My internet search history notwithstanding.

Chapter Six

On my way across the cubicle graveyard, I build up a hot head of steam. Every eyeball in the place is turned toward the tram trio and these Ivy League-educated reporters are quickly putting together the pieces, probably since I am plowing my cart toward Tobias, Banks and Gabe like a one-sided game of chicken. Not only are they likely stirring up speculation about me, but they’ve put me in a weird position with Karina who will henceforth refer to me as Hide The Eggplant Girl.

The fact that Tobias pushes off the wall and casually drawls, “Utterly heartwarming. The Tram Fam is back together,” does nothing to even out my mood.

By the time I reach the men, I’m so irritated that I send the cart sailing straight into Tobias, hoping to knock the wind out of his sails—or perhaps maim him in some such way—but he catches the cart with one hand, his grin only stretching wider.

“Ah now,” he says with a sniff. “I can tell she missed me.”

I peer over my shoulder to find everyone and their sister draped over the tops of their five-by-five patch of real estate, their recently purchased sandwiches forgotten in their hands. “What are you doing here?” I scream-whisper at them through my teeth. “This is my place of work.” I reach over and snatch the badge from around Tobias’s neck. “Did you steal my badge so you’d have some way to track me down?”

“I did not steal it,” Tobias responds, hesitating for a drawn-out dramatic pause before pointing at one of the men to my right. “Gabe did. He swiped himself in through security and let us in the back entrance.”

“Gabe stole it? You really expect me to believe that?” There’s no way. Not soft-spoken, wounded-by-betrayal Gabe. But when I glance over, he’s avoiding eye contact with me and the tips of his ears are the color of a fire engine. “Gabe. You didn’t.”

“Sorry, Elise,” he rumbles, scrubbing at the back of his neck. “You asked me out and I didn’t get the chance to…you know.”

“Close the deal on the date,” Banks supplies, his eyes unwavering on me, as always.

“Yeah,” Gabe says, taking a step in my direction. “You left so suddenly. Before I could get my shit together. I saw the strap of your ID hanging out of your bag and I thought…this is how I’ll get to see her again.”

“Wait. I’m confused. Which one is the sandwich girl dating?” someone says behind me, followed by a storm of whispered guesswork. Afraid of what I’ll find, I nonetheless glance back over my shoulder and people appear to have joined from other floors to witness this.

“That’s more or less what we’re here to find out,” Tobias informs them, cheerfully.

At this point, I’m surprised steam doesn’t blow my head through the ceiling. “Can I speak to you three somewhere private?” I say through my teeth.