Page 71 of What Comes Around

He launched into a story about a disastrous marketing pitch, complete with hand gestures and dramatic reenactments. I listened politely. When he asked me to dance, I shook my head.

“Maybe later.”

He grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”

A while later, the girls dragged me up themselves.

“Come on, Ashley,” Nora said, tugging my wrist. “You’re coming with us.”

I let them pull me onto the dance floor. The music was loud, the lights low, and for a moment I let myself blend into the group.

It wasn’t terrible.

More coworkers eventually joined us until we were standing in a loose, laughing cluster, moving with the music and bumping into each other every few seconds. It felt chaotic but harmless.

For a few minutes, I forgot to be anxious.

Back at the table, someone shoved a phone in my direction.

“Oh my God,” Claire said, “is this you?”

On the screen was a TikTok clip of me singing Dernière Danse years ago.

My face heated instantly. “Where did you even find that?”

Nora laughed. “Ashley, you can sing. Like, actually sing.”

Priya nodded. “This is amazing. Why didn’t you tell us you had pipes like this?”

I covered my face with my hand. “Please delete that.”

“No,” Claire said. “We’re keeping it forever.”

Everyone was laughing when Tim’s phone rang. His brows furrowed as he checked the caller ID.

“Sorry, I need to take this,” he said, stepping away to find a quieter corner.

When he returned, his expression was tight.

“I have to head back to the office.”

“What? Why?” Priya asked.

He sighed. “VP called. Something urgent in Marketing. A campaign going out tomorrow needs corrections.”

Everyone groaned in disappointment as he grabbed his coat.

I checked the time. “I should go too.”

“You sure?” Claire asked.

“Yes. Early morning tomorrow.”

I paid my bill, said my goodbyes, and stepped out into the cool night air.

The walk to the Sinclair parking garage was quiet, the distant hum of the city drifting through the streets. My SUV waited on the third level. I unlocked it, slid into the driver’s seat, and let out a slow breath.

I was glad to be heading home.