Page 30 of That Friendzone Feeling
“Myhigh school girlfriend broke my heart.”
“Wow.Iwasn’t expecting that.”
“See,Itold you it’d sound silly.”
Shit, maybeIdid sound a bit rude. “Oh, no.Notsilly at all.Ijust mean,Iwas expecting something more, maybe…well, you know…recent.”
“Yeah.Idid move in with someone inLAfor a while.ButIcouldn’t relax.Iwas constantly expecting her to dump me like that girl did.Ihad to leave for the sake of my own mental health.”
“Gosh, that all sounds very sad.”Whoknew this would turn into a therapy session for teenage heartbreak? “Areyou still in contact with the high school one?”
“Wehave been, on and off.Iknow she lives inNewYork.EverytimeI’mhereItell myselfIshould look her up.Andthen don’t have the balls to do it.”Hiseyes lock on mine. “Ishould probably move on.”
Moststraight women would swoon at this story, at the adorable news that a global star who could have any woman he wanted is hung up on a teenage crush from about fifteen years ago.It’sdefinitely pretty cute.But, attractive as he is, for some reason it doesn’t make me want to jump on him.
“It’snot possible to move on until you’re ready.”Sadly,Ispeak from multiple experiences.
ButamItalking about him or myself?AndamItalking aboutAnthonyorWalker?
God, this is way off track now.There’sprobably no chanceChaseis interested in investing in us after my pathetic performance this evening, butIdo need to keep pushing until he actually says no, thanks.
“Anyway.”Ipat my thighs. “HowaboutIget myself to somewhereIcan connect to the miracle of modern science we know as electricity and send you all the informationI’vedone a terrible job describing?”Istand and straighten my dress. “Andmaybe we can talk again once you’ve digested it.Maybethe day after tomorrow, once you’re back home and over the jet lag?”
“Theywere fine descriptions.”Henods at my still almost-full wine glass. “Areyou sure you don’t want to finish that?”
Isit bad manners to leave now?ShouldIstay and schmooze him?No.Don’twant to overdo it.Leavethem wanting more—isn’t that what everyone says? “I’dreally like you to see whatIwas talking about.Andfor you to have some time to look through it all at leisure and think about it.”
Ipick up my purse and the bag containing my completely useless laptop.AsItake a couple of steps toward the door, he stands up.
“Ihave a better idea.”Hewalks past me to the closet and pulls out my coat. “Howabout you take me to see it in person?”
Heholds up my coat.Iput down my things, turn my back to him, and slide my arms into the sleeves. “Youwant to come out to the island?”
Helifts the coat onto my shoulders.Ishould probablybe melting into a puddle of goo at such a display of gallantry at such close quarters, but still nothing.
“Whatbetter way for me to see if it’s a good fit for me?”Hesmiles with a shrug and a tilt of his outrageously handsome head. “Ihave to be inLAfor a week or two for filming.It’sjust a guest spot in a movie, so it won’t take long.Icould come back next week or the week after.”
Ifhe’s interested enough to bother to visit the site, that’s not a no.It’ssomethingIcan work with and need to grab with both hands.
“Oh, that would be amazing.Yes.Let’sset that up.”Ipick up my things. “I’llsend you the details as soon asIget home so you have them to look through in the meantime.Thenwe’ll arrange to meet out there really soon.”
Ihold out my hand for a shake. “Thankyou so much for your precious time.”
Hetakes my hand in both of his. “Thankyou for coming.It’sbeen a pleasure to get to know you this evening.Ilook forward to next time.”
“Metoo,”Itell him as he releases my hand a little slower than is businesslike. “Havea safe trip back toLA.”
Thecab pulls away fromChase’shotel and back toward reality.
Ibet all this comes to nothing.
NowI’mout of there, and not all caught up in theHollywoodstar magic, the cold night air makes me realizeI’dbe a fool to think for even a second he might really be interested in working with us.Hewas probably just being polite, saying he wanted to visit the island.Butthere’s no way a huge star like him would ever be interested in goinginto business with us at the best of times, never mind afterIshowed up without the basic ability to turn on a laptop.
Wepass a row of coolGreenwichVillagerestaurants with happy couples dining at their window tables.
Wouldit be too egotistical to thinkChasemight be faking interest in the business because he’s interested in something else?Hewas a little flirty.
Ifhe is, it should fill me with excitement that someone like him might be attracted to me.Talkabout out of my league.
