“Blanca and Ethan are more than co-workers. They were dating and now Sierra is mad. What do you think they should do?”
Just like that Seth throws me under the double-decker bus.
“Just so you know, next time your mom wants to talk about sex toys, I’m setting it up where you bump into her at a sex shop,” I whisper.
Dylan chokes on his coffee and Knox shakes his head, telling Seth that was uncool.
Mrs. Andrews sits down at the table next to us. “You like her?”
I’m polite so of course I answer. “I do.”
“And what does Blanca think?” she asks.
“She thinks her friendship with Sierra is more permanent than us. That she doesn’t want to mess that up because we could be over after one more date.”
Mrs. Andrews nods. “You know, there was this time when me and Mr. Andrews—”
“Shit, nothing good comes from that start to a story.” Seth stands up and disappears into the kitchen.
She shoos him away with her hand. “All I was going to say was there was a time I thought Mr. Andrews’ intentions weren’t pure. That he only wanted to get me up to Lover’s Point in the backseat of his Trans Am to do the deed. He started seeing Gwen Bakersfield too and she had no problem hopping in the back seat. She was loose.”
I nod, not sure how this relates to my situation.
“Where’s Gwen now?” Dylan asks.
“She’s in New York. Married some man twenty-years older than her. I’m sure she’s making use of those toys, so her husband doesn’t break his hip.”
I bite my lip with the hope that we can get through this conversation without any specifics of how great of a hip Mr. Andrews has.
“I told him I was done. That if he wanted Gwen then fine, but all she was, was a pair of tits and ass. That if he wanted a real woman, one who would love him for his faults, one who would be a partner by his side, then he had to prove it to me.”
I scrunch my eyebrows at Dylan and Knox. Both are on the same page as me. This has nothing to do with my situation.
“I know it’s different. But you and Sierra weren’t meant to be together. She was your Gwen and if it’s bothering you this much that Sierra has put down her iron fist than maybe Blanca is me.”
I tilt my head trying to figure out the puzzle she’s talking about.
Dylan laughs but covers it up by spilling his coffee. He tries to stand but Mrs. Andrews uses the rag in her hands.
“All I’m saying is if Blanca is so important, shouldn’t you be fighting for her instead of complaining in a bagel shop with your friends? Mr. Andrews fought and look at us.”
Seth walks out of the back and Mrs. Andrews’ smile shines as bright as a full moon. “I’d change nothing. Gwen had to be in our life for us to get here. Otherwise he’d take me for granted.” She pats me on the back. “If you really want her, why would you allow her to just walk away from you?”
Mrs. Andrews moves to another table asking how their orders were and I just stare after her.
“So?” Dylan asks.
“She’s right. I already want to fight for her, but I have no idea how.”
“Seriously? That’s easy. Everywhere she goes, you go,” Dylan says, balling his paper from the bagel and tossing it into the bag.
“Please don’t make me file a restraining order against you,” Knox adds.
“Nah. But we have a photo shoot tomorrow and I plan on using our close proximity to my advantage.” Ideas float around in my head.
“Jesus, don’t get arrested. I can’t stand it when you dipshits do stupid shit.” Knox stands up and throws a ten on the table. “I’m off break.” He squawks into his radio that he’s back in service and with a wave he’s out of the bagel store and back in his squad car.
“I have one place I can help you. For my birthday we’re doing a scavenger hunt in the city,” Dylan says.
“Awesome, but you know Sierra is gonna have a problem with that.”
He nods. “She has to get used to it. You were my friend first and I should’ve stuck up for you sooner. I’m on your side with this.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Now you better get to work too.” I eye my phone and stand, leaving a nice tip for Mrs. Andrews.
“See you Seth!” We wave to him and he tries to wave back but Mrs. Andrews is currently pinching his cheeks and telling him what a great son he is.
I try not to be envious.
Walking to the river’s edge, I spot Blanca sitting on a park bench. She’s wearing one of those jumpsuit kind of outfits. It has spaghetti straps and gives me a glimpse of her shoulders and tan arms.
I opted for a pair of linen shorts and a button-down to remain casual because that’s what Mars And Venus is. We’re not the stuffy suits. We’re the young graduates who write about hooking up with co-workers and the best happy hour spots in Cliffton Heights.
“Hey,” I say and sit down next to her.
She looks up and I realize she’s wearing a lot more make-up than usual. “Hi. The truck is right there.” She points to a trailer that must be where she was.
“I have to get done up?”
“They said they want powder on your face and some eyeliner at least.”
I roll my eyes and stand, heading in the direction of the trailer.
Twenty minutes later, I’m out with what feels like five pounds of crud on my face.
“Is this really necessary?” I stand in front of Blanca and she laughs.
“You look very beautiful,” she says.
I shake my head. “This is why I’m in print journalism and not television.”
She laughs and I take it in, absorb it into my bones. I love that sound. I haven’t heard it often enough since everything went down. It’s clear she’s bothered by this, but she’s the one who has to tell Sierra to stand down.
“Are you two ready?” A guy holding a camera comes up to us.
Blanca stands and I have to backstep in order not to touch her. She lowers her head and follows the photographer’s assistant over to where they want us.
“Phil said he wants this to be casual and to capture the two of you having fun. So this is a little unorthodox but can the two of you walk down the path and just talk?”
Blanca looks at me over her shoulder. “What do you want us to talk about?”
The photographer looks to me and then back to Blanca. “Phil said you guys were good friends. That you have fun in the office, and he didn’t think it would be a problem to get some candid shots. Is that not the case?”
I squeeze through the small opening of the assistant and the photographer. “No, it is. It’s just the pressure of the camera following us. How about you give us a few minutes to warm up?”
“This isn’t a porno,” Blanca says behind me. “I don’t need to be fluffed.”
I raise my eyebrows at her, and she throws her hands up in the air and walks away.
I hold up my finger to the photographer who sucks at keeping a straight face. “Give us one minute.”
“Sure thing.”
I run after her and we end up at the river’s edge. “So, that was interesting.”