Foundations - Kate Canterbary Page 0,32

busy running the hospital's outbreak response and being a hard ass about protecting everyone and screaming at anyone who tries to endanger his staff. It would be so much easier if he could go back to being a jerk.

TO: Riley Walsh

FROM: Shannon Halsted

RE:RE: Coronavirus

Of course you can stay with us. Are you sure you're okay?

TO: Shannon Halsted

FROM: Riley Walsh

RE:RE: Coronavirus

No. I hate this so much and I can't breathe when I think about Alex going to work and being in the middle of it. I don't want her to go to work at all.

TO: Riley Walsh

FROM: Shannon Halsted

RE:RE: Coronavirus

I know, honey.

TO: Shannon Halsted

FROM: Riley Walsh

RE:RE: Coronavirus

At least Erin and Nick get to see each other. He sits on the deck and she sits on the other side of the door every night. They talk and eat dinner together. I knew I should've bought a house with a garage I could turn into a quarantine bunker.

TO: Riley Walsh

FROM: Shannon Halsted

RE:RE: Coronavirus

Do not start blaming yourself for anything. There was no way you could've known you'd need a quarantine bunker or that Alex would volunteer to work in critical care during this...whatever it is we're living through. Just grab your things and come to my place.

TO: Shannon Halsted

FROM: Riley Walsh

RE:RE: Coronavirus

Will you help me find a house for me and Alex?

TO: Riley Walsh

FROM: Shannon Halsted

RE:RE: Coronavirus

There's nothing I'd love more.

13

Walsh Associates Assistants Take on 2020

The Assistants Tell All

Lissa: Watching these conversations is kind of like that scene from The Office where Kevin is talking about how he makes chili and it's a whole thing but then he spills chili everywhere and tries to scoop it back into the pot with file folders.

Dylan: Watching conversations like these is like being the only sober person while everyone's crying in a club bathroom at 1 a.m.

Lissa: Watching conversations like these is like the first day of warm weather when everyone opens their windows and you get to hear everything your neighbors say to each other.

Dylan: Watching these conversations is like being nine years old and having dinner at a friend's house only for the parents to start arguing at the table and no one knows where to put their eyes.

Lissa: Not that bad! They're not "daddy hit mommy at the dinner table and we're all trying to eat" bad!

Dylan: Your unresolved childhood trauma is showing again. I said nothing about daddy hitting mommy. You inferred that. All I'm talking about is when the parents would yammer about someone putting the ketchup in the cupboard instead of the fridge because doesn't he know she likes it cold rather than room temp? If he'd only pay attention to her preferences for one time in 17 years, he'd know how she liked her ketchup.

Lissa: …because if doesn't know how she likes her condiments, he definitely doesn't know how she likes to get dicked down.

Dylan: I hate that I've picked up the phrase dicked down from you. It's such a graphic phrase. I can't help but visualize.

Lissa: That's why it's so good.

Dylan: I'm holding on to this voicemail from the Castavechias for a day or two. The power couple doesn't need to know these want to add a pool house today.

Lissa: That's smart. We don't want Patrick kicking any printers at their apartment.

Dylan: At least we're not the ones who'd have to fix his newest victim.

Lissa: Oh but we would be. We'd be busy arranging delivery for yet another device or finding an urgent care clinic taking patients during a pandemic because he broke his foot in the process

Dylan: Oh my GOD they're still going back and forth. I have to turn off my notifications until this thread ends which won't happen because this is their bread and butter. My phone is like a strobe light right now.

Lissa: Do you think they have side texts or email chains going while they do this?

Dylan: For sure. Andy and Sam. Matthew and Riley. Shannon and everyone.

Lissa: It's going to be weird working from home for…who even knows how long. The idea of working from my bed is nice in theory but I already miss my desk chair. There's no underestimating good ergonomic support.

Dylan: I've been sitting on the floor and using the coffee table as a desk. It is not great. My ass might have plenty of cushion but my hips are like "excuse me, ma'am, this isn't kindergarten."

Lissa: How are your roommates handling this?

Dylan: Leila and I are sharing the coffee table and we're happy we're not so essential we have to go into work but essential enough to not be laid off. Jaime is teaching first grade from her bedroom and being angry she can't see any of her FWBs. That hellish statement sums up her life. What about you?

Lissa: As I've said before, I don't have roommates. Boyfriend Dylan's parents are like AirBnB guests who won't leave. It's extremely unfair this virus hit at the exact time they were supposed to move on down to Florida and we were supposed to have the house to ourselves.

Dylan: Are they behaving?

Lissa: Hardly. Dyl's mother told me I was overreacting and being dramatic when I said she couldn't host her book club meeting in person. Apparently, the governor said NOTHING about book clubs. His dad didn't see why church services has to be canceled. Here I am, hiding their keys and unplugging the garage door opener and using myself as a human shield at the doors because Dyl is out there fixing electrical lines day and freaking night because people can't be without power right now and doesn't have time to deal with this.

Dylan: Wow, you are totally being dramatic.

Dylan: Kidding. Of course.

Lissa: How are you doing without flirting with the coffee guy three times a day?

Dylan: He's posting live videos on Instagram of him making coffee at home so I get to leave cute comments about his milk designs.

Lissa: That sounds a little dirty.

Dylan: ::shrugs:: What can I say?

Lissa: No one has replied to the thread in a few minutes. Do you think Shannon ordered a ceasefire?

Dylan: Yes. I sure do.

Lissa: Do you think Sam will get his way? No Zooms?

Dylan: No way in hell. Just because he asked, Daddy will mandate it.

Lissa: Maybe they'll let us watch.

Dylan: Girl. That sounded so perverse.

Lissa: ::shrugs:: You're the one who calls him Daddy.

Also By Kate Canterbary

Benchmarks (Bayside School) Series

Professional Development — Drew and Tara

Orientation — Jory and Max

Walsh Series Spinoff Standalone Novels

Coastal Elite — Jordan and April

Before Girl — Cal and Stella

Missing In Action — Wes and Tom

The Magnolia Chronicles

Boss in the Bedsheets — Ash and Zelda

The Walsh Series

Underneath It All – Matt and Lauren

The Space Between – Patrick and Andy

Necessary Restorations – Sam and Tiel

The Cornerstone – Shannon and Will

Restored — Sam and Tiel

The Spire — Erin and Nick

Preservation — Riley and Alexandra

Thresholds — The Walsh Family

Talbott’s Cove

Fresh Catch — Owen and Cole

Hard Pressed — Jackson and Annette

Far Cry — Brooke and JJ

Rough Sketch — Gus and Neera

Get exclusive sneak previews of upcoming releases through Kate's newsletter and private reader group, The Canterbary Tales, on Facebook.

About Kate

USA Today Bestseller Kate Canterbary writes smart, steamy contemporary romances loaded with heat, heart, and happy ever afters. Kate lives on the New England coast with her husband and daughter.

You can find Kate at www.katecanterbary.com