I hit enter and pulled up another slide. There was no reason to have separate slides, but this was for dramatic effect. “Number Two: I know how to order food and feed you, and I provide other services.”
She looked over, smiling secretively. “Other services?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Number Three: You like my bed and my skills in bed, which circles back to ‘other services.’” I winked and hit the key for the next slide. “Number Four: I can’t imagine a life without you, and I promise to support you and your dreams, whatever they may be.”
Her eyes softened. “Jack, that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said. Another solid reason in your favor.”
“Thank you. And finally, Number Five: I fired Thalia a few weeks ago. She lied and told our investors we were together, and I wanted to toss her out the window. I decided homicide would be extreme, so I fired her instead.”
Elise’s eyes widened. “What?” She stood, flexing her hands like she was ready to strangle my former CEO.
“It was the final straw. I haven’t heard from her since, but I’ve been told through the grapevine—my assistant—that she’s already moved on to another wealthy boss.”
“Eww.” Elise’s disgusted expression turned to one of sadness and she walked over and hugged me. “I’m sorry she did that to you, and I’m sorry you’re out a CEO. What will you do? You guys were making such good progress.”
Typical Elise—more worried about others than herself. “The company’s doing just fine. Fortunately, the investor we were wooing had experienced a similar situation and totally understood.”
“Good Lord, what is wrong with people?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” I pulled her close and kissed her. “I’m just sorry Thalia ever tried to come between us. I should have fired her the first time she was rude to you. No reason to keep a toxic person like that around, especially someone who hurts the woman I love.”
Elise touched my jaw, smiling softly. Then she snatched the laser pointer and tossed it over her shoulder. “Moving in together is officially open for discussion.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I picked her up and carried her to the bed while she laughed. “Let’s celebrate.”
* * *
No official conversationshad taken place regarding me and Elise moving in together, because we were too busy celebrating the opening of “discussions,” and also because Lizzie’s delayed housewarming party was a few nights later.
I picked up Elise, then drove back across town and parked obscenely far from the Victorian due to Saturday night crowds. I held my girlfriend’s hand as we got in our daily ass workout walking up the steep hill to Max’s building.
A couple of minutes later, I juggled a bottle of wine as our breaths left condensation puffs in the cool December air and Elise knocked on Lizzie’s ground-floor door.
Voices streamed out from the tiny apartment as we waited to be let in, which meant Lizzie had invited everyone we knew, because her place sounded packed.
After a beat, the door swung open. “Helloooo!” Lizzie said and gave a deep bow, wavy red hair bobbing as she swung back upright. She was wearing jeans and a light green fitted sweater that made her pale blue eyes look gray. “Welcome to the cat-lady den,” she said and waved us inside.
Elise and I gave Lizzie a quick hug, then walked into the crowded studio apartment. I couldn’t see what she’d done with the place because bodies were strewn everywhere. Well-dressed bodies, but still, this place was crowded.
Max had finally gotten around to having someone paint and clean the studio, and Lizzie moved in a couple of months ago. She’d been traveling due to some asshole at work giving her the shitty out-of-town jobs, so the San Francisco homecoming had been pushed back until now.
I climbed over Archibald, Lizzie’s black Persian cat, who was meaner than an angry raccoon, and wiggled past Max’s parents and Elise’s mom, also in attendance tonight, along with my dad.
We’d finally introduced my dad to the other parents, at Elise’s urging, and as expected, they loved hanging out together. Not sure why they had to be here tonight, but whatever—it was Lizzie’s party.
“Hi, Tom,” Elise said and gave my dad a big hug.
He held her arms and leaned back. “Elise, my girl. You’re looking lovely, as usual.”
They chatted, and I slid past to greet friends Lizzie still kept in touch with. There had to be twenty-five people crammed in an eight-hundred-square-foot space, but the alcohol was flowing, and Lizzie had outdone herself in the hors d’oeuvres department.
After an hour or so, I hunted down my girlfriend on a small couch in the corner. She was talking to a coworker of Lizzie’s. Even so, Elise silently stood and made room for me on the couch, then sat on my lap, all while continuing her conversation.
After a lull, she turned to me and gave me a quick kiss. “How are your high school buddies?”
