Chapter 131

TESSA

“ACHOO!”

Debbie lets out another fake sneeze—her hundredth of the day. It’s so dramatic it actually makes me jolt, and my plastic fork nearly catapults a strawberry across the room. There goes my carefully curated ZEN state—the one I spent all afternoon cultivating so I could juggle a fruit salad in one hand and tomorrow’s report in the other.

I lower my fork slowly, inhale, and press my lips into something that might resemble a smile if you squint. I’m too tired to check. “Yes, Deborah? Can I help you?”

She dabs at her perfectly dry nose with a tissue, as if she’s starring in some tragic commercial for allergy meds. Then she tilts her head at me. “Aren’t you done with work?”

“If I was done,” I say evenly, “I wouldn’t still be here. Revolutionary concept, I know.”

Her eyes narrow like she’s cracked a conspiracy wide open. “Since when do you leave when you’re done? I was under the impression your plan was to work yourself into an early grave.