Page 14 of Just Do It
‘The keyboard.’
‘I’m afraid if my typing is going to disturb you, you may have to make other arrangements for your work station.’
‘No, I didn’t mean…’ He shook his head. ‘I was just trying to make conversation.’
He has no recollection of me in his bed on Friday night but now he wants to make conversation?
‘Oh, I see. Sorry, but I’m rather busy.’
‘Yeah, Inis said you’re arranging some big exhibition?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’ I focused back on my screen.
‘What’s it about?’
Politeness forced me to squelch the enormous sigh I wanted to let out. “The Pharaohs of Egypt,” I replied, not looking at him.
‘Sounds interesting.’
‘Yes, I think so.’
Silence thankfully returned.
‘Sorry.’
I looked over at him.
‘For disturbing you. I promised you wouldn’t know I was here and now I’m rattling on.’ He gave an apologetic half smile and I mentally yelled at my stomach to stop going all melty and squishy immediately. Been there, done that. And he didn’t remember.
‘It’s fine. I’m just busy. I don’t mean to be rude.’
He held up his hands. ‘No, no, I get it. I only thought as we were going to be working together for several months, it might be nice to get to know each other a bit.’
Oh, you already know way more about me than I’d like. Or you would if I wasn’t just another notch on your bedpost.
‘We’re not exactly working together.’
There was a pause. ‘No, I suppose not.’ He opened the laptop on his desk and I was left to get on with my work.
3
‘How was it?’ Colette asked without saying hello as I answered her call on my way to the station.
‘He wanted to make conversation.’
‘And did you?’
‘Nope.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I don’t want to. What was I supposed to say anyway? Oh hi, how’s the project going? By the way, I have to say I’m a bit miffed that you don’t remember our wild night of monkey sex on Friday.’
‘Oooh! Wild monkey sex? You didn’t tell me that!’
‘It’s an expression.’
‘One that I’ve never heard you use before. Friedrich’s going to be pissed off there’s someone better at something out there.’
