Pre-Story Events

“Tell us what happened,” Sabrina said. “And spare no details.”

“You can spare some details,” you said.

Eric grunted as he circled the conference table to his usual seat in the Intern office, plopping down in his seat with a heavy sigh. He looked tired, which either meant he’d had a long night or an early morning. The silence extended as he stared off at the opposite wall.

“You OK, buddy?” you asked.

“Give us the headline at least,” Sabrina prompted.

“That,” Eric said slowly. “Was the best and worst sex I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

You and Sabrina looked at each other, and then back to Eric.

“Do you… need a minute?” you asked.

He shook his head and blinked rapidly like he was waking up from a dream. “No, no,” he said. “I’ll tell you guys what happened.”

“Wait,” Sabrina said. “Did you do the coffee run?”

“What?”

“It’s your day to do the coffee run, did you do it?”

“Fuuuck,” Eric groaned.

“I’ll go,” you said. “Just hold off on the story, collect yourself. We can talk about it once I’m back.”

“Thanks,” he grunted, nodding, and then leaned forward and pressed his forehead to the lid of his laptop.

You left the conference room after another glance at Sabrina, who shot you an air kiss and a wink - she definitely wanted to keep prying, but would wait for you to get back. When you made it down to the lobby you couldn’t help yourself and went to Becks. There were maybe a dozen people in the lobby now, with business hours about to start properly, either heading through or waiting to meet someone so you leaned over the counter and dropped your voice low. “Eric had sex with Joy and another girl last night,” you whispered.

Becks looked up, eyes wide and her mouth dropping open in shock. “What?” she hissed.

“There’s a whole backstory, but he slept with Joy last night and she didn’t remember who he was?”

‘Holy fuck,’ she mouthed.

“Yeah,” you grinned.

“I’m gonna want to hear that story.”

“So do Sabrina and I, but he’s so out of it he forgot the coffee order. Want anything special today?”

Becks asked for the coconut shortbread the coffee shop had on Fridays, and you headed out of the office and down the street. You’d been in the shop for almost ten minutes, waiting in the long and slow line and trying not to guess at the details of Eric’s story, when you felt a hand on your shoulder.

“John?”

“Becca?” you asked, turning and smiling. Becca was grinning as well and was all done up in a smart pantsuit that highlighted her curves while making her look a little more slender, along with heels and big, thin hoop earrings that highlighted her short hair. “Hey.”

“Hi,” she grinned, sliding her hand down from your shoulder to your waist, pulling herself in to give you a quick kiss on the lips. “I thought that was you, but you were facing away so it took me a minute to be sure. Look around more so people can recognize you.”

You chuckled and shook your head. “I didn’t realise there was anyone around to be recognized by. Usually when we do coffee runs it’s a little earlier than this, but Eric had a big night and forgot he was supposed to do it today. Is this your regular shop?”

“Only on Fridays,” Becca said. “For the coconut shortbread. My office building is a couple blocks away so it isn’t usually that worth it… Why is that barista glaring at us?”

“What?” you said and started to turn.

“Don’t look,” she said quietly. “The brunette one with the nose ring.”

“I don’t know?” you said, then grunted. “Or maybe I do. Sabrina, Gemma and I have been in here together before. And we probably act like a couple when there are two of us. If she recognizes me and saw us kiss…”

Becca snorted and smirked a little. “So she either thinks you’re a cheater, or she’s had a secret crush on you and was hoping for her Hallmark Movie Moment by the end of the summer and doesn’t like seeing another woman hanging around you.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. “I’m thinking it would be the first one.”

“Hey now, don’t sell yourself short,” Becca said. “You’re swoon-worthy in that ‘you’ll grow into your looks’ kind of way.”

“Wow, thanks,” you chuckled at her teasing. Then, on a whim, you leaned in and gave her another kiss on the lips. She pushed back with hers a little, accepting it warmly.

“So, how are you and Sabrina handling Gemma being gone?” Becca asked once the kiss ended, the little smile she had telling you that you’d chosen right.

“First night was tough,” you said. “But Sabrina being Sabrina, we had a friend come over as a distraction last night.”

Becca laughed and shook her head. “It’s still hard to believe that petite little thing is the crazy one in your relationship.”

“You have no idea,” you sighed. “But, speaking of crazy - the reason Eric was late. Gemma told you about Joy, right?”

“I think I have that whole story… so far?”

Becca was as invested in finding out more about Eric’s Big Night Out as you, Sabrina and Becks by the time you reached the front counter. As you stepped up to it, Becca leaned forward and dropped her voice as she spoke to the cute barista. “I have sex with him and his girlfriends, and it’s fantastic. If you’d just nutted up and asked, they probably would have shared him with you for a wild night that would be a highlight of your year, but it’s the end of summer so you left it too long. Sorry.”

The barista blushed, her eyes going wide. “Uh- Um- Can I take your order?”

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