Page 66 of One Night Only
“You’re a jerk,” I say, trying to hide my smile.
“What I am is out of here. You want to get a real drink? I could be your wingman.”
“I don’t need a wingman.”
“Fine,” he says, grabbing his bag as he forces the cup into my hand. “Enjoy your terrible decision.”
“Goodbye, Will.”
“I give it ten minutes before someone suggests karaoke,” he says and transforms as he turns back to the room. “Suzie! I’ve got plans. Congratulations!”
I hide my smirk. Will and I go out a lot together, usually so we can complain about situations just like this. He can be surprisingly sociable for someone who claims to dislike ninety percent of humanity and while I would never share the more personal aspects of my life with him (he’s far too indiscreet for that), he still knows me better than most. But I’m not feeling it tonight. I have no plans other than to stand in the shower, use one of Claire’s body scrubs and maybe order a pizza.
I down Will’s cup, wincing at the taste as I lock eyes with someone across the room.
Matthias.
Matthiasislooking at me. And he doesn’t look away when I meet his gaze, as if he wants me to know he’s watching. He smiles. A friendly, “hey, fellow colleague” smile, and before I can stop myself, I’m smiling back.
I set the glass down and turn my back on the room, wiping a hand across my lips. Suzie laughs again and I spray a sneaky squirt of the perfume I keep on my desk. Besides occasionally asking if I wanted a coffee, he hasn’t approached me since our chat last week. I’d mulled over both conversations with Dad and Soraya these past few days but still hadn’t made up my mind about him and if it’s up to me to make the next move I don’t know if I—
“You didn’t escape with Will?”
I quickly hide the perfume under some paper as his voice sounds right behind me. The man moves fast.
“And miss all the fun?”
“Right.” He watches as I slowly pack my bag. “So, about that dinner?”
“Oh, it’s dinner now?” I tease. “I thought you said a drink?”
“You didn’t seem too enthusiastic about the idea, so I figured I needed to up my game.”
I look over my shoulder to find him smiling at me. He’s close enough that no one else can hear us but we’re standing far enough apart that if anyone looked over, all they would see is two colleagues having a friendly chat.
He is handsome. I’ll give him that.
Just do it, Sarah. Be a normal, emotionally healthy grownup.
“Well,” I say. “How about a drinkanddinner?”
“How about Saturday?”
I blink in surprise. Okay, so this is happening. “Tomorrow?”
“You said you wanted to check out The Greenery.”
I smile, flattered. “I did, didn’t I?”
“How does seven sound?”
“It sounds…very acceptable.”
Harvey starts to make a speech and we both turn to watch. Matthias doesn’t move away and so we stand there together, stealing glances at each other every few seconds.
The gathering wraps up soon afterand for what is probably only the second or third time in our history as roommates, I get home after Claire. She’s lying on our sofa when I get in, typing on her laptop.
“I’ve got news,” I say, kicking off my sandals.
