I nod, tempted to ask more. Maybe he can tell me something about Claire. But I’m not that lucky. Actually, my Monday is getting worse as Thomas approaches us.

He sets a pitcher and says, “On the house.”

“Thank you, man,” Devon says.

“I’ll be watching you,” Thomas warns me, ignoring Devon. “One fucking movement and this time it’ll be more than a black eye. You got me?”

Raising my hands as if surrendering, I say, “Not sure what you’re talking about, but I always watch what I do.”

He nods a couple of times and leaves.

“What was that?”

“Fuck if I know,” I answer, pretending to be confused. “Maybe he thinks I’m someone else?”

“So, we haven’t talked about hiring someone new. We need a Media and Marketing Director.”

I laugh because the last time we needed one, I lost my freaking mind.

“Have you spoken to Claire?” he asks.

“What?” I question, unsure if he’s talking about her work or my relationship with her.

“She did the right thing, quitting, but we can get her back, you know,” he says. “Gary is out, and we loved her work.”

I frown at him and say, “Gary wasn't the only reason she quit. He was a big reason, but not the only one.”

My mood darkens, and my heart becomes heavy as I remember our last meeting. Her eyes watching me with disgust. Her harsh words.

He reaches for his drink, takes a sip and says, “Something tells me I’m not going to like what you’re about to tell me. Just say it.”

I nod and confess every single thing that happened between Claire and me. Well, I don’t tell him the details.

“You got to be fucking kidding me,” he says angrily but not surprised. “We have rules. Not just rules, there’s an entire code of conduct that you created to make sure we didn’t cross the lines. She could’ve sued your ass.”

Then, as if suddenly everything makes sense, he says, “That’s why you were drunk for weeks. Wasn’t it? I thought it was Delaney screwing with your head again. No, it was fucking Claire Solis.”

“It’s done, over and most likely I won’t ever see her again.”

His eyebrows lift and he says. “Fuck, you still love her.”

My phone rings. Its Mom. Again.

She’s been calling nonstop and I just can’t add her nagging to my Monday. Maybe I’ll answer tomorrow.

“She’s one of the best,” Devon says, tossing his hands up in the air. “I can’t believe you fucked it up.”

“We have good employees.”

“I was talking about her as a person. I know she was blunt and sometimes came off too bitchy, but she was funny, smart, and loved sports. If I knew the rule was there to break, I would’ve made her mine.”