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I glared at Mara, but she, of course, was totally unmoved. “Thanks for your understanding.”
“Well I don’t understand, and these two are honest, they’ll admit they don’t get it either. You liked this man for a year, at least, and now that he’s finally interested, you’re pissed at him? Explain.”
I brushed off her question because she had a point, and because I had my reasons. “We’ve moved on from that. I need fundraising ideas.”
“Have we moved on?” Sophie asked, one brow arched as her gaze bounced from Eva to Mara and finally, to me. “I think you should answer Mara’s question.”
“Me too,” Mara said smugly.
“Fine, you want an answer? He’s not interested in dating me, he just wants to screw me. Yeah, he asked me out, but he doesn’t date women who work for him so what does that tell you?”
“That he’s changed his mind about that silly little condition?”
I glared at Eva. “You don’t even believe that.”
“I might,” she insisted.
“Yeah and pigs might fly, but you don’t believe it, because you’re a smart woman Eva, and you know what this is. A way for him to screw me and then make me out to be crazy. No thanks.” I was still attracted to him, and if he was anyone but a work colleague, I might go for a casual night or two, but there was something about his arrogant smile that just made me mad.
“You don’t know that’s what will happen.” Sophie frowned and looked around the table for confirmation. “Ben is a good guy. He’s decent too.”
Eva groaned and gave Sophie a placating pat on the shoulder. “He told her he doesn’t date women who work for him and then he asked her out.”
“And? What’s that mean?”
Mara groaned. “How do you own a matchmaking agency when you know nothing about people?”
Sophie lifted her chin high in the air. “I’m the brains behind the algorithm, smarty pants.”
Mara polished off her beer and leaned forward. “Okay, so he’s given her two pieces of conflicting information. He wants to take her out, but not date her, right?” Sophie nodded. “They’ll go on a few dates and get it on a few times, probably more than a few, and Joss will start to feel things because she’s been crushing hard on him for a while now. When she wants more, he’ll remind her about his dating preferences, and when she reminds him about the dates, he’ll tell her she’s being crazy or clingy or whatever new word kids are using these days.”
“Yep.” Eva and I agreed at the same time, earning us both scowls from Sophie.
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “But I uprooted my life to accept this job and I’m not ready to move on just yet. So, I’ll pass.” Mara had repeated almost the exact scenario that had played in my head since he asked me out. “It’s a recipe for disaster and I want no part of that, so, fundraising ideas?”
The silence went on for so long, I was sure they would circle back around to talk of Ben suddenly realizing he wanted to bang me, but like the good friends they were, they left the topic behind. For the moment.
“How about a car wash? When we were in high school there was an endless supply of dirty pickup trucks and tractors in need of a good scrubbing.” Eva smiled. “And we’d put on cut-off shorts and bikini tops just to make sure we didn’t waste the day.”
“That’s why you were always dressed like that for the car washes?” Sophie seemed shocked and shook her head. “How about a bake sale? Everyone loves sweets.”
“Baked goods are my jam,” Mara said with a playful scowl before turning to me. “How about yard and house work? They could mow lawns and rake leaves, clean windows or do the dishes for old ladies.” She shrugged and paused long enough to take another sip before she smiled and continued. “Make sure you let people know the girls are doing it because the losing boys team gets all the money. It’ll help, trust me.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to rag on the boys’ team just to get money for my girls.” That wasn’t fair. We were all the same school, and I wasn’t the boys’ fault that male sports always received more funding and better resources.
“This is the battle of the sexes. Show the world and your girls that they can make their own money and kick ass, because they’ll be doing more work for the rest of their lives. Plus, so many of the former female athletes will help because of their memories at good ol’ PHS.”
I sighed, feeling like this was already turning into something other than a chance to raise money for girls’ soccer. “I just want my girls to be well rested for the games.”
