“Hey Seth. Tom wants this sent out stuff recorded into the system,” Jeff said coming by his cubicle. He had his jacket over his shoulder and his bag in hand looking every bit ready to go home. “Might be one of those triplicate situations.”
“I’ll handle it once I go home,” he said taking the files and pushing them into a folder. Looking up at him he sighed and then waved his hand. “Which is now.”
“Yeah me too. Me and the wife have got some volunteering to do,” he said scratching his very bald head. Must have been recently shaved.
Seth glanced at him raising an eyebrow, “You got something to take off your conscious?”
“Ha no way,” he laughed and shook his head. “With everything that happened last week on 51st. People need some help. It’s crazy that happened. I know I said I wanted to see them but after that I’m not so sure. People have been acting crazy since then and I don’t blame em.”
“Still think they’re the good guys?”
“Honestly I don’t know. Forget what the news report said, they were fighting off the robot. Even if things went to hell because of it they tried. But a lot of people died and more lost their homes. It’s shitty all around.”
Seth looked over to him and thought about saying something but he didn’t have it in him. Didn’t have it in him to be snarky and didn’t have the words to properly follow it up. He just knew that he appreciated that Jeff wasn’t crucifying him. Typing a few more lines he hit send and then turned off the computer and groaned standing up. Jeff folded his arms and looked at Seth raising an eyebrow.
“You know I thought you were looking better but you look rough right now. Different kinda rough though. Did something happen?”
“Since when are you this observant?” Seth asked grabbing his jacket and sliding his arms in groaning again. The pain from the other night was still very much there in his back and chest. The stone could only heal him so much and so fast.
“It comes with being old buddy. And having kids who get way too rough and try to hide it,” He flashed him a quick grin and then back to frowning. “You look like you’ve been through the ringer. Physically and up here.” He tapped his forehead.
“And here I thought you were just a guy who liked to make jokes and complain about how bad the office coffee is. Gotta be more aware with you around huh?”
“Only if you’re trying to sneak deserts into bed after bed time or getting bad grades on report cards.”
Seth laughed there and grabbed his bag slowly sliding it over his shoulders and fought the urge to wince. Jeff let him walk first and the two of them moved together toward the elevator. Standing against the far end of the elevator Seth mused to himself before finally nodding his head. “Yeah. I got into a bad situation. And so did a guy I knew. He wasn’t a friend but he wasn’t a stranger. And that guy is dead now.”
“Jesus,” Jeff reached out to him but let his hand hang for a moment. “I’m sorry man.”
“Yeah well me too,” he shrugged putting his free hand into his pocket. “Wish things had been different.”
“You don’t gotta talk about it if you don’t want to talk,” Jeff told him trying to find the words and just made a fist in solidarity. “But if you do just let me know. I got your back Seth.”
He looked at him for a long moment and nodded. As the door opened in front of them he stepped into the first-floor lobby then turned to look at him, “Thanks Jeff. I appreciate that. Really I do.”
“No problem!”
“Seth?”
Both men turned to look at the voice and Seth’s eyes widened slightly. “Kathryn?”
She stood up slowly, holding a dark leather folder and wearing a skirt and blazer, her hair was tied back in a pony tail instead of the pigtails. She walked over to them and smirked. “So this is where you work.”
“Yeah. What’re you doing here?” he asked.
“I had some business to take care of here. An interview actually,” she shrugged and winced slightly. “Which just finished. Was taking a breather here before going home. Taking off?”
“Yeah we are,” Jeff came forward holding out his hand. “I’m Jeff. His coworker. Didn’t know that Seth had lady friends. Didn’t know he had it in him. Really surprised actually.”
Kathryn laughed softly and smiled taking his hand and shaking it. “Well he’s kind of a pain but he grew on me a bit.”
“Yeah he’s rough around the edges but I like him! Good guy! Might bring him over for dinner if he ever takes the invitation.”
Seth rolled his eyes slowly, “I don’t do family time Jeff. Besides your wife really isn’t that keen on me.”
“Come on she loves you!”
“You’re delusional.”
“I’m hopeful buddy,” He gave a thumbs up and then turned toward Kathryn. “I gotta run. The wife and the kids are missing me but it was nice meeting you. Hope I see you around more.” He winked at the two of them and then went running out the doors.
Kathryn watched him go for a minute and then turned toward Seth who let his shoulders sag and sighed. “So that’s Jeff?”
“That’s Jeff.”
“Nice guy.”
“Sometimes too much.”
She shook her head pulled out the hair band and let her hair spill forward. Fluffing it up slightly she motioned toward the door. The fresh air was refreshing and Seth groaned as he cracked his back. “You okay?” she asked glancing at him.
“Nothing the stone won’t help. It’s what happens when its just us fighting for a week.”
“Yeah. It’s weird but I miss him kinda,” she squeezed the stone at her throat lightly and glanced back at him. “Hey you busy?”
“Well I did just leave work and I live alone so yeah pretty free.”
She paused working through her words and finally just asked, “Wanna get a drink?”
That threw him off guard. A grin quirked at the corner of his lips, “Sure.”
The Harlequin Library 