Page 92 of The Plus Ones
“So what’s up? I saw your brother at the airport a couple of weeks ago. I don’t know if he mentioned it.”
“Really? No, he didn’t tell me that—you know how he is. So you knew that I was moving back? He told you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” She reaches across the small table to touch my hand. “Moving was so crazy, I didn’t have time to get in touch with people.”
I pull my hand away to pick up a sugar packet that I won’t be using for the coffee that hasn’t been brought to me yet. “It’s not a problem, I totally get it. What’s up? I have another meeting in less than half an hour, so…”
“Right. So…” She waits until the waitress finishes placing our coffees in front of us. “So, I wanted to talk to you because I was hoping you would give me some business advice. I’m setting up a new company—publicity for feature-length documentaries.
“Cool.”
“Yeah, that kind of became my thing out in LA, when I was doing publicity for finance companies. But I’m branching out on my own and looking at office space and meeting with potential new hires. It’s just so overwhelming, and I still need to write up a business plan and all that stuff, and I mean…you have the best head for business of anyone I know, so…” She rests her hand on top of my forearm. “Can I borrow your brain?”
I reach for a napkin that I don’t need so I can move my arm away. “I appreciate the compliment, but to be honest, I think it would be better if I ask Chase if you can call him for advice. He’s the one who’s actually founded two startups. I’m just the money guy.
“Oh.” She looks down. “Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks.”
“Also, I have a girlfriend now, so it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to be in touch with you. It’s still new. Kind of.”
“Oh. Good. Who is it?” She says it like she wants to know which socialite I’m dating this time.
“Roxy.”
She snorts laughs and then checks my expression to see if I’m being serious. “RoxyRoxy? Like, Foxy Roxy?”
“I’m well aware of the incongruities, but yes.TheFoxy Roxy.”
“Wow. I guess that’s not so surprising, really.”
“It’s not?”
“Well…” She twists her lips to the side, sheepishly. “I was always a little jealous of her, if you must know.”
“You were? I had no idea.”
“Yeah. Well. I’m a good little East Coast WASP.” She nods her head once, as if she’s made a decision. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. Me too. Are you? Seeing anyone?”
“No. I mean, there was someone in LA, but it didn’t make sense once I’d decided to move back here.”
“Right. Why would it?” I say, surprised by how bitter that sounded.
She stares down at her untouched cup of coffee and straightens herself up. “Well, I guess we both have other places to get to…”
“Can I ask you one thing?”
She continues to stare at the coffee cup. “Why didn’t I want you to move to LA with me?”
She always did know what was on my mind, even if she didn’t always tell me what I needed to hear.
“Yeah. I mean, I’m glad I didn’t, obviously. But I wondered for a long time.”
She leans back in her chair and looks down at her hands, which are in her lap. “I did love you, Keaton. You were good to me. But I never felt like I was the most important person to you.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “I was willing to drop everything and move across the country to be with you.”
