Suffice to say, it's been awhile

 Eric was so glad Carmen responded. He was glad she remembered him. 

He sighed, "Why is it me who has to do this?" He cringed at the thought of rejection.

"Because, I can't do it," Derrick looked at him blankly. He was, after all, busy with his own little side business of crochet critters. He was busy on his laptop, looking at orders. He was surprised by all these new trends in Labubu that anyone would want to look at his homemade stuff. 

Eric gave Carmen a call. He was afraid he would mess up with all the texting, and then there would be nobody to tend to the reception desk at the dance studio/gym. 

"Hey," he started with a smile. And then freaked at the thought that he sounded like Joey on FRIENDS. They chatted about Justin. If only the owner had called, but he'd dished-out this duty to Eric, who worked at the studio and gym.

"I got a call today from Jade," he said.

"Jade?" Carmen sounded as if she didn't even know Jade, and then he mentioned Ari, and then it was back to Ari being Justin's friend. After all, Eric was Justin's friend too, whom he hadn't heard from in ages. She asked if this was about modeling because Justin was so busy lately that he might have gained a few pounds.

"Really?" Eric winced as if he needed to get the guy to the gym, pronto. Not for modeling gigs, but just to be in shape.  Eric almost got off track.

"No..no..no.." Eric tried to laugh and be the positive sort. "This is about you."

He said it as if she might have won the lottery. "Jade's going on a long-awaited honeymoon, and she put in a good word for you."

"Me?" Jade sounded shocked.

"Is there any way, you can take over the desk while she's away?"

"Huh," now she sounded as if a laugh was caught in her throat. "I guess so."

"You'd be a lifesaver, really."

Eric couldn't stop smiling. Maybe they would hire Carmen. He knew Jade was overworked these days.