“There’s only one person who hasn’t arrived yet, but since most of us are here, let’s sit and get to know each other. Does that sound good?”
We all sat down around the table. Everyone seemed pretty relaxed, other than Rocco, who was still looking ill at ease. I felt guilty for making him feel unwelcome, but then reminded myself that keeping things chill with Rocco was not just smart, it was basic self-preservation.
I clapped my hands and straightened my shoulders as I looked at the group. I already had a great feeling about this. If I’d set out to handpick a group of people to hang out with, it would look very much like this, and no, Rocco would not be cast as my boyfriend.
With all eyes on me, I went in with my usual “jump feet first” enthusiasm. “I spend a lot of time running support groups and I believe in icebreakers.” There were some groans and José Miguel and Tariq looked like they were ready to call it a night, but since no one left, I carried on.
I chuckled as I made “simmer down” hands. “I thought you guys would hate it, but just say what part of the city you’re from, lived most recently, or where you’re still based if you’re just here temporarily,” I said, in deference to Rocco and Tariq. “Whichever you prefer...oh!” I help a finger up in the air, like the cornball I was. “And one thing you don’t miss about New York.” Salome perked up at that but didn’t talk, so I volunteered myself. “I can go first. I grew up in Corona but for the past five years I lived in East Harlem. One thing I don’t miss about the city is the six train during rush hour.”
That got me some laughs.
José Miguel raised his hand and leaned in to answer. “I grew up in the South Bronx, and I lived in Chelsea—”
He stopped talking then, his pretty face suddenly marred with what looked like grief, but after a few seconds he regrouped and went on. “I lived in Chelsea for thirteen years, until I relocated here about nine months ago.” He tried hard for a smile, which didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Julia, I’m going to steal your answer. I definitely don’t miss the subway during rush hour!” We all smiled, but the whole group seemed to detect the sadness in his words. I looked at José for another second, wondering what was the story behind his move to Dallas.
Salome bravely put her hand up next. “I’m Salome and I grew up in the DR.” I let out a whoop for my fellow Dominicana, which earned me a high five. “I came to New York eight years ago for grad school. I was at City College, and lived in Hamilton Heights.” She shrugged, a little bit of shyness coming out then. “I also donotmiss the subway, even though I hate driving here. Also pigeons, I do not miss pigeons.” She actually shuddered, making us all laugh.
Dani went next. He grew up on the posh Upper East Side of Manhattan. Both his parents were doctors who were still in the city. Tariq hailed from Honduras and came to the States at the age of seven, and like José had grown up in the South Bronx, where he was still based. After they were done, the only person left was Rocco, and he kept taking gulps from his beer like he was completely unaware that he was supposed to talk.
He was so annoying.
I tried not to glare, but it wasn’t easy. “Rocco, do you want to go next?”
“Sure.” He took another gulp of beer, and I saw some redness spread over his cheekbones. His perfect fucking cheekbones. The blush made his blue eyes sparkle. God, he was really a beautiful man, and I needed to direct that energy into something else, because this was going to end poorly.
“Umm, I grew up in Corona too.” He made eye contact with me, making sure to drive home that connection between us, and my stupid heart lurched a little.
“I didn’t stick around there after high school though and I lived in Manhattan while in school and now I’m in Astoria. My family is still there.” At the mention of his family, he cleared his throat and trained his eyes on the table. “I like the quiet here. It’s more peaceful.” His eyes looked for mine as he spoke, and he held my gaze in the silence that followed his words. I shifted in my seat, the hard surface of the bench the only thing that kept me grounded as Rocco pierced me with a look I didn’t want to try to figure out.
I sucked in a breath and gave a much-needed mental talking-to to the part of me that felt the need to figure out what was wrong with the man and fix it. I was no longer the designated repairperson of beautiful and fucked-up men.
“Thanks, Rocco.” The table was a bit subdued by this point. I guessed I wasn’t the only one who was feeling a bit affected by Rocco and José. But I had been raised by a woman who was practically allergic to awkward silences, so I got us redirected quick.
“Okay, now that we know each other, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the eye-contact situation in this city. Does it feel over the top to you guys too or is it just me?” That got a real laugh out of the table, including a minuscule grin from Rocco, which I tried very hard not to dwell on, and the conversation took off from there.
This happy hour idea was working out. I just needed to keep my eyes, hands, and head off Rocco Quinn, and my Dallas experiment might work out after all.
Chapter Five
Rocco
I was still sitting in my car, where I’d been since I’d said my goodbyes and agreed to meet everyone again for drinks the next week. In the end, I’d had a nice time.
Still, I was brooding.
As soon as I’d gotten to the bar tonight, I knew I’d made a mistake. I really needed to remember that I was here to do a job and get back to New York City and the responsibilities I could not turn my back on.
That was my other problem. The meeting had actually been fun. Tariq and Dani were big Yankees fans, and Julia, that traitor, joined them in giving me shit about the Mets. Meanwhile, Salome, who was a diehard baseball fan, but only of Dominican teams, had the time of her life telling us all the ways in which the Dominican winter league was superior to the major leagues. José teased us mercilessly about his newfound love for the Rangers, and the hours flew.
Then there was Julia. Julia and her colors and her energy were addictive, and I had a feeling once I got a taste, I would not be able to stop coming back for more.
Her big brown eyes hypnotized me. Her long, curly hair cascading halfway down her back was as big and wild as I’d imagined it. There had been something different about her tonight.
She’d been at ease. A side to her that wasn’t what I’d seen in the office. It seemed to me like Julia, once she was away from work and the machinations of the IPO, had shed some of the tightness she always carried around me. And no matter how much I wanted that to mean there was some kind of opening there, it didn’t matter. She was still her and I was still me, and I needed to do my job, and that job was to deliver that IPO into Duke Sturm’s hands.
I’d started my car and headed out of the parking lot when I noticed her standing on the sidewalk, glaring at her phone. She’d put her hair up in a messy bun and was tapping furiously as she leaned on a bench. I drove up to her and lowered my window with my heart beating way faster than it should with someone I was supposed to keep my distance from.
“Hey, do you have a ride home?” I spoke in a soft voice, aware it was never a good idea to startle a woman who’d grown up in New York City.
