Page 15 of Love Unexpected
She smiled, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Friends. Of course,” she said.
I finally released the button holding the doors open and stepped into the annex outside the studio. “Hey, have you met Tyler yet?” I said before the elevator doors slid closed.
Rosie only stared.
“Next time we’re all together, I’ll introduce you,” I said. “I think you might like him.”
The doors closed on my words so I couldn’t see how Rosie responded, but hopefully I’d played up thefriendaspect enough that it wouldn’t feel weird that I’d asked her such a personal question. Plus, maybe she really would like Tyler.
Tyler would definitely like her.
He’d be crazy not to.
Chapter Six
Rosie
You’re a good friend, Rosie.
The stupid words repeated over and over in my head as I dropped off the boxers I’d finished adding to the website and made my way back up to my desk.Friends.And then he’d asked if I was interested in meeting Tyler.
It had totally killed the thrill I’d felt over learning he was breaking up with Bridget. As well as the thrill of actually making it through an entire conversation without saying anything stupid.
Actually, I still felt pretty proud of that. Even if he’d friend-zoned me before even giving me a chance. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and texted Marley.THE UNDERWEAR CONVERSATION ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND I WAS NOT AN IDIOT. You would be so proud.I sent the message and dropped the phone on my desk before dropping myself into my chair.
“What’s wrong with you?” Greta asked. “You look like someone stole your puppy.”
“I’m a cat person,” I said dejectedly.
“Okay,” Greta said slowly. “You look like someone stole your kitten. What’s wrong?”
I lowered my head onto my desk, my forehead pressed up against the cool glass. “I just ran into Isaac in the elevator.”
Greta’s eyebrows went up. “And it didn’t... go well?”
“It went fine, at first,” I said, sitting back up. I picked up my mouse and wiggled it a little too forcefully to wake up my screen. “You should have heard me, Greta. I did so great. I didn’t flub up my words at all. We talked about sleeping in his boxers, and I was funny and witty. And then he told me he’s breaking up with Bridget, and I gave him real, actual advice.”
Greta frowned. “I’m going to pretend like the first half of what you just said made sense so we can talk about the break-up. He told you that? They’re breaking up?”
I nodded. “Tonight. He asked me for advice on how to do it, and I gave it in whole complete sentences.”
“I don’t understand why this is bad news,” she said. “They’re breaking up. And you’re talking to him. This is all good, right?”
She made a few clicks on her own computer, and an email immediately popped up in my inbox. “Those are the colors of the new logo,” she said in her business voice. “We’re supposed to adjust the rest of the site to complement. Can you take care of that this afternoon?”
I nodded and pulled up the log-in page that would allow me to access the site’s code. “You don’t understand,” I said to Greta, jumping right back into our Isaac conversation. “He told me I was a goodfriend.And then he asked me if I was interested in meeting Tyler. He’s the camera guy, right? The tall one?”
“Yes. And he’s super nice. You might really like him,” she said.
I scoffed. “Yeah. And since now it’s obvious that I am onlyfriendmaterial in Isaac’s eyes, that’s probably what I ought to do. He put me firmly in the friend zone, Greta. And he wants to set me up with one of his friends. This is not good news.”
She reached out and put a hand on my back. “Okay. It’s notgreatnews. But just because that’s how Isaac is feeling now doesn’t mean that’s how he’s always going to feel.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why would his feelings change?” I looked down at myself. “Thisisn’t going to change.”
“You’re doing it again,” Greta said, shaking her head. “Not giving yourself enough credit. Just because you don’t have Bridget’s long legs or perfect boobs doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to offer. Stop selling yourself short.”
“She does have perfect boobs, doesn’t she?”
