run and could use some help.”
“Absolutely.” I got to my feet and ignored the pain in my toes. “But I was just wondering…” I glanced at the time on the computer and saw that it was almost three in the afternoon. “Do we take lunch or…?” I’d been hustling all day without breakfast or lunch, and I was starting to get a little light-headed.
“Oh my god.” Cleo covered her face with both hands. “I totally forgot to schedule your lunch.”
Dex chuckled. “She never takes a lunch, so she forgets that normal people need to eat.” He got to his feet and came closer to my desk. “I’ll grab you something at the café. Vegetarian or anything?”
“No. But you don’t have to do that. I can—”
“You haven’t sat for more than a minute.” He raised his hand so I wouldn’t rise out of the chair. “Relax. Cleo is probably going to spend five minutes groveling over her mistake, so…” He gave her a playful look before he walked away.
Cleo sat in the chair beside me and did exactly what Dex predicted. “I’m so sorry, Sicily. Sometimes the day is so crazy that I forget we have basic biological needs.”
“Now I know how you can fit into a double zero skirt.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s mostly because my husband is a health freak.”
“It’s really not a big deal. I’ll just pack snacks and eat as I go.”
“No, we try to give everyone a lunch, not just because it’s the law, but because it’s important to rest. Most of us just make our breaks work when there’s time, but I failed to tell you that. Sorry.”
“It’s fine, Cleo. Really.”
Dex came back with a sandwich and coffee. “Savor these moments of peace because they’re rare in this business.” He set everything on the desk before he returned to his seat.
“Thanks.” It was such a nice thing for him to do, and it didn’t seem like he was doing it because he was hitting on me. He was just a good guy. I’d never seen a man so undeniably hot be so kind. Did guys like that even exist?
The phone rang on the desk, so Cleo grabbed it. “This is Cleo.” Her face started to fall as she listened to the person on the other line.
I’d barely taken a bite of my sandwich when the shit hit the fan.
“What?” Dex asked.
Cleo ignored him. “We’ll be right there.” She hung up. “Get the plumber over here ASAP. One of the tenants said there’s flooding all the way into the hallway on the fifth floor.”
I lowered my sandwich. “But I was just up there an hour ago. I didn’t see anything.”
Dex was already on the phone.
Cleo sighed. “The housekeeper must have cleaned the bathrooms and left, and then there was a clog, so the water started to overflow. The piping in this building is super old even though it’s been remodeled. Not the first time it’s happened. Scarf that down. All hands on deck for this.”
It was a huge cleanup, and we weren’t finished fixing the damage until seven at night. Carpet cleaners had to come and clean the rugs and carpeting, along with the bottom of any furniture that was touched by the toilet water.
It was a nightmare.
After giving my hands a good scrub, I was finally off for the day.
A twelve-hour shift.
With one meal.
But I got a lot of overtime, and everyone was so great to work with that I didn’t mind.
Besides, I had nothing to do when I got home besides wallow in grief.
When we were finished, we all sat there for a minute, catching our breath.
Dex turned to me. “Good first day, huh?”
“I’ll say.” I grabbed my coffee and took a drink even though it was cold.
The guy I’d seen in the lobby earlier walked into the office and stopped in front of Cleo’s desk. He was still in a dark blue hoodie and jeans, his satchel over his shoulder. He looked down at her and just stared.
She must have felt his presence because she lifted her gaze and looked up. “It’s been a long day.”
“I can tell. I’ll get dinner started.”
“Can we order a pizza tonight?”
He smiled at her request. “Sure, baby.” He leaned over her desk and gave her a kiss before he straightened and turned to Dex. He gave him a slight nod before he walked to the elevators and disappeared.
“I’m just going to finish up scanning this paperwork,” Cleo said. “You guys can take off.”
“Anything I can do before I go?” I asked.
“Nope.” Cleo turned to me. “You did great today.”
“Thanks. It was an exciting day.”
“I promise the days aren’t always hectic like that.”
Dex rose from his chair and pulled his hoodie over his head, giving a distinctly sarcastic chuckle. “Yeah, okay.”
Cleo rolled her eyes, but there was a playful smile on her lips.
I grabbed my coat and bundled up before I said goodnight and walked out. Dex walked with me as we left the building and made it to the sidewalk.
“So, will I see you tomorrow?” he asked. “Or are you going to run for the hills?”
“Like I said, I don’t scare easily.”
He gave me a thumbs-up. “Great. I’m glad you’re going to stick it out.”
