AS I’M COMING out of Seth’s office, Kim runs over to me. Her eyes are wide and curious. She grabs my arm to slow me down on my trajectory back to my cubicle.
“What happened in there?” she asks me. “Seth came around asking for you earlier, and he looked really upset.”
I want to spit at her that it’s none of her damn business. Kim used to be my best friend in this office, but our power dynamic has changed over the years. When she started here, we were both single. We used to go out to bars together and meet guys. We had fun together.
Then Kim met the guy she ended up marrying. He wasn’t exactly handsome, but he was wealthy and offered her the life she always wanted. The second she got engaged, everything was all about her upcoming wedding—the honeymoon, the giant house he was building for her, and all the perfect children they were going to have. I started to feel like Kim’s loser friend.
It didn’t help that she knew about me and Seth, and was super judgmental. Yes, I know it’s not a wise personal or career move to sleep with your boss. It wasn’t like I planned it out. You can’t control who you fall in love with.
Still, Kim is my friend. It’s not her fault that she’s gotten her life together faster than I have. And she was right—it was really stupid to sleep with Seth. It’s blown up in my face more than once.
“It’s fine,” I mumble. “I’m just going to work from home for a bit.” “Why?”
I forgot how nosy Kim can be. She’s also a gossip. I’m sure as hell not going to tell her I got suspended for allegedly stealing from the company. “It’s been a stressful few days. He’s giving me some flex time.”
Yes, unpaid flex time while he’s investigating me for embezzlement. She frowns. “Is the race still on?”
“Of course it is,” I snap at her. “I’ve spent the last three months organizing it. Do you think I’m going to just cancel it on one day’s notice?”
“Yes, but—”
“You’re coming tomorrow, aren’t you?” It occurs to me suddenly that with everything going on, people might not show up for the 5K. In terms of the charity, it doesn’t matter. I already have the donations. But I’ve got a local news crew coming, and it will look horrible if I’m the only one who shows up. “You’re going to be there, right?”
“Um…” Kim chews on her thumbnail. “I’m just not sure if it’s a good idea right now. With everything going on…”
I close my fingers around her arm. “Kim, you’ve got to come. I need people to show up to this. You can’t leave me hanging.”
“Nat…” She squirms. “You’re hurting my arm.”
I release my grip, my cheeks burning. “Please. You need to come.”
I don’t mention those pictures from her bachelorette party. She knows I’ve got them.
She finally nods. “Okay, I’ll be there. You can count on me.”
My shoulders relax slightly. Kim will be there, and also Caleb will show up. So that’s at least three of us. And I’m sure at least a handful of other people from the office will come. Greg Lowsky will surely make an appearance, even if he can’t finish the race.
“And maybe they’ll find Dawn’s killer by then?” Kim says.
I don’t know a lot of things for sure, but I know they’re not going to find Dawn’s killer by tomorrow morning.
