Okay, so it’s not exactly thunder, but it is pretty biting in an understated sort of way. I smirk as I click send. I drum my fingers against my laptop. Chew on my thumbnail. Click refresh on my in-box. Nothing. Just when I figure Graeme has logged off for the night, an email pops up with a ding.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Social Media OVERDUE

Soon, adverb

1. In or after a short time
2. Without undue time lapse
3. When I get to it

-G

I cough in disbelief before fury surges through my veins. Squeezing my laptop in a death grip, I rearrange myself so I’m sitting cross-legged on the couch. Noodles hops down with a discontented meow at being jostled.

The man can’t be bothered to send me anything except one-word emails 97 percent of the time, and when he finally does deign to communicate like a normal human being, it’s a multipart dictionary definition steeped in sarcasm. A growl works its way up my throat.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Social Media OVERDUE

Graeme,

Get to it now, please.

Thanks,

Henley

Not ten seconds later…

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Social Media OVERDUE

It might be 8:40 in Seattle, but it’s almost midnight here in Michigan. Your posts can wait.

Like hell they can!

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Social Media OVERDUE

If you can take the time to reply to my emails, you have time to post my social media content, at least to Facebook and Instagram. Save the tweets for tomorrow.

Tweets only stay relevant for about eighteen minutes, so it’s too late in the day for them to reach an effective audience now.

A chat message pops up along the side of my screen.

You don’t have anything better to do than email me about work?

My mouth twists into a frown.

Pot, meet kettle. Don’t you have anything better to do than respond?

You didn’t answer my question. No fun plans for Henley Rose tonight?

I narrow my eyes at the screen. I hate it when he calls me Henley Rose. In that blissful first two weeks of his employment, he asked me what the “R” in my email signature stood for, and I made the mistake of telling him. I recall how he drawled my name on the phone, Henley Rose, like he had a secret to tell me… one that I wanted to hear…

Now he reserves the moniker for use on special occasions—aka when it’s guaranteed to ensure maximum annoyance.

No hot boyfriend to keep you busy?