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“No, I do not want one of your cousins to threaten him or beat him up.”
“Babe, my cousins would make sure he never bothered you again. As long as you’re not too delicate for that.”
“I hope you’re joking. I really do,” I said, taking a drink of my soda. When my patty melt came, I chowed down on it while Maria told me about her new art clients and the guy she was seeing.
“So the art buyer guy was legit?” I asked. “I’m glad. He’s obviously smart since he recognized your talent.”
“You thought he was just blowing smoke to get in my pants?” she said, a little offended.
“Sorry, I’m a cynic at heart,” I replied.
“Well, I thought so too,” she brightened at once. “But he’s on the level and I’ve sold more pieces in a month through him than I had in the last six months on my own.”
“I’m sure his commission isn’t free,” I said.
“It’s nothing, five percent. He usually takes twenty percent for the sale, but we’re, you know, together.”
“Are you blushing? You’re adorable,” I said. “I have to meet this guy, threaten him properly. Make sure he’s worthy of you.”
“We’ll get together soon, promise? Let me know when you’re not chained to your computer or working for my brother.”
I dipped a fry in ketchup and bit into it, trying not to change my expression when she mentioned Rick. I didn’t want my face to show that I was in near-despair over a one-night stand with the guy.
“The project is going pretty well. One of the guys on the creative team thinks he’s funny, but not in a sexist way, just annoying,” I said, and gave her my impression of Carlos insisting the fonts were all the same.
“I hope Ricky isn’t keeping you at the office late every night. I hear he can be a real slave driver. He’s always worked like a maniac himself—I mean who starts a company from the ground up when they’re twenty? I was trying to make my way home from parties without getting caught sneaking in drunk and wobbly,” she said.
“No, it’s fine. I just think I’m kind of taking up space. I had the initial concept, but I haven’t contributed a whole lot since then. I think that’s why I’m kind of flaky and whatever right now,” I said lamely.
“No, it’s a guy,” she said, and I fumbled, nearly spilling my drink in the process.
“What?”
“You only get this flustered over men. I’ve seen you,” Maria said sagely. I felt my face flush.
“Fine, there’s a guy, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“That doesn’t work here. I comped your extra cheese. You owe me gossip to avoid the upcharge.”
“What if I give you the dollar fifty?” I offered.
“Nah, you owe me intel. Who is he, what’s he do, have you kissed him?” she rattled off her initial questions. I winced. “Ooh, you’ve more than kissed him!” she clapped her hands and then went back to wiping off the counter. The elderly patron came to the register and paid, which gave me a second to compose myself.
When Maria came back to me, she hadn’t forgotten her mission. “Tell me.”
“It’s early, okay?” I said. “I really like him, but it’s a mess. It isn’t going to work out, and I knew that from the start. I shouldn’t have slept with him. I just wanted to. I wanted to know what it felt like to be with him for one night, even though it won’t work.”
“Why won’t it work? Is he married?”
“No.”
“Engaged?”
“No,” I said.
“Is he into guys?”
“No!” I said, shaking my head.
