Page 33 of Bronson

“Hello. I’m well. And you?” he asks, helping me out of my coat.

“I’m good.”

“You’re well. You do good. You are well.”

“Huh? Whatever,” I shrug. He’s always trying to improve my grammar, expand my vocabulary. I unwind my scarf and playfully hang it around his neck. “Why don’t you do some good, and hang up my coat for me?”

His brow cocks. “Mind your manners, little girl.”

Little girl.

The words send shivers down my spine. When he says things like that, it makes me second guess my theory that he sees us as ‘just friends.’

I give him a long look. The words tumble out before I can make sense of what I’m saying. “I have a date tonight.”

And then my answer is written on his face.

I realize the reason for my outburst. I am testing him. I want to see his reaction.

Am I just a friend to you?

But his face has fallen.

He quickly catches himself, arranging his features into a mask of indifference.

But I saw it.

His words are tight, forced. “Is that so?”

“It is so, in fact.”

“With whom?”

“Why is it your business?” I ask. I have no idea what’s gotten into me but I suddenly feel feisty as hell.

He leans in. “Don’t make me pull your panties down.”

I gulp. “His name is Peter Dobbins. I met him at the home.”

He sneers. “You’ve only just met the man and you’re going out alone with him? How responsible.”

I want to quip back, but I don’t want to be spanked. I avoid his gaze.

“Well, have a nice time.” He takes my coat from my arm. He turns, strides to his office. My red scarf is hugging the back of his neck.

Alice sidles up beside me. “That was strange. He usually talks to you forever when you first get here. What did you say to him?”

I watch as the office door close behind him. “I told him I had a date.”

“Oh.” Alice stares at me. “What are you going to do?”

I grab the polishing cloth, getting to work on the glass. “What do you mean?”

She buffs along beside me. “Well, he obviously likes you. And he was not very happy about hearing you have a date.”

“He wasn’t happy, was he?” I muse.

“Not at all. And when Bachman’s not happy⁠—”