Page 107 of Not Safe For Work

“That’s great, but why all the secrecy?”

“The term sheets for these kinds of deals are insane. Our board’s been back and forth negotiating the legalese for months, and I have no idea how long the whole thing will take. Nothing is a done deal yet. So while it’s all in the works, it’s important our company stays just as desirable as it did when they made the initial offer. Until it’s signed, anyone can back out.”

“How much money are we talking about, Gav?” she asks. Maybe now she’ll be on board with my behavior, once she realizes what it means for us.

“A lot. Multiple seven figures a lot. We’d be set, Gabs. School, loans, all the debt wiped clean. We’d havesavings. Can you imagine?”

“Savings. Wow.” She sighs through the words like I just told her we’d be spending a year vacationing in Santorini.

And now that her feelings toward me have brightened, I share the rest. The loans and lines of credit, the increases in rent every year I kept a secret because I knew how much she loves this apartment.

By the time I’m done, I’ve unburdened myself with anything I’ve ever kept from Gabby. It feels fucking amazing.

“We can make this work,” Gabby says. She stands from the table and shoves a piece of bread in her mouth as she jogs over to her room.

She returns a few moments later with a notebook and a handful of pens and highlighters.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Planning!” she practically screeches. “It’s not like you don’t make good money. However much time stands between now andthe big pay day, we can figure it out. I’m going to put together a budget and I’ll do a better job of meal planning so we stop wasting groceries. No more Ubers to Kadesha’s place. I’m not too good for the train.”

Gabby continues to ramble on, furiously scribbling notes to her pages. But she’s right. We can make this work. I never should’ve doubted letting her in, letting her help me.

I’m done trying to do everything alone.

Pride flares through me as I watch Gabby finalize our new budget. I’m so entranced that I jump when my phone buzzes.

Daanesh Khan:

You still on for the U Club?

Daanesh has been a member at the University Club since he moved to SF. Whenever we get drinks together, we meet there. It’s not a scene like the bars around the city, and we can shoot pool in peace. I completely forgot we had plans tonight, Gabby occupying my mind again.

Me:

Sure. I can be there in thirty

I’d normally Uber there, but after Gabby’s rant, I decide to walk it.

“What’s up, Daan?”I greet my friend with a hug. We haven’t been spending as much time together lately and it’s nice to get back into old habits. Even if everything in my world feels like it’s changing.

We grab a couple drinks at the bar and head to the billiards room.

“Wanna break?” he asks.

I take the offer, and then am immediately reminded of how shitty I am at pool.

Luckily, he’s not much better. Knowing we can both take a rugby hit tends to soften the blow.

“What’d you get into this weekend?” he asks, almost sinking the first cup.

“I was in Sonoma, actually. With Liv’s family. Did you know they own a vineyard?”

Daanesh narrows his eyes at me. “Yeah. I’ve heard of Diamond Sky. What were you doing there?”

“Celebrating Passover. Kind of, I guess. I don’t know. It was honestly confusing as hell.” I finally make a decent shot and scratch. I grunt out my frustration with this game. Finesse, I have not. “It was fun though. Anything with Liv is. Did you know she rides dirt bikes? That girl never stops surprising me.”

“Okay, enough.” Daanesh murmurs. His voice is quiet but there’s a sharp edge to it, hitting me square in the chest. He drops his cue on the table. “You can cut the shit with me, man.”

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