Page 21 of Between Love and War
“You?!” Richard blurts out.
“You are the face of lifestyle brands, and the cover of Men’s Health!” Haley says incredulously.
Michael shrugs. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”
Everyone bombards him with questions, and he answers each one with unmistakable confidence. He tells them that he indulges every once in a while, and that it’s been stressful for him lately. He tells them that he started in college.
And I just stand there. Grateful, but also furious.
Because he’s never going to let me live this down.
Just then, Manang Linda enters the store, unsurprised that we’re all here.
“Good, full attendance,” she begins. Everyone looks at her, and she doesn’t waste a second. “I need you to help out Kate for the year-end event.”
Bon springs up from her seat. “I’d love to, Manang Linda, really I do,” she says with a pout. I’m one hundred percent sure she means it. Bon loves parties. “But I have this big production at work to get ready for the holidays.” She works as a film producer at this big firm, and she’s apparently tasked to create short holiday films for social media engagement.
“Okay, and I assume Ryan would just make up an excuse not to join since you’re not there.” She chuckles. Ryan just shrugs like he agrees. “Very well, then Haley, Richard, and…” She scans the room with her index finger, and lands on Michael. “You.”
“Sorry? What am I supposed to do?” he asks, bewildered.
“Ask Katherine.” I almost groan, but I hold back. As if spending my work days with him wasn’t enough, I had to spend free time with him too.
Michael turns to look at me with his eyebrows raised. “I’ll tell you on Monday,” I whisper beside him.
“Why not now? Or tomorrow?” he asks.
“Not now because I still have to think about where you’ll fit in all this.” I scowl. “Andnottomorrow,” I continue, ignoring him as he smirks, “because I don’t want to see you every day.”
“You’re the only person who ever told me that. Most people fall in line to get a glimpse of me.”
I turn to face him fully, my voice flat. “If I had a peso for every time you overestimated your appeal, I’d be retired by now. On a beach. Far away from this conversation.”
He just grins, undeterred. “You’re fun when you’re mean.”
“And you’re tolerable when you’re quiet.”
Michael
Something about Kate is so annoying, I can’t place my finger on it. She looks like she should be soft and kind, but somehow every time she opens her mouth, it’s the opposite. On one hand, it’s jarring. On the other, it’s also a bit of fun.
I may be enjoying this because I’ve never met anyone I can just tease like this. Most people either hate me quietly or fawn. With the women in my circle, they’re all too glamorous–which isn’t a bad thing, but all of it feels very showy.
I cross my arms and lean back in my chair, watching the others talk. Haley’s threatening to make Richard eat the spaghetti she cooked. She’s apparently a very bad cook. Bon is texting furiously for some reason. Ryan is somehow taking a nap in the midst of all this noise. All of it is very… cozy. This townis still weirding me out, because how can everyone justlikeeach other?
I glance sideways. Kate’s pretending not to look at me while absolutely looking at me in her peripheral vision. I don’t know why I notice things like that, but I do.
I smirk.
She notices. Narrows her eyes. “What now?”
“Nothing,” I say, stretching my arms behind my head. “Just… you owe me.”
She’s fiddling with the straw in her drink, pretending she doesn’t care too much. Her cheeks are still slightly pink. Probably from the effort of not screaming at me in public.
She sighs and looks at me. “You’re not gonna shut up about that, are you?”
“Not a chance,” I whisper. “Leverage this good? I’m milking it forever.”
