C13 New Transfer

The morning at work was already busy by the time Sierra settled at her desk.

She had barely opened her laptop when one of her coworkers stopped by.

“Hey, Sierra. I heard your interview went well.”

Sierra looked up. “Apparently everyone heard before I did.”

Her coworker laughed. “You looked good.”

“Thank you.”

Another coworker passing by joined in. “You were really confident too. I would've been shaking.”

Sierra smiled. “Trust me, I was.”

They continued talking about the interview for another few minutes before finally letting her get back to work.

Sierra exhaled and leaned back in her chair.

“Popular this morning, aren't you?”

She looked up to see Emily approaching.

“Don't remind me.”

Emily dropped into the chair beside her.

“I came with important information.”

“That usually means gossip.”

“It is gossip.” Emily leaned closer. “There's a new transfer.”

Sierra raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And he's hot.”

Sierra laughed. “That's the important information?”

“Yes.”

“You're married.”

“I know.” Emily sighed dramatically. “If I wasn't married already, I'd have him.”

Sierra shook her head. “You're terrible.”

“I'm honest.”

“You're married.”

“Still doesn't make my eyes stop working.”

Sierra laughed and turned back to her computer.

“So we're just going to spend the morning discussing some guy we've never met?”

“Not discussing. Observing.”

“Emily.”

“What?”

“You're ridiculous.”

Emily grinned. “Come on.”

Sierra gave her a doubtful look but eventually followed.

They hadn't gone very far when Emily subtly nodded toward the other side of the room.

“There.”

Sierra looked over.

The new transfer was talking to one of the other workers.

She understood immediately.

“Oh.”

Emily smiled. “Exactly.”

Sierra tried not to stare.

Miles was attractive. Not in an exaggerated way, just enough that she understood why Emily had noticed him.

“Okay,” Sierra admitted.

Emily folded her arms. “Okay what?”

“He's cute.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For admitting I was right.”

Sierra rolled her eyes.

At that moment, Miles looked in their direction.

His eyes briefly met Sierra's.

She looked away first, pretending to be interested in something on the desk beside her.

Emily noticed.

“Oh, this just got interesting.”

“Don't start.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

Emily smiled innocently. “I was going to say absolutely nothing.”

Sierra shook her head and returned to work.

A little later, she heard someone stop beside her desk.

“Excuse me.”

She looked up.

It was Miles.

“I think we're supposed to have a meeting later,” he said, holding a folder. “I was told you could help me with some of the department stuff.”

“Oh.” Sierra took the folder. “Sure. I can show you where everything is.”

“Thanks.”

He smiled and walked away.

Sierra looked down at the folder.

Then she glanced toward Emily.

Emily was already staring at her.

Sierra narrowed her eyes.

Emily simply smiled.

---

Across town, Alex was at Peter's apartment.

A game was paused on the television while Peter leaned forward, controller in hand.

“You cheated.”

Alex looked at him. “I didn't.”

“You absolutely did.”

“You're just losing.”

Peter stared at him.

“You've become very confident.”

“I've always been confident.”

“That's not confidence. That's arrogance.”

Alex laughed.

Before Peter could respond, his niece climbed onto the couch beside Alex.

She looked at the screen, then at him.

“Alex, you're winning.”

“I am.”

Peter pointed at her. “Don't encourage him.”

She ignored him.

“Can I play with Alex?”

Peter sighed. “Of course you can.”

She immediately moved closer and held out her hand for the controller.

Alex handed it to her.

“You know how to play?”

She nodded seriously.

“I'm better than Uncle Peter.”

Peter looked offended.

“Excuse me?”

Alex laughed.

His niece grinned and started playing.

Peter watched them for a moment.

“You know she likes you more than me, right?”

Alex didn't look away from the screen.

“She has good taste.”

Peter threw a cushion at him.

Alex caught it.

His niece burst into laughter.

The game continued, with Peter complaining every time he lost and his niece proudly taking Alex's side.

For a while, the afternoon was nothing more than that.

A game.

A few arguments.

And plenty of laughter.

---

By the time Sierra got home, she was tired but in a decent mood.

She had barely put her bag down when Samantha walked through the door carrying a few bags.

“You're finally here.”

“I know. I had to get everything together.”

Sierra looked at the bags.

“Is that everything?”

“No.”

Sierra stared at her.

“How much stuff did you bring?”

“Enough.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

Samantha laughed and dropped one of the bags beside the couch.

“I'm going to be staying here for school. I need my things.”

“I know. I'm just surprised.”

“You'll get used to it.”

“I probably will.”

They carried the rest of Samantha's things inside and took them to the room Sierra had already cleared for her.

When they were done, Samantha dropped onto the couch.

Sierra joined her a moment later.

“So,” Samantha said, looking around the apartment, “I actually like this place.”

“You said that the last time you came.”

“I'm confirming it.”

Sierra smiled.

“It took me a while to get used to it.”

“But you like it now?”

“Yeah.”

Samantha nodded.

“Good.”

They sat quietly for a moment.

Then Samantha looked at her.

“How was work?”

“Busy.”

“Anything interesting happen?”

Sierra thought about it.

“Not really.”

She didn't mention Miles.

Not because it was a secret. It just didn't feel important enough to bring up.

Samantha stretched out on the couch.

“Well, I'm exhausted.”

“You've barely been here for an hour.”

“School is already tiring me out.”

“You haven't even started yet.”

“Exactly. I'm tired in advance.”

Sierra laughed.

“You're ridiculous.”

“I know.”

Samantha reached for the remote.

“What are we watching?”

“You just got here and you're already taking over my television?”

“I'm making myself comfortable.”

Sierra shook her head, smiling.

“Fine. Pick something.”

Samantha started scrolling through the options while Sierra leaned back into the couch.

It was quiet.

Comfortable.

For once, Sierra didn't feel like she had to figure out what came next.

She could just let life happen.

And for now, that was enough.