Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

"You don't have to drive me," I halfheartedly griped as Billy drove me to the studio. "You shouldn't go in if you have the day off."

"I'm not going to my studio; I'm going to your new office." He squeezed my knee as he spoke.

"My new office is at your studio and, knowing you, very close to your office," I lamented.

"Well, since you wouldn't let me put a second desk in my office, I'd say it was too far from my office."

"Mmhmm, you say that now, but one day of listening to me on endless calls, and you'd sing a different tune!"

"Good, I could use some new material."

"Billy, I love you wholeheartedly, but these dad jokes just need to stop."

"Never." He smiled as he pulled into his spot in front of the studio. "Are you excited?" Billy added as he pulled me from the car to his side.

"To go to work? Not particularly," I laughed.

"But it is your first day in new digs, so it's a first day. It's going to be quiet around here. Most people aren't around between the holidays," he noted.

"Mmhmm, I expect it'll be a pretty quiet day for me as well."

"You sure you can't take it off?" He prodded again.

"I told you; I'm the coverage point. We're in a skeleton crew state as it is. I can't jump ship to run away with a sweaty transient that makes melodic noises for a length of time."

"Klopplebaum," Billy murmured to himself as he opened the door for me. "Morning, Mel."

"Morning, Billy. I wasn't expecting you or Tim to be in today. I don't know why I ever expect that." Mel shook her head at him in a chiding manner from behind the reception desk.

"Lily has to work, so I just wanted to make sure her office is all set for her," Billy added. "Have you two met?"

"Briefly, and then I ran away," I joked. "It's nice to meet you formally." I extended a hand to her.

"Nice to meet you as well." She nodded back with a friendly smile. "I'm afraid Tim has beaten you to it. He's been here for about an hour."

"Of course he has." Billy shook his head to himself.

"That was sweet of him." I smiled as we walked down the hall to my new office.

"I'm pretty sure he's trying to make me look bad," Billy joked.

"Morning," I called from the doorway.

All we could see was the top of Timmy's head as he crouched under my desk.

"Three monitors, Lil. You only have two eyes," Tim gripped as he pulled himself from under the desk.

"Well, I have what I'm actively working on the middle monitor, my email on my left monitor, and usually a video call on the right monitor," I explained.

"I was going to do this," Billy complained as he looked over Tim's work.

Tim and I both let out a laugh.

"What?" Billy shot at us.

"Sweetie, I love you, but this is not your jam." I smiled up at him.

"Whenever you call me sweetie, it's code for 'you're a dumbass,'" Billy groaned.

"True, but it's nicer the way I say it," I offered.

"By nicer, you mean entirely condescending," he argued back.

"Now, now, children. Be nice, or I'll have to separate you two," Tim absently spoke from behind my screens. "Dock your laptop, Lil. Let's see if this beast works."