Page 12 of Diamonds & Deception

“Don’t tell me it’s Kelsey. Fuck, anyone but her.” Ryder turns serious for the first time since entering my office.

“Fuck, no. I’m not seeing Kelsey. Ever again.”

“Don’t you have that charity event in a couple of weeks? She’ll be there,” Nolan reminds me.

Unfortunately, I’m fully aware she’ll be there. She’s been sending me weekly texts and emails asking how I’m doing and trying to get me to meet her for drinks. I’m no fool. There’s only one reason she’s contacting me.

I’m fine with never seeing my ex ever again. She had no problem discarding me like yesterday’s trash not long after we graduated from MIT. Once she figured out I was poor and came from the ghetto end of Boston, she dumped my ass and moved on to bigger and better things.

Or rather, richer and more important people. I don’t find it ironic that once I made a name for myself, she sought me out again. The guys haven’t met her, and don’t know much about her current situation. I really don’t care to find out.

The Gatsby reference Nora made a few days ago still rings in my head. Only she was right. The book isn’t a romance, and there’s nothing I desire about Kelsey. She’s beautiful and connected, but she possesses limited redeeming qualities. Just like the characters in the book.

“Seriously, Drake, we’re glad to see you get your dick back out there and have some fun. All work and no play makes you look constipated.”

I chuckle at Ryder’s way of showing support.

“Any inappropriate video coverage I need to erase, doc?”

I give Nolan the evil eye. “You saw all there was to see. I met a girl. We had a nice dinner, and maybe I’ll see her again.”

“Dude. You can’t use the wordsnice dinnerwhen you cheapskate her with Sandwiches to Go. Especially in front of Ry-dog.” Nolan pretends to whisper and points at Ryder.

“Not every meal has to be five stars. She was quite happy with her sandwich.”

“Plus, you can’t show her the best there is right out of the gate. There’s no moving up after eating atRed. Every dining experience after is a disappointment.”

That’s pretty much what I joked about with Nora.

“You gonna give us a name?” Trey asks.

“Nope.”

“I can zoom in on the footage,” Nolan tells the guys.

“You will not.”

Nolan chuckles. “Nah. I’ll let him keep his chick secret for now. We’ll find a way to bust his balls to the wall when he’s least expecting it.”

Maybe I’d be better off just telling them who she is. It’s not like it’s a big deal. Ryder might freak out at first since she’s well-known in the food industry. But that’s not why I don’t want to talk about her yet.

She’s different. Special. Real. For some reason, I feel like she could be the one. Or at least, the one for right now. Relationship material. Her traveling a lot would ensure I still have my space. Something Kelsey didn’t give me at all in college.

“If you ladies are done gossiping, can we get down to business?” I open the folder again and go through our business plan for the weekend and next week’s high-stakes poker tournament.

My mouth is moving and talking numbers, while my mind is trying to figure out a timetable for when I can see Nora again.

***

DRAKE SENDS ME A TEXTFriday afternoon asking if I want to go to the opening of his friend’s bar on Monday night. It’s a soft opening, by invitation only. The bar scene isn’t my thing, but I need to get closer to Drake so I can see his inner circle. Maybe I’ll get leads from the people at the bar.

I shoot off a text saying I’d love to, and we go back and forth with small talk throughout the weekend. He sends me funny GIFs and asks me questions like what my favorite music is, favorite movies, bucket list items, and the such.

By Monday, my nerves are wound so tight I’m ready to burst. I make a trip to the shelter and take turns bringing the three big dogs for a run. I don’t go to the north end, which is out of my way anyway, and stick to the trails around my neighborhood. Or rather, Lenora’s neighborhood.

She lives close to Fenway Park. It’s nice, and I feel safe here. After my run, I shower and contemplate what to wear. It’s a bar, so nothing too fancy. Opting for a pair of dark skinny jeans, I pair it with a long-sleeve-fitted top. It shows my curves without being too slutty. The V-neck offers a hint of cleavage I hope will encourage Drake to be loose-lipped.

The apartment buzzer vibrates as I’m sliding into my ankle boots. I’m not comfortable inviting him inside, so I grab my coat and head downstairs. He waits for me outside, leaning against the black rod iron gate.

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