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“Logan, you don’t have to do that.”
“Look, I’d really like to. When I talked with Camilla about the purpose of the blind date, she made it seem like the only point was—”
“To get me laid?”
“I wasn’t going to put it like that, but yes,” I said.
A heavy sigh came from Ava’s lips, and it made me worried.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah. Just—a little frustrated with your girlfriend right now.”
“Want to get lunch and rant?”
“I thought lunch was the apology.”
“It could be both,” I said.
“Can we do that? You know, get lunch together?”
“It’s a platonic lunch. I’m not going to try to sleep with you after. I’ll be calling Camilla right after this anyway to let her know. It won’t be a big deal. Never is,” I said.
“Then lunch sounds nice. Where do you want to go?” she asked.
“Well, since we’re only a block away from one another work-wise, want to dip into the coffee joint on your side of the road?”
“Oh, the one with the homemade cheese danishes?”
“That’s the one.”
“I’ll race you there. My mouth’s watering now.”
“See you in a bit,” I said, grinning.
The advertising agency Ava worked as a project manager at shared a block space with the building I had purchased for my business, and there were many times Camilla surprised me in my office after having lunch with Ava. I hadn’t seen Ava much, though. Even though Camilla and I had been dating for a little while now, I hadn’t spent a lot of time with her best friend. This lunch gave me an opportunity to do many things: one, to apologize for my asshole, soon-to-be ex-employee; two, to continue to get on Ava’s good side so she didn’t blast me with Camilla; and three, to possibly make a new friend.
After all, a workaholic lawyer didn’t have many of those no matter where they went.
I finished up my paperwork before I locked up my office, then made my way down to my H.R. department. I stuck my head in and had a quick conversation with the head of the department, then told him to do a formal interview with Adam. Everything needed to be done by the book so he didn’t accuse me of firing him after I had disagreed with him on something in my office. After the interview, my department head would give me his recommendation on Adam’s job.
Then I left my business and made my way across the street.
The second I walked in, Ava waved me down. She sat at a corner table near the back, and she had a massive coffee and two cheese danishes in front of her. I smiled and waved back, then ordered a large black coffee and one of their sandwiches. I went and took my place at the table, then immediately launched into the apology I had rehearsed on my way across the street.
“So, one, I probably should have picked someone I hang out with on a regular basis for last night. The only issue is, the only person I hang out with on a regular basis besides Camilla is Hunter, and I know how you feel about Hunter,” I said.
“It’s fine, really. Like I said, Adam’s behavior doesn’t reflect on you,” Ava said.
“Either way, I didn’t know it was going to be that bad. Everyone has their quirks, and Adam certainly has his. He’s a powerhouse to be reckoned with in my business, so I had a feeling he might have been a little abrasive.”
“A little?” she asked, giggling.
“You told him what you did for a living three times.”
“I know, right? It was like he wasn’t even listening.”
“Abrasive and selfish are two very different things. I expected him to lead the conversation, not dominate it.”
“And what was up with him spilling his entire family’s life story? I practically know how his ancestors got here.”
“Not sure. But perhaps more importantly, what’s the deal with this misinterpretation between you and Camilla? She made it seem like the only point to last night was finding you someone to sleep with.”
“It’s a long story, but she’s become very invested in my love life lately since I don’t have one,” she said.
“Nothing wrong with that. I was single for six years before I met Camilla.”
“See? Now tell her that, because I’m tired of her always pointing out guys she thinks might be up my alley enough for me to take home.”
“How about starting with the fact that a love life is more than sex?” I said.
“Yeah. Good luck having that talk with her,” she said.
“Right. But since we’re on the subject, why don’t you date?”
She groaned and sat back in her chair while I tried to backtrack.
“No, no, no. It’s not what you think. But I have known you for a few months. We’ve run into one another many times since we work so close to each other. I never see you with anyone. Why not?”
