Page 47 of February

“Why?”

“The main office is there. They started the company before we moved here. My mom opened the office here then, but there were problems with the manager they left in charge back in Baton Rouge, so my dad ended up going back and forth a lot. They decided to move back when I was out of college and leave this office for me to look after.”

“And you like it better here?”

“Nothing wrong with Baton Rouge; I just fell in love with this place,” Bridgette shared. “I’ve never been anywhere else like it.”

“I’m not sureIhave, either,” Monica said.

“What about your semester abroad?” Bridgette teased.

“Close, but not the same.”

When Monica smiled at her, Bridgette looked away. She couldn’t keep talking to this woman. The more she talked to her, the more she liked her, and liking her wasnotan option.

“So, dinner was fun?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, it was great catching up with Soph.”

“How did you know her again?”

“She used to work with me. She left the company for a job down here.”

“She looks young.”

“She’s thirty-two.”

“And you’re?”

“Notthirty-two,” Monica replied. “Does everyone say, ‘Ma’am’ and ‘Sir’ down here, or is it just because I hit forty that I’m noticing it more?”

“It’s a cultural thing.” Bridgette shrugged, thinking that Monica didn’t really look forty in this evening light.

“So, I shouldn’t take offense?”

“No,” Bridgette replied. “I get ‘Ma’am’ a lot, and I’m twenty-seven. I’ve been called ‘Ma’am’ since about the time I graduated high school. It picks up a lot around twenty-five or so, depending on how young you look.”

“I wish I looked young,” Monica said on a sigh.

“Youdolook young.”

“Unfortunately, I think you’re lying to me, trying to be nice.”

“Why would I beniceto you?” Bridgette asked.

Monica laughed louder than she had before, so Bridgette turned back to the water because she liked Monica’s laugh and how her face crinkled just a littletoomuch.

“I guess you have a point,” Monica finally said.

“You don’t have to hang out with me,” Bridgette told her. “I mean, I’m not trying to get rid of you or anything. I just don’t want you to think that you have to sit here with me out of pity or something.”

“Strangely enough, Bridgette, I actuallywantto hang out with you. Now that you’re not being a complete asshole every minute of the day, I don’t mind you at all.”

“Oh, you don’tmindme? What a compliment,” Bridgette said as she laughed.

“It’s the best I can do, given how we began.” Monica shrugged a shoulder.

“I guess I’ll have to take it, then.”

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