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“You have nothing to apologize for,” he says, firmly.
“No!” I protest. “I shouldn’t have gone to your parents’ place before without your permission!”
I hear his smile. “Don’t worry. I know that was unintentional for you to end up spending the day with them. Plus, they love you even more now. So much I might need you again.”
“No. Please, don’t!” I plead, almost placing the phone away from me. “Not unless…”
“Unless what?” he asks, curious.
‘Unless we’re together for real’ is what I want to say, but I will obviously not say that.
“Never mind,” I say quickly.
“Well,” he takes a deep breath. “We made it through the conference finals and won against the Vancouver Thunderhawks! This means we’ll be one of the teams playing in the Stanley Cup!”
“Are you serious?” I’m still pretty lost with all this hockey lingo, but I know making it to the Stanley Cup is a big deal.
“Yup! We are just waiting to see who wins the western championship to see who we’ll play against in the Stanley Cup.”
“Congrats!” I say, then promptly tease him. “Lose any teeth?”
“Oh, stop!” he says in jest, and I laugh loudly, feeling more at ease. “I’m self-conscious enough as it is. I don’t need to lose evenmoreteeth!”
“Did you lose some already? No one can notice!” I say.
“Yeah, I paid good money for no one to notice,” he says, but soon changes the subject. “Anyway, I’m back in Boston but my family wanted to celebrate us making it into the Stanley Cup today, but I’d be free tomorrow.”
He’s going somewhere with this conversation, and I think I know where, but I’ll let him get there himself.
“Do you want to get together? You did say earlier you needed to see me,” he asks, sounding very unsure.
I give him an audible smile and say, without wasting any time, “I’m already screwing things up with your parents. Are you sure you want me messing with you too?”
“Oh, you can mess with me as much as you want, Elsa,” Harvey says, sly.
“Um…” I consider his request.
All I really needed to do was to give back his money and get it over with him because this has already been such an emotional confusing roller coaster ride for me.
But also… the truth is Idolike him.
“Elsa? Hello?” he asks upon my long silence.
“Oh! I’m here!” I say. “Well… Come pick me up tomorrow. You know where I live.”
“What time?” he asks, clearly perking up.
“Any time! I’ll be home all day!” I say in my unemployed nonchalance.
“I’ll pick you up at six,” he says, setting the date.
We say goodbye, and now I wonder if I should even go back to the table with those supposed friends of mine.
Feeling empowered because a billionaire is interested in me — take that, dad! — I return to the table triumphant and sit down to meet my plate of strawberry pancakes and hot cocoa on the side.
“So…” I start, fearing what I’ll say, but saying it anyway, “Are we going to keep on talking on how unemployed I am, or can you two please enjoy the gift I’m trying to give?”
Monica and her boyfriend didn’t stay for the whole breakfast, but Becca and her boyfriend do, confirming who my friends really are.
