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I prodded a little bit, asking questions to find out their relationship status, and once I realized Prinna was ready for a little space from her platonic friend, I took Blake with me to meet some other ladies. Man, I hoped there were cameras in here capturing me in action.
I did my best to introduce Blake like he was the find of the day, cracking jokes that made him look good, lightening the mood, and then letting him have the spotlight once he was comfortable. Having accomplished my mission, I was about to go find the next batch of people to meet when I felt a creepy-crawly sensation go up my spine, like someone was watching me.
I gave the room a casual perusal, to no avail. It was probably nothing. Maybe I’d been too animated, and it had drawn someone’s stare. But then my eyes returned to the back of one particular girl’s head off to my right, and I knew what it was. I knew that head, and I knew her hair, even though it was in loose curls today. Loose curls in direct opposition to her uptight personality.
I waited for Sadie to give in and confirm it. If she’d looked at me once, she’d look again. And sure enough, it only took about thirty seconds before she turned her head and chanced another glance in my direction. Her eyes widened upon meeting my stare, and she quickly flipped around again.
Nope. That wasn’t going to fly with me.
I walked right over and sandwiched myself between her and the guy to her left, who was giving every body-language cue known to mankind that he was into her while she ignored him. He’d thank me later when he realized Sadie was unwinnable. She literally had no interest in him or in human contact of any kind. She was only standing in one of these circles so she could blend in. She’d even dressed up for this in a conservative blue dress that gave off secretarial vibes. Sadie working at GoWithFriends? Laughable. Unfathomable.
“Here for a job interview?” I whispered near her ear. I crossed my arms in front of me, as I had no room for them at my sides, and no interest in accidentally brushing hands with Sadie or the dude I’d squeezed in next to.
She turned and glared. “Yes, Denver. I’m here for an interview. I’d ask you the same thing, but it’s a stupid question.”
“With charm like that, how could they not hire you?”
“Good thing you won’t be the one making that decision.” She glanced at my name tag and smirked. “Open to new things, huh? Did you rip that straight from the pages of your resume?”
“Sure did.” She couldn’t hurt me with her pithy jabs, but I glanced at her name tag, curious as to what she might have put that was so much better than mine.
Hi, my name is Sadie. I’m naturally suspicious and I like to people-watch.
Dang. Hers was way better than mine. Spontaneous. Authentic. Sadie to her core. I had to grudgingly admire her ability to be herself at a job interview where they were sure to be looking for the opposite—bubbly and caring types.
Speaking of the opposite of bubbly and caring, Sadie frowned and made a shooing motion. “Okay, we’ve said hello. Move along. Meet other people, already.”
We’d said hello? That was one way of putting it. I laughed to myself as I wandered off to do just as she’d asked. After meeting a few more fellow candidates and trying not to watch the door where individuals were being summoned one by one, my name was called by a woman in a blindingly yellow T-shirt dress and tortoise-shell glasses. I followed her into the next room.
Inside, there was a wavy-shaped conference table in an indecent shade of purple and two other people huddled together looking at an aqua-colored laptop. Everything in the building was so bright and happy. It took some getting used to.
The two people sitting at the desk looked up and smiled at me when I took the empty seat across from them.
“So, I’m Mariana Torres,” the woman who’d brought me in said, taking one of the office chairs and rolling herself closer. “This is Marcel Walker and Brenda Sloane.” They each gave me a small wave in turn. “You’re basically looking at the team in charge of the Phoenix office. We have a lot of positions to fill and a lot of candidates to go through, so we’ll get right to it. Why do you want to work for us?”
All three leaned forward and studied me, which, of course, caused me to overthink and panic, and in order to fill the silence, I said, “I’d be an excellent ass—candidate. Asset and candidate.” I wanted to die.
“You’d be an excellent asset and candidate?” Marcel repeated, making my answer seem even more stupid, which I hadn’t thought possible. In my head, Sadie was laughing and mocking me for trying to rip an answer straight from my resume. Which I hadn’t. My resume was brilliant and full of personality, unlike the version of myself sitting in this chair.
Nope. I was done with that. I sat up taller. “Sorry, I blanked for a minute. I don’t usually get nervous, but I really want this. I love the way you’re shaking up the online dating world, making it more approachable. Not only are you helping like-minded people find each other, but you’ve created a safe space for singles who would otherwise avoid online dating. That’s what I’m most interested in. I think I’d make a great secret BFF. I know discretion is key in these types of situations. I would never forget that. I’m naturally friendly, but I’m also extremely loyal and careful.”
“Good.” Marcel picked up a pencil in front of him, twirling it one-handed the way only a drummer could do. Or maybe a basketball player. He was a big dude, with a natural confidence I envied at the moment.
“So, what did you think of the mingling session you just had?” he asked.
“I… Uh…” I tried to think up ways to put a positive spin on what was a sorry excuse for a singles mixer while Marcel met the other’s amused glances.
“Just say it, man.”
“It was a bit awkward, to be honest.”
“Do you really like mountain biking?” Brenda asked. She was the oldest of the three, with intense eyes and a mane of iron-gray hair that sort of billowed around her head. I had a feeling there were a lot of letters after her name and she was using all of them to scan my brain for deficiencies.
“Sure do.”
“But is it your thing? You’re out there, conquering mountains every weekend?”
My face was growing hot. I pictured my mountain bike mounted on the wall of my garage. It was more decoration than tool, and she knew it. “No.”
