I’m tapping on Ashley’s shoulder. She’s glued to her screen, wearing a pair of Minnie Mouse sunglasses that look like they would belong to a kid.
She won’t look at me.
I pull off her earbud and she’s like: “What the fuck!”
“Zombie’s here. Maybe her and some other people. They’d like to see you and they’re meeting you in the reception desk.”
I drop the earbud.
“They’re here?”
“They’re in building one. They’re on their way here.”
Ashley looks frustrated.
“Didn’t you invite them?”
“No, and I have to work.”
“Well, I’m just telling you. Don’t shoot the messenger.” I start to walk away.
“Matt. Matthew.” She’s kneeling backwards on her chair. It’s swiveling in a way she doesn’t like. She arcs her head to tell me to come back, and plops one foot on the carpet to stabilize.
I go back.
“Tell them..oh fuck, what time is it? Why the fuck did they come here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can you ask them and get back to me? Or just..you hang out with them.”
“You want me to get back to you?”
“You know what I mean.”
“They’re your friends.”
“They’re your friends, too,” Ash hisses, “Didn’t Zombie have your dick in her mouth?”
Ravi—this really sweet guy Ravi—turns around and looks at us. Everyone else is too polite to look but now Ravi, Chirag, Jeff, Roger, and Dawn all know that I had my dick in some girl’s mouth, named Zombie.
Ash has her eyebrows raised, her eyes wide.
Yes, I suppose I did have my dick in Zombie’s mouth. Does that mean that I have to go let them into the Mead Research lobby and I have to be the one to tell them that just dropping by for a visit doesn’t exactly work here?
Yes. I guess it does. It means that.
“Thank you,” Ash says.
And I go.