Page 7 of All of Him
“I feel like an asshole.”
“It’s not like you knew, sweetie,” Delia consoled. “And he probably won’t share that, so it’s best you don’t bring it up.”
“Right,” I agreed. “Of course.” I paused, thinking more about what she’d said. “He came from Ireland?”
Teel nodded.
“He doesn’t have an accent.”
Delia spoke up, though seemingly unsure if she was correct.
“I think he moved there a few years ago to get away. My boss said Noah lived there with his brother, Garrett, who’s our age. He ran with a few mutual friends from high school, but no one has heard from him since he left for Ireland.”
“Damn,” I said. “I guess he didn’t want to come back with Noah.”
I wondered if Claude or HR knew about why Noah was in the States. It wasn’t like he’dhadto disclose it, and he didn’t seem like the type of guy to overshare. Just showing him things with the system at work had felt awkward. He would only respond to any of my open-ended questions with one-worded answers. All I knew after one day was his name and that he lived thirty minutes away.
I tried to get Noah out of my thoughts, but those eyes remained in the forefront. Even with the little interaction we’d had together—an interaction that made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with sharing any details of his life—I still felt like he could be part of mine one day.
A relatively big part.
I’d felt a connection with him that I couldn’t explain, one that made me want to push him into opening up. I wanted to reach out, physically and metaphorically, but would have to do so slowly and in calculated moves. I couldn’t force anything from him, but in due time, I saw a potential bond.
My sister, however, was getting married in less than a year, and I needed to start planning.
4
Noah
I GOT TO WORKthe next morning before Amanda. My computer wasn’t letting me log in, and I didn’t know anyone else to ask. Claude, who seemed to be quite the hands-off boss, didn’t start until later. Amanda had introduced me to a few other people, but they also weren’t in yet. Well, except for Penny.
Penny seemed like the type of girl who could make an entire conversation awkward with one sentence. While she was clearly anicegirl, I’d definitely heard her mention vaginal mesh over the phone the day before. And from her tone after she said the phrase, I didn’t think the person on the other line had received it well.
I leaned back in my chair to stretch, only to quickly realize what a mistake that was. A wheel completely gave way, and I fell fully onto my ass. Thankfully, Penny wasn’t at her desk, so no one had witnessed it. My old self would have laughed, but I could only groan and watch the wheel roll farther and farther down the dark aisle into the abyss.
I picked myself up slowly, feeling the lack of stretching from the day before in every part of my legs. Cursing under my breath, I went to find the long-lost chair wheel, ending up at a desk in a far corner that I hadn’t realized existed. There was a large cubicle with a very disgruntled older man sitting in it.
“Sorry,” I started, not trying to ruffle any feathers. “I lost my chair wheel. I’m just going to grab—”
“No,” he said, picking it up before me.
I raised my eyebrows as he tossed it…out the third-story window. It didn’t seem to faze him at all that I was standing there, and I was questioning his sanity over my own for once. Had I finally met my match?
The man focused closely on the screen, his glasses at the tip of his nose. Ruffled white hair was piled on top of his head along with a small spot on his cheek that he’d obviously missed shaving. I should have walked away, but he was so interesting. His corner was a mess of papers and trinkets, and I had a feeling that he sat where he did to avoid Penny. I had so many questions, but everything about my nature told me not to speak to him. I couldn’t help it.
“I guess I need a new chair then,” I mused, almost smirking.
It felt good to have a sliver of humor inside me even if it was due to my chair wheel being tossed out the window. The man stopped typing and looked up but only briefly.
“I’ve been here thirty-four years, and I’ve only ever had my chair replaced once. I’m teaching you to not get walked over. Got it?”
I raised my eyebrows but didn’t make a move to leave.
“Better yet, just leave here. Get out while you can. You’ll get sucked in so deep that you’ll drown in the ghosts that this place turns people into. Either get out or be like Amanda.”
“I’m not like Amanda,” I said without thinking.
I felt my face turn red as the man went back to typing. I had no right to judge her character whatsoever. I’d just met her. Then again, it wasn’t a bad judgment.
