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“Okay... thanks.” He exhaled, his breath cracking the connection on the phone. “Umm, I gotta get back to work. But talk soon, bud.”
“Talk soon, Mitch.”
He ended the call.
Austin blew out a breath and returned to his seat, his head swimming. “Something’s up with you guys,” he muttered, waking his laptop from sleep mode and vowing to pull some truth from Lauren this weekend.
His eyes skimmed the executive summary he’d started that morning with every intention of sending it off to Steven and Rodger by the end of the day. He checked his watch, the hour he promised the girls slowly ticking away.
Not gonna happen.
He groaned, pulling up the paperwork Bernice needed for the two new assistants he’d hired. His fingers tapped away, filling in bubbles and checking boxes until his cursor hovered over the submit button. He clicked it with a sigh and shuffled his notes as his eyes glossed over the list of business tax liabilities he had to research, the workers’ compensation package he needed to choose, and property and casualty insurance he needed to secure. And the list continued.
I have to keep working.
With a frown, he picked up his phone and opened a text to Casey.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Casey
“It’s seriously justa huge bean!” Lauren tugged Casey’s arm, pulling her along the crowded path toward the iconic Chicago sculpture. Her fingertips grazed the surface.
“If Austin were here, he’d be gagging watching you touch that.”
A fit of giggles fell from Lauren’s lips as she doubled over in laughter. “Youdoknow my brother!” She smacked her hand against the Bean again, dragging her fingers along the surface with a wide, rule-breaking grin. “And believe it or not, Josh is actually wayworsethan him.”
Casey snorted. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Believe it.” She smirked and yanked Casey to her side, raising her phone to snap a photo. “Say cheese!”
Lauren took the picture as Casey smiled, her heart resurfacing from the pool of insecurity she’d drowned in all day.
“Seriously, so funny...” Lauren murmured as she grinned and stared at the silver sculpture.
“Its real name is Cloud Gate. I read somewhere that eighty percent of the surface reflects the sky.” Casey scrunched her nose and eyed the Bean closer.
