“He’s going to flip.” Carl turns slowly, surveying the results of all our hard work. “Absolutely flip.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I tell him honestly. “There’s no way I would’ve been able to do all the painting and the decorating on my own. Not nearly this much at least.”
Carl laughs. “Yeeeaah... you can leave that part out of it when Declan comes in.”
“My lips are sealed, promise. But just so it’s clear, you’re so getting the first pick of donuts for as long as I’m still allowed in the building. Which, let’s be honest, might end tomorrow.”
“After what he pulled on Friday? Declan has a lot more to lose than you do. This is just your internship. For him, it’s his career.”
“True.”
Declan’s called my phone twice since I left work early on Friday. I didn’t pick up, and he didn’t leave messages. As far as I’m concerned, we have nothing to say to each other until after he comes into work tomorrow and gets a taste of his own medicine.
I look again, just to check.
Still nothing. I’m not sure I’m relieved or disappointed. A part of me wants him to force the issue, to come crawling on his hands and knees begging forgiveness. Another part of me is worried that he’s just calling to gloat and rub it in.
“Can I ask you a question? One troublemaker to another.” Carl’s hand settles on my shoulder.
“Sure, I suppose you’ve earned it.”
“Did he break your heart?”
“What? I... That’s not what this is about.” I shake my head and pull the elastic band out of my hair, pulling it back and re-doing my ponytail.
“No?”
“No. I’m not in love with Declan if that’s what you’re getting at.” I like quirky Carl. I’m not sure I like strangely perceptive Carl. “Is there some sort of weird chemistry or voodoo or,” I wave my hands around helplessly, “Allergic reaction between us? Yeah, I guess. But it’s definitely not love.”
He smirks, like I just confirmed whatever he was thinking. “I never said Declan. You two are obviously complete opposites.”
“Obviously, and for the record, opposites only attract in movies and books.”
“Mmmhmm,” he hums, not buying a word of it.
“It’s true! In reality it’s just a recipe for disaster. Oil and water. Donuts and... kale juice.”
“Look, kiddo. I’m not your father, so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt, okay? I know I’m the crazy office uncle.” He shakes his head and smiles when I try to deny it. “It’s fine, it’s who I am, but what you have to understand, is that I’ve been here since Mr. Riordan’s wife died. I saw the way it shut off something in both him and his son. Garrett had the benefit of age, and of having experienced love before, so when your mother came along, he was finally healed enough to want to find that again. Declan... he never has.”
“And that gives him some sort of free ticket to be a total asshole? Poor little Declan.” As someone who has experienced a lot of grief in her life, it pisses me off when people are given free passes to be dicks just because they got hurt.
Carl snorts a laugh. “No, but what I’m getting at is that I see in you some of that same thing that’s broken in Declan. You don’t have to tell me what it is, but I like you, kid, and I want to see you happy. If you ask me, Declan isn’t ready to make anybody happy. Not even himself. You on the other hand, think about it.”
“I’m docking you a donut for this.”
“I can live with that.”
My relationship with Carl isn’t at all like a parent to a child. We’ve been partners in crime. Strangers stranded together in a strange land full of suits and ties. But right now, this is the closest thing to a father daughter chat I’ve had in years, and I’m not ready to be done.
“Carl?”
“Yup yup, buttercup?”
I roll my eyes and pretend my chest isn’t tight. “Can I buy you dinner? If you’ve got somewhere to be I’ll understand, but I just wanted to—”
“I’ll admit to having a hankering for something other than pizza.” He looks around the room. “So long as you’ll buy me rainbow sherbet for dessert. I’m in the mood for something colorful. I have no idea why.”
I snicker. “No idea at all.”
Declan
The box of donuts in my hands feels like it weighs a hundred pounds. I spent the whole weekend trying to figure out how I should apologize to Claire for Friday, and I’m no closer now than I was when I watched her walk out of the cafeteria humiliated.