Page 42 of Brooklynaire
Alex snorts. “It’s great to be out of the office, Isuppose.”
“Actually, it would be great to beinthe office.” Rebecca’s smile fades. “I am on sick leave right now. It’s the pits. Nate invited me to this shindig because I have a bad case of cabinfever.”
“Right.” Alex eyes Becca, then her glance darts to me again. I can see her wheels turning. “How long have you been working in Brooklynnow?”
“Two years,” Rebecca says, watching the waves at the edge of the darkocean.
“Is it that long already?” Alex asks, and I sort of brace myself. I don’t like the calculating look in my friend’s eye. “Do you likeBrooklyn?”
“Love it,” Becca says quickly. “The hockey team is a lot of fun. And our setup in DUMBO is pretty great. Everyone lives nearby, and I’ve really gotten to know all the vendors we work with. It’s like a small town in the middle of thecity.”
“That does sound nice,” Alex agrees. “Someone is waving at you, honey. I guess they’re letting people in now. Time to hustle forcharity.”
We all look toward the ropes, where my winger Castro is beckoning to Rebecca. “Look who’s here!” hecalls.
“No way!” another player shouts. “Becca! We missedyou!”
Rebecca hesitates. “Do you mind if I sayhello?”
“Go,” I tell her.Stay, my heartwhines.
“I’m not going to pick his pocket on the router division in the next two minutes,” Alex says with a grumble. “Even I can’t work thatfast.”
Becca gives me a glance of amusement and then hurries off to greet her friends. I watch her walk away, her smooth heels against thegrass…
“Hey,” Alex says, snapping her fingers. “Romeo.”
This startles me out of my stupor. “What?”
Alex smirks at me. Then she takes my drink out of my hand and takes a tiny sip. “I swear to God, Nate. Does that girl know how youfeel?”
Shit.
Alex snickers at my expression. “Seriously? I hope you weren’t actually trying to keep it a secret. Your poker facesucks.”
“I don’t often lose at poker.” World’s lamestcomeback.
My oldest friend rolls her eyes. “Don’t play when she’s at the table, then. I don’t think you could even see your owncards.”
I stare into my whisky glass. My infatuation with Rebecca needs to remain a secret. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. Nothing is going to happenthere.”
“Whynot?”
Ugh. I can’t discuss this with Alex of all people. “She’s an employee. It would be completely improper.” Worse yet, if I scare Becca off I’ve lost not only an employee but a goodfriend.
“I see.” Alex considers me. Then she puts her hand on my shoulders and squeezes. It feels good, because nobody ever touches me. Not really. “But how can you live like this? I’ve met puppies more subtle than you are. That’s why you sent her to Brooklyn, right? To try to get her out of yourhead.”
“Whatever,” I say simply, watching Rebecca hug my backup goalie. “It didn’twork.”
Alex sighs. “You’re a really smart man, Nate. But you don’t knoweverything. Especially aboutwomen.”
She’s got me there. Women are a mystery to me. Even Alex, who I know prettywell.
“We’re not all Juliet, you know,” Alex saysflatly.
“Gosh, really?” Even I wasn’t clueless enough to equate the issues I had with my ex to the Rebecca Situation. “I know that,Al.”
“I’m not sure you do,” she says quietly, her big brown eyes studying me. “Juliet did a number on you. She basically convinced you that no woman would find you attractive if it weren’t for yourmoney.”
