Rex spotted me and waved, and then everyone at the table turned and waved. Before I could wave back, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I held up my forefinger to signal I’d be there in a minute. I got six middle fingers back, followed by raucous laughter that I could hear from the sidewalk. Seeing Kat’s number, I turned my back to the group and took the call.
“Hey,” I said, realizing I was grinning. This was the first we’d spoken since she’d left my apartment that morning.
“Hi, Gage. Are you almost done at work?”
“Actually, I’ve already left the office. Do you need me?” I tried to put innuendo into my voice, hoping it was discernable through the phone.
“Oh, I didn’t know you’d be home so soon. I just have something to tell you. But I don’t want to interrupt your workday.”
“Kat, it’s not like I was busy solving world peace. You can call me any time. If I can’t answer, I won’t pick up, and you can leave a message.” I knew that 99 percent of the time, I would find a way to pick up her calls, but I couldn’t get a read on her mood, so I kept that to myself. “Right now, I’m outside a bar in uptown to say hi to Rex and the guys. I’ll be out of here in fifteen minutes.”
“I hope you’re not cutting it short on my account.”
Of course, I was. A date with her was one of the few reasons I would. “What’s up? Did something happen at work?”
“Yes, actually. It’s pretty major. That’s why I’m calling. I have to cancel tonight.”
“Oh.” My heart sank. I tried not to sound too disappointed. She had an important job, even if I wasn’t entirely clear what that was. “Are you still at the office?”
“No, I’ll be working from home.”
I perked right up. “Why don’t I stop by with the Italian takeout I was planning to bring for dinner? We can skip the wine.”
“No, Gage, not tonight. In fact, probably not this weekend.”
“You still have to eat. Let me bring you something.”
“It’s not your job to feed me. I don’t need you to take care of me. I just need some space.”
Shit. Her words cut through me worse than the wind. This sounded less like a work emergency and more like a change of heart. That was totally her prerogative, but I wanted her to be honest with me. “Kat, I’m sorry to pull the white knight bullshit on you, if that’s what’s going on. Or, Christ, is it what happened this morning in my kitchen? Because if you felt I pressured you in any way, I’m sorry—”
“What? Oh, God, no. I swear. Everything that happened between us was totally consensual.”
At least that was something. “Okay, well, if we’re moving too fast, let’s schedule a date for next week. Any night. Lady’s choice.” Whatever else I had on my calendar could be shifted for her.
“Maybe, but work is crazy right now. How about I call you when I get a chance?”
“Sure. Of course.” I wanted to ask about the wedding, about staying at The Plaza and spending next weekend together, but I could read the flashing neon signs. That wasn’t happening. “I hope to hear from you soon.”
“Okay, thanks.” She hung up.
I pulled the phone away from my ear.Okay, thanks? What kind of goodbye or see you later was that?The you’ve-just-been-dumped kind, I realized.
“Hey, G-man.”
I turned to see Rex walking toward me, wearing his overcoat and scarf.
“Going somewhere?”
He shook his head. “I just thought things looked a little rough out here. You okay?”
I nodded, then shook my head. “I’m pretty sure I just got dumped.”
“Shit.” Rex clapped my shoulder. “Well, you know the best way to get over a woman. And there are some good-looking ladies here already.”
“I’m not hooking up with a stranger tonight.” I could think of few things worse than banging someone while the woman I really wanted was on the other side of my apartment wall.
“All right, well, you also know the second-best way to get over a woman.”
