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“Something like that. I hate most of the women and never make it to a second date.” I confess as she laughs at me.
“Why does it make you a better CEO if you’re married?” Laina asks thoughtfully, reminding me of the irony of that statement.
“I get a lot of media posts from the dates when we’re seen, which is often. Being married shows I am settled down and ready to run this company, but Mom doesn’t realize she causes other rumors by making me go on dates. It’s miserable.” I admit.
“Give me your phone number and we can set up a thing where you text me to call you with an emergency during a bad date,” she suggested, making me remember what I love about her.
3
The Coffee Shop
Laina
Ifinishtheweekwith a smile, looking forward to a relaxing weekend at my new apartment. I think I did well, and Marcie tells me as much as we close up the office for the night.
“Good job, Laina. You’re a natural,” she says as we get onto the elevator after the rush of people. “I can see why they hired you.”
“Thanks. That’s a great thing to hear.” I smile and run a hand through my thick hair.
“What are your plans this weekend?” she asks me, and I think about my current lack of friends in the city.
“Nothing concrete. I feel like I’m still settling in a bit.” I think about Kyle and the fact he probably has another awful date where he must pay a small fortune for the meal. Yep. He told me where his mom insists he takes them for dinner.
“The staff has an unofficial dinner and drinks night the last Friday of the month to relax and celebrate the end of another successful month. You’re always welcome, and it’s a great way to get to know everyone, since we’re stuck in our little cave most of the day.” She laughs, and I nod in agreement. Marcie even put a one-cup coffeemaker on a table in our office which we all use constantly.
“It sounds great. The next one is in two weeks? I’ll try to make it,” I assure her, wondering if Kyle ever goes to them. He’s still a down to Earth guy and seems like he wants to know his employees.
I should love to make some friends here. I miss the ones I have back in Boston and it will be fun to make some new ones here. It’s daunting starting over and not really knowing anyone but I know its all part of the challenge of a fresh start.
“Good. We’d love to see you there.” We walk to our cars and part ways, and I sit for a moment, debating on picking up dinner and just watching a movie. It sounds lonely and makes me miss my family, but this was a good thing to do.
It is a new start, but I never dreamed I’d see my childhood best friend here. Kyle is part of the memories I almost blabbed about since his moving away was the saddest childhood memory I had. Losing him hurt more than I ever admitted to anybody. There were a few unpleasant and short relationships too, but I’ll blame my stupid crush on Kyle for that.
I drive to a Thai place and get some food to nibble on for the next couple of days, then head home. I eat a plate of food on my couch with a movie on TV, glancing between the screen and the distant view of the water outside of my window as the sun sets. It’s beautiful, but I am still getting used to calling it home.
I wonder if Kyle is out. We don’t talk a lot at work since I’m in what Marcie calls the cave and Kyle is doing CEO things. That’s probably best with the way gossip spreads in a company. He didn’t give me his number after lunch to sabotage bad dates with, but I am more than willing to help if needed.
I sigh and set my plate on the coffee table, stretching for a long moment. A nice hot bubble bath and glass of wine sound amazing right now, and I glance towards the hallway that leads to my master bedroom. Mom and Dad were out tonight, and we’d be talking tomorrow, so I certainly had no other plans.
Mind made up, I fill the tub with water and a vanilla bubble bath and light a few candles. I lock the front door and grab my phone to play the romance novel I’m listening to right now, settling right into the water once my work clothes are off.
The water feels amazing in the dimly lit room, but when I try to listen to the book, I go back to the crush I had on Kyle when we were friends. It was one of a young girl and I dreamed of silly things back then, at least until he moved out of my life. I imagined us discovering that we were in love later in life and living happily ever after.
Of course, he moved, and we didn’t keep in touch. That hit me hard since I never met a friend I connected with like that, and I could even still feel it over our lunch last week. It felt like we had just jumped right back into it on a more mature level.
Seeing how good he looks now, adult me fully understands the crush then and probably now. Stupid brain. I try to get back to the plot of the emotional romance and close my eyes to relax, leaning back against my bath pillow.
A part of me wonders why he doesn’t have a woman in his life. Kyle is clearly good-looking and successful, which is already a winning combination. Add how kind he is, and it’s a dangerous trifecta.
Of course, he might not act that way with everyone in his life. I imagine a CEO must lean more on the firm side than as a pushover who gives in to everyone’s needs. I’ll never be there, and I shudder in relief. I’ll be happy to promote within the company and earn my living doing what I love.
That’s enough.
I enjoy the water as long as it stays hot and slip on some leggings and my favorite college t-shirt before walking back to the couch. I get some more wine and catch up on some shows, but my mind is anywhere but focused on what’s playing on the screen.
Sleep. I need to sleep. I can get up tomorrow and start over with a call home and maybe finish the last steps of setting up my apartment.
I wake up the following morning only to discover that I ran out of coffee the day before and forgot. With a sigh, I pull on some worn jeans and a sweatshirt that boasted the name of my dad’s shop. It’s one of my favorites, and I pull my hair into a high ponytail to head down to the corner coffee shop that isn’t a Starbucks.
