Page 67 of Mistlefoe
I stuff my hands in the pockets of my jeans and whistle All I Want For Christmas Is You as I head over to the kitchen. I can practically feel Sierra’s laser beams pierce the back of my head.
There’s a sliver of old coffee in the pot, and I can’t give her that. I pour it down the sink and set out to clean out the machine’s filter to start a brew from scratch. As I wait, I lean my hips against the counter and scratch my beard.
What’s a good place for a date around here? The last time I went out on one while living in Mapleton, I was in high school. And back then, going to the mall cinema was the biggest deal. Obviously, that’s not gonna cut it this time.
“Wow, I’m rusty,” I murmur to myself. But also, it’s not like this is New York City, where there’s always something going on. My dating scene over there used to be fancy parties thrown by sponsors or by one of the other WAGs, or some celebrity events my former manager scored me tickets for.
None of that is available now. I also have a feeling Sierra wouldn’t gravitate to those things, which makes me like her even more.
I pull up my cellphone and typegood places for a date in Mapleton, CT. I’m about to click on a blog result when someone speaks right beside me.
“Are you finally dating someone?”
I jump and put my phone against my chest. “Lewis. Has no one told you that reading other people’s phones is rude?”
“You looked so engrossed, I figured it was something good.” He grabs a new mug from the rack and stares at thecoffeemaker as if that would hurry it up. “So, who’s the lucky girl? Is it someone atSPORTY?”
“Her name is none of your damn business, last name get lost.”
He snorts. “She must be, then, if that’s the response I get.”
“Don’t make me ask you if you’re dating someone atSPORTYjust to get you off my back.”
“Low blow, man.” His eyebrows pinch. Everyone and their mom knows that he has a giant flaming torch for Kaylee, but he also knows—just like the rest of us—that she only has eyes for Stephen. The real mystery is Stephen, because he gives zero indication of whether he’s interested in her or anyone at all. Hence, the never ending stalemate.
And also why Kaylee and Lewis would love to get their hands on the breaking news that Sierra and I are… doing whatever it is that we’re doing now. It would be a reprieve from their own drama.
“Not sorry. You started it,” I say as the machine finishes the cycle and I reach over for a clean mug with the company logo.
“Anyway, you could try that fancy new restaurant on Main,” he says as we walk out of the kitchenette with steaming mugs in hand.
“The one with the huge windows overlooking the street with the most traffic in the entire town?” I snort a laugh. “You tried.”
Lewis grins. “What can I say? I’m just curious to see who finally snagged the most eligible bachelor inSPORTY.”
“The what?” My eyes bulge.
Sierra swivels on her chair, her jaw dropping.
And of course, this is the one thing that tears Kaylee’s attention from the magazine. “Ohh, is Conor off the market?”
I look anywhere but at Sierra as I head back to my desk and sit down with a huff. “Can you guys keep it down? I have to hop into a meeting with a client now.”
“Sure, sure. But you have to tell us all the details afterward.”
I ignore Kaylee by making a big show of putting on my headphones. Said meeting isn’t a lie, but it’s not for another ten minutes. So I key in my password and find the chat with Sierra again.
Mahoney, Conor - 4:03pm:
Sorry. I think I’ll have to keep the coffee
I’ll treat you later when we head to my place?
But that gets me no response for the rest of the day. Until I’m driving us to my house.
*
“Okay, now tell me what the heck happened to make Lewis think you’re dating someone in the company in a matter of like, five minutes.” Sierra’s arms are folded tight and she glares straight ahead at the road.
