Ask Me (Mess with Me 2)

The rest of the afternoon goes quickly. There’s a lot to be done since James apparently wants me to start immediately. After filling out all the employment forms, authorizing a background check and signing what feels like a metric ton of paperwork, Anya shows me where I’ll be sitting and how to log in to the company network.

“Are you guys finished for the day?” Mya leans over the front desk where Anya is showing me the list of all the company extensions. Whenever someone calls in, I’m responsible for transferring them to the right party. Some of the names are highlighted. Those are the people who get the most calls, Anya explained.

“Just about done,” Anya responds with a warm smile for me. “I’m so damn excited not to have to man this desk alone anymore I could sing.”

“Take your time. Ariana said that we could come by anytime after six.”

“Wait, it’s after six?” Anya hops up, pushing a hand through her hair. “I didn’t realize we’d been at it for so long. I think we’re good here. Casey, I’ll see you tomorrow.” With a wave, she rushes off down the hallway to the back offices.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“Don’t let her overwhelm you,” Mya whispers conspiratorially. “Anya has enough energy for ten people.”

“Good to know. And thank you again for letting me know about the apartment. It’ll be a relief not to have to live with a complete stranger.”

“I agree. I was super lucky when I found Ari by chance but I’ve had plenty of awful roommates over the years. Finding one who isn’t going to steal your stuff or murder you in your sleep is almost as hard as finding a boyfriend.”

She waits patiently while I log out of my computer and gather my handbag from the drawer I placed it in earlier.

We chat easily about all the people I met on my first day as we walk outside into the early evening sunshine and Mya hails us a cab. Envious of how easily she does it, I have to push down a little flash of nervousness. Mya is one of those women who make it all seem so easy. Beautiful, successful and self-assured, she doesn’t seem like the type who’d ever get herself into the kinds of situations I’m known for. Someone like her would never let herself be taken advantage of and she certainly wouldn’t run away at the first sign of trouble.

Stop it. You did what you thought was best. Now it’s time to move on and build a life that you can be proud of.

Oblivious to my internal struggles, Mya points out buildings of interest as we pass and jokes around with the cab driver when he almost sideswipes another car. When the car finally pulls over, she gestures around us.

“This neighborhood is called Adams Morgan. It’s a great location if you’re into nightlife. Lots of restaurants and bars within walking distance.”

The building has an elevator but Mya heads straight fo

r the stairs. When we reach the third floor I’m ashamed that I’m panting a little. No wonder the buttons on my shirt are too tight! I put a hand to my head, patting at the moisture there.

Mya notices me lagging behind and pauses to let me catch up. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry. I just didn’t want to meet my potential new roommate looking like a sweaty out-of-shape mess. I want to make a good first impression.”

Mya snorts. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

I pause. “What does that mean?”

“You’ll see. Just ... don’t judge too harshly on the first meeting. Ari is a little kooky but she has a heart of gold and means well. Mostly.”

Wait. Mostly?

A door swings open and a woman darts into the hall wearing a wet suit and carrying a snorkel. Her blonde hair is bundled up in a sloppy bun that somehow still makes her look like a supermodel. When she sees us in the hall, she blinks. Then blinks again.

“Oh. It’s just you.”

I glance over at Mya uncertainly. She sighs. “Ari, this is Casey Michaels. Casey, this is Ariana Silva. And why do you seem surprised to see us? You told me to come by after six, you nutball. ”

My eyes are pingponging between them, sure the woman in the wetsuit will take offense to that. But she just smiles prettily before putting her snorkel on.

“You always say you get off at six and then you come at like nine. I just figured you had your numbers upside down or something. Or that you and Triple H were spending the extra hours putting the 6 and the 9 together for some good ‘ole fashioned simultaneous loving. I can’t be mad at that.”

I’m trying to hold my laugh in since Mya doesn’t look amused but it’s hard. “Triple H?” I ask.

Ari grins. “It stands for Happy Hour Hottie. Because Mya and her hubby started their love affair at the office happy hour when she caught him in the bathroom where some chick had her hand on his–”

“Okay, let’s just move this inside. I’m sure the neighbors don’t want to hear this.” Mya looks appalled but Ariana just rolls her eyes.