“How did your study date go?”
“It wasn’t a date,” she said automatically. It was the same response she’d given Haley.
“Right,” she drawled.
“Seriously.” Even she wasn’t convinced.
“Kenny said you went home with food containers and, I quote, ‘hugged a while.’”
Reese stopped short, her eyes wide. “It wasn’t that long.”
“Kenny doesn’t lie. I mean, he might try, but his face gives it away just a second before his mouth does.”
“It was just a hug. Time is a construct anyway. Nothing to focus on.”
Kerrie just raised an eyebrow.
When they stepped inside, she paused at the stairs leading to the basement. She could just make out Matty’s voice as she introduced herself.
“Want to eat our snacks in your office?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Her office was the closest one to the basement stairs.
She chewed on a cheese stick while straining to hear. Once she heard a chorus of laughter from the guys, but Matty’s voice was indecipherable.
“So I think I’m going to try out for the local strip club as a side hustle.”
Reese frowned, her head turning sharply to Kerrie, who had an amused look on her face. “Huh?”
“Just seeing if you were paying attention. You know you can go down there, right?”
“Go where?”
“To Leadership.”
She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t.”
“Sure, you can. Matty’s very open about her past. She doesn’t mind sharing her story.”
Reese bit her lip. “I don’t know.”
“Just pop down there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t send you down there if I weren’t. I think it’ll be good for you to get to know her more anyway.”
Reese pushed her chair back. “Thanks, Kerrie. I swear I’ll get back to work when I’m done.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She paused, then pointed. “I won’t tell anyone if the rest of my cheese sticks disappeared.”
“You just became my favorite coworker.”
She slowly descended the creaky red-painted stairs and hesitated before poking her head out.
