Page 13 of A Whole New Trick

“You’re ridiculous, Chen.” I readjust my phone, pressing my head more firmly against the earpiece, and cast a wary glance at my cubical mates. No one spares me a glance, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t listening.

“Do you want me to beg? Because I will. I’ll write a poem praising all of your stunning qualities, lamenting my unworthiness and unbridled hope that you will take mercy on a fellow single adult and save me from the hoard of cleat-chasers my mom is already trying to set me up with.”

I stifle my laugh and shake my head, locking my computer screen and walking away from my standing desk. There’s no way I’ll be able to get off the phone with Joshua anytime soon—not without revealing too much to my coworkers who aren’t aware of my friendship with the professional athlete.

I walk down the narrow path to the kitchenette on the floor, where those of us without a personal fridge in our offices store our lunches.

“You’re a professional baseball player, Chen,” I speak quietly, all too aware of the crowded desks concealed by the tall cubiclewalls. “Are you seriously telling me you can’t find a date for your friend’s wedding?”

“No one who won’t try to manipulate it into a date, and aside from you, I’m not interested in dating anyone I know.”

I scoff. “Save it, Chen.”

“Why don’t you believe me?” I imagine the pout on his handsome face. “I’m telling you, Caldwell. We’d be good together.”

“You’re basically twelve.”

“Twenty-three last month.”

“Still six years too young for me,” I say with a smile.

Joshua Chen is a good guy, and while he might’ve actually been interested in me when we first met, I know he’s only joking about us dating. We’ve become good friends this past year. And while I would’ve once said he was a player, now that I know him, I know how badly he wants to find a girl to settle down with. He’s having a hard time finding one who cares more about him than his budding career.

“Come on, Morgan. Don’t leave me hanging. I’ll be miserable if I go alone.”

“How do you expect to find a girlfriend if you constantly bring me to all these social events?” I ask, even as his sad tone tugs on my heartstrings. “What if the girl of your dreams is at the wedding, but you two don’t hit it off because you’re too busy forcing me onto the dance floor all night?”

“Force you? Come on. You’re a dancing queen.”

I roll my eyes. “We both know that’s not true.”

“You’ve got moves, Caldwell. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. I’m the envy of every single man in the room whenever you’re in my arms.”

You know, the crazy thing is, he means it. Joshua Chen has a poet’s soul—something I tell him often. Hence his offer to write me a poem.

But while his words are kind, they bring up a foul memory—it tastes like mint toothpaste mixed with the subtle spice of whisky. Even after all these months, I can’t forget the way Dane Larson tasted as he ravished my lips.

It was the most sensual moment of my life, and I hate that it was shared with a jerk who never texted me after our brief interlude.

So much for him being desperate to meet me after seeing me at Carter’s barbeque. I now recognize the words were a lie. A well-executed one.

“Come on, Morgan.” Joshua is back to begging. “Come with me this weekend. I already told my buddy I’d have a plus one. You wouldn’t let me be the tacky person who reserves a seat for his date and then shows up alone, would you?”

I sigh. “Fine.”

“Really?” His voice rises in pitch.

“Yes, really.” It’s not like I have anything better to do. “But I expect the royal treatment. Especially if I have to face your mom again.”

Thinking of the classy woman makes me shudder. I’d never seen someone convey dissatisfaction in a single glance, but that’s all it took for me to know Sofia Chen vehemently disapproved of me. It took everything I had not to cower under her fierce scrutiny and admit to the formidable woman that I wasn’t really dating her son—that it was all a ploy to keep single women away from him.

My loyalty as a friend was severely tested that day.

“I’d never give you anything less,” he vows. “You’re a precious jewel who deserves to be cherished.”

I bark out a laugh and immediately shoot an apologetic look at the intern making a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchenette. “Sorry,” I mouth.

The young woman smiles shyly before nodding and returning her attention to her task. I wrack my brain for her name but come up blank. I met her last week. I’m pretty sure she’s on the athletic training staff, but all interns have desks on this floor.

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