He blushed.
Sheepish and a little embarrassed, and stuffing both hands in his pockets, and my self-restraint buckled under the devastating effects of this man’s shy smile. “I’m not great with directions and I didn’t want to risk getting lost.” Precious was really not the kind of energy I was expecting. I was all out of sorts, like experiencing legitimate mental whiplash.
The effect Rocco was having on me usually resulted in bad decisions. Like moving across the country for a guy who dumped me after just a few weeks. Those blue eyes could wreck my damn life.
“Hopefully more people will be here soon.” That came out with a little more of an edge than I necessarily wanted, but I had to try and at least fake like he wasn’t completely unsettling me.
Before he got a chance to say anything, I pointed at my glass. “Why don’t you get yourself a drink?” My friendly tone had shifted to something much sharper, which certainly could not help matters. He angled his head at my words, brow furrowed, like I’d switched to another language.
“Uh, the bar is over there.” Okay, now I sounded straight-up rude.
“Sure, I’ll go get something.” That warm smile had definitely slid off his face as he walked off.Way to go, Julia, offend the guy that could take your fucking job.But what was a person supposed to do when faced with eyes like that? And I wasn’t going to lie, knowing what was under that gray T-shirt was having a real adverse effect on me.
I was about to sit down again and regroup when I saw a woman walk in who looked like Salome, the only other lady who’d RSVP’d for the evening. When she looked in my direction, I waved and her face lit up with a smile as she made her way to the table.
She was dressed in cutoffs and a black tank top. Her hair was shaved on the bottom, but she had it a little longer on top. Her skin was a very dark brown and she had big hazel eyes. She had tattoo sleeves on both her arms too. She could have just stepped off a street in Williamsburg. As she extended her hand to me, all I could think was, “Please don’t be an asshole.”
“Hey, I’m Salome. I cannot tell you how happy I was when Alba told me about your meetup. I need some friends!” Her laugh was big and throaty, and it sounded so familiar, so much like home, that I almost wanted to cry.
Salome was not a Sturm’s employee, but like me she was Dominican and recently relocated to the Dallas area. Alba knew her from Columbia and had been trying to connect us for months. I was so glad to finally meet her and a relief to have a buffer between me and Rocco. “I’m so glad you could make it. I was also reaching worrisome lows in my social life.” I pointed at her arms. “I love your art, by the way.”
She extended them so I could get a better look. “Thanks. These were my way of coping with grad school. I got one after every semester for the entire six years of my PhD. I was glad not to have a seventh, because I was running out of room.” Salome somehow managed to look disgruntled and grin at the same time, and I liked her instantly. “I’m not sure if the Public Policy Department at Northern Texas University could’ve dealt with a Dominican, queer professor with neck tattoos. No matter how hard up they were for some diversity.” We both laughed at that even though I was sure she was not lying.
“There’s another person here already.” I pointed at Rocco, who was glaring at the wall as he waited for his drink. “That’s Rocco.”
She looked at him appreciatively. And I ruthlessly stamped out the stupid pang of possessiveness that pulsed through me. None of that was mine, and it never would be.
“If you want to go grab a drink, go for it. We’re still waiting for a few more people from where I work.” Just as I said that, two more guys walked in. One I recognized as José Miguel, one of the web designers for Sturm’s who did a lot of the foundation’s website stuff. The other guy I thought I’d seen around the office, but could not place.
José was a lot shorter than the other guy, who had a pretty intense Wakanda warrior flow going on. José’s pretty face beamed as he came up to us. He was all warm-weather chic in seersucker shorts and a bright pink short-sleeve shirt with silver leather Vans. The other guy had a fresh fade, and light brown eyes ringed by the longest lashes I’d ever seen. He was decked out in a Bronx Forever T-shirt, some jeans and some red-and-black retro Jordans on his feet. Even if I hadn’t known it, I would’ve pegged both of them for New Yorkers.
I had found my peoples.
I was so excited at this point I actually jumped up and down when they made it to the table. “Hey, José.”
He came closer to give me a kiss on the cheek and gestured toward his companion, who was looking at Rocco with an amused smile.
“Tariq is one of the consultants on the IPO project. I met him the other day when he was working with the finance department.” José was giving Tariq very thorough looks, and by the way the younger man preened, it didn’t seem like he was too mad about it.
“Nice to meet you, Tariq.” Oh man, that smile could knock a person on their ass. No wonder José was practically swooning.
“Sorry we crashed your party.” He pointed at Rocco, who had spotted him and started walking over with a pint glass in his hand. “My boy Dani is doing his thing outside getting some pictures to post on Insta, but he’ll be here soon.”
I smiled, waving a hand toward the bar. “That’s fine. We can just hang a bit until he gets here. Let me introduce you.”
José Miguel pointed at my skirt. “I am living for this. Where did you get it?” This friendship already had potential for greatness.
“One of the buyers at Sturm’s has a hookup in Brooklyn and she had a few extras from her last trip.” We all sighed at the mention of our city.
Rocco stood by the rest of the group, not really talking, and I could tell Tariq was trying to deliver a message with his eyes that was not coming across at all. But thankfully before things could get weirder, Dani walked into the bar, his big personality automatically filling up the place.
He looked at our group and smiled, and I totally knew the feeling. His face said, “There are the New Yorkers.” As always he was dressed like he was coming from a fashion shoot, the light blue Cuban guayabera and white linen shorts a striking contrast to his brown skin. Dani had that “it” factor and he knew it too. He was bona fide influencer with almost a million followers and he never missed a chance to showcase that drip. Still he was down-to-earth and funny, so I was glad he could make it.
“Hey, Julia. Sorry I’m late.” He looked at me with a bright smile and extended his hand, but I pulled him in for a kiss on the cheek.
“You’re fine, thanks for coming.”
I made the introduction to Salome and Dani gave dap to Tariq, Rocco, and José, immediately falling into an easy chat. I let myself bask in the glory of being surrounded by people I already felt connected to.
