Page 18 of The Disasters of Dating
“If you already have plans, it’s no big deal.” He looks disappointed at the prospect. “Or…you can bring them along. Whatever you want to do.” Brenden has an “I-don’t-care-one-way-or-another” look on his face. But I’m not buying it.
“Yeah, I’d like to go.” I set down my phone and face reality. Hanging out with four real people is better than one really cute imaginary person. Okay, she isn’t imaginary. It’s our relationship that is.
“Feel free to invite them along,” he says again. I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t believe I have a friend to invite or if he is trying to be accommodating.
“I’m not sure if she is even available. She probably has to work.” I mumble.
Brenden’s lips quirk up slightly. “She? I didn’t know you already had a girlfriend here. Nice work.” He nods in a total bro way. Is he inferring I have a girlfriend in New Hampshire, too? Not that I have one in either location. I haven’t had enough time in either place to have that claim to fame. Not that I’d ever have two girlfriends. I’m not that kind of guy.
I shake my head and raise a brow, hoping he’ll take it as a light reprimand. “She’s not my girlfriend. We only met yesterday.”
His nod only grows in fervor. “Still, nice work.”
I decide to leave it alone. “What time are you meeting there?”
“We’re meeting at 7. That way, we can go home and change out of our suits.”
“Great. I’ll see you then.” There’s still enough time for me to go over a few more things before I go back to the hotel and change, too.
Brenden stands awkwardly in front of my desk for a minute longer before he mumbles, “Cool,” and then backs out of my office.
I release a breath and rotate my shoulders. Picking up my phone, I open my contacts. I’m going to text her. This dinner with the guys from work is a great excuse, and it won’t have to be just the two of us. There will be others to fill in any awkward moments that are certain to be there, especially at the beginning.
I find her number and start typing.
Hey, you probably didn’t expect to hear from me again. But some guys?—
I pause. Friends? That doesn’t feel right. But if I say guys, will she be weird when Jasmine and Claire are there too? I backspace the guys.
Work associates are going to eat at Black Strap Brewery, and I wondered if you wanted to come along? We’re meeting there at 7.
My fingers hover over the phone a moment longer before I suck it up and press send. I’m not a hundred percent happy with the title of work associates either, but I don’t know what else to call them. I don’t want to set a false expectation.
I drop my phone on my desk as if it’s on fire and stare at it. Okay. I made the first move. I guess the ball’s in her court now.
I walk into the restaurant and see Jasmine first. She’s sitting at a high table back in the far corner. Her dark hair, which is usually in a tight bun on the back of her head, is flowing down her back and over one shoulder. I internally shrug. She’s prettier than I had originally thought. Not that she’s my type. Besides, I don’t like mixing business and pleasure. It’s never a good idea.
“Can I help you?” The hostess at the front desk asks.
I smile and nod toward the back. “I’m meeting some friends. I see them back there.”
She nods. “Okay. You can head on back.”
I head back toward the table. I wonder if Poppy is here yet? I push that thought away. If she were, she would probably be out in the front area waiting for me. Or she would have texted me to ask where I am. It’s not like she has the names of the other people or knows what they look like. I frown. I don’t even know if she’s coming. She didn’t respond to my text. I’m not sure why I thought it was a good idea to text her in the first place. She had made her stance on the matter rather clear.
As I get closer, I see Dan and Claire also. Like Jasmine, Claire’s hair is down. She isn’t as much of a bun wearer as Jasmine is, but her hair is usually pulled back off her face with a clip or something. She and Jasmine are complete opposites as far as looks go. Where Jasmine has dark hair, dark eyes, and tan, Claire is red-headed, blue-eyed, and fair—like lily-white and freckled, fair. They are both pretty in their own way. But I am not in the least attracted to either of them. Which seems fortunate as I work closely with them.
I lift a hand as I come to the table, only then seeing Brenden hanging out in the chair in the corner. Has he been banished or is that his preferred seat? “Hey, it looks like everyone made it,” I say with a smile, and settle into one of the two empty seats. Great, they’ve saved a seat for Poppy, who, in all likelihood, isn’t coming. This won’t be awkward or anything.
Dan looks behind me. “I thought you were bringing a date?”
I bite back my initial response for him to mind his own business. “She has to work,” I say instead. “But if she can get off early enough, she’ll stop by.” Man, I’ve become my junior high self. Lying about a girl so I don’t look like a loser. I’ve reached a new low.
“Oh, okay. Then I guess we can order?” Brenden looks around at everyone, as if someone else might have an imaginary date they’re waiting for. I consider faking sick and getting mine to go, just to end the awkwardness I’m feeling.
“I’m starving, so I’m ready to order whenever everyone else is,” Claire says with a smile. If I’ve noticed anything about Claire, it’s that she’s usually happy. I’m not sure if that is good or bad for your HR manager. But I’ve decided to reserve my opinion until we actually hire more people who need HR-ing.
“I’m with you. Chinese food never seems like it has any staying power. If I hadn’t eaten a protein bar at 3, I’d be about to eat this table,” Jasmine says with a laugh. The others join her. I smile big, but I’m not feeling it. It’s not her, it’s me.
