Page 44 of OneTime Lovers
Exiting the elevator on the twenty-fifth floor, I know I’m at the right place, thanks to the oversized gold lettering on the dark wall in the company foyer. I’m greeted by another receptionist sitting behind a massive black marble desk, but this time she’s totally professional as she walks me to a nearby conference room.
While I’m still standing at the large wall of windows, which provide a panoramic view over Lower Manhattan, a dark-haired man strides into the room. Addressing me by name, he reaches out to shake my hand introducing himself as Jarrod Richards, Jasmine’s brother. Now I can see the family resemblance.
“I’m sorry, but Jasmine has been called away at the last minute to another client and she asked me to step in and walk you through the contract papers.”
Huh! I’m calling bullshit, she’s avoiding me again.
We sit in two chairs at the end of a long conference table, and he begins to walk me through the purchase contract. I focus on the job at hand, pushing to the back of my mind the conversation I want to have with Jasmine.
An hour later, Jarrod finally has all the signatures he needs. It was a drawn-out process with a couple of calls to my real estate attorney confirming certain clauses in the contract. But it’s done now and all that is left is for the papers to be filed.
Thanking Jarrod, I leave the offices, and as soon as I’m in the elevator, I take out my cell and text Jas.
Scott:I hear you were too busy to meet me. Avoiding me?
Within minutes my phone vibrates with a reply.
Jasmine:Why would I be avoiding you? I had to meet another client and I left you in good hands with Jarrod.
Scott: Yeah. I met your brother. He seems like a good guy.
Jasmine:Only because he doesn’t know what you’ve been doing with his little sister…. :)
Scott:True. I guess we didn’t discuss how I sealed the deal on my new apartment with you bent over the windowsill.
This time instead of a text the only response I get is an unamused face emoji, which has me laughing out loud as I stand on the sidewalk.
Scott:Anyway, I wanted you to know all the paperwork has been signed, neighbor.
I can see Jasmine is typing but it takes a while for the next text to come through. I suspect my use of the word neighbor has thrown her.
Jasmine:Sounds like you two gossiped plenty if you now know I live nearby.
And I was right, she didn’t want me to know the little nugget of information Jarrod let slip about her living only a couple of blocks away from my new place.
Scott:Two blocks away, I believe he said. I wonder why you didn’t mention that the other day.
Jasmine: Slipped my mind. It’s not that important.
Scott:Nice try. I’ll be seeing you around then. BTW, I’m in Manhattan till Sunday.
Jasmine:Bye.
A couple of hours later, I walk into the Irish pub opposite Luke and Blake’s office building. It’s a regular drinking spot of theirs so I’ve been here a couple of times before. When my eyes have adjusted to the dim lighting, I see them sitting on a couple of stools at the end of the bar. Blake waves me over.
This is the first chance we’ve really had to catch up since Luke’s wedding. Sure, I saw them the other night at the dinner party, but it wasn’t the same as a beer with the boys at the pub. Pulling up another stool, I gesture to the barman to get the guys another Guinness and one for me.
“What’s the occasion?” Blake asks.
“Yeah, you never offer to buy the beers, so it must be good,” adds Luke.
I glare at them; I mean seriously, don’t these guys ever get tired of busting my balls. “Shut up, I’m always buying you miserable bastards a beer.”
“Only when you lose a bet,” Blake points out.
“If I remember correctly, I’ve won the last two bets we made, and you had to buy ME a beer.”
“Whatever,” Blake grumbles, waving his hand in front of my face like he’s shooing away an irritating bug.
