Page 11 of Running Into You
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A few minutes later, Andrew appears in my doorway and knocks on the open frame.
“Hey! What’s up?” My enthusiasm for the day has not decreased in the slightest. Is this what it feels to be extroverted? I feel like I could start a conversation with a total stranger or join a gospel choir just for the hell of it.
“Not much.” He leans on the doorway, filling the frame in his perfectly fitting Ted Baker suit. “Just wanted to see if you’re free this Saturday.” His tone is casual, but his eyes are intent on my face. “That band I was telling you about is playing again, and I was wondering if you want to go with me.”
In the two years we’ve worked together, Andrew has never asked me to do anything social with him. To my recollection, the only non-work-related question he’s asked me is if there was any more Singapore Rice Noodle left when a bunch of us were working late. The answer was “no.”
“Oh!” I’m momentarily thrown. “I actually have plans this Saturday. Maybe next time?”
“For sure.” He shrugs but doesn’t leave. His eyes travel over me like I’ve undergone a major renovation. “Did you do something different with your hair?” I touch it self-consciously.
“No, I just forgot to tie it back this morning before I left my apartment.” I open my drawer and grab a spare hair elastic.
“You should wear it like that more often. It looks really nice.” He straightens and runs a hand through his own carefully styled locks. “I’ll talk to you later.” The way he fills the doorframe so nicely reminds me I wanted to ask him something.
“Where do you work out?” The question momentarily startles him.
“What makes you think I work out?” He turns around, smiling slightly.
“The fact that I have eyes and a basic knowledge of the human form in its natural state.” This gets a sheepish laugh from him.
“I work out at Lynx over on Arlington Street.” He shrugs again, his hands in his pockets.
Wait, is he…? Holy shit, he’s totally flexing. His physique is impressive, but compared to images of Josh glistening while he stretched that are permanently etched on my brain, the effect is kind of lost on me.
“Thanks! A friend just moved to the city and was looking for a recommendation.” I make a quick note on a Post-it.
“What’s her name? I could arrange a trial pass for her.”
“Really? That would be amazing! His name is Josh.”
“Ah.” He nods. A look of realization passes over his face. “Is he your Saturday plans?”
“Well, yes.” I stiffen. “He just moved into my building and I’m going to show him around. You know. Help acclimatize him to the neighborhood.”
“That’s mighty neighborly of you, Liz.” He smirks. “I’ll see you around.” He leaves and I stare at the doorway after he’s gone.
What the hell was that? Is there a full moon? Is my body secreting something that causes men to suddenly take notice of me? I’ve just begun to let myself consider the unlikely possibility that Josh is flirting with me and now Andrew decides to shoot his shot? What is going on?
I make my way to the ladies’ room and find it empty, not surprising for this time of day. The rich navy tile wall and white fixtures give the space a cozy nautical feel.
I stand in front of the angled mirror stretched above the sink. Aside from the fact that I did leave my hair down today, I look the same as I always do. My heart-shaped face is on the pale side because I’ve never mastered bronzer. My narrow shoulders hunch slightly, and I straighten my spine and lower them away from my ears. This causes my large breasts to stand at attention, which is probably why my posture isn’t great in the first place. My waist doesn’t taper in the middle like some girls. I’m kind of shaped like the letter H. I have a pretty generous ass which I don’t mind, aside from the fact that every pair of pants I buy needs to be altered. It’s probably why I mostly wear skirts. Sturdy is how my aunt Debbie had described me when I was younger, and not much has changed. I don’t look like the waif thin girls that could be carried away by a stiff breeze, and that’s never really bothered me. But I’m also not the girl that men cross crowded rooms to strike up a conversation with.
So why out of the blue are two straight-up tens suddenly taking notice?
Chapter 7
Betty
Ihuff up the stairs to my apartment for the fifth day straight. It sucks slightly less than it did the day before. Progress.
Once I’m inside, I drop my bags and kick off my shoes. I spend a minute flexing and rolling back and forth on my feet, massaging my sore arches. I take a step toward my bedroom, eager to strip off my work clothes for something more comfortable, when someone pounds on the door. Turning the knob, I jump back in surprise as the door swings open and Josh tumbles into my apartment. Apparently, he had been leaning his whole weight against it, and hadn’t expected me to answer so quickly.
“Come right in!” I chime, as I look down at him sprawled on my floor.
“I’m hungry.” He pouts up at me, making no attempt to get up. “I need you to help me not be hungry anymore.”
