Page 116 of More Than Pen Pals

“Melissa,” I stand and put my hand out to shake hers when she arrives at our table, “it’s so nice to meet you. I apologize for not introducing myself to you last week at the game.”

She grips my hand firmly but not painfully. “I could easily have introduced myself. But it’s great to meet you now.”

I introduce her to Wendy, and we take our seats.

“Soooo,” she says, “I won’t pretend this isn’t awkward, but I’m glad we’re doing this.”

“Yeah? Same here.”

“I’m here for the show,” Wendy quips. “Ignore me. I’ll be drinking my wine and taking notes for the Hamilton boys.”

I elbow her. “You will not say one word about what happens tonight to either of them.”

“You know Ash and Randall, too?” Melissa asks Wendy.

“Yes. Leslie and I both work for Carter-Jenkins PR. Ash acts as legal counsel for us, and I’m in their offices a lot, so I know Randall too.”

Melissa turns her attention to me. “Are you and Ash officially dating?”

“No. My boyfriend of two years broke up with me when I moved here a few weeks ago, and I’m not ready to be in a serious relationship yet. I don’t want casual with Ash, so we’re waiting.”

“I get that,” she says. “My boyfriend of three years cheated on me a few months back, which instigated my move back here. I’m over him, but I’m not over what he did to me. The woman was in our friend group, though the two of us weren’t close. And the rest of our friends picked the two of them over me. I’m still quite bitter about the whole situation.”

“Dang,” Wendy says. “That’s rough. But good for you for taking control of your life and starting fresh. I admire that.”

“Really? I often feel like people think I ran home to Mommy with my tail between my legs,” Melissa admits.

“Do you have a good job?” Wendy asks, although she knows the answer.

“Yes, I work in the Cubs front office.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“I adore it.”

“Do your parents subsidize your lifestyle?”

I don’t know why I’m amazed by Wendy’s brazenness.

“No. I’m determined to make it solely on my own.”

My gaze is ping-ponging between the two of them. So much for Wendy being an observer.

“Then you did not run home to Mommy, and your tail is waving enthusiastically. You made a wise decision to move where you’re close to people who love you but where you can also be independent and work in a job you love. If anybody has a problem with that, they’re simply jealous.”

Melissa has tears in her eyes by the time Wendy finishes. “Thank you for saying that.”

I point my thumb at Wendy but look at Melissa. “PR master right there, my new friend. Wendy cares about people—not only about making them feel good or look good to outsiders. She reveals the true positive aspects of a situation, and if there’s a negative side, she helps the person deal with it privately. She doesn’t sweep it under the rug and hope for the best. That’s why they pay her the big bucks.”

Melissa nods. “You must be doing okay, too, if they gave you Diego Sanchez as a client.”

“That was mostly luck. I’ve only been here a few weeks and had little on my plate, and I had some experience doing PR for a couple of Peoria Chiefs players at my old job.” Since Melissa works for the Cubs, I know I don’t need to explain to her who the Chiefs are.

“You were in Peoria before this?” she asks.

“Yes, and Galesburg before that, but I’m from Arkansas. Thus the accent.”

“Galesburg? You went to Knox? Do you know Patrick Chamberlain?”

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