Page 40 of Just Joshing
He jerked his head at the couple. "She's about to go stage-five-clinger on his ass. No. We're doing him a favor."
I chuckled. "Fine, lead on."
He led me to the bar, grinning as Elena clocked us, her face darkening as Syd bounded to her side.
"We've decided to double date." He declared, signaling the barman.
"Excuse me?" Elena shifted on her stool, looking from me to Syd and back. "Is this a joke?"
"Psh, nah. We're good." Syd answered as the barman arrived. "A jack and coke and," he nodded at me.
"Just a coke, thanks." I answered, awkwardly hovering.
Josh pulled out a stool, gesturing for me to sit. I perched on the rickety stool, slightly concerned at the wobble.
"So, Josh." Elena turned back to him, a forced smile pasted on her face. "Do you own your own home or rent?"
Josh's beautiful dark whiskey eyes flicked to me. "I own."
"Mortgage?"
"No," He didn't elaborate. The barman slid a glass before me.
"I also own." Syd inserted himself into the conversation. "But the bank says I have a few years left to pay off."
"Is it an apartment or townhouse?" Elena steadfastly ignored Syd, her grin how entirely too toothy and brittle for my comfort.
"Well, I have an apartment on the East-"
"Oh, that's a shame." She sat back, shaking her head. "Apartment's just aren't good for raising a family. No room to run around." She fiddled with her straw. "Have you thought about selling? Moving to a townhouse or perhaps leaving the city for somewhere with more room?"
"Leaving the ci-? No." Josh shook his head.
"I have a townhouse." Syd interrupted again, leaning closer to Elena. "Even has a car spot – not that I use it - and little courtyard garden. Picked it up for a song, flipped it over. Three bedrooms, one point five bath. I'm not planning on being there long-term though. Gonna sell it after I get married, move to the suburbs, settle down to have three kids. Want 'em to have a yard, a dog. Good clean air."
Elena's head slowly turned toward Syd, here eyebrows lifting. "And what do you do exactly to make this amount of money?"
Syd grinned. "IT, baby. The military paid for my education, but I've been out for a while now. Set up my own company. We build apps." He shrugged. "I can build them from anywhere in the country. I figured New York was a good place to start, then move on after."
"Not Silicon Valley?" Josh asked.
"Nah. Big businesses are here and in Washington. The majority of my clients are within walking distance from my house."
"Huh," Josh nodded. "Makes sense."
"You own your own business?" Elena asked, her body moving closer to Syd. I glanced at Josh, catching his grin.
"I do." Syd reached in his pocket, pulling out business cards. "See?"
She took one as he handed them out to us, lifting the slick black card to the light. Syd jerked his head at Josh, sending him a questioning look. Josh shifted, making room for Syd at the bar, letting him settle into the seat across from Elena.
"You didn’t put that on your questionnaire." Elena frowned, tucking the business card into her handbag.
Josh's hand settle on my back. I looked up, catching his wiggling eyebrows. He tilted his head towards the door. I nodded, quietly picking up my purse from the bar and slipping off my chair.
"The questionnaires are bullshit. Who writes what they're really like on there?" Syd replied as Josh and I started creeping away.
"I do."
