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“Fine. You don’t want to date and are happy with where you are in life. Now, about dinner, because you have to eat...”
She’d lived with Amy throughout college. Her friend wasn’t going to let her sit at home alone. “By going to dinner with you and your friends, what you mean is going to dinner with you and Jack?”
“Not just Jack and me. There will be others, too.” Not looking one bit guilty, Amy laughed. “I always did say you were the smart one in our friendship.”
Knowing Amy wouldn’t relent, Taylor stood from the sofa, stretched, and wondered if she should change. “That’s not how I remember it.”
“Yeah, well, your memory might be a little foggy. Good thing you’re here for me to remind you of all the fun times we used to have.”
* * *
Dinner with friends consisted of several co-workers meeting at a local bar. There were nine in total, so their waitress pushed two tables together and pulled a chair to one end.
Jack took the chair on the end.
Taylor went to move to the opposite end of the table but, as luck would have it, everyone else was already in the process of sitting down.
Grinning at her foiled efforts, Amy took the chair opposite where she stood, leaving only one unclaimed chair.
Right next to Jack.
“If I didn’t know better I’d think you were trying to avoid sitting next to me.”
She sank into the seat and gave him a pert smile. “Good thing you know better.”
He stared at her a moment, then offered, “I will move my chair to the other end of the table if you want, Taylor.”
Quit being so nice, she wanted to scream. Instead, she shook her head. “There’s no need for that.”
The waitress took drink orders. Everyone up to Taylor ordered beer.
“A water with lemon, please.”
“Ah, Tay, loosen up and have some fun,” Amy encouraged.
Taylor just smiled at her best friend and was grateful when the waitress took Jack’s order then left to get their drinks.
“Afraid to lower your inhibitions around me?”
First making sure Amy was caught up in her conversation with the phlebotomist sitting next to her, Taylor cut her eyes to Jack. “Should I be?”
“No.” but the promises in his eyes warned otherwise. “Unless you’re still upset with me about what I said to Duffy.”
She shook her head.
“In which case, there’s no reason why we can’t be friends.”
“Friends.” Taylor let that sink in. Jac
k wanted to be her friend. “Is that what you want from me? Friendship?”
His gaze darkened. “Until a few days ago I thought I already had your friendship. Now I’m not sure.”
“You did.” Taylor sighed. “You do,” she corrected, knowing it was true. How did she explain she’d enjoyed their tryst but didn’t want to pick up where they’d left off? But that she feared her body wouldn’t go along with that plan given half a chance?
The crinkles at the corners of his eyes fanned outward. “I’m glad. You have to admit we had a good time.”
She couldn’t deny it. Neither did she want to discuss their “good time” at a table of their co-workers, especially not as she could feel Amy’s curious looks.
