Page 13 of The Swiping Game
6
DEAN
James: You’ve never seenGoodfellas?
Tara: I didn’t realize I was missing anything.
James: Only the best Mafia movie ever made.
Tara: Better thanThe Departed?
James: In my opinion, yes.
Tara: We’ll see about that.Goodfellasdoesn’t have Leo.
I can’t helpbut smile as I set the phone down. When I downloaded Left for Love last night, I never thought I’d meet or connect with anyone. I sure as shit didn’t expect to have a conversation that has now gone on all day, and with Tara of all people.
But I will admit, I don’t hate it. I don’t hate it one bit.
I didn’t know much about her, even in her office setting. I knew she loves donuts. I knew she could kill a plant by looking at it. And I knew that all it takes is one smile from me to rattle her cage. I also knew she could give it just as well as she could take it. I fucking love that in a woman.
But even though our workplace banter was never lacking, I never thought of her in a sexual way. Now? Now I’d be a liar if I said I haven’t looked at her picture in that red dress more than just a few times. And with every little conversation we have, I start to wonder more and more about what Tara’s like outside of the office.
And that scares the shit out of me.
For one, I never thought of Tara as anything more than a workplace frenemie—if that’s even a word. She’s the person that made my needing to go to the Fury offices a little more tolerable.
Second, I’m not the boyfriend kind of guy. I don’t live a life that’s suitable for a relationship. At a moment’s notice, I could need to fly across the country to deal with something for a client. I work in a high-stress, high-risk profession. I need to be on my game at all times. Where does a girlfriend fall into that life?
A few women have tried to call my bluff on those warnings. All have failed. Usually, all it takes to make them see I’m not bullshitting is a three-in-the-morning phone call after one of my clients has been arrested for them to know that the work never ends.
But with Tara, would she understand? She might not be in the twenty-four seven part of professional sports, but she knows the game. She knows that I’d always be on call. She knows that news never stops, especially when professional athletes are involved, and part of my job is making sure my clients aren’t the news.
Tara: So what do lawyers do on the weekend?
And that right there is a cold splash of water to the face on why this could never become more than a few messages exchanged on an app. Tara still thinks I’m James the lawyer. I answered all the questions truthfully, and technically, I am a lawyer. Just not the kind that argues in front of judges. I never thought she’d message me back. The fact that it’s three hours later and we’re still messaging each other is something I wasn’t prepared for.
Yet, I can’t seem to stop myself from continuing the conversation.
James: You make it sound like we have to be practicing our closing arguments in front of a mirror.
Tara: You don’t? I really thought you did. Next thing you’re going to tell me is that you don’t watchMy Cousin Vinnyon repeat.
James: Not since law school. On both points.
Tara: Why does that make me sad?
James: Tell you what. This weekend, I’ll do it just for you.
Tara: Aw. I’m touched.
That shouldn’t have sent a shot through my body, but it did. Was that lust? Attraction? Wanting? Reading those little words and knowing that Tara wrote them is doing something to me. Something that I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever.
I really need to put an end to this conversation. I really need to tell her who I am. I really need to stop this before it gets out of hand.
Tara: In case you were wondering, I can recite the Marisa Tomei testimony byheart. It goes over great at parties.
Maybe later. Yeah, later.
