Page 70 of Partner Pursuit
“Even on a Sunday?” Jake asked.
“Definitely. That’s why they pay me the big bucks,”Timsaid.
They were both acting like cavemen, and it was ridiculous.
Jake said to Tim, “So nice to see love in the workplace. I never had the guts—I mean what if you had abreak-up?”
“We’re all civilized adults.”
Jake said, “Somehow, I don’t often think of civilization and love in the samesentence.”
TouchéforJake.
Tim’s phone beeped again, and he picked it up.
Tim said, “Oh, man, another round of changes. He talked to the client and the client really liked my new angle, but he wants to go on the offensive evenmore.”
“Well, it’s good that the client really likes it. You were worried that he’d find it too aggressive.”
“And now we might be going over the top.” Tim looked thoughtful, as if he was analyzing how tore-writethe brief. “I’d better go and get to bed. It’s going to be a long daytomorrow.”
“Thanks for the dinner and movie. Let me walkyouout.”
Jake looked like he was about to get up and accompany them, but Audrey shot him a look:Don’tyoudare!
As they entered the hallway, Tim said, “So I gather that guy doesn’t live here, or we wouldn’t have been preparing for a robber in this hallway, but he certainly seemed comfortable here. Is there something up betweenyou?”
That was direct. I should be so directwithJake.
“We’re very close friends and neighbors, so we have keys to each other’s apartments. But I mean, we’ve just beenfriends.”
Tim kissed her lightly on the cheek and said he’d see her tomorrow at the office.
As shere-enteredthe living room, she confronted Jake. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I offered him a beer and even quiche, following the old maxim that the way to a man’s heart is through hisstomach.”
“Does thatwork?”
“Competition works. Wasn’t that your first date after he saw us dancing at your party?”
“Yes,” she said reluctantly.
“I just provided a little competition. If he’s really interested, he’llbeback.”
“And is that what you want? What about us? Is there any us?” Audrey asked.
“Is there? You just went out on a date with anotherguy.”
“You left last night to comfort yourex-girlfriend.”
“Just because I care that you don’t date that corporate robot…” he said. He grabbed his coat and strode to the spiral staircase. “Maybe I’ll leave you to it, then.” He disappeared down the stairs. She followed him down, reaching the bottom step as he slid open the glass door and, without looking back, walked out into the dark. A cold blast of air hit her as the door slid closed.
She stood in shock. That answered the question about whether he liked her romantically. But it was not the response she’d wanted. Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t understand why she could never move from the “fun friend” to the girlfriend. She turned around to get ready for bed. At this point, she just wanted to collapse in the soft sheets and give up on dating entirely—again. And retreat to the sanctuary of work. But that felt empty toonow.
She heard the door slide back open, and she whirled around. It was Jake. He strode across the floor and stood in front of her, his eyes searching intently into hers. He bit his lip. “Except I think there is an us. Don’tyou?”
“Yes.”
