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Can’t be.
I came to meet a man.
One she is here to champion, talk him up, make him look good.
I could care less.
Miriam is far more interesting.
Nonetheless, I suppose it would look strange if I didn’t at least pretend to be somewhat interested in her client.
“And Decker is a friend of this Palmer characters?”
She makes a face. “Eh, I’d say they were more co-workers than friends. Palmer is an acquired taste.”
That’s good to hear because it sounds like this Palmer guy is a real piece of work. You know what they say, you are the company you keep! Or something like that…
It would suck if Decker had idiot friends.
“Why do you think Decker is single?” That’s an okay question to ask, right? He sounds successful, looks handsome and put together.
“He’s a workaholic.” Miriam blurts out before she can stop herself, then cringes, realizing her mistake. WRONG THING TO SAY. “That’s not what I meant.”
Clearly it was.
I gesture around. “If he wasn’t a workaholic, he would be here now, wouldn’t he?”
She cringes again. “Good point.”
“It hardly matters.” I tell her. “Honestly. It’s not as if I were emotionally invested, he and I only chatted for a few hours.” Although. “It’s too bad because he’s so funny.” I pause. “Is he as funny in person as he is in a chat?”
Miriam is taking the two new glasses of wine from the bartender and sliding one over to my spot, then pulls the bread and dipping oil that got ordered somewhere along the way over, too.
“You think he’s funny?”
“Yes. Or I wouldn’t be here.” Why is she being coy? “I think you can tell a lot about a person by how they communicate online.”
She laughs. “Do you?”
“Sure. Don’t you?”
Her shoulders shrug and I let my eyes rest on her long, brown hair. It’s down, and wavy, and kissing her exposed shoulder where the shoulder of her dress hangs off ever-so-slightly.
The skin there is luminous and I wonder for a second if she’s wearing an iridescent powder or lotion, then I wonder what it smells like.
When I lean forward for my glass, I give the air a little whiff, as discrete as possible.
“I do think you can learn about a person by how they communicate online. But. Since we’re being honest here I should tell you…” Her voice trails off.
I hold up a hand. “Wait. Don’t tell me—let me guess.” My teeth bite down on my bottom lip. “That was you I was chatting with, wasn’t it?”
Slowly, Miriam nods.
I lean back, crossing my arms. “I should have known. Decker was a real pill the first time we chatted.”
She blushes. “Sorry.” Hesitates. “He is a great guy though. He really, truly is—so nice. Kind. Not a mean bone in his body.”
I narrow my eyes. “Be honest: does he wear bow ties.”
