Page 34 of Building Romance
Max: What’s up?
Me: What would you do if you found yourself attracted to someone who you shouldn’t be attracted to?
I expect to see those three dots appear right away because Max is great with life advice, but there’s nothing. Several minutes pass and I’m about to give up on waiting and go finish touching up my hair when I see he’s replying.
Max: Entertainingly, I’m in the same boat, so I have no advice for you, only empathy.
Me: Seriously! LOL! What should we do?
Max: No idea. (shrugging emoji)
Me: Wow! Proper use of emojis! Look at you!
Max: (middle-finger emoji)
I smile. I feel the slightest bit better.
Max: Maybe we try to be friends with the person? Maybe they aren’t as bad as we thought.
Me: That’s too adult of us. (laughing emoji)
Max: It might be.
Me: Sigh. I hate being the bigger person.
Max: Same.
Me: Fine. But we have to promise to check back in with each other in a few days to reassess our idea.
Max: A debrief. Done.
Me: Good luck. May the force be with you.
Max: And with you.
I laugh and put my phone away. I glance at my watch and realize the time. Where’s Amber?
I pull my phone out as I walk back to the bathroom to check my hair one last time. And see I’ve missed a call from her. Huh? When did Amber call?
I call her back.
“Oh, thank goodness. I feel so bad. My mom is not doing well and the doctor wants me to take her to the emergency room. I definitely won’t be there tonight, but depending on what happens, I may not be there at all,” she says, her words coming out rushed. I can hear the telltale sounds of the hospital in the background, the beeping machines, the rolling of carts and beds, and nurses and doctors talking in medical lingo that reminds me of Bray.
“Is Bray there?” I ask.
“He doesn’t come on for another hour, but I texted him,” Amber replies.
“Good. I’ll feel better if he’s there to assess your mom. And don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. You take care of your mom and let me know if you need anything,” I say.
“Thanks, Cam. I really am sorry about all of this. It’s horrible timing,” she says.
“No worries. Friends and family are always more important than business,” I stress as I adjust my hair and walk out of my room.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know what they say,” she adds.
“OK. Good luck,” I say as I hang up and look across the hall. Fletcher’s door is open and he’s typing on his computer. He looks every part the serious businessman. I study him for a moment, not wanting to interrupt his work. He really is very handsome. His dark, messy hair falls over his hazel eyes. His jaw tics as his eyes scan something. He moves his arm and his bicep flexes, pulling his shirt tight against it. The man definitely is in shape. I can see how women would fall at his feet. He’s smart and gorgeous. Too bad he can be such a jerk. If he wasn’t so freaking irritating…then there’s that little issue of his company trying to put mine out of business.
With a heavy sigh, I lean on his doorjamb. “Ready?” I ask.
