My efficiency might’ve been decent, but my timing needed work because when I got back to Tripp, he was done.
In every sense of the word.
I mentally reviewed where we were in the schedule. “I thought there was still more?”
“They’ve got enough,” he said before his gaze went above my head.
I glanced over my shoulder and followed his line of sight to see Alfie was looking my way rather than paying attention to what he was doing.
And he very nearly took a metal pole to the head for it.
That close call snapped him into action, and I turned back with a laugh.
A laugh that died in my throat at the way Tripp was watching me.
Uh-oh.
If texting during work is a no, socializing is definitely not good.
Especially since I missed the end of things.
“New friend?” he asked.
“He helped me find the water.” I presented him with the bottle and the protein bar. “I wanted to get you something in case you were hungry or thirsty.”
His expression lightened as his lips tipped. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Sure I do. It’s my job.”
He must’ve been more tired than he seemed because he didn’t force his good-natured mood. His small smile fell as his face went blank.
A surprising amount of disappointment hit my chest. Those small smiles that crinkled his eyes always seemed more genuine than the easy grins he gave everyone.
Or maybe I was wrong. Maybe it was the opposite, and the eye crinkle was actually a smothered eye twitch of annoyance.
He scanned around the room and added, “I’ll let you know when I need something.”
“If I wait for you to tell me, it’s not as impressive.”
That got his attention back. “You’re always impressive.”
I knew those kinds of statements from Tripp were automatic and likely came as instinctively as breathing. The interviews of him that I’d binged were filled with the same kind of banter.But that didn’t mean it wasn’t the exact right thing to say to an overachiever like me.
I still rolled my eyes, though.
He finally glanced down at my offerings. He didn’t go for the bar, but he did accept the water and chugged half of it in one go.
Hewasthirsty.
Success!
One of the assistants for the day hustled over as Tripp was still drinking. The jittery man looked two seconds from vibrating across the floor. “Good, you’re still here. I’m prepping the first video to drop on socials because you know how these things are. Gotta do it quick, or it’s cringe. I was going to tag you, but I think I have an outdated handle.”
The guy finally stopped talking to inhale—maybe for the first time in his life—and I looked at Tripp for his answer.
Pulling the water bottle away, he wiped the back of the hand holding it across his mouth. If I was a photographer, I would use that pose in a future shoot. It would go mega viral.
But I wasn’t, so I kept my mouth shut and enjoyed the view for myself.
