"Kerrie, it looks like I'm finally going to be allowed to do work here at The Church. Tyler said we need to meet so I can figure out exactly where to start," she said, flashing asmile.
Irritation filled Kerrie. She didn't have time for this today. She was already going to have to deal with the drinking incident on top of needing to finish everything up for the end of the month, which was two days away. She didn't have time to teach this woman how to do a job that was supposed to be helping her. Tyler knew this would be a chaotic day. Why had he sent her here?
Shaking her head. Kerrie finished unlocking her door and walked in, calling over her shoulder. "I really don't have time for that today. I've got a lot to do."
She looked up at Bette when she got to her desk. She could tell by the way the blonde cocked her head to the side and set her feet that Bette was not happy with that answer. If the woman hadn't been carrying a large purse and tumbler, Kerrie was sure that she would have crossed her arms. "And I have a job to do. A job that needs your cooperation to work."
Kerrie bit her bottom lip briefly as she reached to turn on her computer. "I really don't have time. We had some guys get caught drinking last night, and we have to deal with that. Plus, I have notes and audits to finish, one new intake, and I need to reassign chores."
"Isn't that one of the tasks I'm supposed to be doing?"
"I don't know, maybe? Shouldn't you know what your job is?" snapped Kerrie as her computer logged on. She smacked the side of the monitor.
"Are you always a dick?"
Kerrie stopped mid-smack, her eyebrows knitting together as she stared at Bette.Who the hell did she think she was?
Luke shifted uncomfortably behind Bette. "Yeah, I'm going to go have a smoke. Walkie me if you need me."
Kerrie waited until he was gone before replying with a tight voice. "Did you just call me a dick?"
"No, I asked you if you always act like one. Once you confirm it, then I'll call you a dick. Until then, it's just speculation."
Kerrie could barely believe her ears.She really did just say that.
"Well?"
"I don't know who you think—"
A clapping of hands sounded, and both moved to look at the source. Tyler stood in the doorway, his trademark fake smile plastered all over his face. "Well, looks like we've already gotten started this morning, huh? Kerrie, I know there's a lot going on, but I need you to squeeze Bette in today."
Anger bubbled within Kerrie. Why did no one seem to understand that she had things to do? Things that had to be completed on time. Things that would impact these three men.
She tried to take in a breath to lessen the tightness in her chest. It was like everything was compounding at once lately. Things kept going wrong, and not just at work. On Sunday, she checked on the basement apartment after Seth left. He had left it relatively clean, but the once pristinely painted white walls had scratches all over, and the toilet was running continuously. She spent the whole day painting and fixing the toilet. Even Kenny had helped, which worried Kerrie at first, but he seemed to enjoy having something to do. He sat on a stool while running a paint roller over the walls.
The thought of Kenny's wide, infectious smile as he awkwardly rolled the paint roller up and down, glancing at her every few seconds to see she was watching him, forced some of the anger out. She took another deep breath, ignoring the tingling feeling in her lungs, and then nodded. "I have to talk to Wilson about the issue over the weekend. Walter is going to do group for us so we can handle this. I guess I can squeeze some time in after that."
"That's so kind of you to find a little time," smiled Bette, sarcasm dripping off each word as she crossed her arms over her chest. Kerrie returned a tight smile, biting back a retort.
"Okay then, that sounds perfect. Call me if you need anything."
He left a thick silence behind, the air around them bogged down with tension. Seconds ticked by, which only made it worse. Finally, Kerrie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "How about you go get your things put away and come back here? You can sit in on the meeting with Wilson. You may as well see how things work in situations like this. I'm sure it won't be the last time. It never is."
Chapter 11
Bette was irritated. She shut her office door behind her as men streamed past to give herself a moment of peace. "Why is she such an ass?" she asked herself aloud.
Bette thought they had put this pettiness behind them last week when they were fixing up her office. It had been a pleasant afternoon. They had gotten along well. They even laughed together. It had been good. But then Kerrie, always irritable Kerrie, had to come to work with an attitude. She was so flip-floppy. It wasn't Bette's fault that she was behind.
A soft knock sounded on her door. She shut her purse up in one of the filing cabinets and called out. "Come in."
Bette wasn't surprised when Kerrie's graying brown head popped in. "Hey, you ready?"
"Yep." She grabbed her phone off her desk and turned to find herself face to face with Kerrie's chest, clad in a dark green polo and a hint of white undershirt poking out of the unbuttoned collar. She slowly looked up, licking her suddenly dry lips. The rude woman certainly had an effect on her, going by the tug of pleasure below the waistband of her panties.Jesus, Bette, you're getting turned on by arguing with her.
Kind, brown eyes met her own. "I'm sorry about the attitude. I feel like all I've done since we met is be rude to you and then apologize. I know it's not an excuse, but I really hate times like this. We're going to have to make a decision that will impact these men, and it's hard not to feel it on a personal level. Someone's probably going to be sent home, and I hate that for them."
The sincerity in her voice and compassion in her eyes quickly melted any iciness that lingered between them, being replaced with deeper aching. Bette was a sucker for owning up to one's actions, and Kerrie didn't seem to have any issue with doing that. She alsonever thought of what the consequences would be if someone broke the rules. Sitting in the morning meeting, it surprised her that someone would just walk off campus.