“Do people quit often?”
“The turnover rate is pretty low, but sometimes a new person will start, and once they realize how extensive the hours really are, they’ll leave. It’s usually working mothers who think they can juggle both, but then realize they can’t with this job. And we don’t hire part-time employees because that’s just too unrealistic for the profession. I don’t have much of a personal life, so it’s perfect for me.”
“Yeah, me neither.” Not anymore, at least.
“Have a good night.” He gave me a final smile before he turned around and headed up the sidewalk, his hands slipping into his pockets as he walked off. He carried himself with perfect posture, like he lifted weights and worked out often. He was smart, chivalrous, easy to talk to…really unique.
One of a kind.
5
Dex
I s
at beside Derek on the couch in the living room of his penthouse. The game was on, and we drank our beers as we screamed at the TV every time a ridiculous call was made. There was a bowl of chips and salsa, and since we were brothers, we just dunked our chips in the same salsa and abandoned our manners.
“So, the entire floor flooded?” he asked.
“Not the entire floor, but it was pretty bad. The client has a $100,000 rug that got soaked in E. coli. We got the carpet cleaners out to try to save it, but the guy insisted we toss it. He’ll just buy a new one, apparently.”
“What was the problem?”
“Still not sure. But that plumbing has always been bad. Mom is talking about redoing everything, even though the clients will be pissed. But the problem is only getting worse, and at some point, it’s going to have to happen anyway.”
“Yeah.” He took a drink of his beer and kept watching the TV.
“Where’s the wife?”
“Lizzie had soccer practice. Emerson’s picking up the boys afterward.”
“Good. I want to see those rascals.”
A moment later, the front door flew open. “Dad! Dad, it came! Oh my god, I’m gonna pass out.” Lizzie sprinted to my brother, still in her soccer shorts and t-shirt, her hair in a messy ponytail, with dirt on her face because she must have slipped in the mud on the field.
Derek set down his beer and stood up. “What came, Liz?”
She held up the envelope in his face. “Harvard. It’s freaking Harvard.”
Derek turned off the TV because this was more important than the game. “I already know what it says.”
Lizzie pressed it into her face and tilted her head back. “Oh god, I can’t look at it…”
“Lizzie, a little help.” Emerson emerged in the doorway, holding Little Deacon by the hand while Cam was in her arms. She had a bag over her shoulder with baby supplies, and she did all of this in heels.
I jumped off the couch and got to her before Derek could. “Hey, kid.” I took Cam from her arms and held him against me. “Wow, you’re bigger every time I see you. You’re looking good.”
He made a giggle before he said, “Hi.”
“Hi.” I held him with one arm and saw my brother’s distinct features in his face. “Damn, you’re one cute kid, you know that?”
“Language,” Emerson warned.
“Whoops,” I said quickly. “Sorry. But come on, look at this kid.”
Cam giggled again.
Derek bent down and picked up Little Deacon then lifted him over his head, playing with him and making him giggle.
Now that Emerson had her hands free, she set the baby bag on the table.
“Uh, guys!” Lizzie kept waving the envelope around. “My future is inside this envelope. This is a life-or-death situation.”
“Not life or death.” Derek brought Little Deacon into his arms and turned to her. “It doesn’t matter what that letter says because you’re destined for greatness whether Harvard sees it or not.”
“Exactly.” Emerson came to her side and wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Ready?”
Lizzie glanced at the envelope again before she lifted her gaze and looked at my brother. “I’m scared.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” Derek said. “You’ve applied to a lot of great colleges. If this doesn’t work out, there’s another. But I don’t think that envelope contains a rejection, Liz. I have complete confidence in you.”
“If it says no, will you be disappointed in me?” she asked quietly.
His eyes softened. “Never.” He moved to me and handed Little Deacon over.
I took the second kid and held them both. “Now I just need one more so I can juggle you guys.”
Derek went to Lizzie’s side and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Come on, open it.”
“I just…I’ve always wanted to go where you went to school,” she whispered.
“I know.” He gave her a squeeze. “Let’s find out.”
I stood in front of them and watched their special moment. I knew I was family, so I belonged there, but it was so intimate that I almost felt like I was intruding. “Okay, boys. We’re about to watch your sister get into Harvard.”
Lizzie stared at the envelope for another minute, sucking up the courage to rip into it and decide her fate. She finally turned the envelope over and slid her fingers under the flap to get it open. The letter was pulled out, the envelope fell to the ground, and she unfolded the paper to read. Her eyes shifted back and forth as she read the message.
