writing

I think this part's done.  So, give me an edit after I take my quiz, and the whole thing will be on DA.  And if anyone would like to extol the virtues of Patreon on DA to try and convince the holdouts on there who are still paying on my tip jar, I can make it worth your while.  Just name your price and we can negotiate.  

Amara returned to her desk after their break was over with a plate piled with donuts. She wasn’t even trying to stuff or overfeed herself. She took what looked good and went back to work. She smiled slyly as she filled out another acquisition request for yarn. Only by the application form she worked out, it was for HR. Anna had come in with a new crocheted bag her girlfriend had made her. By the amount requested, Amara wondered what Anna’s next gift would be.

Donald sat with the trainer while she explained how to file requests for discounts and change bonuses for services when the ones offered did not comply with work requirements. She quietly listened to the two talk while going over her own work until she finished that day’s work. It wasn’t uncommon for her to complete her tasks before lunch. Amara already knew what movies she wanted to watch. She was in a bit of a sappy mood and had a couple old cheesy romances lined up.

A little before noon, Amara stood and walked over to Donald. “You ready?”

He was thumbing through the program, seemingly memorizing the layout, “Hang on, I think I almost got it.”

Amara fought laughing, “You’ll have plenty of time to go over it after we get back.” Then more seriously, “You’re not allowed to stay after lunch break starts and you’re not allowed back until after one.”

“Oh,” Donald looked surprised.  “I’ve never known a place to be like that.”

Amara considered her words, “This isn’t like most jobs.” When Donald stood, Amara said, “I was thinking burgers. Sound good?” She flashed a wide smile and thought she saw something more in him.

He smiled back, but seemed to be keeping his distance, “Sounds good. Any place in mind.”

They walked out and Amara said, “Only the best place in town.”

As they passed Carson, the receptionist said, “If she suggests Chinese say no, she only likes the trashy stuff.”

“You mean the stuff made by Chinese immigrants and not a part of a chain?” Amara winked at her to show no ill will, Carson had different ideas of what made good food.

“I’ll drive,” Amara said as the elevator opened onto the garage floor.

“Oh, I mean…” Donald hesitated.

“You not one of those guys who gets weird when women do things, are you?”

“No, but you’re already paying,” Donald said defensively.

“Look, this first week or two is an adjustment. You’ve got to get used to a lot of things and wait for the first paycheck.” She pushed the button to unlock her car and opened her door, “Until then, let us help out. Trust me, we’ve all been there. We all had someone who helped us adjust and we all did the go around for lunches the first week or so.” As Donald opened his door she said, “Just let us.”

Donald let out a long sigh and then smiled. “Okay.” His eye passed over to Dave as he got into his own car. He seemed to still have something on his mind, but she wasn’t sure what.

On the way to the restaurant, the two talked some. Amara shared some of her stories from when she started and some things she hadn’t fully understood. Once at the restaurant, the two continued the conversation. Amara had gotten a double bacon cheeseburger with fries and onion rings. Donald had gotten a burger and fries. Her food intake had gone up so much that it didn’t feel like a lot of food to her. She only had two sides and hadn’t even gotten a dessert. Looking at Donald’s order she realized how much she was getting. It made her feel somewhat self-conscious, and she couldn’t say why.

Donald took a bite from his food and seemed to be trying not to stare at hers, “So, can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” Amara said while she took a large bite of her burger.

“The woman who hired me said there’s no policies against dating.” He paused as if hesitating to ask something, “I’ve been at places that said that, but if you got on the wrong side of the boss in it, you were finished.”

Amara shrugged, “No, it’s cool. I mean Dave’s only just been promoted, but he’s about as nice as you get. He wouldn’t get nasty about anything.”

“But doesn’t it cause drama?” Donald asked with concern.

Amara smiled wide as she finished her bite before answering, “I think that’s the point. The more drama the better.”

“So, like,” Donald lowered her voice. “Are we some sort of weird show for someone?”

Amara shrugged, “It’s the only thing I can figure.”

“And they like seeing us…” Donald hesitated, he knew they weren’t supposed to talk about it outright.

Amara shrugged again, “I guess, but what a life. I have a great two-bedroom apartment with free access to the local baseball games in season. Our secretary is on maternity leave but she’s my best friend. God, wait until you meet Alexandrea; she’s the best.” Amara became more circumspect as she thought before saying, “You know how some businesses will say they see themselves like a family?”

“Yeah,” Donald rolled his eyes a little.

