Page 12 of Thresholds

"Excuse me, what?" I asked. "Are you suggesting I'm anything short ofprofessional?"

"No, I'm not suggesting anything," Sam replied. "I'm stating itclearly."

"I take offense to that, sir," Isaid.

"Your jeans are unzipped," Sam said. "Come talk to me about professionalism when that'shandled."

"I hear some offices have holiday potlucks," Andy mused from her spot on the floor. "We have verbal brawls and pissingcontests."

"But instead of saving those events for one-off holidays," Shannon said, sweeping her arm out, "we do it all year. It's what sets us apart. Competitive advantage, if youwill."

"I'm leaving in ten minutes, regardless of whether we're finished," Tom announced. "You should also know that, if I meet a husky Canadian with good hands and some chest hair, I won't be returning in January." He glanced up from his screen. "Good hands, chest hair, and ajob."

"The holy trinity," Andysaid.

"Is that all I am to you?" Patrick asked, his gaze cutting across the room atAndy.

"No," she replied, "but it's a goodfoundation."

"You're coming back," Shannon said, her letter opener pointed in Tom's direction. "Bring the husky Canadian home withyou."

"Then we're running through the properties," Patrick said. "Get your updatesready."

"My update is that everything is fine, on budget and on track, and I'm ready to start this vacation," Samsaid.

"What he said." Andy pointed her pen atSam.

"Same," Matt echoed from thehall.

Everyone shifted to stare at me, expectant. I took my sweet time paging through my notes and sipping my coffee before responding. Like a true professional. "Yeah, I'mgood."

Tom slapped his laptop shut. "I'm out," he said. "Happy Christmas. Merry Hanukkah. A joyful solstice. Pleasant tidings toall."

"Good luck finding that hairy-chested husky boy," Andy said. "I'm rooting foryou."

"All right. We're done for the year," Patrick announced. "Everyoneout."

"Joy to the world," Isang.

"I'm ready for hard liquor,"Patrick said as he pulled on his coat. He'd been behind closed doors with Shannon for the past two hours while Matt, Sam, and I worked on that Bay Village restoration. More precisely, Sam worked and I smacked Matt upside the head every so often to keep him in line. "Copious amounts ofit."

"Seconded," Mattcalled.

"Why do I have the feeling we're going to have group therapy over lunch?" Samasked.

I stood in Matt's office, my outerwear in one hand, my phone in the other, but I was struggling. Boutiques with girly shit and sparkly things weren't going to help me in the least. While the liquid lunch sounded fantastic, it wasn't getting me any closer to solving my giftissues.

Unless I blew off the rules and went straight for an engagement ring. I'd considered that a time or twenty but it didn't feel right. I had no doubts about Alex or marrying her but this wasn't mymoment.

At least, I didn't think it was my moment. I'd know,right?

"Would you rather we eat and drink in silence?" Matt askedSam.

"Sam wouldn't make it three minutes," Patrick said to Matt. "He complains the most, and then he unloads the mostbaggage."

"You two are in ripe moods," Sam grumbled. He gestured to me. "What's the story here? Get yourself together. We're going to lunch." He pivoted, glancing at Matt and Patrick. "Where we'll conduct grouptherapy."

"I think I'm going to skip that," I replied. "I do love unwinding your problems but I have to deal with a few of my own thisafternoon."