Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 10791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 54(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 36(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 54(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 36(@300wpm)
“Maintenance reports a building-level power outage they’re working to resolve.” Sonya’s voice crackled over the speaker again. “Please be patient.”
“I don’t want to be patient,” I snapped, exhaling hard. “I just want my lunch.”
“Hey. We’ll get out of here. Promise.” Rory touched my arm, a light tap on the slick fabric of my suit jacket. Like most of the office, he was a hugger, the sort of touchy-feely person I always felt a bit out of step with. But he also had one of the kindest voices. “And Sandwich Shack is open late. Not like that breakfast diner near the pizza place that closes at two, which is a shame because breakfast is good all day. Don’t you think? That’s why I like Honey’s. They’re open twenty-four hours.”
“Rory?” My own voice came out pained. Usually, I could listen to him for hours. Sometimes I left my office door open, the sounds from the reception area a pleasing background hum as I worked. Right now, though, I didn’t have the extra brain power to process his inventory of varied restaurant hours. “You’re rambling.”
“Oh.” Rory blushed, a dusky flush I could see even in this dim lighting. “Sorry. Guess maybe I am a touch nervous. I’ve been in tons of elevators and never had this happen. Have you?”
“No. I usually take the stairs.” I didn’t bother with elevators for anything under five or so stories, which ruled out most buildings in Oregon. Traveling, I sometimes had no choice, but I always tensed as soon as the doors closed.
“Ah. Not a fan, I take it.” He tossed his messenger bag to the ground before settling beside it.
“What are you doing now?” I asked, even though it was rather apparent.
“Getting comfortable.” Rory shrugged as if this were no more inconvenient than a wait at the doctor’s office. “We might be here awhile.”
“I know.” And I also knew I sounded like a spoiled brat, anxiety making me even more pointed than usual. “Sorry. You’re trying to be helpful.”
“And it might help if you sit down, try relaxing.” Rory patted the small scrap of metal flooring next to him.
“I’m fine.” Another lie, but sitting next to Rory felt like an admission we were in for a long wait. Not to mention, he’d been in the process of asking me out when the elevator stopped. For all that I found some people hard to read, Rory wore his entire range of emotions on his expressive face. There was no guesswork with him. He’d been flirty for months, but I didn’t date coworkers, a fact I’d need to explain once we were out of the immediate situation.
At the moment, though, survival took precedence. I pulled out my phone, but all I got was a helpful No Signal message. “Darn it. No bars.”
“Me either.” Rory held up his own phone. “Guess you’re stuck with me for conversation.”
“I’m sure there are worse fates.” I offered the attempt at a joke, but I wasn’t surprised when Rory didn’t laugh. I lacked my father’s talent for effortless joke delivery. Rory did, however, keep right on smiling. “How are you always so cheerful? We could be here for hours. And you don’t seem fazed.”
“I don’t let small stuff get to me.” Rory leaned back against the elevator wall. He glanced over at me, but I’d spent enough time around Rory to know he’d keep the conversation going if I simply waited. And he didn’t disappoint. “I’m not going to bore you with my life story, but I was once a client of CASA as a kid. Thanks to my amazing advocate and others, I finally landed in a great foster-adopt placement with a family of die-hard optimists here in Mount Hope. I’ve seen some of the worst the world has to offer, and I’ve also seen the best. Trapped in the elevator with the hot new attorney? Very low on the annoyance meter.”
“I’m not hot.” Out of Rory’s entire tale, that was the one tidbit my brain seized on.
“Oops. Forget I said that. And forget—”
“Simpson monitoring here.” Another crackly message from Sonya blessedly cut Rory off. “The building power remains off. A transformer blew nearby. We’re in contact with maintenance as well as the fire department for options to get you out.”
“Thank you.” My gratitude was genuine because I appreciated the interruption, even if I hated the message.
“And thank you for your continued patience.” Sonya had the same tone as if we were on hold with the electric company. “Hold tight.”
“We’re holding.” Rory didn’t seem anywhere near as restless and irritated as I was. He gazed up at me with soft eyes. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I admire the optimism. And your story.” I wasn’t about to revisit his hot comment with a ten-foot pole, but I couldn’t let the rest of it pass unacknowledged. “It’s good to know some of our kids become success stories.”