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“You finished?” she asked when I had dropped my spoon back into my bowl and started wiping up my mess.
I glared at her. “Yes.”
“Good. Now listen. You like this guy. He likes you. He’s a businessman. He was just opening the first round of negotiations.”
“But—”
“And no one sleeps well when they have to share a bed anyway.”
“But—”
“Just think about it.” Jane started to clean up her dishes. “You ignore that part of yourself way too much, Sky. It might be just what you need before real life starts.”
* * *
I did think about it.I couldn’t help it. For the rest of the week, my thoughts strayed to Sterling’s warm lips and deft touch when I wasn’t carefully focused. Twice I was tempted to call the number on his business card and tell him I was in. But every time I walked into the building bearing his name, I scowled. I deserved more than to be some guy’s Friday night booty call. Negotiating sex might work for Jane, but it wouldn’t for me.
On Friday afternoon, the junior associates rewarded the interns and temps with Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee. I gobbled mine in a hurry. I was taking the eight o’clock bus from South Street Station to New York for the weekend before classes began on Monday.
“Skylar!”
Ben approached me with the last of the donuts. I smiled, but shook my head at the offer.
“Thanks,” I said. “But I’ve already had two. Gonna have to spend an extra hour in the pool just to get rid of them.”
Ben smiled. “Couldn’t hurt to try. Hey, listen, Laura and I wanted to say that we appreciated your hard work over the last several months. If you change your mind about working for Sterling, we could probably find a place for you here.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Ben. I appreciate that. I’ll let you know if something changes.”
He winked and went to solicit the rest of the donuts. I hauled my overnight bag over my shoulder.
“You know, this doesn’t have to be goodbye if you give me your number,” Steve said, popping around the cubicle wall. “Although since I’ll be working with your buddy the chick-magnet over there, maybe I’ll still get to see your pretty face.”
“Maybe,” I said, accepting an awkward hug. It was funny, but I’d actually miss his goofy come-ons. “See you, Steve.”
“Hey, Skylar,” Eric called from across the room, where he was chatting up a legal assistant who lookedveryfriendly.
I sighed. Eric would have to stop dipping his pen in the company ink if he ever planned to make partner. Or wanted to avoid a harassment suit. From that girl’s face, he must have already started to cut those ties.
Chocolate donut in hand, Eric jogged over. “See you in class on Monday? You’re taking the family law clinic, right?”
I nodded. “Yep, bright and early. You too?”
He nodded back. “Yeah. They say I need more diverse electives before I take the bar. Have you talked to you-know-who since Monday?”
I hadn’t told Eric everything about what went down in Sterling’s office, but I had insinuated enough on the train home. He had been asking me all week if I’d talked to him.
“No,” I said. “Like I keep saying, I’m not interested. But actually, I have to go. I have a bus to catch.”
“Chinatown?” he asked before taking a large bite of his donut.
I nodded. “Yep. Eight o’clock. I don’t want to miss it—otherwise, I won’t get to the city until after one.”
Eric nodded, swallowing. “Cool. Be careful, will you? Those things catch on fire.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I teased. “Have a good weekend, friend. Try not to get yourself sued.”
I turned in my keycard to the security office in the lobby and exited through the massive revolving doors. It hadn’t snowed again since Monday, so the streets were clear and ice-free. I walked out to the curb to hail a cab.
