I exited Alicia's office, shaking Jared's hand before accepting the parting squeeze his girlfriend offered me.

"Thanks, guys," I said, pausing to slip on my coat as the morning rush of guests passed through the lobby of the Lodge. "Progress looks amazing on the annex."

Alicia beamed at me, hands clasped together under her chin while Jared's lopsided smile reminded me of how young they both were. Not that I didn't trust them. I did, implicitly. But they still ...