“Well they don’t have to say it.” Amara was serious, “I helped Alexandrea through her pregnancy; Steve’s all but adopted me; I spent the holidays with him and his wife.  Anna’s seriously the sweetest person out there. She’d do anything to make someone feel better. God, I miss Briella; she treated me like a mom.” Amara caught herself and stopped. “Really, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. If that means I have to get bigger clothes, I’m good with that.” Finished with her burger, Amara started dipping her fries into some sauce and said, “Seriously, that part’s more fun than you’d think.”

Dave just sat across and stared with a quirky grin. Amara wasn’t sure how to read his reaction. She had just dumped a lot on him and he just sat and listened. After some awkward silence, he said, “I never really cared much about that but…” He hesitated and Amara let him think, “I guess…” Donald stopped himself and shook his head, “I don’t know, I’ve never had any issue with bigger women, I’ve just never dated any.” He shrugged as if to say he knew this shouldn’t be his biggest worry.

Amara smiled, “I never was with a bigger guy until Dave and I got together.” She slipped a fry in her mouth and grinned in a way that hinted at a wink, “It’s more fun than you’d think.”

After a short pause, Donald said, “So you two are a thing.”

Amara paused in mid-bite, realizing what he was getting at, “Oh shit, no.” After some stammering, she added, “We kind of cooled off and are friends now.”

“So…” Donald let the implied question stand.

Amara sat up a little straighter and smiled, “Totally free, and he’s not going to be weird about it.” Then, after continuing to eat, she added, “Besides, I think he’ll be seeing someone else soon.”

“How do you know?” Donald asked, confused.

“I’m sort of the unofficial matchmaker.” She gave another little wink.

Once lunch was finished, the two were back in the car on the way back to the office, “What do we do when the work is finished, there’s no way this takes an entire day to do.”

“Whatever you want,” Amara said. “I watch movies. I think Steve is onto editing his book. Carson does online jigsaw puzzles and flirts with her boyfriend.”

“I have no idea what I’m going to do with it.” Donald said.

“Got any hobbies?” Amara turned into the garage.

“I never had time.”

“Well, now you do. So long as you can look like you're working… mostly, they don’t care.”

“Mostly?” Donald grinned a little as he looked over at her.

“I have headphones on to watch movies,” Amara pulled into her space.

“Really, what you have planned?” Donald asked.

“Don’t laugh.” Amara cut the engine.

“I won’t laugh, “ Donald said with a smile, clearly trying not to laugh already.

“When Harry Met Sally and Prety in Pink.”

To his credit, Donald didn’t laugh, but he had to swallow hard to keep from laughing. “So, you into old romances as a rule?”

Amara shrugged, “I was in the mood, okay.” She laughed, “I enjoy movies of all kinds.

They got out of the car and began to walk in, “Slash horror?”

“The cheesy bad special effects, or the ones that try too hard to look realistic?” Amara gave a half-shrug, “I don’t hate it.”

Once back at her desk, Amara pulled up her movies and started to watch. She noticed a message from Alexandrea and read it while she listened to the movie, “So how’s the new guy?”

Amara smiled, “He’s settling in. Brought a sandwich for lunch.”

“Classic,” Alexandrea wrote, “He cute?”

“You saw him?” Amara wrote.

“You know what I mean,” Alexandrea wrote. “You think he’s cute?”

“Yeah.” Amara blushed a little, half convinced everyone knew what she was writing. “He was checking to see if I was with Dave.”

“OMG!!! okay, you have to tell me everything!!!” Alexandrea responded almost instantly.

“I’ll tell you all about it after work,” Amara answered.

“Amara, I’m bored out of my mind. Motherhood is bliss, but I didn’t know I could be this tired and bored at the same time.”

Amara sighed and wrote, “Fine,” and outlined their lunch break and some of what happened during the morning break.

“He’s so thin, though.” Alexandrea wrote.

“That won’t last long.” Amara smiled, realizing she looked forward to seeing how he’d gain. Would he get a pot belly or just get soft and bigger?”

Amara promised to come by with dinner and made sure Alexandra left bottle feeding for her to do. She wanted Alexandrea to have a chance to sleep but was also looking forward to cuddling time with little Cora. Amara never had baby fever, but she was learning Aunt fever was a thing.

As she looked over her cubicle at Donald’s workspace, she smiled. He seemed to be compiling a list of horror and slasher movies. She wasn’t sure what he had on his mind, but she could guess.