Page 65 of Safer Alone
As Jenny speaks she has her fingers up making air quotes when the word “him” is mentioned. I can’t help but roll my eyes. Is my love life really this interesting?
Sandra looks at Jenny now. “Angie’s friend. She is bringing him to the Christmas party.”
Jenny’s mouth drops open. “Is this the friend you saw in New York?”
I nod, and they both smile
“If he is sending you flowers as a friend, just imagine what he will send you when you’re actually dating him.”
Sandra then takes her leave. Luckily, she pulls Jenny with her, whispering with each other about who my mystery man could possibly be.
I hop up from my position behind the desk, walking around so I can close my office door. I resume my seat and retrieve my phone from its spot in the handbag that is safely stashed in the bottom drawer of my desk. I open up the camera app and position it in front of myself, after smoothing my hair and making sure the angle is right I take a selfie of myself holding the bouquet of roses and then send it to Elliot. I follow this up with a short thank-you text message:
<: Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful :)
I deposit my phone back into my handbag not waiting for a reply. I sit the flowers on the cabinet located on the sidewall of my office. My desk isn’t overly large. so having such a large added item on my desk would make working difficult. Once complete, I get back into the contract that I was reading before my special delivery.
Once I have completed five of the six contracts, I’m feeling good, the afternoon has gone by quickly without any more interruptions. I’ve been able to get through a lot of work, with the sixth contract in hand, I skim over the first two pages. I hear a tap at the door.
“Yeah,” I call out without looking up, it swings open.
“I heard you got flowers. He sure is a lucky guy.”
It’s evident that it is James standing there, I know that voice anywhere. I mark the spot in the contract I am up to before looking up and smiling at him.
“How did you know I received flowers. Is the office full of gossip about it already?”
He shifts the strap of his shoulder bag uncomfortably. “Those of us who know you well are surprised, that’s all. I mean, I consider you one of my closest friends, Angie, and I didn’t even know you were dating.”
Before I can explain he is walking away. I look down at my watch and see it is 5:00 pm. It’s time to head home for the day. I shut down my computer and sling my bag over my shoulder collecting the bouquet, I hold it close to my chest.
I wander out to the car, laying the flowers on the back seat, I then get into the driver’s seat, throwing my handbag onto the passenger seat floor. When the engine purrs to life I begin the drive home, the entire time thinking about what James had just said to me. He was hurt, there was no doubt about that. I really should tell those people important to me about Elliot.
James was right. As much as I am close to him, he is really important to me too. He has been my safety net, the guy I knew was interested in me so when I was ready to jump back into the dating circle I could go with him. He was safe, everything that I should want in a guy and yet Elliot came along and before I knew it, I was now dating him and receiving bouquets of flowers. All the while no one in my life knows it.
Liam, I haven’t told Liam. I immediately feel guilty. Liam told me about Jessica the first time he laid eyes on her. I had to call Liam and tell him, I pull into the designated parking spot for my apartment, collecting my items. I lock the car and make my way to my apartment. Once inside I place the flowers into a vase of water and proudly display the card in front of them. After showering and eating dinner, I fish my phone out of my bag and see two text messages from Elliot:
<: I’m glad you like them, baby.
<: Hope you have had a good day, Missing you.
I can’t help but smile, he misses me just like I miss him. I tap out a quick reply:
<: Only 13 more days, babe :)
With my phone already in hand, I locate Liam’s phone number and hit call. It rings twice before I hear his voice on the other end of the phone.
“Hey Angie, it’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. How’s life?”
The guilty feeling from earlier reappears. It’s true I haven’t spoken to him since letting him know his offer was accepted on the property, which, come to think about it, should be closing later this week.
“I’m sorry about that Liam. I’ve been so busy with work and other things. Are you guys all ready for the move this weekend?”
“Sure are. Jessica and I have taken Friday and Monday off so we have four days to shift all of our things into our new place. Are you free to help?”
This will be a great chance to keep myself busy and tell Liam all about Elliot.
“I sure am. I can help on Saturday afternoon after the four showings I have scheduled and Sunday all day if you want?”
