Page 488 of Manhattan Bossholes

After a few hours of teasing and laughter, the table was strewn with empty boxes. Julia stood up and started cleaning them away.

“Would you knock it off?” Christopher said. “You’re my guest.”

“I’m just helping,” she said. “And I actually need to go in a minute. I have class tonight. But thank you for inviting me to stay. I had the best time.”

Her eyes were shining when she glanced at Christopher.

“Me too,” he said. “Let me walk you out.”

Bernie glanced at us once they were gone, a smile on her face. “Well, well. Did you see what I saw?”

Dee grinned. “I certainly did.”

“They are so into each other!” Natalie said, slapping the table for emphasis. “He needs to ask her out for real.”

“Agreed,” I said. “She seems good for him.”

“Who seems good for who?” Christopher asked as he walked back into the room. “What are you talking about?”

“Whom.” Bernie crooked a finger at him as she corrected his English. “You, my dear. We’re talking about how you and that lovely young lady seem besotted with one another.”

He barked out an awkward laugh. “Oh, God, no way. Not at all! Julia isn’t into me like that, she’s just being nice to a repeat customer.”

It was my turn to laugh at my brother. “You’re really dumb. You can’t tell when a woman is flirting with you?”

He stared me down. “Look who’s talking.”

Bernie and Dee both chuckled, well acquainted with our sparring.

I shifted in my seat. “Excuse me?”

“I know sparks when I see them,” he said as his eyes slid to Natalie.

At that she hopped out of her chair and started cleaning the table like she was a server on the clock, her cheeks bright red.

“I think it’s time for me to head out as well,” I said, piling empty containers on my plate.

“Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt,” Bernie said gaily, clearly enjoying the drama. Dee swatted at her arm playfully, but she was having just as much fun at my expense.

I glanced at Natalie, but she was busy stacking every empty container in her arms. Based on the way she bussed the table, it was obvious she’d spent time as a waitress.

“Christopher, this was a ton of fun, but you know we still have work to do,” Natalie said with mock seriousness. “I’ll let you off the hook since it’s your birthday, but next time? Back to the grind!”

He threw his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, boss. You got it.”

Natalie started for the kitchen.

“James!” Bernie belted out, her voice projecting loudly enough to stop Natalie in her tracks. “I hope you’re planning to drive this young woman home. There’s no need for her to take the subway when you have your driver idling out front.”

It was just like my grandmother inserting herself in my life. All of our lives. She always thought she knew best. And the worst of it was, she was usually right. So I knew better than to try to argue with her even though the thought of getting Natalie alone in my car made my pulse race.

“I guess that settles it. I was going to hang out with my brother for a bit, but if Bernie says I’m leaving, then I’m leaving,” I said. I turned to Natalie. “May I take you home?”

One of the empty boxes in her arms almost jiggled to the ground and she stooped to pick it up. “Uhhh, sure. That would be fine. I mean, thank you. Let me just…” She nodded towards the stack of packaging in her arms and speed-walked to the kitchen.

Christopher watched her leave, then turned to me with the corner of his mouth quirked. “Don’t blow it,” he said in a quiet voice.

I didn’t answer, choosing instead to suddenly become very interested in the Patek Phillipe on my wrist. I wasn’t about to tell my brother that we were nothing but colleagues, and that’s all we would ever be.