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He chuckled. “That’s never happened to me.”
“I never stop thinking about work, no matter how hard I try. I’m always thinking about how the vacation is setting me back. And so is Bill. The one trip we took, he brought paperwork with him, and he worked a few hours a day because he had to. And I checked my e-mail, so I wouldn’t miss anything important. And the things is, I never did miss anything, because at the end of the day, life goes on without me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The office runs, and life goes on. When I was an assistant editor, I undertook most of Diane’s workload. I always assumed that if I didn’t do it, nobody would. But somehow it got done during that one vacation.”
“And making love?”
“What?”
“There’s the plan to make love sweetly.”
“Oh, you think you will. And you try. But when you’re stuffed, burnt and exhausted, making love suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing.”
“So it doesn’t happen?” he asked, hope dripping off the question like honey.
“No, it happens,” I said. “But it’s not how you imagined it. On the beach, it’s scratchy and painful. Sand gets places it should never be. And that’s the last time you’ll ever make that mistake.”
“Mistake,” he repeated with a snort. “Sounds like you’re doing it wrong.”
I swallowed hard. “We’re here.”
He peered into the restaurant, scanning the crowd. When his eyes returned, they were calm, and they made me feel calm.
I touched my hair. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but . . .”
He arched an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
“I like having you around,” I confessed. “I know I’m tense. But with you, I feel . . . better.” I bit my bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have run out on you the way I did. It was childish. I guess what I’m saying is, I’d really like it if we could be friends.”
He looked up at the sky and laughed in a short burst of air.
“I’m serious, David. It’s the only way to be in each other’s lives. Can you manage that?”
He broke into a wide, shit-eating grin. “Can you?”
I stuck my hand out between us. “Friends?” I asked.
My body practically shook with his answering handshake. Any amusement on his face was then replaced with determination. “How are you getting home?”
I thought a moment. “Probably the train.”
“You could also take a cab.”
I smiled. “I’ll consider it.”
He smiled back at me. “Okay, Miss Olivia.” In one swift movement, he leaned in and froze. My breath caught as his face hovered just above mine. After a long moment, he rerouted his swoop and planted a gentle kiss on my cheek. “Goodnight, friend,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” I echoed with my heart pounding in my ears.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there after he’d walked away. Gretchen appeared, somewhere from the shadows, and gave me a strong hug. I hadn’t divulged the reason for our emergency dinner so when she pulled back, I shook my head at her. “You big fat liar.”
Her eyes widened fractionally and then narrowed. “That asshole. He went to see you, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
She groaned and pulled open the door to the restaurant. “I knew Greg would do that, even though I specifically said – ”
“Pause. What the hell is going on?”
“Liv,” she said, her tone softening. “You know I could never say no to him.” She smiled automatically at the hostess and told her cheerily, “Two for dinner.”
“So what does this mean?” I asked, tailing her to the table.
“Well, we’re – I don’t know, trying again. He moved here this summer, but I didn’t agree to see him until a few weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She stopped behind her chair and sighed. After a moment, she pulled it out and sat down. “You haven’t exactly been available lately.”
Understanding quickly set in. It was my fault she hadn’t told me. I’d barely even asked about her life the past few months. “Oh,” was all I said and plopped into my chair.
“But I’m relieved that you know,” she continued. “I’ve really been needing someone to talk to.”
“Isn’t it going well?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “But it’s hard keeping it to myself.”
I nodded knowingly. “So tell me then.”
She gave me the short history of their new relationship. I wasn’t surprised by the way he’d worn her down; he’d always been charming and despite her cool exterior, she’d always had a soft spot for him.
“It’s weird,” she said, dipping a chip into chunky guacamole. “Things feel both different and the same.”
“What’s different?”
“We’re both more mature. He seems more open to a relationship. It was his idea to become exclusive right off the bat.”
“So you’re not seeing anyone else?”
“No. I guess he’s like my boyfriend.”
I laughed. “When was the last time you had a boyfriend?”
“Nobody noteworthy since him,” she replied, laughing with me.
“How’s the sex?”
“We haven’t done it yet. Er, again.”
“What?” I screeched.
“If we sleep together, then I’m really in it.”
“If I know the two of you, that’s not going to last long.”
“I know. I just want to be as certain as possible.”
“Do you trust him?”
“He insists that this time is different, but . . .”
I set my chin in my palm and told her I hoped it would be. Greg was a decent guy, and the way he’d abandoned her was out of character. Still . . . there were no guarantees when it came to matters of the heart. If that was what she wanted, she needed someone like Bill, not Greg.
Unable to give her the assurance she needed, I changed the subject. “Greg mentioned a party?”
“The PR firm is hosting a soft opening next weekend. I’m supposed to invite people.”
“All right, count us in.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, why not?”
