I wonder how she managed to get them without her brother seeing her. As far as she knows we’re doing this in secret, even though it pains me keeping it from her. I know nothing good will happen when she finds out. Pierce better be around to back me up when it does. Piper holds grudges like nobody I’ve ever known. She’s still mad at a girl we went to school with for telling everyone her birthday party theme was dumb.
Thirty minutes, that’s all I have to last before I can go home and hang out with Piper. Until then, I better look at the analytics from the new posts. They don’t have all the data I need, but it’ll give me an idea if what she's doing is working. This is probably my favorite part of the job, especially if things are going in the direction I want.
“Hey.” Cole slams his hand on my shoulder. I swear if this guy keeps doing shit like this, I’m going to punch him. “What are you working on?”
“The marketing numbers for that project I’m doing.” He doesn’t really need to know anything. This whole thing is between me and Mr. Gardner. The only reason I’m for sure going through with it is because Cole opened his big mouth. “Is there something you need?”
“Oh, yeah.” He leans against the cubicle wall and crosses his arms. “We’re going out for drinks after work and wanted to invite you.”
This is new. Most of the guys here go out for drinks at least once a week, but they’ve never invited me or any of the women who work here. Honestly, their lack of invitation to all the employees says a lot about them and I really don’t want to go. The only reason they’re asking now is because Mr. Gardner wants me to see this marketing campaign through. If I have the ear of our boss, then it puts them closer to moving up the ladder. Too bad for them, I don’t like being used as a pawn.
“Sorry, I can’t. I have plans tonight.” It’s not a lie, but I can see the disappointment written all over Cole’s face. His problem, not mine.
“Maybe some other time.”
“Sure.” What the hell else am I supposed to say? He put me on the spot and it’s not like I can come out and say no. Office politics and hierarchy annoys me, but even I know I need to at least play nicely.
“Sounds good, man.” He moves away from my desk. “I’ll see when we’re going out again so you can check your calendar.”
Little does he know, I plan on being busy every time he asks. Which reminds me, I need to find out what time Piper is supposed to come by. I grab my phone from my desk and shoot off a quick text.
Beau
What time will you be at my house?
I put my phone down and continue analyzing the numbers she sent me. She usually takes a while to respond because she’s too busy running around making sure nobody else needs her to do something. They really don’t realize how much she does for them in all aspects of the business.
My phone vibrates faster than I expected.
Piper
Sorry, I can’t make it tonight.
Beau
Did something happen at the winery?
Piper
No. I forgot I have a date.
You have to be kidding me. She wants her brothers to take what she’s doing seriously, but goes out on dates instead of showing up. I can’t tell her that, though. Maybe my opinion is also a bit biased. The only person I want her date is me, and she does everything in her power to make sure we’re strictly in the friend category. Frustration doesn’t begin to explain everything I’m feeling right now.
Beau
No problem. Let me know if anything changes.
The one thing she knows she can always count on is that I’ll be there no matter what. Maybe I should make myself less available to her. Even the thought sends a pang through me. Why in the hell did I have to fall for my best friend all those years ago?
“What can I get you?” Eric leans across the bar with a shit eating grin on his face. The one I know means he’s about to meddle.
There’s no way I’m letting him interfere in my life. He has a habit of thinking he’s everyone’s matchmaker. I don’t need it. I know who my match is. She needs to wake up and realize it for herself.
“The usual.”
“Food and drink?”
“Sure.”