I knew how important this was for Lizzie, so I hoped she got what she wanted. She was the most ambitious person in our family, and she wanted to soar to the same heights as my brother. She was obsessed with getting into Harvard, had been since right about when I’d met her.
When Derek smiled, I knew what it said.
“Oh my god…” Lizzie’s eyes started to water. “We’re happy to inform you that your application has been accepted by Harvard University…”
The look on Derek’s face was priceless. So much pride in his expression, so much joy in his eyes.
Emerson straight up cried.
Lizzie started jumping in place. “I did it! I’m in! I fucking got into Harvard—”
“Whoa,” I said. “My hands are full, and I can’t cover their ears.”
Emerson didn’t care about the f-bomb and wrapped her arms around her daughter for a hug. “Honey, I’m so proud of you.” She squeezed her tight, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I can’t believe my little girl is going to Harvard.”
“I know, Mom.” As she held her mother, Lizzie dropped the letter.
“I love you,” she said with a sniff.
“I love you too.”
Derek watched them together, his eyes noticeably wet.
After Lizzie finished with the long hug, she turned to face Derek.
They stared at each other for a bit, his eyes growing more and more emotional as he looked at her.
She dropped her gaze for a moment, like she didn’t know what to say. Then she moved into his chest and squeezed him harder.
His arms wrapped around her, and he closed his eyes, breathing hard like he was doing his best not to break down into tears like Emerson.
She hugged him harder than she did her mother, and I knew exactly why.
“You always told me to believe in myself,” she whispered. “This happened because of you.”
Derek couldn’t hold back his emotion anymore, and the tears came. “Liz…”
“You never gave up on me. You told me I was smart when my teachers said I was stupid.”
“Stop…” He rubbed her back as the tears continued to come. “It was all you, Liz. Don’t give me any credit I don’t deserve.”
Emerson’s face was red and blotchy as she watched them together.
“You’re the best dad anyone could ask for,” Lizzie whispered.
“Fuck…” Now, it was my turn. I blinked my eyes quickly so I wouldn’t cry like everyone else.
Derek pulled himself together before he pulled away. “And you’re the best daughter I ever could have asked for. I just wish…I wish I had more time with you. I don’t know what I’m going to do when you move out.”
“I’ll come back, Dad.” She gave him a smile through her tears. “There’s only one place I want to work.”
I had just clocked out when Dad walked up to my desk, his satchel over his shoulder, wearing his signature jeans and sweater. He hadn’t changed much since I could remember, always having the same routine, the same outfits, the same boring dinners.
“Want to come up for a beer? The game is on.”
“Sounds good. But I’ve been working all day, and I’m pretty hungry…”
He gave a slight smile. “I can order you a pizza.”
“You? You aren’t going to eat it?”
“Your mother and I ordered pizza a few days ago.”
Man, he was lame. “I’m in.” I grabbed my sweater
and walked with him to the elevator. “Should I text Derek?” I knew Mom was working late because she had an event with a client, so Dad was solo tonight.
“He’s busy.”
We got into the elevator and rode it up together.
I could tell Dad was in a bit of a weird mood because he was really quiet.
“We’re going to have another Harvard alum in the family…pretty exciting.”
“Very.” He gripped the strap of his bag and faced the metal doors. “Your mother and I are extremely proud. Lizzie is a very accomplished young woman, and I’m excited to see where life will take her. I just feel bad for Derek. It’s gonna be hard for him.”
“Hard for him, how?”
“Because she’s leaving for college.” The doors opened, and he stepped into the hallway. “She’ll start her own life. When each one of you went off to college, it was rough. I took it worse than your mother. Daisy was the hardest.”
“Why was Daisy the hardest?”
He walked forward and pulled his keys from his pocket. “I love you all equally and raised you all equally, but…it’s just different with her. She’s my little girl. I just feel more protective toward her than you or Derek. So, I know Derek will have to go through that entire process. At least I had Daisy from the day she was born. Derek didn’t get that luxury.” He unlocked the door, and we walked inside, stepping into my childhood home. His satchel was set on the dining table like routine, and he headed to the fridge to grab the beers.
I got comfortable on the couch and pulled out my phone to order the pizza. “You sure you don’t want anything?”
“Yes.” He set the beers down and sat beside me. “But let me order it.”
“I got it—”
He pushed my phone down and made the order himself. “You’re my company.”
The Doctor Who Has No Ambition (Soulless Book 9) Page 4