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He’sjust being polite.
“Have agood day at work, sweetheart,” he said once he placed my things inside, then waved at me from the doorway. “I’ll call in the afternoon to ask about the kids.”
“Shut up.” Iflipped him off, closing the door in his face.
Ileaned on it for abeat, not hearing any footsteps walking away.
Oh,Zach.
Afew moments passed, then came the sound of him going away, the building door shutting behind him, and of acar driving off.
After that, Ibusied myself with editing photos of two weddings from the beginning of the month, instead of being hit by memories of the previous night.
About ten hours into my workday, Ireceived apleasantly surprising call from Erin.
“Erin! What’sup?”
“Not much. And you? Ihaven’theard from you in forever.” Her cheery voice, along with the laughter of one of her cute babies, brought ahuge smile to my face in the middle of the workday.
“I’ve been busy.” Iwasn’tlying, not really. “Good busy,” Icorrected myself to keep her from worrying about me overworking. And Ihad been very good busy, if last night was any indication.
“Are you too busy now?” she asked hopefully.
Iscrolled through the remaining photos for the last couple Iworked with, assessing how long it’dtake me to finish their project. “Ihave an hour’swork left and that’sit for today.”
“Yay!” She made goo-goo sounds when the babies responded to her excitement. “Want to take atrip with me to Zach’soffice?”
“What?”
Out of all the places to go to when we finally had an afternoon together, she asked me to accompany her to seehim. His firm handled the business side of her and Thomas’sgallery, so it made sense that she needed to go there, but why me? She always took Thomas with her or went by herself, never with me.
Iknew it—someone had spotted us the night before when Ileft the wedding. Denial would be no use and Ibraced myself for the advice Icouldn’thear yet, to break it off with Zach. Not because she’djudge me—Erin never would’ve. The good and best and wonderful friend Iadored would’ve wanted me to settle down.
“Zach, our friend.”
Or maybe my shocked question sounded weird.
“Ihave ameeting with Joel at six for less than thirty minutes. Thomas encouraged me, or more like threw me out,” she chuckled. “Said Ishould stay outside while I’mthere. Be my date, Laura Farmer?”
Iput the phone away to keep her from hearing my relieved exhale. Erin suspected nothing.Stupid paranoia.
And then another paranoid thought arose. Showing up at Zach’soffice with Erin with no real reason to be there except for tagging along sounded off even to my own ears. Not off, stalkerish in the worst way possible.
Between the two choices of being with Erin or cowering from Zach’sreaction, Iopted to not be achicken and spend the evening with my friend. He could understand, or he couldn’t; in any case, Iwasn’tabout to pass on time with Erin.
“I’dlove to!” Imustered up my happiest tone to override any weird vibes Ihad given. “I’ll be ready in time.”
An hour later, Erin arrived with her tank-like black Escalade wearing acrimson wrap dress and ahuge grin. “I’ve missed you.” She leaned into ahug the second Ientered the car.
“Missed you too.” Relishing in the warmth of the closest resemblance to afamily Ihad in the city and in the world in general, Isqueezed her back.
We headed out to the Financial District where Zach’sfirm rented their offices. I’dnever visited him there, and the unknown tied the knot of anxiety in my stomach.
“Ilove your dress.” She glimpsed at my cream-colored maxi dress with faded flower print on it. Iwouldn’thave called it Financial District ready, but no item in my entire boho-inspired closet did. “New one?”
“Nope.” Istraightened the skirt down my thighs, happy that Ihad made the right call with the outfit. Erin had good taste. “Ibought it ayear ago, Ithink. Ikept putting off wearing it for anight out.”
Erin pressed the brakes when we reached ared light. She sighed heavily, twisting her head to me. “Imiss these.”
