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“A man’s thoughts are his own, Lou,” he said when he saw the sly look in his friend’s eyes. She was up to something alright.
“So haughty.” She crossed her arms and smiled at him. “Are you going to actually talk to her, or are you just going to keep staring at each other when you think the other one isn’t looking?” she asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Not true. I was, at one time, a shameless degenerate. A regular lothario, if you will. I am quite skilled at bending the truth.”
Lou snorted. “Yeah, yeah, but we both know that isn’t really you, so answer me this. When are you going to talk to Gracie? And also, for how long have you two been talking, eh? I can’t believe you asked her out on a date and didn’t tell me. How you both didn’t tell me!”
Anton rolled his eyes heavenward. What had he done to deserve such meddlesome people in his life? He was a good person, wasn’t he? After all the damage he’d wrought as a young twenty-something, Anton had made sure to give his time and money where it was needed most. He’d created mentoring and scholarship programs focused on economically disadvantaged students, and financially and publicly backed initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in the world of science. Because who really wanted to listen to the same five old white men prattle on?
That had to count for something, didn’t it?
It seemed it didn’t.
She cleared her throat, interrupting his internal crisis, and he sighed. “Tonight. At the shindig. I’ll talk to her.” He paused and held up a hand. “What do you mean, for how long have we been talking? She’s been the go-between for us for the past six months. Also, the date just happened. Or it…it didn’t happen. It never got to.”
“Just because it didn’t happen doesn’t mean it won’t. She’s got it bad for you. I know these things, she’s my best friend.” Anton spluttered and Lou pushed on, ignoring his reaction. “Now, your version of sorry doesn’t include you trying to seduce her, right?” He stiffened and when he said nothing, she groaned and shook a finger at him. “No seduction!”
“But I can be very charming, and-”
“Nto theO.” Lou shook her head. “That notorious playboy schtick isn’t going to work on Grace. You’re going to have to do better.”
“Schtick? It isn’t stand-up comedy, Lou.”
“May as well be from where I’m standing.”
“Brutal.”
“I prefer honesty. The true mark of a friendship.”
“Fine, since you’re the Grace Whisperer, what do you suggest I do? You want me to talk to her, right? What’s the best tactic when I do?”
“First of all, don’t use a tactic.” She gave him a pinched look. “She’s going to see right through it, and you’ll be out on your good-looking ass.”
Anton’s cheeks colored but he straightened his shoulders. “Women like looking at me. So sue me if that’s what I’m leading with.”
“It’s not a bad start. Shedoeslike looking at you,” Lou conceded.
He smirked. “I noticed.”
“But before you go around trying to seduce her, you need to know that Grace is going to need...a little more out of you.”
Anton steepled his fingers and regarded her over them. “So no one-night stands?”
Lou gave him a withering look. “No.”
“Well, shit. There goes the bulk of my plans.”
“Do not tell me that was your plan.”
Anton made a show of not meeting the physicist’s eyes. “Who can say? My memory is terrible these days,” he answered, but he was smiling.
“I swear to-” She stood up abruptly and whacked him on the arm. “No one-night stands.”
“Why not? I think she’d quite like it. I know I would.”
