Page 13 of Friend Zoned

She shows up a few minutes later dressed in her navy-blue uniform. I know it’s probably a cheap polyester blend, but I’ve never seen someone look so good in one of these uniforms. The pants fit her just right and the jacket is tapered at the waist. She’s perfect. She smiles as she walks to the table, and I forget where I am for a second.

“Greenwich,” she says, standing much too far away.

“I refuse to call you Brooklyn.”

“I live in Harlem now.”

The waitress returns with my omelet and my side of bacon.

“Are you sure you can’t join me?” I already know she won’t.

“I can’t. Some of us work for a living and can’t indulge in Sunday brunch.” She sticks her hand inside her jacket pocket and pulls out a phone. It has the Walsh Group logo on it, so I know it’s for work purposes. She says her name and listens for about a full minute.

“I have to go,” she says after putting the phone away. “I have an emergency upstairs.” She points toward the ceiling. “It was good to see you.”

She leaves before I can respond, and I’m left feeling completely dismissed, but that doesn’t deter me from watching her ass until she’s out of my eyesight. I eat my food in record time and realize I have nothing else to do for the rest of the day. I can go home and look at the last game and make notes, but I don’t feel like doing that today.

Me: What time do you get off?

It takes her fifteen minutes to respond, and in that time, I’ve paid the bill, but have yet to get up.

Jeannie: 5ish

Me: Meet me in the lobby at 5

I put my phone away and walk out. I’m grateful when I don’t see her in the lobby and request a room. The clerk eyes me suspiciously until I walk into the elevator. She continues to look at me until the doors close. The Mischiefs are popular in this city, and I often get recognized.

It’s just a standard room, but it will do for a few hours. Still tired from my trip, I strip into my boxers and climb between the sheets. I make sure to set my alarm for four-thirty.

Chapter 7

Jeannie

I knew the differences between us were vast on Saturday when I met him, but they were clear today. They should have been less. He was dressed down, but even in jeans and a v-neck sweater, I could smell the elitism on him as I stood there in my polyester work uniform.

Now, he wants me to meet him in the lobby.

“Boss!” Layla nearly knocks me over in her haste to get to me. “I think I saw the Mischief’s coach here. He got a room.” My head snaps up at her words. We see quite a few celebrities in this hotel, but we are never to address them or ask for an autograph. That’s the company policy.

Layla runs around me, bouncing an imaginary ball. “I was on the girls’ varsity team in high school. I bet I can teach the home team a thing or two.” She pretends to shoot the imaginary ball. “Anyway, that’s not why I called you. You’ll never believe this shit.” She takes my elbow and pulls me into my broom closet of an office. Whatever this is sounds like it’s going to be juicy, and it will help take my mind off a certain coach who dropped at least fifteen hundred dollars for a room he’s only going to use for a few hours.

“What is it, Layla? I need to meet maintenance on the eighth floor.”

“The douchebag just called here. He made sure to give his name and asked about renting one of the smaller banquet rooms for a baby shower. I lied and told him all the dates he wanted weren’t available, but he requested that you call him back just to make sure.”

I let out a groan of frustration. I know what Quintin is after, but he won’t get it. I don’t give a shit about his life, and I won’t pretend that I do. “Which dates?”

“He said either the Saturday or Sunday of the third week of February. When I told him we were booked, he asked for the third weekend of January.”

In other words, he wants this shower on the weekend when I work. What a fucking clown. As much as Quintin acts like he’s better than me, there’s no way he could afford anything at this hotel, but since he’s an employee of the Walsh Group, he gets a big discount.

“Okay. I’ll call him back or he’ll make trouble. Which weekend is available?”

“Both,” Layla sheepishly admits.

“Fine. He can do whatever the hell he wants, but if he expects a reaction from me, he’s going to be disappointed. I appreciate you, Layla, but Quintin is more of a nuisance than anything. He’ll make trouble for you, and he’s not worth it.”

Now on top of dealing with Aiden, I have to deal with Quintin too, and I still have five hours left in my shift. Eager to put Quintin behind me, I pick up my office phone and dial the number Layla just gave me. I know the number by heart. It’s the same cell number he’s had since I’ve known him.

---