After she took the flowers, she remembered I was behind her. “Baldwin, this is Drew. Drew, Baldwin is the friend I told you about the other day.”
I was confused, and she read it on my face.
“My TA in college. Remember, I told you all about him?”
Really? That guy? “Oh. Yeah.” I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you. Drew Jagger.”
“Likewise. Baldwin Marcum.”
There was an odd, awkward silence before Emerie broke it. “Isn’t the office beautiful?”
“Very nice.”
“Are you on your way to meet Rachel?”
“The show isn’t for another hour and a half. So I thought I’d check in on you.”
Baldwin was still looking around the office when he spotted the bottle of Glenmorangie and two empty glasses on Emerie’s desk.
He looked at her. “Is that scotch? At five in the afternoon?”
Emerie either didn’t catch the disdain in his voice or was good at ignoring it. “We had a rough day,” she said.
“I see.”
“Care for a glass?” I asked, certain he would decline after the sixty-second assessment I’d made. “It’s twenty-five and smooth.”
“No, thank you.”
I’d seen enough. “I have work to catch up on. Nice to meet you, Baldwin.”
He nodded.
An hour later, I was packing up my office when I heard the two of them laughing. The earlier events of the day still had testosterone pumping through my veins. Which was probably why, out of nowhere, I had the urge to punch the guy. An outlet was needed. Angry fucking. I need to get laid.
I knocked lightly on Emerie’s door before pushing it open. “I’m going to head out. You should try that sleeping technique I told you about again tonight so you’re on time again tomorrow.”
Emerie’s eyes widened as she attempted to hide her smirk. “Yes. Maybe I’ll do just that.”
Baldwin watched our exchange closely.
I waved and nodded. “You have a good night.”
I made it one step before Emerie called to me. “Drew.”
I turned back. “Yeah?”
She wrung her hands together. “Thank you for today. I didn’t say it, but I appreciate everything you did.”
“Anytime, Oklahoma.” I rapped my knuckles against her office doorframe. “Don’t stay too late, okay?”
“I won’t. I’m going to head out in a few minutes. Baldwin has plans tonight, so I’ll walk out with him.”
“Want me to wait? We can grab a burger at Joey’s again?”
Emerie started to respond when Mr. Bowtie interrupted. “Actually, I’ve had a last-minute change of plans. Why don’t I take you for some dinner?”
“You’re not going to the show with Rachel?”