Page 6 of Partner Pursuit
“Kevin was a jerk,” Eve said. “And he was the worst kind of jerk because he seemed like a good guy. Even I was taken in. But you can’t let him defineyou.”’
“I’m not. I still think I can be promoted to partner.” She shifted in her seat. Or so she had thought—before Winnie’snews.
“Given how much you work, it makes sense you’d meet someone in the office.” Eve ate herlastbite.
“Someone online asked me for a date thisSaturday.”
“And you said yes, right?”
“No,” Audrey said. She kept forgetting to take down her online dating profile. She really had to add it to herto-dolist. No time for dating now. “I haven’treplied.”
“Sayyes,now.”
She should tell Eve about Winnie’s news, but Eve always argued that she should be able to date while being a lawyer. “Does that mean I can getmy phone?”
“Okay. You can have five minutes on your phone to say yes and check your work email. I’ll getdessert.”
Audrey carried their dishes into her apartment and deposited them in her sink. She’d doclean-up. She picked up her phone and typed yes to the date. He had seemed funny—he’d made a joke about being a workaholic, and she was taking Saturday off tore-charge.
Eve brought out astrawberry-rhubarbpie for dessert, and they sat back outside in the balmy evening air. Audrey took a bite, the tart flavors of the berries and rhubarb exploding on her tongue. As they threw around ideas to kickstart Eve’s catering business, Audrey suggested she throw a party to show off Eve’s appetizers and desserts. It would have the added benefit of being one last chance to see all her friends before she buckled down into a black hole to make partner. Eve agreed. The garden next door was now packed with people. “The Man” by Taylor Swift was playing, and some guests were swaying to the music. Glass clinked in a toast between several beer bottles. Audrey helped herself to a second sliver of pie. The rest wasforPete.
“Okay, I see him. He’s in the light gray shirt by the bar talking to the girl in red.” Audrey looked away so he wouldn’t see both of them checking himout.
“Mmm, yes, he’s hot.” Eve nodded and smiled mischievously at Audrey. “And they say fairy godmothers don’t exist. Definitely what I was wishing for you. He has the same type of looks as that guy you had a crush on in college but never askedout.”
Suddenly a male voice broke through their conversation. “Juliet, Juliet, wherefore art thou? Fair maidens, come down and join the party.” A guy beckoned to them from the party in the garden below.
A buzz of anticipation flickered through her veins. She looked at Eve to see if she wanted to go. If they went, there was no way she could return to the office.
“Yes, definitely.” Eve gave her a “you’d be crazy not to go” look. “You have to get out there.”
“But I have to be at work early tomorrow,” she whispered, trying to resist the siren call of laughter, music and conversation.
“It’s only eight. Don’t tell me you go to bed earlier than midnight. I’ve heard your footsteps in the hallway coming home from the office. That gives you at least three hours. This will be fun. Like old times.”
Best friends don’t disappoint each other.She would work late on Friday night.
Audrey called down, “But it might be better to use ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair’ if we want a happy ending to ourmeeting.”
“Rapunzel it is! I’m all for happy endings, plus that hair. Who could resist?” the guy said. He was attractive, with long brown hair in a ponytail. She imagined he played guitar. “I’m Rafael.”
“We’ll be rightover.”
“Ring doorbell 1B.”
Audrey loaded all the dishes onto the tray and carried it back inside.
“You should wear that little black dress you bought in Paris.” Eve followed her inside, carrying the rest of thepie.
“Won’t it be obvious that Ichanged?”
“You’d be crazy not to look your best with the hot male quotient there. I plan to dazzle in a dress myself, and I’m pretty much a happily married woman, but not quite.” Eve fluttered her ringless finger.
“Has Pete given any signs that he might propose?” Audrey turned on the light in her white galley kitchen. A lone blue tea mug was upside down on the dryingrack.
“He’s crazy busy at work right now, trying to get this promotion. And that’s okay with me. I’m trying to figure out my career stuff. It’s not like I need to be married right now, although my mom wouldlike it.”
“My mom doesn’t dare bring up dating or marriage because she doesn’t want to add any more pressure to my life.” Audrey scrubbed the dishes.
