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“You sure?”
He set the dishes down on the counter then held out two large mugs of hot chocolate with extra whipped cream he’d had waiting. “Boss' orders.”
“Okay, boss.” I smiled and took the two mugs then made my way through the back hallway to the makeshift office off to the side.
Marnie was there, sitting at her desk with a pencil stuck in her dark hair making a makeshift bun. I knocked on the open door, and she looked up with a grin as I walked in.
“So I hear you’re going away for Christmas.”
“I can stay.”
“No, you can’t.” She laughed, swiveling her chair to face me. “And Lucas.”
“And Lucas,” I echoed.
Lucas.
She winked.
I blushed, shaking my head. “Don’t even start.”
“How long did this girlfriend last?”
I took the hot chocolates over, setting one in front of her before sitting across from her in the comfortable faded blue office chair.
“I think before Labor Day?” It was summer; that was pretty much all I remembered. “I don’t think they saw each other for a month.”
Marnie shook her head and sighed. “Gorgeous guy, but man...”
“Never fall for the player.”
“No, but you can have a lot of fun with one.”
I laughed, brushing the hair out of my eyes. “Don’t start.”
“What? You need some fun. When was your last date?”
“Now don’t even go there.” It likely hadn’t even been in the same calendar year. I was focused on other things. Men weren’t really high on my list right now. Well, other than Lucas…
But he didn’t count. He was different.
He was my best friend.
“Whatever happens, happens.” She pulled open her desk drawer and took out an envelope with my name on it, handing it across the desk to me.
“What is this? My pink slip?”
“No. Never. The day you leave this place is the day Jimmy goes into mourning.” Marnie smiled, reaching for her hot chocolate. She leaned back in her chair, the mug cradled in her hands as she looked at me expectantly.
I opened the envelope, finding a cute little Christmas card with a check tucked inside. “It’s not pay day.”
“No, it’s not. It’s a bonus. You’ve worked hard lately, and I know...”
I nodded. I knew what she knew. That the photography hadn’t brought anything in. Not in months. It had been spring when I’d gotten a check from anything photography-related, and that had barely been enough to buy lunch with. I fought back a rush of tears for a minute, keeping my head down while I hurriedly blinked them away.
“Get yourself something cute for the trip. Maybe the player doesn’t need to play the game forever. Look at Jimmy...”
I giggled, glancing up in surprise. “Jimmy was a player?”
