I studied him, wondering if he knew what a shitty liar he was. One of his hands clenched and unclenched. The other tugged on the hem of his hoodie. His gaze was everywhere but on me. He gnawed at the inside of his mouth. He played with his hair. His tells screamed much louder than his words. He wanted to be only friends no more than I did. But I smiled at him and tilted my chin.
“If that works better for you, I understand.”
Disappointment and devastation crossed his face before he schooled his features. “Thank you for understanding.”
“That’s what friends do.”
He held out his hand. “I’ll look for that file for you.”
I waved him off. “I found it just before you came in.”
“The printer?”
“The cable was loose. I don’t need you anymore. It’s fine.”
His shoulders sagged, and he turned to leave.
He paused at the door, but I kept my head down. It wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
After he left, I shut my door and called Katy, Richard’s wife. She was my closest friend in BC, and I needed her advice.
After hearing about Gracie and Heather’s latest news, and how much Richard missed me in the office and she missed me in general, Katy cleared her throat.
“Okay, kiddo—what’s up? I can tell something is wrong. If you hate it there, say the word and Richard will have you back here in a second.”
“No, I like it here, it’s just . . .”
“Just?” she prompted.
I told her about Reid. Our little dance in the office. Kissing on the sofa and his sudden retreat. His odd behavior all week.
“I think I talked too much about my dad. I didn’t think about how it would make him feel since he doesn’t have parents.”
“I think there is more to it than talking about your dad. I think you hit a nerve, but I don’t know him, so what it was, I can’t say.”
“I was wondering about talking to Aiden for advice. Reid is close to him.”
She laughed. “Who would you talk to if you were here and needed some advice in the office? Who would know more than anyone?”
I answered without hesitation. “Laura.” She was Graham’s wife and his partner at The Gavin Group. She knew everything that went on in that office.
“Exactly. I think you need to talk to Sandy. From what Richard has said, she runs them all, the same way Laura does. She’s the eyes and ears of the place. She would have more insight than anyone.”
“Good advice.”
I heard the telltale cry of a baby in the background.
“I have to go. Heather woke up, and that means my twenty-minute reprieve from both of them is over. Once the baby wakes up, Gracie is done with her nap.” She sighed, but I knew she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “Just like her father. Opens her eyes, and she’s raring to go.”
I chuckled. “Kiss them both for me.”
“I will. Let me know how it goes.”
“You’ll be the first one.”
Thursday, I brought in cookies—oatmeal raisin. I left some in the lunchroom, then sought out Sandy. She was in the boardroom, preparing it for a meeting with the partners. I handed her the small container. “For you.”
She peered inside with a delighted smile. “Oh, my favorite! Thank you.”
“I was thinking of going to Remi’s for lunch. Any chance you’d like to join me?”
“As if I would turn down lunch at Remi’s—what time?”
“One?”
“Excellent.”
I appeared by her desk five minutes early and swallowed to clear my dry throat when I saw Reid there. He looked tired and despondent, talking quietly to Sandy. I straightened my shoulders.
“Hey, Sandy, are you ready?”
She stood, gathering her purse.
“Hi, Becca,” Reid mumbled.
I smiled brightly. “Hey, Reid. All okay with the server room?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“I heard there were cookies today.”
“Yep. Oatmeal raisin.”
“I didn’t get one before they were all gone.”
Sandy looked between us, ducking her head. “Becca brought me my own container. Wasn’t that kind?”
“I usually get one too,” Reid muttered.
I laughed, hooking arms with Sandy. “I didn’t know if you liked oatmeal raisin. You’ll have to be quicker next time. Or, you know, tell me what you’re thinking.”
We headed to the elevator, Reid staring after us.
Once we were inside, Sandy pressed the button.
“Well, this should be interesting.”
Sandy listened to me talk, not saying anything until I was done. She finished her chicken piccata, laying down her fork and knife and patting her lips with her napkin.
“So, Reid spent the day, kissed you, you cut his hair, you two talked about your pasts, and he walked out?”
I pushed my eggplant parmesan around my plate, my appetite nonexistent. “Yes.”
“Well, you did a good job on his hair. He looks tidy for a change.”
I half smiled and set down my fork. “I think I upset him talking about my dad. It was insensitive of me to talk about how close we were when Reid has no family.”
She raised her eyebrows. “He told you that?”
“Yes.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“Not much. I think his past makes him uncomfortable.”
She pursed her lips and sipped her mineral water. “Tell me exactly what you said.”
I repeated the conversation as best I could remember.
Sandy nodded her head. “It’s not that you’re close with your father. It’s your father’s advice.”
I grimaced. “Not to let men take advantage?”
Sandy sighed and patted my hand. “You are a lovely girl, Becca. Incredibly intelligent. I think you’d make a good match for my Reid. That boy is lost and needs someone to ground him.”
“Thank you . . . ?” I had a feeling she had more to say.
“But as intelligent as you are, you’re missing the big picture.”
“Which is?”
“I cannot betray Reid’s confidence, but I will say this—think about what your father said to you. Carefully.”
I mulled over the words, my eyes growing round.
“Reid. Oh my God, is he a recovering alcoholic?”
She shook her head imperceptibly.
“It’s not drugs. I’ve heard his views on drugs.”
Her head barely moved.
My mouth formed an O.
“Reid’s been in jail?”
“You would have to ask him that question.” She bent close, tapping the table. “And if you choose to ask him, I expect you to have already decided to listen to what he has to say and realize people move on from their mistakes. If not, I suggest you do exactly what Reid has requested and remain friends.”
My heart beat hard in my chest. I thought of Reid. How he treated everyone around him, including me. With respect and kindness. The pain on his face the past week. How much I missed talking to him. The way I felt when he kissed me. How incredibly sad I would be if that never happened again.