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“Already? I thought he was taking Gemma on a date?”
Dude works freakishly fast.
“He was. He did. He stopped in because apparently he forgot his wallet in is desk. Popped in to say hello and gave me the rundown.”
I wince. “Worked his grandfather’s funeral?” I laugh. “Please tell me that’s not how he’s describing it to people.”
“Sorry, no—that’s just how I’m describing it, it seemed apropos. He uh—we uh, got into a conversation about who his date was, he was still dressed up, and I asked how it went, expressed my condolences.” Decker clears his throat again. “He told me you were the driving force between his match with Gemma.”
I was the driving force behind his match? “That’s a stretch, but go on.”
I want to hear all the details about how amazing I am.
“While I think it’s bizarre that he brought a date to his grandfather’s funeral—”
“Oh my god!” I sit up in the bathtub, water sloshing every which way. “I’m so glad you think so too. Weird, right? Who does that?”
“There are no words to describe Palmer Darling,” Decker laughs.
“I bet if you gave me a few minutes, I could come up with a list…”
Decker chuckles. “In any event, after he and Gemma left, it got me to thinking.”
Okay—here it comes. “Don’t tell me, let me guess; you’re the best man at a college friend’s wedding and you need me to feed you your speech so you don’t biff it.”
“Uh…”
Oh, so that’s not it? Hmmm. “Okay what about this one; you need me to help you through an awkward interview so there are no awkward silences?”
No, that wouldn’t make sense. He already said he was a lawyer, which means he probably hasn’t had to interview for a job in years.
“You’re taking your company public and you don’t want to use a teleprompter during the big speech.”
Hmm. That doesn’t sound right either.
My brain does a mental rundown of the possible suspects, the usual things I’m contracted for because my communication skills are so on-point, my price at a premium that only men like Decker and Palmer can afford.
“Uh, no.” He manages to insert himself back into the conversation.
He waits to see if I’ll keep talking and I clamp my mouth shut to stop myself from interrupting him again.
“I seem to find myself in a place in my life where I…” He hesitates uncomfortably; I can hear him shifting in his chair. “I work long hours but I’ve been cutting back and I find myself…avoiding going home.”
Eh?
What’s this now? What this talk about him not wanting to go home and being overworked?
It sounds like Decker is spilling his guts and I have no idea why.
Most of my contacts don’t start their spiel like this and for once, I have no idea where this conversation is leading.
“You avoid going home? Why?”
Is his wife unbearable? Is he a hoarder? Does he live in a five story walk up and can’t physically tolerate it? I have so many questions.
“It’s too lonely. I’ve decided now is the time to get serious about dating.”
Oh shit. He does want me to crash an event with him. He wants me to—
