Page 120 of A Whole New Play

“We’re not arguing about this again,” Derek interrupts his brother-in-law with a good-natured slap on the back. “Come on, Adam. I’m going to need a coffee if you’re going to keep me out late.”

The two men banter back and forth and follow Will out of the conference room, towards the front desk where our assistants sit.

“You know don’t have to come with us.” Henry steps closer to me. Again, he pushes his glasses back up on his nose.

“I don’t mind.” With any luck, watching the game with other people will keep me from wallowing in the fragments of my broken heart when I’m both happy for my dad and Carter for how well the team’s played these past months, but also hurt to know that my absence hasn’t seemed to affect their lives at all.

Not that I want the team to lose or anything.

I don’t.

I just wish I had some inkling that this breakup was even half as hard on Carter as it has been on me.

“Are you sure? You usually like to spend game days alone.”

I tilt my head to the side, surprised by Henry’s knowledge of my habits. “You noticed that?”

“Well, yeah.” His cheeks redden. My surprise grows. “Will and I have invited you to watch games with us a few times. You always turn us down.”

Do I?

I guess I do.

I never really thought anything of it.

After all, the games were always on the weekends. It wasn’t like I was at work and rejecting their invitations to their faces. It was just easier to stay at home rather than put on a brave face and go over to someone else’s house to watch the game.

“Oh,” I reply lamely. I clear my throat. “Right.”

“Not that I blame you. It just seemed like an easy way for us to get to know you. Or, for me to get to know you, anyway. Since I didn’t go to high school with you.” Henry is rambling. And his cheeks continue to darken.

I’m hit with the realization that Henry might have a crush on me.

I think back to our interactions these past months. He’s never inappropriate, and he always goes out of his way to be kind and considerate.

He offered to help me find my apartment when he learned I was staying at a long-term rental when I first moved here. He even suggested a local furniture store for me to check out when I mentioned I needed to decorate the place.

He’s been nothing but friendly.

Now, though, I see that he might be hoping for a little more than friendship. Even if he never plans to ask.

I don’t know Henry well, but I know this company is his dream. Will is his partner, but Henry Paxton is the mastermind behind it all. It’s why the company is named after him.

But Henry is professional. I don’t see him risking the future of his company with a potential HR scandal.

Then again, our HR department consists of one employee at the moment and Tracy is a friend of his.

“I’m sorry,” Henry interrupts my thoughts. “I didn’t mean to make you feel weird. Forget I said anything.”

“No.” I shake my head. “You didn’t. It’s fine.”

He shifts on his feet. “I hope you do come out with us. But if you don’t, maybe you and I can grab dinner sometime? I’d like to get to know you better.”

So much for him not planning to ask me out…

I take care to let him down gently. “That’s really nice, Henry. I’d like to get to know you too… but only as friends.”

He takes the rejection in stride. “I get it.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “I know I can’t compete with someone like Carter Jones, but it was worth a shot.”

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