Page 85 of Electric Blue Love
“What about these then?” I asked, lifting a single crystal wine goblet from the shelf. It was heavy in my hand with intricate details around the base and cup.
“I dunno. Leika is more of a beer drinker. I can’t picture her breaking out crystal wine glasses unless it’s to mock them.”
I placed it back on the shelf. “Okay, then, what about this?” I said jokingly as I pointed to a wooden checkers board with shot glasses instead of checkers. It was too beautifully crafted to be a gag gift and the care and workmanship of the board and glasses were almost comical for such a game.
“That’s awesome,” he said as he moved past me. I couldn’t help but laugh as he looked it over like it was the greatest invention of all time. “She’d love this.”
“What happened to practical and useful?”
He shrugged and grabbed a box of the set from underneath the display. “Your fault.”
In the end, I purchased the practical gift, a toaster oven. I didn’t know Leika well enough to know what sort of pretty things she might want for a new house, but everyone needed a toaster oven, right?
As we stepped back out into the busy streets, shopping bags in hand, we stood shuffling our feet, neither of us knowing what to do next.
“I, uh, should get home,” I said pointing in the opposite direction of his apartment.
He nodded but took my large and quite heavy bag from me. “You can’t carry that thing all the way home.” He put both bags in one hand effortlessly and hailed a cab.
He opened the door for me and then handed me my bag. I was disappointed that our goodbye had been so rushed, but he was right – there was no way I was going to make it home with this bulky thing.
I leaned forward to give the driver my address, but Court beat me to it as he slid in beside me. I watched with surprise and elation as he instructed the driver to make two stops, dropping me off first and then him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said with a smile big enough that I was sure he knew how glad I was he had.
“It’ll give me more time to hear about how your new job is going,” he said as he leaned back and adjusted his tie.
“It’s good,” I said, brushing my hair back behind my ear and wishing for something to do or say that would take the attention off me.
He raised his eyebrows. “That’s all I get?”
“I love it, but it’s different than I expected.”
“How so?”
“Well, the work is great. They really threw us newbies right in. I have a small project that I’m totally responsible for and I love that.”
“But?” he asked with a concerned squint.
“I don’t really fit in. I mean, I’ve always been more of a loner than a social butterfly, but I guess I’ve always had at least one friend that I could count on. But now there are very few women and the men stick together. It’s a little lonely,” I admitted feeling both ridiculous and sad.
“You should try spending some time with some of them outside of the office. Suggest a happy hour or something. We did that a lot when I first started out at Harrison and Mac. It was easier to let loose and get to know each other with a drink in hand.”
“That’s a good idea.” I nodded letting the idea roll around in my mind and I decided it was worth a shot. I’d overheard my pod mates mention a bar nearby, so it should be easy to convince them to go one night after work. “Thank you,” I added.
“Sure.”
My feet ached, and I pulled my heels off and groaned louder than I intended as I rubbed at my arches.
“Why do you do that to yourself?” he asked.
“Fashion over function.”
He shook his head. “I like your other shoes – the ones you had on before.”
“Yeah, I know, they’re fun but heels are so much sexier – more eye catching.”
His eyebrows shot up and I giggled at the caveman look on his face.
