out with Anna and me? Would we have to add his new lady friend to our little group?
A vicious stab of jealously hit me with unexpected violence. I had no interest in befriending any of Jared’s bimbos. I didn’t want to talk to one or look at one or pretend I cared where she wanted to have the wedding she would inevitably try to plan. I didn’t want things to change between us. I wanted it to stay the same. It was supposed to be Anna, Megan, and Jared. We were buddies. Adding another woman to the group was unacceptable.
Chapter Seven
The weather dawned bright and warm on Sunday morning. I got up early since I’d had my fair share of sleeping in the day before. I didn’t take any special pains with my appearance, throwing on comfortable jeans and a pullover.
I piddled around my townhouse, cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors like a responsible grownup. Though I didn’t like to admit it, I kept waiting for Ollie to call. He hadn’t called all day Saturday either, though I’d gotten an email assuring me he’d had a wonderful time on Friday night. The lack of calls on Saturday didn’t surprise me overmuch since he’d been going to spend the day with family. But he hadn’t said anything about being out of touch on Sunday and doubts nibbled away at my confidence.
10 am rolled around and I opted to walk to Norton’s in order to better enjoy the sudden, spastic change in weather. Jared was already there, sitting at a table in the warm morning sun with a cup of black coffee. A welcoming smile lit his handsome face when he saw me enter the restaurant. I returned his smile, looking around for sign of Anna.
“She’s going to be late.” He guessed my question before I could ask it. “The client she showed property to last night put a contract on something, so she’s negotiating this morning.”
I bobbed my head, pulling out a chair and plopping down. That essentially meant we could expect Anna to breeze in for about thirty minutes and talk of nothing but this latest deal. Neither Jared or I really minded. Anna’s blatant enthusiasm for her job was part of her charm.
He shifted in his seat, his expression easing from smiling to concern. “I already ordered since I wasn’t sure when you’d make it. Anna said you were pretty sick yesterday. Are you feeling any better?”
My head bobbed up and down again and I wondered if he were thinking about the way we’d parted after the sink incident. I couldn’t get the conversation out of my mind. His accusations about sexy and responsible kept whirling around. I took my sunglasses off and set them on the table beside my phone and keys before putting my head in my hands for a few moments. I needed to center myself. It was just Jared. Things shouldn’t be so weird.
I heard the waiter approach. I tried to pull myself together, aware that I needed to achieve some kind of normal behavior. If I couldn’t, it was just going to get weirder and weirder and I didn’t want that. He was a good friend that I didn’t want to lose.
“Does the lady want to order?” the waiter asked, no doubt thinking I was still suffering from a wild Saturday night.
If only that’s what it was. I took a deep breath, prepared to put on a happy face and order my breakfast. After all, I was starving after eating almost nothing on Saturday.
“She’ll have the French Toast with a large orange juice.”
I froze in surprise at Jared’s smooth, confident answer on my behalf.
“Sausage or Bacon?”
“No meat, but add a side of fruit salad instead. And a glass of water too, please?”
“I’ll have that right out with yours, sir. Thank you.”
Jared had ordered my food. It wasn’t really a big deal because I almost always ordered the same thing when we came here. Normally I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. Jared had ordered for both Anna and I in the past while we took a quick trip to the Ladies’ room or if we were late. So why was it such a big deal today?
It
A vicious stab of jealously hit me with unexpected violence. I had no interest in befriending any of Jared’s bimbos. I didn’t want to talk to one or look at one or pretend I cared where she wanted to have the wedding she would inevitably try to plan. I didn’t want things to change between us. I wanted it to stay the same. It was supposed to be Anna, Megan, and Jared. We were buddies. Adding another woman to the group was unacceptable.
Chapter Seven
The weather dawned bright and warm on Sunday morning. I got up early since I’d had my fair share of sleeping in the day before. I didn’t take any special pains with my appearance, throwing on comfortable jeans and a pullover.
I piddled around my townhouse, cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors like a responsible grownup. Though I didn’t like to admit it, I kept waiting for Ollie to call. He hadn’t called all day Saturday either, though I’d gotten an email assuring me he’d had a wonderful time on Friday night. The lack of calls on Saturday didn’t surprise me overmuch since he’d been going to spend the day with family. But he hadn’t said anything about being out of touch on Sunday and doubts nibbled away at my confidence.
10 am rolled around and I opted to walk to Norton’s in order to better enjoy the sudden, spastic change in weather. Jared was already there, sitting at a table in the warm morning sun with a cup of black coffee. A welcoming smile lit his handsome face when he saw me enter the restaurant. I returned his smile, looking around for sign of Anna.
“She’s going to be late.” He guessed my question before I could ask it. “The client she showed property to last night put a contract on something, so she’s negotiating this morning.”
I bobbed my head, pulling out a chair and plopping down. That essentially meant we could expect Anna to breeze in for about thirty minutes and talk of nothing but this latest deal. Neither Jared or I really minded. Anna’s blatant enthusiasm for her job was part of her charm.
He shifted in his seat, his expression easing from smiling to concern. “I already ordered since I wasn’t sure when you’d make it. Anna said you were pretty sick yesterday. Are you feeling any better?”
My head bobbed up and down again and I wondered if he were thinking about the way we’d parted after the sink incident. I couldn’t get the conversation out of my mind. His accusations about sexy and responsible kept whirling around. I took my sunglasses off and set them on the table beside my phone and keys before putting my head in my hands for a few moments. I needed to center myself. It was just Jared. Things shouldn’t be so weird.
I heard the waiter approach. I tried to pull myself together, aware that I needed to achieve some kind of normal behavior. If I couldn’t, it was just going to get weirder and weirder and I didn’t want that. He was a good friend that I didn’t want to lose.
“Does the lady want to order?” the waiter asked, no doubt thinking I was still suffering from a wild Saturday night.
If only that’s what it was. I took a deep breath, prepared to put on a happy face and order my breakfast. After all, I was starving after eating almost nothing on Saturday.
“She’ll have the French Toast with a large orange juice.”
I froze in surprise at Jared’s smooth, confident answer on my behalf.
“Sausage or Bacon?”
“No meat, but add a side of fruit salad instead. And a glass of water too, please?”
“I’ll have that right out with yours, sir. Thank you.”
Jared had ordered my food. It wasn’t really a big deal because I almost always ordered the same thing when we came here. Normally I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. Jared had ordered for both Anna and I in the past while we took a quick trip to the Ladies’ room or if we were late. So why was it such a big deal today?
It
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