Page 28 of Partner Pursuit
“Nopressure.”
Devon came over, and Jake introduced her. While Devon and Jake discussed final strategy notes for signing the artist, Lolly, Audrey said helloto Rafael.
“Good to see you again,” Rafael said. “Are you and Jake dating?”
“Dating?”
“I thought from the way you came in together.. .”
A glow filled her. She hoped that she was reading the signs correctly and Jake was interested romantically, but she was afraid to misinterpret his just being friendly. And she didn’t want to say that it was more than itwas.
“Jake just invited me when we ran into each other on our block. We took a car down here together,”shesaid.
Rafael nodded. “Jake does like to collect people.”
She hoped she wasn’t just part of a collection.
Penny joined them, and Rafael offered to get her a drink. The crowd milled around as upcoming show announcements displayed against the stage curtain.
“So how do you know Jake?” Penny asked.
“We’re neighbors,” Audreysaid.
“Oh, neighbors. What do you do?”
“I’ma lawyer.”
“LegalAid?”
“No, corporate. I work for a law firm,” Audreysaid.
“Like a Wall Street law firm? Like his father?” Penny asked.
She nodded.
“Oh.” Penny put her arm around her. “Well, some sisterly advice—it’s probably not welcome, but here goes: it’s hard not to have a crush on Jake. I had one for ages until I finally realized it was never going to happen. And that was a good thing for me. Jake’s got some serious issues with his workaholic lawyer dad. He refused to talk to him once for weeks in high school after he canceled Christmas vacation. I don’t see him ever dating a lawyer. I’m just telling you to save you some heartache.”
Too late. She already felt a pang of hurt. Was it so obvious that she had a little crush on Jake? But it was nice of Penny to warn her. She was hoping Jake didn’t like lawyers because they were boring or arrogant—not because they were workaholics. Like her. That would be tough to prove wrong. Although she was out tonight.
“Thanks, I guess. Jake obviously likes you,” Audrey said, hoping she came across as only interested in Jake asa friend.
“He likes me asa friend.”
“That can develop into somethingmore.”
“Sometimes, but I don’t see it happening here.” Penny glanced at Jake. He was laughingfull-heartedly, his head thrown back, at something Devonsaid.
“Veronika was also really bad news,” Penny said. “She was incredibly needy and demanding and cut Jake off from all his friends. You may have noticed by the way she entered the party and ignored everyone, as if she hadn’t met usall.”
“What are you all discussing so seriously?” Jake asked as he suddenly came up behind them. He handed Audrey a drink.
“Girl things, Jake, things you wouldn’t know about,” Penny said. “No drink for me?”
“I have an older sister. So, I know more than you think. What are you drinking? I’ll top you up nexttime.”
“White wine,” Penny said. “I don’t think she discusses these thingswithyou.”
“You’d be surprised. There’s not much my sister findsoff-limits, unfortunately.”
