We were complete opposites.
And, although we had both changed so much over the years, we were still closer than ever.
“Hi,” I whispered back.
She was holding me so tightly; it was hard to breathe.
“Thanks for not canceling.”
“Well, I tried,” I admitted.
“You know, if you really didn’t want to come tonight, I wouldn’t have forced you.”
“I know.”
I moved to the other side of the table and sat across from her. Once I slung my bag over the corner of the chair, I lifted the wine glass, clicked it against hers, and took a sip.
Pinot noir.
She knew what I needed.
“To moments,” she said as I swallowed.
Rose believed in celebrating them.
Always.
And, according to her, today was one.
“To moments,” I repeated.
She took a drink from her glass, and then she crossed her arms over the table and leaned in closer. “Tell me all about your day. I want to hear every detail.”
I had known this question was coming. That was partly why I’d wanted to cancel. “I woke up, went for a run, and went to work, and now, I’m meeting you. There’s not much else to tell.”
“Alix …”
She didn’t say my name in a reprimanding way.
She said it as though she were encouraging me to talk about it. Because Rose forever assumed I needed to get something off my chest.
“Work was fine,” I said. “The entire shift was rather uneventful, honestly, and for the most part, it was a shockingly safe day in Boston.”
Her face began to relax.
I certainly hadn’t missed how tense it looked.
“And it was a sunny day,” she said.
I nodded. “I’m thankful for that.” I took another sip, hoping I’d satisfied her enough that she would change the topic.
“I have news.”
Relieved that I’d gotten my wish, I reached forward and grabbed a cube of cheese and a slice of prosciutto. “Oh, yeah? What kind of news?”
“I picked a man.”
“What?” I said, chewing the bite that was in my mouth. “You already have a man, so why in the hell would you be looking for another one?”
“He’s not for me. He’s for you.”
I shook my head. “Oh no.”
“You know I’ve been dying to set you up with one of the art directors in my office, and now, it’s finally time. Don’t think I forgot the promise you made me.”
Three months and one week ago, Rose had asked if she could set me up.
I’d told her I would consider it in three months.
She had been smart not to ask me last week.
She was even smarter to ask me now.
I set down the almost-empty glass I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Just as I was about to respond, she said, “I’m not asking you to get serious with the guy. I just want you to meet him for dinner. The same thing we’re doing right now. If there’s chemistry, pursue him. If there isn’t, then at least you tried.”
“You really want to get me laid, don’t you?”
“Is that a bad thing?”
I opened my mouth and then instantly closed it. I needed to think about what I was going to say before something unforgettable came tumbling out of it. “No, I suppose it’s not.”
“Good.” She grinned. “Then, let me get you laid.”
I didn’t know if I’d actually go on the date with the art director. But, to avoid one of Rose’s talks, I smiled and made sure my tone was convincing when I said, “I can hardly wait.”
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