Page 8 of Ambiguous
“I can’t tell you anything that would breach client confidentiality.”
“Then tell me every single thing you can.” She sounds like she’s gritting her teeth a bit, which, okay, it’s not like she doesn’t know I can’t talk about client secrets. “What was he wearing? What did he say? What did he smell like?”
“He wore Gucci and pearls, he has a really sexy accent, and he smells like rum and vanilla.”
Silence. Then, “Seriously?”
“He smelled great,” I admit. “Like you want to lick him.”
“Do you understand now why I’ve had a crush on him forever? Oh my god, you have a crush on him, too, now,” she accuses. “You do, don’t you? You’ve never said anything positive about him since I became a fan. I bet you’ve been suppressing this for years, Sam.Years.”
I let out a very loud sigh. “He’s your favorite, not mine. But after meeting him? I can see the attraction.”
“Tell me everything.”
I put her on FaceTime. Hazel eyes watch me, framed by straight dark hair.
By the end of me telling her everything not confidential or private, she sighs contentedly. “You’re the envy of the entire Jules Hill fandom, you know that?”
“I can’t be the envy. No one’s going to know about it. You can’t tell anyone.”
“Absolutely not.” Her horror registers, loud and clear. “This was one of those special moments that will go down in history as the best day of your life.”
“Well, I don’t know about that—”
“It will be. Mark my words. You will measure time by BJ and AJ. Before Julian and After Julian.”
“Most people will not think ‘Before Julian’ if I say ‘BJ.’”
Emily laughs. “Let me bask in the reflected glory of your brush with greatness.”
“He’s just a man. I’m not going to put him on a pedestal.”
“But can you see why everyone adores him?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I can see how there’s something about him that makes everyone fall in love with him. Not that I believe love is such a big deal,” I add hastily, wincing as I think of Asa.
She rolls her eyes. “I know you’re the cynic, Sam. But us normal people, we believe in love.”
“Love’s a cop-out. It’s a plot device.”
She gasps and holds her crossed hands to her heart like she’s Snow White. “How dare you say that.”
“Oh, give it up, Em. All the worst movie endings are the ones where love is the answer to all the problems. Book endings, too.A Wrinkle in Time? She saves her brother bylovinghim? Give me a break.Interstellar? For fuck’s sake, do something original.”
“Most people think both of those stories are highly original,” she retorts.
“Just… love is not the strongest thing in the universe, okay? It’s simply not.”
“Wow. You feel very strongly about this, ironically. What is the strongest thing, then?”
“Diamonds, I think.”
“You’resounromantic,” she groans.
“I don’t need to be romantic,” I argue. “It’s pointless. When love shows up as a solution in those movies, it means the author didn’t have a better idea. It’s the easiest resolution. Sure,” I scoff. “Love will save the day. Whatever.” You could probably see my eye roll from the moon.
Emily’s quiet and gives me a look.
