Page 18 of Partner Pursuit
Eve:Coming.
She opened her door, waiting for Eve. Eve emerged from her apartment, putting her fingers to her lips, and closed her door softly. “Pete’s still sleeping. What’s the crisis?”
Audrey pulled her inside and wailed, “I’m so embarrassed! I sent Jake homemade cookies yesterday as a funny welcoming gift, and it looks like he’s already dating someone else.” She tiptoed over near the window and flattened against the wall, hiding behind the curtain, motioning Eve over. “Look, he’s out there with this absolutely gorgeous woman having breakfast.”
Eve snuck over to the wall and discreetly peeked from behind the curtain into Jake’s garden. “Well, they could be just friends. I don’t recognize her from the party.”
“That’s true,” Audrey said. If only she had been able to say yes when Jake had asked her for abikeride.
“He said that he was going to stay single fora while.”
“But Penny doubted he’d even last aweek.”
“They’re not eating your cookies.” Eve stepped away from the window.
“No, not for breakfast anyway.”
“It could just be interpreted as a neighborly thing to do.”
“From the single woman next door? It looks like I’m pursuing him, when he just told me women pursue him allthetime.”
“And weren’tyou?”
“Yes.” She gave Eve a “Do you really have to call my bluff?” look. “That’s why it’s embarrassing. But it was under the guise of a neighborlywelcome.”
“Do you want me to send over some food as well? From me and Pete?” Eve laughed.
“That would make me feel much better,” Audrey said. “But no need for him to think we’reallnuts.”
“How did you get it to his frontdoor?”
“I didn’t. I left it at his garden sliding door. I lowered it over from my balcony. It wasn’teasy.”
“Girl, you are crazy.”
“Iknow.”
“But that’s why I love you.” Eve hugged her. “Cheer up. It’s not that embarrassing, even if he is dating her.” The two friends peered out from behind the curtain again.
“From the body language, it doesn’t appear they’re romantically involved,” Eve said. “Your chocolate chip cookies may yet work their magic.”
“Maybe. But he did say he didn’t like lawyers, so I shouldn’t be interested in him either.”
“He dislikes all lawyers?” Eve walked away from the window and sat on Audrey’s couch.
“He has exceptions,” Audrey said as she joined Eve onthe couch.
“You should steer clear of someone with ahang-upabout lawyers,” Eve said. “Although he seemed fun and I liked his friends. I probably prefer him to PreppyBoy.”
“Tim would be more supportive of my legal career.”
“Unless it conflicts with his own,” Eve said dryly.
Like Kevin.Audrey looked down. She’d been swept up by Kevin’s attention when she was afourth-yearassociate. And impressed by his experience as a senior lawyer. But then he hadn’t made it. She shivered. That could easily be her in six months.
Kevin had moved down to DC. He’d wanted her to leave the firm too, to go with him. She didn’t understand how he could even ask that of her, given her mother’s regrets. And he’d been angry when she’d said no, that she wanted to stay in New York working for a Wall Street law firm and make it as a partner. But then he seemed to recover, to be willing to date long distance. And she had believed him. Until they’d attempted a romantic weekend together at this charming bed and breakfast in Virginia. The setting was from a Jane Austen movie, but Kevin moping about how he hadn’t made partner and looking like he’d been stabbed if she mentioned anyone’s name from the firm had not been conducive to fulfilling its romantic promise.
The next morning, with the sun streaming through thefrilly-curtainedwindow, she’d woken up to find him tenderly staring at her. He’d gently pushed the hair away from her face and said, “You know you’ll never make partner. You’re too nice.” She’d stared at him, hurt, her stomach sinking, vowing she would make partner.
