Page 15 of The Situation
Me: You don’t mean that.
Astrid: I promise you that I do.
Me: I actually need one more thing, and you’re the only person who can help me with it because you’re brilliant.
Astrid: Stop trying to charm me, Brewer. I know you. Get to the point.
Me: I’m going to ignore that.
Astrid: Whatever works for you. Now, what do you want? I’m organizing a few things for Renn and Blakely’s Australian house, and it’s a major headache.
“I need to send her something when this is over,” I say, then stop and stare at the wall. “Who can I get to send it if she doesn’t send it for me? Such a quandary.”
I shake my head and refocus.
Me: Imagine that you came to my hotel room tonight and were impressed. What does that look like?
Astrid: You would be gone, for starters.
Me: ASTRID, PLEASE HELP ME.
Astrid: Fine. I’m impressed in what capacity? What’s the goal here?
I survey the room.
Typically, I don’t consider what a room looks like before I bring a woman into it. Because who cares? They’re coming for one thing, and that’s not to analyze the hotel’s housekeeping.
But this time, it matters, and I’m not sure why.
Me: The goal is to make it feel more comfortable. Make it smell nice.
Astrid: Tate Brewer, are you trying to be romantic?
Me: This isn’t the kind of woman you take for granted. I gotta up my game. Put in some effort.
Astrid: You mean *I* need to put in some effort.
Me: Both of us. We’re a team now.
Astrid: We are definitely not a team. But, because I am impressed at this turn of events, yes, I will help you. How long do I have?
I check my watch.
Me: Two hours.
Astrid: Damn. I thought Renn’s timelines were bad.
Me: I appreciate you.
Astrid: Don’t try to suck up now. I’ve already agreed.
Me: Thank you, Astrid.
Astrid: I gotta go. I have two hours to make magic happen.
I exhale, feeling a little lighter than before. Although she never makes it easy on me, Astrid is brilliant at accomplishing the impossible.
“Now it’s my turn to make magic happen,” I say, discarding the phone again.
