Page 16 of Seven Year Itch

They edged around the bush and looked through the window. Ali stood on her tiptoes trying to get a clear shot, with Mia—a good five inches taller—standing behind her.

"Can you see over the booth?" Ali asked, doing a little hop to see better.

"Barely. I can only see the tops of their heads."

"Well, does it look like a man's top of a head or a woman's?"

"I'm not sure if I'm looking at the right table. You said Garrett was across from the other person, but both these people are on the same side."

Ali was growing impatient and needed to see for herself. "Boost me up."

"Boost you up?"

"Yeah, lace your fingers together and give me a boost."

"What?" Mia asked, looking bewildered.

"You know like you're helping me onto a horse."

"I've never ridden a horse."

Ali sighed in exasperation. "Neither have I, but you've seen a western movie."

"Girl, John Wayne never needed no help getting onto his horse."

"Mia, just do it! The suspense is killing me."

Mia laced her fingers and leaned over so Ali could step up on her open palms. Ali grasped the window ledge, trying not to give Mia all of her weight then stuck her nose millimeters away from the glass to get a good look inside.

Mia had been right. Garrett was now on the other side of the booth. And sitting next to him was a beautiful brunette. Ali felt her heart sink into her stomach.

"Can you see anything?" Mia whispered from below her.

"He's sitting next to a woman. God, Mia, she's gorgeous." Ali felt tears threatening, but she refused to give them rein until she knew what the hell was going on.

"What are they doing?"

Ali stared at the couple, not even daring to blink. "So far, they're just talking."

"Well, that's good. Maybe it is just a business meeting."

"Why is he sitting next to her?"

"Maybe they needed to go over some paperwork or something. Does it look like they're reading anything or looking down at something?"

Ali pressed her face closer, her nose now touching the glass. "It does look like maybe there're papers spread out in front of them."

"See. I'm sure it's noth—"

"Wait." Ali cut her off. "She just laid her hand on his forearm. And she's laughing. Oh, shit."

"What?"

"Garrett's laughing now, too, and he just patted her hand. He's letting her keep it on his arm." Like a bad car wreck, she couldn't look away from the scene in front of her.

She heard Mia ask into the silence. "What's happening now?"

"They've both stood up. I think I'm going to be sick. She's standing way too close to him, and he's leaning down so he can hear what she's saying. God, Mia, I don't think I can watch anymore."

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