Page 57 of Austin

“She must be pretty special.”

“Fuck off,” he says as he walks out of the office.

“I love you, too, brother,” I shout as he storms through the reception area and down the hall toward his office.

A few employees stop and stare at me, some in amusement.

Stefanie doesn’t seem to be surprised by my declaration, as she’s typing away at her computer, like usual.

“Call Saison and tell them there’s a reservation for Sexton. Make sure they know to use extra garlic in my father’s meal and have them add some cloves in whatever Missy orders.”

She holds the phone up to her ear as she dials and asks me, “Cloves?”

“Yeah, they make her break out in a horrible rash.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“That’s what happens when your father marries someone you’ve known since high school,” I answer matter-of-factly.

Stefanie holds the phone away from her ear as she asks emphatically, “I don’t really want to know the answer to this, but I feel like I’m waist deep in Sexton drama, so …” She pauses for a second before getting the balls to ask, “Didn’t you lose your virginity to her?”

I sway my head from side to side. “Yeah. I try to forget that fact, but this happens to be the second time in a week it’s been brought up.”

She holds the phone over the receiver as she whispers to me, “Probably because it’s fascinating that a grown man has slept with his father’s wife.” The person on the other end must have picked up because she goes right into assistant mode as she cheerily says, “Hi, I’m calling about a reservation for tonight under the name Sexton.”

Knowing dinner is taken care of, I walk down the hallway to get myself a date. I’m whistling as I stroll with my hands in my pockets. When I round the corner, I stop and peek at the most beautiful girl to ever grace a reception desk. Her brown hair is tossed up into a messy bun that’s sticking out in various directions. She’s chewing on her pen cap as she reads through a stack of papers on her desk. A tiny crease forms on the bridge of her nose when she concentrates like that.

She looks like she can use a little break, so I whip out my cell phone and send her a text.

Have you had your coffee yet, Pyle?

I sit and wait as her phone vibrates on her desk. She blindly reaches over for it and pulls it to her. When she looks down at the screen, a sweet smile graces her lips. Her pen falls to the desk as she types back.

Are you ever going to stop calling me that?

When I can replace it with a term of endearment, maybe.

Endearment? Please tell me, what could be more endearing than PYLE???

I have a few terms in mind, but I’d rather not say—you know, being your boss and all.

She bites her bottom lip as that crinkle returns to her forehead.

Yeah, can’t forget that.

Yes, actually, I can, very easily. Meet me in the break room, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.

Coffee is free here.

No, if you want to get technical, I pay for it and provide it for free to you.

She leans forward and laughs out loud before covering her mouth to hide her grin. Her toe dances on the ground as she leans back and sways in her seat.

I think my employer has rules against fraternizing with the boss.

Too late for that, don’t you think?

Have you ever followed the rules?