That didn’t make me feel much better. “Then please tell me that his assistant yesterday deserved to be fired, and then reassure me that he’s not going to do the same to me on a whim.”
“Oh my God, Alex was the worst. Literally. He was more focused on using Tripp’s name to get laid than doing any work. When he did do something, it was sloppy at best and flat-out wrongat worst. Trust me, his firing was long overdue.” She grimaced. “And Easton said Alex was the best of his recent assistants.”
Yikes.
I wanted to ask more, but it was a moot point if I wasn’t going to take the job. And I wouldn’t know that until I went to the interview.
Maddie reached the same conclusion. “We’ll talk more later. I’m thinking dinner to celebrate. Or commiserate, depending on how this goes. Wren already agreed.”
I arched a brow. “Actually agreed or a tentative maybe that she’ll back out of because she’s too busy seeing the teacher after class?”
Like Maddie, the third in our triangle of friendship was also happily committed. She’d fallen quickly for a first-grade teacher she’d met while student-teaching in his classroom. Chris was great, and more importantly, he clearly adored our Wren. We couldn’t fault him—she was amazing—but it would be nice if he shared her with us sometimes.
“Actually agreed. She feels bad about skipping the party last night, but she was wiped out after a long week.”
I couldn’t imagine. My class schedule left me ready for bed by nine, and she had classesplusdealing daily with fifteen little kids.
I also had no room to talk about how often she ditched us. I’d thrown myself into school and applying for jobs—which was basically its own full-time position—to avoid thinking about my family drama.
My mood lifted for the first time all day at the idea of spending a Saturday night with my friends. “Deal. I just need to get this over with first.”
Maddie led me down the hall like she worked in the upscale building. With as much as she visited Easton there, it probably wasn’t far off.
As happy as I was for my coupled-up besties, I didn’t understand that level of quality time. Sure, I wanted more time and effort than I’d gotten from Josh, but I still needed my own space and solitude. Especially after seeing the aftermath of my parents’ marriage imploding. I never wanted to be so wrapped up and dependent on someone else that losing them was that messy.
Not that it mattered. I had no intention of getting involved with anyone for a long time.
A really,reallylong time.
“Good luck,” Maddie whispered before stepping aside in front of an open doorway.
Tripp sat on one side of a long table, leaning back in his plush leather chair. His thin sweater and dark slacks made me feel more confident in my decision to remain in my interview outfit from earlier—a green top and gray wide-legged trousers. A smirk curved his mouth as he listened to whatever Easton said. He lifted his hand to rub across his stubbled jaw before running his fingers through his overgrown brown hair.
He really is hot.
And he knows it, too.
Like he could read my thoughts, he looked over to lock eyes with me. His small smile grew into a grin as he stood. “Siren.”
Easton hid a rumbled warning behind a cleared throat.
“Greer,” Tripp corrected, offering me his hand.
I closed the distance from the door to the table and took it. His handshake was firm and professional, and he didn’t keep hold for too long. Once he released me, he gestured to an empty chair. “Sit. Can my unpaid intern get you a glass of water?”
Easton snorted at the inaccurate job description since he was likely paid well to handle whatever legal matters for Tripp, but he still silently waited for my answer.
“I’m good, thank you,” I said.
“I’ll be down the hall then,” Easton said before striding from the room.
“Go ahead and start that new hire paperwork,” Tripp called after.
I arched a brow. “Presumptuous.”
“Confident.”
“Cocky.”
