Page 43 of See You Next Tuesday

Zeke nodded. “First thing tomorrow, which means I need to leave now.”

“Now?!” Anya tugged Zeke’s arm. “You only got home two days ago, and we have Chandelier Bar tonight.”

“It’s a six-hour drive.” Zeke’s tone was apologetic. “And you don’t need me for Chandelier Bar. It’s a fancy night out with all your friends, you’ll have fun without me.”

“Not as much fun,” Anya said with a pout. “I bought a new outfit, special. I was really excited to show you.”

In fact, Anya had blown the better part of a week’s salary on the single sexiest garment she’d ever purchased; she and Simone had gotten tipsy and gone shopping at one of the luxury casinos one night after work.

“I’m so sorry, Annie,” Zeke said. “You can show me when I get back, okay?”

“Sure.” Anya tried to be agreeable, but she felt crushed. She didn’t blame Zeke—work was her priority too, same as him—but it was terrible timing all the same.

He pulled her in for a quick kiss, which turned into kind of a long kiss. The elevator dinged, and they looked up. Gabe was standing right there, giving them a weird look.

“Sorry,” Gabe said, awkwardly stepping around them.

“We were in the way.” Zeke put his arm around Anya’s waist and pulled her aside, then gave her one more kiss. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay,” Anya said. “Drive safe.”

Zeke got into the elevator and gave Anya a sad little wave as the doors slid shut.

“Where’s Zeke going?”

Anya turned to see Gabe was still standing there, looking at her.

“Carson City,” she said curtly. “Work.”

“Oh yeah?” Gabe sounded only mildly interested. “That’s too bad.”

Anya wanted to tell him to shut up, to yell at him for being an asshole earlier—and in general—but he was already walking up to Kira with a huge smile on his face.

“Where were you?” Kira asked. “We’re gonna do candles.”

“I was getting your birthday present.” He grinned, then handed Kira an envelope that looked like a folio for airplane tickets.

“Are we flying somewhere?” Kira looked confused.

“Open it!” Gabe urged.

Kira opened the folio—they were novelty tickets. Each one said Good for one bungee jump.

“I got us two tickets!” Gabe said. “I jumped with Tallulah last summer. The rush is insane—you’re gonna love it.”

“Oh.” Kira’s voice was stilted. “Wow. That’s so cool of you.”

Gabe’s face fell. “Unless…you’re not into that?”

“It’s just”—Kira cleared her throat—“like, in here, the view is amazing, but we have windows. And walls. Out there…it’s pretty high up?”

Outside, another bungee jumper leapt off the side of the building, but Kira wasn’t cheering now. She looked vaguely green.

Simone grabbed Kira’s hand. “Babe, are you sure you wouldn’t rather just eat the cupcakes? Than jump off a building?”

Kira nodded gratefully. “I do, uh, yeah. I do think maybe that would be better.”

“Of course.” Gabe looked hurt, but he swallowed it and smiled. “No, of course. I’m sorry, man. I should have asked before I bought the tickets. That was stupid of me.”