Chapter 378

“So this is nice,” Eric said, looking around the kitchen table.

Lucy very clearly disagreed based on her expression of discomfort.

The five of you were sitting around the table. It hadn’t been a big ‘make breakfast for everyone’ event like you probably would have done on a weekend. Instead, you all just happened to hit the kitchen at the same time as you scrambled to get ready for work.

“How’s your eye feeling?” you asked Eric.

“Tender, and I can’t figure out if it feels better to keep it open or closed,” he said. “But we’re in court again so maybe I can just fall asleep with it half-open and find the right balance.”

Gemma snorted a chuckle. “I don’t know what’s worse, the idea of today being as boring as it promises, or it being as chaotic as yesterday.”

“Says the girl who got him punched to begin with,” Lucy muttered.

“Lucy!” Becca scolded.

“It wasn’t Gemma’s fault,” Eric said.

“Well, I did aggravate the situation,” Gemma said. “But I’m definitely not the reason.”

“How about we all just agree that Eric is awesome?” you suggested. “He took a punch for me and I appreciate that a lot. So thank you again.”

“You’re welcome,” Eric said.

“Have you reached out to the podcasts to let them know and book some appearances?” you asked.

“Wait, what podcasts?” Becca asked.

“Mm,” Eric hummed, pulling his spoon out of his mouth. “I haven’t, Garrison said if I did that right away he wouldn’t represent me if we pursue anything. I have to talk to him first. And when this stuff first started I did a bunch of appearances on podcasts because DeezChains was a popular influencer. Do you know about the Man’o’sphere?”

“No,” Becca said, and you could see a trickster glint in her eye as she leaned forward. “Tell me all about it.”

Lucy ended up pulling Eric from the table in exasperation. Becca had just kept asking questions, stopping herself from refuting the various wild statistics that Eric had been spouting. She shot you and Gemma a look that said ‘I’m not done with this,’ but the three of you also needed to get moving.

Taking the bus to work with Gemma and Eric was a bit weird. You were colleagues so it felt like you should sit with each other, but you kind of just wanted time with Gemma. Still, Eric had taken a punch for you on top of everything else, so you spent the ride talking with him and Gemma about anything other than his man’o’sphere stuff.

At one point Gemma pivoted the conversation back to Lucy. “So, Eric, I’m just curious - are you and Lucy in a relationship now, or is it still something less firm?”

“I think it’s a situationship now?” Eric hedged. “Like, we aren’t together. And definitely not boyfriend/girlfriend.”

“Are you exclusive?” you asked.

“No,” he chuckled.

“OK, good,” Gemma sighed. “Because I’m pretty sure she’s gone out a couple of times and it wasn’t with you.”

“Well, maybe I’ve been going out too,” Eric shrugged.

“Have you?” you asked.

“Maybe,” he replied. You had a feeling he hadn’t.

“As long as you’re happy with where you’re at, that’s all we care about,” Gemma said. “You know Sabrina and I are willing to talk you through more dating stuff.”

“Hey,” you said.

“So if John,” Gemma smirked as she looked at you.