“You’re both new here?” Ella asked, looking back and forth between Bryan and me.
Alarm bells were ringing in my head like sirens.
“Yeah,” Bryan answered.
“So you didn’t already know each other?” Ella asked, her light brown eyes darting between us in confusion. “It seems like you two go way back.”
“Uh,” I started, hoping I didn’t sound as rattled as I felt. “No. We met yesterday when Bryan saw me inelegantly sprain my ankle. The Good Samaritan in him felt obligated to help. Of course, that requires he shadow me, so, here we are,” I offered in explanation.
“You’re such a gallant giant, Bryan,” Ashley joked while Preeti nearly swooned.
“Well, I couldn’t just leave her there on the floor,” he joked back.
“That’s why you call him a boy scout,” Ella said.
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
“Now we’r
