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“I wasn’t sure how to address you now that I work for you.” I pick up the next pile and begin to skim through it.
“Mr. Taylor is fine when people are around. Otherwise, Arthur.”
“How’s Rosey?” I ask.
He uncovers his face and glares at me. “What?”
“I assume you met her. She called before you left . . .” I trail off because whatever I’ve said has pissed him off further. “Never mind.”
“Don’t assume anything, and my working relationship with Rosey is nothing to do with you. I know she’s your friend, but I like to keep my work life and private life separate, so I won’t discuss our working relationship with you.”
“Okayyyy,” I say, dragging it out. “Sorry I asked.” I gather the oldest pile of paperwork and stand before making my way upstairs to the archives. Maybe Arthur needs some alone time.
I spend an hour filing the pile before returning back to the office. I’m surprised to find Rosey and Arthur in what looks to be a deep conversation. I cough to make myself known, and Rosey spins to face me. She’s flushed and her smile falters when she sees me. “Hey,” she says, “I got you lunch.” She points to the paper bag on my desk. “Mama B said you forgot it.”
I peek into the bag and scrunch my nose up. “Yeah, I didn’t fancy it. I was hoping she wouldn’t notice.”
“You look like you’ve worked hard,” she comments, smirking. I glance down at the now dirty shirt and matching hands. “Should office work be so dirty?”
“It’s not what I was expecting,” I say with a laugh.
Arthur stands abruptly. “Take your lunch break, Amelia.” And then he leaves. I turn back to Rosey, who stares after him.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” I shrug, and she comes closer, taking a seat at my desk. “We kissed,” she blurts out like she didn’t mean to but couldn’t help it.
I stare wide-eyed. “Oh.”
“Oh?” she repeats. “That’s all you have?”
I don’t know what else to say. My heart hurts, and I don’t understand why because there’s nothing between Arthur and me. And now they’ve kissed, there never can be. “I’m just surprised. I didn’t put you two together.”
“Meli, we kissed, we didn’t get married. Seriously, since when did you start believing in happy ever after?”
“But you like him. You said you liked him, so I’m just assuming he feels the same?” I ask in the hope she’ll answer.
“Probably,” she says, shrugging. “He plays his cards close to his chest, but who wouldn’t like me, right?” She laughs, and I join her. I have to be happy for her—she’s my best friend, and she deserves this.
The rest of the afternoon passes in a haze of papers and dust. Arthur doesn’t reappear, and I work much faster with no distraction. It’s almost five when the office door opens and Maverick comes in. We haven’t spoken since we argued, so I’m shocked to see him. He holds up a spare bike helmet. “Came to take you home,” he mutters.
“I can walk.”
He sighs. “Look, Meli, I don’t like fighting with you. This is my way of making up.”
I take the helmet, and he smiles a little. “Fancy a burger on the way back?” I smile too. We never spend any time together alone. I nod, and he relaxes. “Great. Let’s go.”
We order as soon as we arrive. I skipped Mum’s lunch, so I’m hungry, tucking right into the burger and fries. Maverick watches in amusement. “Mama B make you lunch?”
“Tuna,” I say, rolling my eyes.
He grins. “She’s from the days where they made a packed lunch for work instead of buying a meal deal.”
“I was busy anyway. I didn’t stop to eat.”
“Did you have a good first day?” he asks, and I nod, taking another bite of the burger. “I’m sorry for what I said to you. I didn’t mean to lose it the way I did.”
I shrug it off. “It’s fine. You were right. It’s time I got a job and started thinking of my future.”
