AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cole Thomas
Winterberry Glen CFO
Austin (8:05 p.m.): Dude, are you okay? I just saw you running and it looked like you had been at it for a while, but we worked out this morning.
Austin (8:06 p.m.): I also heard that a certain brunette wasn’t seen at the government center for your weekly meeting today. Could that possibly be the motivation for the double workout?
Cole (8:46 p.m.): This town has a gossip problem, and it always seems to involve you. Ms. Greene and I met today.
Austin (8:53 p.m.): Uh-oh, back to Ms. Greene? What’d you do, sneak her in the back door?
Cole (8:55 p.m.): It’s a government center, not a college residence hall. I don’t sneak anyone anywhere. We decided to meet virtually for the foreseeable future.
Austin (8:56 p.m.): Is that a real we or a royal we?
Cole (9:03 p.m.): Okay, maybe I decreed and didn’t leave much room for refusal. But after what almost happened in the Pepper’s parking lot the other night, we need some space from each other.
Austin (9:05 p.m.): Pepper’s? Parking lot? Space? You’re being very cryptic, Cole. Don’t make me call up my BFF Nancy. I know she’ll give me the surveillance tapes.
Cole (9:07 p.m.): I’ve said too much.
Austin (9:10 p.m.): Nope, not even close to enough. The agenda for this week’s dinner just got rearranged. For once, I will not be the first topic of conversation. Thank goodness, it’s exhausting being the center of attention. Maybe I’ll print one out. Make it color coded. That seems to get under your skin just the right amount.
Cole (9:15 p.m.): I hate you. See you tomorrow.
Austin (9:17 p.m.): *cat-paw-waving.gif*
Charlotte (11:05 p.m.): Okay, I’m finally done with homework after the author event at the store today, and I’m cashing in on my reward.
Charlotte (11:05 p.m.): How was the virtual meeting?
Charlotte (11:06 p.m.): Did you talk about Pepper’s?
Charlotte (11:06 p.m.): Did you tell him he’s a big baby?
Charlotte (11:07 p.m.): Did the webcam make him look even sexier?
Charlotte (11:07 p.m.): Do you miss him? Tell me all about it.
Blaire: (11:08 p.m.): It’s after eleven at night, and you almost vibrated my phone right off the nightstand. I will answer two of the questions you just rapid fired at me. The meeting was short, cold and yet efficient, and no, he did not want to talk about Pepper’s. He slammed the laptop shut when I asked him if he got my invitation for a drink after the next town hall since he was so big on calendar invites these days. It’s almost too easy.
Charlotte (11:10 p.m.): I’m upset you chose the easiest questions to answer, but will respect the lateness of the hour. You’re okay, though? I know him storming off after an almost-kiss really threw you for a loop last week.
Blaire: (11:11 p.m.): Me? Never better. I think I was just upset because the whole situation reminded me too much of you-know-who in you-know-where. I mean, I know Cole and I can’t date and aren’t dating, so it’s not the same as that situation, but the vibes were just there. And anyway, maybe he just wanted to smell my breath in case I got stopped on the way home, but it was only one glass of wine, so I would have been fine. Maybe it wasn’t an almost-kiss and I’m reading too much into it.
Blaire: (11:14 p.m.): No, it was definitely an almost-kiss, but like I said, I’m fine. It’s fine.
Charlotte (11:15 p.m.): *open mouth emoji*
Blaire: (11:16 p.m.): New rule: No talking about Cole after 11:00 p.m.
Charlotte (11:17 p.m.): I mean, that’s too bad, because I just came up with about ten more questions…
Blaire: (11:17 p.m.): *Blaire Greene’s phone is on Do Not Disturb mode*
Charlotte (11:18 p.m.): Chicken. *Heart Emoji*
Chapter 6
