“I know.” Justine sighed. “Work sucks. But Katie, he and I— I can’t describe it. We’re so great together. Being with him is so natural. I don’t have to work hard and he still likes me.”

“Another miracle.”

“Ass.”

Katie snickered. “I’m kidding. I’m happy for you. He’s a great guy. And he survived the wedding with you. That’s something. But if you can’t have an argument with him and stay together, you’re doomed for failure. No one’s happy all the time.”

“You make a good point.”

Katie studied Justine. “What about Ted? What did you decide to do about him?”

“Nothing. I overheard something I wasn’t meant to hear, but he was ending things. I want to let my sister have a clean slate with her husband. Now, if I catch him cheating, I’ll definitely narc him out. But I can’t see what telling her now will do but make her upset. She deserves to have a honeymoon period.”

“I agree. Besides, she knows Ted better than you do. For all you know, he and she had a cheating pass. You know, that bucket list nookie. Maybe Mallory had her own affair.”

“I can’t see it.”

“Well, neither can I. I was just trying to spin something positive. It’s what I do for a living, you know.”

“Ha ha.” Justine poked at her noodle salad. “Speaking of your living, how’s your job going?”

Katie shrugged. “It’s much better with my new boss. But I’m like you, unsatisfied and feeling overwhelmed. I actually took some contract work from Kenzie this past weekend.”

“Oh? I haven’t gotten a chance to contact the person for the job she offered me. I plan to do that after lunch.”

“For shame! On company time?” Katie smirked.

“You bet. I’m so done killing myself with overtime. Today I’m going home at a regular time. And I’m giving myself an extra ten minutes for lunch. Considering I’ve been working hours I won’t be paid for, I figure they owe me that much.”

“You go, rebel girl.”

But that night, Justine stayed an extra hour trying to slog through the emails she hadn’t gone through from last week.

She felt guilty all night and into Tuesday, only texts with Xavier during her lunches made her smile. Wednesday proved just as busy with no time for anything but her job.

Justine worked her butt off, stayed late—alone—and went unappreciated and underpaid.

But after she got home, she marched down to Xavier’s. He’d texted that he was free all night, so she decided to take him up on some fun.

Unfortunately, she spent the evening complaining about work. He listened and agreed with everything she said. Such a great guy. They got in a few kisses before he had to take a phone call. By the time he’d come back to her, he’d found her asleep on his couch.

She woke when he kissed her goodbye and tucked her into her own bed.

“Come see me tomorrow. And don’t stay one minute over your normal quitting time.”