Page 10 of Partner Pursuit
“Do you know the band The Jane Austen Argument?”he asked.
“No, but coolname.”
“They actually titled their hit song ‘Staying Single,’ the one Penny is singing. I should not have introduced her to that song,” he said, raking his fingers through his hair distractedly.
Two guys approached Jake. Both looked like they’d played sports in college. One was tall and lanky, with brown wavy hair; the other had blond curly hair and the build of a football player.
“Jake, nice place.”
“Rory, Bill, great to see you guys!” Jake said. “This is Audrey, myneighbor.”
“I never thought I’d see you on the Upper West Side,” Rory said. “I miss having you nearby.”
“I’m still a text away. Although I can’t quite believe I moved uptown either,”Jakesaid.
“Nobody moves uptown once they’ve lived downtown.” Bill took a sip of his beer. A burst of laughter broke out in the corner of the garden, and the three tall men looked over. All three men weregood-looking, but Jake had this joie de vivre magnetism. Audrey could feel her body swaying towardshim.
“My sister needs help, so it seemed easier if I moved up here—at least for now. Especially since I didn’t particularly want to be in Tribeca,”Jakesaid.
“You missed some great waves at Long Beach,”Rorysaid.
“Hopefully next weekend,”Jakesaid.
Apparently, these guys had jobs that allowed them to go surfing on weekends. She had to take a moment to process that. No Malaburn demanding they spend every waking moment devoted to legal jurisprudence. Go away,thoughts-of-Malaburn, she was going to enjoy this party.
“Nice to meet you. Jake’s a lucky guy. My neighbor is at leastseventy-fiveand has three cats,” Bill said. Audrey shookhishand.
“But she does accept yourdry-cleaningdeliveries.” Rory smiled.
“What can I say? I’m like a grandson to her. But better. I get her flowers,” Bill said. Jake winked at her, and she felt warm inside.
“You didn’t tell me that. That’s why she tried to set you up,”Rorysaid.
“Yes, unfortunately, onlyseventy-five-year-oldssee my appeal,”Billsaid.
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Audrey said, smiling.
“Really?” Bill put his arm around her. “C’mon, your drink needs replenishing. Let’s go to the bar and leave these two Neanderthals behind.” Bill led her to the bar. She tried to casually ask him what he did; she didn’t want to seem like she was focused on jobs. He was in sports marketing. That hadn’t even been an option on her career menu. Doctor or lawyer were the choices.
Eve popped up beside them at the bar. “I need another drink. It’s hot.” Eve fanned herself.
“This is Eve. She lives next door too,” Audreysaid.
“Another gorgeous neighbor! What am I doing wrong in life?” Bill asked.
Rory joined them, and the four ordered their drinks from the bartender and moved away from the bar. They all continued talking easily, with little ripostes ricocheting back and forth between them. The music volume suddenlyincreased.
“It’s not a Jake party if there isn’t dancing,”Rorysaid.
Jake wasswing-dancingwith Penny, the two of them grinning as he spun her around, her orange dress flaring aroundher.
Bill asked if she wanted to dance, and with one last look at Jake and Penny, Audrey said yes. She danced with Rafael next, and he asked for her number. Eve gave Audrey a thumbs up. As Rafael left to get a drink, she thought about asking Jake to dance, but he was used to women chasing him. She didn’t want to be another woman pursuing him. Especially when she had to focus on making partner—not hankering after guys who had to time to surf onweekends.
At midnight, Jake turned off the music and announced that the party was moving to a nearby bar to avoid pissing off his new neighbors. Eve asked Audrey if she wanted to go home or set off withthe party.
Audrey glanced to where Jake was surrounded by friends. She hadn’t spoken to him again. He’d spent the night as the host talking to lots of different people.But if he was “staying single,” then there would be time to get to know each other as neighbors. And not when she was tired. Or when Penny was standing guard.
She said, “Go home and leave it on a highnote.”
