Gabriella was slightly out of breath as she left the gym and started walking upstairs. It had been a few days since she’d started working out again, and she was definitely feeling it in her achy legs and sore feet. But it encouraged her that the workouts themselves seemed to be getting easier.

“Gabriella!”

Only one person here was ever so cheerful when she walked into a room these days. Robin smiled at her from the kitchen as she reached the top of the stairs. “Finishing your workout?” he asked.

Had he missed the way she was sweating bullets and smelled like a gym sock? Gabriella nodded. “Yeah,” she replied.

“Excellent. Glad you’re getting back into the rhythm. Listen, let’s have lunch outside.”

She’d been planning to eat in front of the computer as she attempted to convince it yet again that she wasn’t in New Bedford. But if everyone was taking their break outside, it might be nice to get out too. And maybe she could hope that the conversation wouldn’t be completely awkward.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” she said. “Um, I’ll meet you all out there. I need to take a quick shower.”

“Perfect!”

Robin seemed even more cheerful than usual today. Maybe it was the fact that she was overtired that was making it irritating rather than comforting. While her apartment was slowly starting to feel like home again, she’d woken up at least twice last night from overly bright nightmares where things slid out of the corners of the room and toward her bed. She was seriously considering moving at the end of her lease. And if this kept up, she might swallow the cost and break the lease before then.

Gabriella walked down the hall to the bathroom and knocked on the closed door. There was silence on the other end, so she opened it. She didn’t hear any noise coming from the surrounding bedrooms either. Where were the others?

Maybe they were already outside. She’d shower quickly and head out. Even if James was going to be there, it wasn’t like she could avoid him forever. They had managed to avoid each other almost entirely these days, to the point that she was pretty sure Robin was intentionally scheduling them on opposing shifts.

Maybe she should talk to him. She was only a month into this job and if she wasn’t planning to leave it, they’d have to talk eventually. If she was honest with herself, she didn’t see how she’d get back to fully trusting him again. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t patch things up at some point.

Gabriella stripped off her sweaty workout clothes and turned on the water. The shower clanged to life, and the water banged its way up the pipes until a weak spray came out of the showerhead. She put a hand underneath and hissed as the icy water hit her. Fine, it wasn’t like her shower at home immediately warmed up either.

She took her time untangling her hair from its bun and laying out her towel. After a moment, she checked again. Still just as cold, even though she’d put the shower to its hottest setting.

If she was going to get outside soon like she said she would, she was going to have to suck it up and take a freezing cold shower, wasn’t she? Groaning, Gabriella braced herself, then climbed under the water.

It took all of her willpower not to scream as the freezing water dripped down on her, running down her overheated back. It didn’t even feel good on the parts of her body where she knew she was bright red and sweating, it was just unpleasant.

Gabriella showered as quickly as possible, teeth chattering as she scrubbed her limbs and face. She didn’t even bother washing her hair, just giving it a quick rinse under the weak spray. Two minutes later, she shut off the water and shuddered. Was this another problem with the headquarters that they’d forgotten to mention to her? She quickly dried off and wrapped her towel tightly around herself.

She’d forgotten her clothes in the pink bedroom, but if no one was around, she didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing her in a towel. So she walked the few steps down the hall toward the pink bedroom, teeth still chattering.

She walked into the bedroom and stopped in the doorway as she realized Madelyn was sitting on the far bed. She looked up as Gabriella walked in, and Gabriella could see she was trying not to smile.

“Forgot my clothes,” Gabriella said, her face heating up despite the fact that the rest of her was ice cold.

“Happens to everyone.”

Gabriella went to her bag and pulled out her work clothes, conscious of how little of her body the towel actually fully covered. Madelyn politely focused on whatever she was working on, keeping her eyes down as Gabriella gathered up everything she needed.

She’d been planning to get dressed in the room and head straight out to lunch, but she wasn’t about to drop the towel in front of her coworker. So instead, she awkwardly left the room and went back into the bathroom. It was still cold in there, and she shivered. How was the cold shower chilling the entire room now? That didn’t seem fair at all.

Five minutes later, Gabriella was dressed and hurrying outside. Madelyn hadn’t seemed like she was in a hurry, so maybe the others hadn’t gotten there yet. She grabbed her lunchbox out of the fridge and made her way to the back door. As she slid it open and started downstairs, she realized that the only person down there was Robin.

She tried not to be disappointed as she approached. How ungrateful could she be, getting disappointed that the only person who actually cared about her here wanted to have lunch with her? He turned and smiled at her and she tried to make sure her return smile was genuine. But she couldn’t help the feeling of rejection as she joined him and took out her lunch.

***

“So how was your first full week?”

After a few minutes, Gabriella had relaxed enough to start enjoying Robin’s company. He was kind. And genuinely interested in her. It was nice to talk to someone about this job who wasn’t trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

“Good,” Gabriella replied after swallowing a mouthful of food. “I’m glad I took the days off, but I think being in the routine is making it all feel a little more normal again.”

“Good,” Robin said. “It’s a strange job, I know. But whatever your position, routine always makes things feel more secure.”

He took a forkful of salad, spearing a tomato and wiping it in the Caesar dressing that was streaked on the inside of the bowl. “You’re doing wonderfully,” he said. “It’s nice to see you settling into the job.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t worry about the others, they’ll warm up to you.”

Well, apparently she wasn’t imagining things. He must’ve seen something on her face because he smiled ruefully. “I know you noticed,” he said. “It’s nothing personal, they’re just a very tight-knit group. We all are. We look out for our own.”

And she wasn’t their own. James was. So no matter what had happened, they were going to be on his side.

“Give them some time,” Robin said, popping the tomato in his mouth. “It’ll be fine. Just keep doing your job well and they’ll come around.”

Great, now she had to work side by side with a bunch of people that not only gave her the cold shoulder, but were also so obvious about it that their boss noticed. Why was she so dead set on working here again?

“What’s your favorite part so far?”

Robin’s voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. She looked up from her sandwich. “What?”

“Of the job. What’s your favorite part of the job so far? I know your field experience has been less than ideal. But hopefully you’ve found something you enjoy.”

“Oh, um, I guess the research? I’ve always loved local history, so that part has been really exciting.”

“Is it?” Robin looked surprised. “I find it kind of boring myself so I force Bradley to do the research when we’re working together. But it’s nice to have someone here who enjoys it! Maybe we can expand your role in research a little more. What do you think?”

Working as a researcher? Gabriella thought for a second. That might be more her speed than working in the field with the others. “That would be great,” she said. “Thanks!”

“Absolutely,” Robin said. “You’re a great addition to the team, Gabriella. I’m thrilled you’re here so I want you to be happy to be here too.”

She blushed and he smiled. “I mean it,” he said. “You already bring a lot to the group.”

Okay, now he was clearly flattering her. But she wasn’t going to argue when her boss was complimenting her. So instead, she just smiled and started eating the last bite of her sandwich. Robin smiled back, then stood up.

“Well, I’m going to get back to work,” he said as he gathered up his Tupperware. “Don’t forget the team meeting at two. Then I think you and I should discuss some research possibilities.”

He walked back into the house, leaving Gabriella sitting there with a smile. Maybe this was going to be fine after all.

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CONTINUE TO CHAPTER 16