Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Couple Big Surprises
Around ten o’clockthe next morning while I was at work, I got a text from him:Want me to bring lunch to your office?
I texted him,Hell yes.
It was a long way to come to see me for lunch since I was going to see him after work anyway.I wondered what the occasion was.He hadn’t come to my work for lunch since that day after I’d started therapy when I’d been a total mess.
I kept checking my phone every five minutes till he texted me to say he was at my building and coming upstairs.I went to the office and ditched my lab coat as he knocked on the door.I put my winter coat on and opened the door.
“Hey,” he said.
I kissed him.“Come on.I know where we can go.It’s cold, but it’s private.”
“Isn’t this your office?”
“I share it with other people in the lab.Anyone could theoretically come in.”
I took his hand and led him to the north stairwell.The walls were made entirely of glass, and because it was a sunny day, the stairwell was flooded with light.We went to the ground floor, which had concrete walls.There was a bench where we could sit without being seen.
“Almost no one uses this stairwell,” I said.
We sat on the bench beside each other, just touching.
“What’s the occasion?”I said.
He shrugged a shoulder.“Just wanted to see you.”
He handed me a paper bag from my favorite sandwich shop.A ham and cheese panini and a carton of milk.
“Thanks.”I unwrapped the sandwich.“What have you been up to today?”
“I made an appointment to get new headshots.The ones I have now are a couple years old.”
“I need to get photos of me dancing before I start looking to join a company.”
“I’ll talk to them, see if they can fit you in for a shoot right after me.We can go together.I’ll coach you.I’m used to having a camera in my face.”
“Thanks.I’ll feel more relaxed with you there.I hate having my picture taken.”
