Chapter 7: Barbecue and Lemon Water

My proposal was approved without a hitch.

I did a little happy dance at my desk, then tried to play it cool when Mariah caught me.

To celebrate, our team leader Mr. Carter decided to take us out for a team-building activity.

Carter loved these things—he said it "built character." Last time, I nearly lost a shoe in a mud puddle.

None of us were very excited, since last time we had to hike up a mountain in the blazing sun.

Mariah still had tan lines from that disaster. We all groaned in unison.

Mr. Carter said it was because the finance department wouldn’t allocate funds, so there was no money.

He always blamed finance, but we suspected he just liked torturing us.

But this time, Mr. Carter announced happily, “Finance is generous this time—we’re going to a house in the suburbs for a barbecue! There’s even a swimming pool!”

The room erupted in cheers. Free food and a pool? Now we were talking.

That was like the sun rising in the west. Now this was a team-building I could get behind.

Mariah and I high-fived, already planning our poolside playlists.

Mr. Carter got a big bus, and we all set off from the company on Saturday morning.

Everyone wore sunglasses and flip-flops, looking more like a college road trip than a corporate outing.

I was eating a bagel when Mariah plopped down next to me and dumped a huge bag in my lap.

She nearly knocked over my coffee, but I couldn’t even be mad—she was too excited.

She pulled out a bottle of sunscreen spray, excited. “I love this cedar scent. Can you spray my back later?”

She waved the bottle under my nose. It did smell pretty good.

Before I could answer, she rummaged around and pulled out a bottle of gold sunscreen. “If you won’t spray, at least help me rub this in. It’s really effective.”

She grinned, already rolling up her sleeve.

I looked at her bag full of sunscreen, speechless. “We’re only staying one night. Why so much? Are you painting a wall or cosplaying a ghost?”

Mariah rolled her eyes. “What do you know? Girls need skincare too! This scent is for beach dates, this one is for whiskey at a bar…”

She lined up the bottles on the seat like a proud collector.

I didn’t expect a tiny bottle of sunscreen to mean so much to her.

I made a mental note to ask her for beauty tips later.

Our colleagues, attracted by the commotion, looked over. I quickly ducked my head and pretended not to know her.

I slouched down in my seat, hoping no one would post this on Slack.

Mariah kept chattering, showing me her sunscreen strategies.

She even offered to let me borrow her "poolside shimmer" lotion. I had to admit, it smelled amazing.

“What are you two doing?”

A voice full of displeasure sounded above me. I looked up to see Mr. Brooks glaring at us.

He stood over us, arms crossed, looking every bit the intimidating boss—even in jeans.

His eyes were stormy, and his grip on his bag was so tight his knuckles turned white.

I wondered if he thought we were planning a coup.

Why was the company boss coming to our team-building?

I shot Mariah a look. She shrugged, just as confused.

Mariah was so scared she made up an excuse about a stomachache, grabbed her sunscreen bag, and ran.

She disappeared faster than a dog chasing a squirrel.

Mr. Brooks stood over me, radiating pressure. I hadn’t done anything, but he still made me feel guilty.

I fiddled with my bagel, avoiding his gaze.

“I—I didn’t do anything…”

My voice came out squeaky. Great.

He shoved his designer suitcase onto the luggage rack and sat next to me.

The seat creaked under his weight. I scooted over, trying to give him space.

Mr. Brooks’s voice was tense, his brows furrowed as if he might crush me. “Are you two having an office romance?”

I nearly choked on my bagel. "What? No!"

I shook my head frantically. “Mr. Brooks, don’t say that! You just got here, you don’t know—Mariah is everyone’s friend!”

I gestured wildly, hoping he’d believe me.

He froze, thinking.

He stared out the window for a moment, jaw clenched.

“She already has a partner! They’re very close,” I added. “Everyone knows!”

Mariah had been dating her girlfriend for years. Everyone knew—except, apparently, Mr. Brooks.

“Oh… oh.”

He relaxed a little, the tension easing from his shoulders.

Mr. Brooks looked a little embarrassed, rubbed his nose, then said coldly after a pause, “Still, be mindful of appearances. Colleagues shouldn’t get too close!”

He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

…

I stared out the window, biting back a laugh. Mr. Brooks really hates office romances.