Page 38 of Merry & Bright

Exactlyhowhad Sam missed that Nick was gay?

“We need to have a little chat,” a voice said in his ear.

Sam turned. It was Mike.

“Come on,” Mike said. “I bought you a beer.”

With a sinking stomach, Sam followed him to an empty booth and slid into the seat opposite. Mike’s serious expression was making him uncomfortable. The few glasses of wine Sam had consumed during the meal had done nothing to ease the vague stiffness he couldn’t quite shake off around his boss. He reached for the bottle of beer Mike had set down in front of him and took a long nervous pull.

“I was going to talk to you about this after the holidays, at your appraisal,” Mike began, “but I gather you’ve been worrying about things lately, so I thought I’d better set you straight on a few things here and now.”

Shit.

Sam met Mike’s steady gaze, anxiety churning in his gut. This was it. They were going to have the Conversation. The one about how Sam wasn’t performing. Probably the one about how Mike would have to let Sam go after Christmas.

But then... Mike smiled. It was kind of a weird smile. Not like a big, full-on grin. More sort of... puzzled.

“So,” he began, “I know you found it hard when you started with us. I was asking you to do stuff you’d never done before, and that wasn’t easy for you. We both had to adjust to that.”

He looked at Sam as though expecting a response.

“It’s—well, it’s pretty different at M&H from where I trained,” Sam admitted.

Mike nodded. “I know. But you’ve coped with it really well. You work harder than anyone, Sam, and your growth over these last few months has been phenomenal.”

That was not what Sam had been expecting to hear. He blinked. “Really?”

Again, Mike smiled that puzzled smile. “Yes, really. As far as I’m concerned, things are working out great, and we’ll make your contract permanent in January. If that’s what you want.”

“It’s absolutely what I want,” Sam assured him. “But—I suppose I’m kind of surprised.”

Mike frowned. “This comes as a surprise to you?”

“Um, yeah. A bit.”

“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t make my views more clear,” Mike said. “I assumed you knew I was happy with you since I hadn’t said otherwise. I suppose Nick was right.”

“Nick?” Sam asked quickly. “Right about what?”

Mike shrugged. “Apparently I’m not the best at giving feedback. Nick tells me that in all the years he worked for me, I only made two positive comments about his work.”

“Wait,” Sam said. “We’re talking aboutNick, here? Nick Foster? YouloveNick!”

“Yeah. Well, apparently I never told him that.”

Sam laughed. Maybe a little too hard, because right now he was feeling dizzy with relief and happiness, but Mike didn’t look put out. He grinned in response.

“So,” Mike said. “Does that mean you’re going to stay with us? Next year’s promising to be busy, and the last thing I need is another good lawyer leaving.”

Mike thought Sam was a good lawyer?

Just hearing that casual comment settled something in Sam. Some doubt that had been nagging at him for the last year.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling. “I’m going to stay.”

Mike looked pleased. “Good. And I’ll try to get better on the feedback front, okay?”

“Okay.”