Page 5 of Not In The Contract

“I said I was sorry.” Reid sighed, her shoulders rounding.

“It’s okay,” I told her. “Really. You know we’re just teasing.”

She rolled her eyes. “Obviously,” she muttered with a smirk.

“It’s just that the rest of us missed the court wedding,” Taylor said, sliding narrowed eyes my way before looking back at Reid.

“I’m a ray of sunshine,” I teased, elbowing her gently. “I’m always on all the guest lists.”

“Yeah, even though youhatesocial shit,” Hayden added.

I shrugged.

“Just make sure you add us to the guestlist,” Taylor said, turning to Elliot and Cam. “I’d like to attend at leastoneof my dearest friends’ weddings.”

“You say that like all of us are lined up to be married.” I frowned.

“After Cam and Elliot we’re waiting on Frankie and Hayden.” She shrugged.

“Will you be my date, then?” I chuckled.

She winked at me. “If you get my name onto all those guest lists.” She giggled.

“Ugh, you can go in my place.” I sighed. “You’d be doing me a favor.”

“Is there a reason you don’t like events?” Frankie asked, and I frowned in thought.

“I don’t think it’s a reason so much as a preference,” I explained. “I don’t hate them, necessarily, I just prefer smaller gatherings. I feel like I can talk to people without worrying that there are five hundred others waiting for a conversation, you know? Plus, there’s no way to schedule around the bigger events.”

“Yeah, Alex used to be the life of the party.” Reid snickered. “She and I spent hours turning every restaurant we went to into a club. She’s just gotten a little grumpy with age.”

“Pot, kettle, love,” I shot back jokingly. “Oh, wait.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I fished it out. I blinked at the Caller ID. “Paula?” I answered, my phone pressed to my ear. I got to my feet and walked a short distance away from our table. Somewhere I’d be able to hear her.

“Alex!” she gushed. “Ugh, I’m so glad you haven’t changed your phone number. I know it’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, it’s been ages,” I said. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes! We can catch up some other time, I actually have a massive favor to ask of you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have a PhD student who’s working on her dissertation and needs what I would call a research subject,” she began and I cringed internally. “It’s something I think you’d appreciate.”

“It had better not be another architect, Paula.” I groaned, recalling the first and last student she’d sent my way.

“No, she’s studying the success of people who grew up in foster care,” she corrected, and my brows lifted. “I’d never send someone like Jo to you ever again.”

“Okay, what does this student need from me?” I asked, mentally checking through my schedule to see how the hell I’d have time for any of this.

“I know you’re a stickler for structure,” she said placidly. “And I wouldn’t want you to give up huge chunks of time, so I suggested that she shadow you at work. That way she’s able to observe you from a psychological standpoint instead of a surface level understanding.”

“Right…”

“She’s an excellent student,” Paula insisted, sensing my reluctance. “And she’s an even harder worker. She’s three months away from finishing and I can’t think of anyone better suited to the task than you.”

I glanced at the stone flagged ground below me and sighed. “You’re also asking because I owe you for that time I needed engineering students,” I pointed out. Her giggle filtered through the speaker and I sighed again.