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“I drive here. It is a few blocks away, but I’m just not a fan of the places closer to me.” I shrug and look at her half-eaten pastry. “Is that good?”
“Always. I’ll be doing yoga later tonight.” Laina laughs and sets her book down. “How was your date?”
“Terrible.” I’m honest, and she frowns as I stare at her, showing my true misery to someone for a change.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes as I shrug.
“You’re like a breath of fresh air to me, Laina.”
5
Friend Zone
Laina
IhateseeingKylelook the way he does when he talks about dates. Why is his mother so set on what I call an arranged marriage to begin with?
I realize I didn’t see the differences in our lives when I was younger. Kyle just spent a lot of time with me in and out of my house. We were the best of friends and nothing more at that age.
Of course, my life was normal for me. It is normal to me now, even as I am moving up the ladder in my career with time. I never wanted to be rich, but I want to support myself with a few extras along the way doing what I love.
I also want to pay it forward to my parents for working so hard to take care of me growing up and plan to do little things for them where I can.
My first surprise will be planning the best trip when they visit me for the first time. I’m going to take them to the best places to eat and show them everything I think they’ll like. Maybe I can talk Kyle into meeting us for lunch or dinner one day.
Mom sounded happy when I told her I worked for Kyle. In true Mom fashion, she adored him as a kid and doted on him like she did most of them. My mom is a kind person and I wonder now if she read more into Kyle’s life than I ever could have at such a young age. He was at the house a lot, happy to get her attention and eat all her food.
I miss her food every day as I try to cook more than I get takeout, often failing miserably.
After I asked Kyle about his date, I felt the air change. We kept the breakfast short, and I made a mental note not to bring the subject up anymore around him. He seemed like he needed to escape it when he was around me, and I could provide that for him.
I got ready for a new week on Sunday evening, still nervous about the new job. I know I’m doing fine, but there’s always that self-doubt that comes along with it. Add to that a move to an entirely new state, and it’s like I’m adjusting to everything at once. I’m looking forward to having Kyle around for support and seeing more of Seattle with him next weekend, assuming that’s still on.
He left the coffee shop quietly this morning, and we didn’t bring it up.
I hang up my pants and blouse in the bathroom for Monday morning and walk around my clean apartment. I enjoy starting the week off that way and make sure I can just hit a button in the morning for my coffee before I shower.
When I slip under my covers with enough time to get a decent night’s sleep, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It’s just my second week at the company and I’m still learning.
I drive to the office after a surprisingly smooth morning and make some more coffee as I greet my team. We’d been given a new campaign for a growing real estate company last week and the plan is to tackle that this week, making a good draft copy by Friday.
My job keeps me busy and there’s no question about that. I love it, but I sense Eli has a growing interest in me as the week goes by. I am not into dating someone I work closely with to begin with and rocking that boat.
I haven’t even found someone worth balancing my life for over the years. It isn’t easy when you’re going to college and working as an intern, and I need a strong man to make me change course. I want to connect with someone and for it to feel natural. Looking back, I know that’s how it was with Kyle when we were friends, but there was nothing more than a platonic relationship there.
I’d never fit into his mom’s grand plans for him, and would I even want to be exposed to that family? Doubtful.
Eli gets the courage to ask me out to dinner after work on Friday, just before I leave for lunch. I know I shouldn’t go but I am making friends here still and I can stress that’s all we are. It would be even better if the entire team could go, but that wasn’t until the following weekend when everyone met for drinks.
I accept and we decide to meet at a new bistro a few blocks from work. That way, I can drive and have control of my evening.
I see Marcie as I return from grabbing a sandwich and pull her aside.
“Are there rules about spending time with someone outside of work?” I ask her as she smiles at me.
“No, we don’t have rules against fraternization at all here. It’s never been an issue in the past with anyone in management. Do you like Eli that way?” Marcie asks as I hesitate.
“He’s a great guy, but I am just looking for friends here right now. I plan to be honest about that and don’t consider this a date.”
