Page 44 of February

“Didn’t you ask your friend out to drinks tonight, and she said maybe? Maybe isn’t a yes,” Monica pointed out, wondering why she was pushing this so hard.

“Melinda texted me when you were at the hotel,” Bridgette replied. “We’re all hanging out. But you have fun with your friend.”

“Okay. Well, when we get back, do you want to meet in the conference room so that we can talk more freely?”

“Actually, not today. Can we postpone that? I really do have to finish the sketch I was working on earlier, and this little coffee trip cut into my time to get it to Dan.”

“Yeah, sure,” Monica said, disappointed, as Bridgette pulled the door to the office building open for her.

CHAPTER 11

Bridgette had felt it. She’d stopped herself from thinking about the fact that Monica was there to buy her company, and she’d been nice. Not only that, but she’d also enjoyed spending time with the woman. So much so that when the chatty barista had asked her out again and Bridgette had said no, she’d flirted with Monica. Monica, who was rich, straight, and not from around here. Monica, who had been at least mildly offended that a woman had offered to buy her a drink and had been interested in them going to a concert together. She was here to take something from her that Bridgette had been looking forward to her entire life. Bridgette had ideas. She always had. But she wanted to respect her parents and their own ideas until they finally left the company to her and she was able to implement them. Sure, she had made suggestions, and she’d tried to help when she could, but they’d generally turned her down, and she had to be okay with that because it was their company.

Bridgette sat on the grass, staring out at the Mississippi. There were benches along the Riverwalk, but she preferred to sit closer to the water whenever she could. She’d enjoy this while she could because Carnival season would pick up soon on Fat Tuesday, and the tourist season would be in full swing after that. These moments of peace wouldn’t be available to her until theyall went home and she got this part of the city back mostly to herself.

“Bridgette?”

Bridgette turned her head and saw Monica, of all people, standing there on the sidewalk with another woman.

“Monica?”

“Hi,” Monica said. “Um… Sophie, this is Bridgette. She works at the company I’m here for.”

‘Here to buy,’Bridgette wanted to say but held it in.

“Hi,” she said instead, offering a small wave.

“Nice to meet you,” Sophie replied with a wave as well.

“You too. Are you heading to dinner?” Bridgette asked.

“No, actually. We already ate because Sophie has work early tomorrow. I thought you would be with your friends,” Monica replied.

“It’s still early,” she noted.

“Right,” Monica said.

“Mon, I’m parked right over there. Is it okay if we say goodnight now?”

“Sure,” Monica replied to Sophie. “It was great catching up with you.”

“You too. Let’s hang out again before you go.” Sophie wrapped her arms around Monica, and Bridgette wondered what Monica smelled like, which was a weird thing to think about.

She shook her head and looked out over the water while the two women embraced and said their goodbyes.

“Nice to meet you again,” Sophie added to her then.

Bridgette turned back and said, “You too.”

She expected Monica to say goodnight and walk toward wherever her town car was parked, but she didn’t. She waved Sophie off and took a few steps into the grass.

“You’ll mess up those fancy shoes,” Bridgette noted.

“I’m rich. I’ll buy another pair,” Monica joked.

“Did you want to sit or something?”

“Yes, actually,” Monica said and sat down next to her, leaving a little space between them. “So, what are you doing out here?”

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