“Nothing that doesn’t happen every night. Some of the hardest working waitstaff can get stiffed. But I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.”
“Is it an actual possibility? Can you talk to your boss?”
Paris gave a short laugh. Then she took a drink. “Not a chance. The whole industry would have to change. I’m just fantasizing.”
“Start a movement.”
“Maybe I will. But not until tomorrow.” Paris tipped her head back on the sofa.
“Nick asked me for another date,” Emilia said into the silence.
Paris’s head bobbed back up. “Say, what?”
“He texted, invited me to the IPO launch party.”
“But you were going to that already.” Paris frowned. “All ten matched couples were invited.”
“The point is, he asked me to go with him to the party, so it’s a second date.” Plus, tonight he ordered us Thai food and bought a really great bottle of merlot. Well, I suppose his company technically bought the merlot.”
Paris sat up straight. “Wait. Slow down. Back up.Tonight?”
Emilia grinned over the rim of her glass as she nodded. “He called. After he texted and I said yes to going to the party, he called.”
“And invited you...where?”
“To his office. He wanted to talk about an app he’s developing.”
“His office?” Paris wrinkled her nose. “What is wrong with this guy?”
“Nothing. At least not that I can tell so far.”
“He invited you over to talk work. I’m guessing he didn’t pay you.”
“No, but—”
“He ordered Thai food? He didn’t take you out for a steak or some boeuf bourguignon, maybe a bouillabaisse?”
“It wasn’t that kind of a night. And the Thai food was terrific.”
Paris shook her head. “Emilia, Emilia, Emilia.”
“We had sex.”
“Wait...what?” Paris’s voice rose an octave with each word.
“Right there on his office sofa. And it was amazing.”
“Talk about burying the lede.”
“It just sort of happened.”
Paris leaned forward. “Details, please.”
“He’s hot.”
“Like, athlete hot or nerd hot?”
“Does it matter?”