I scanned a few more tweets before responding. I wasn't sure how to describe this morning and I wasn't convinced that I wanted to share it just yet. It was flirty and fun, and seriously overwhelming. I had buckets and buckets of big thoughts today but I didn't have room for any of them right now. These kinds of big thoughts required a big basement or a big storage unit, a place to keep all of this big stuff from creating a big logjam in my head.
"It was good," I said. "We're getting dinner. Later tonight, after the West Coast conference calls."
Tatum frowned. "Isn't Harry on your calendar tonight?"
And this, my friends, was what you got for sharing your personal calendars with your assistants. They didn't make the mistake of double booking me for calls or events but they also knew about the Stephens, Leifs, and Harrys of my life.
"I canceled with Harry," I said.
Tatum tapped her tablet, shaking her head as she asked, "When? I'm still seeing it here. Did you cancel on him after making plans with this guy or before?"
"Not that it matters," I started, "but I texted him last night. I thought I adjusted my calendar but I must've only done it in my head."
I didn't have a good reason for canceling on Harry. I hadn't had a good reason in the past two weeks but I'd canceled on him both times. He was attentive and attractive and carried a decent conversation but I couldn't get myself excited about seeing him for drinks, dinner, and dick. No good reasons, no good explanations. Just not feeling it right now. And that was fine. I didn't need a reason. As much as I was down for a good time, I was allowed to politely decline a good time too.
"Should I keep him on your calendar for next week?" she asked, still staring at her tablet.
"Please don't devote any time to worrying about Harry," I replied. "I'll handle him."
"Let's set the man-handling logistics aside for a second," Flinn said, picking up the invisible issue and moving it away. "You thought he might sell you into the sex trades. The dude from this morning. Meeting him for dinner is a curious choice given that concern."
"No, I didn't think that. Not really. I was being excessively cautious," I said. "There was a weird moment before we got to talking and I wanted to cover all bases. I don't really pay attention to anything while I'm walking. It's like meditation for me. He said he'd noticed me before, but I hadn't noticed him. Not beyond his running shoes. I thought he was a Clemson fan. You can see why I'd avoid that. But he's not a stalker. I would know."
Flinn and Tatum shared a brow-furrowed glance before turning back to me.
"Confirm this for me one more time. You're seeing Stalker Boy again tonight?" Flinn asked. I nodded.
"Is that what we're calling him?" Tatum asked, shifting toward Flinn. "Stalker Boy?"
"I gather from your tone you have a problem with that," he replied.
She held up her hands before crossing her arms over her chest. Nice and defensive, almost as if I hadn't taught her how to maintain an open face when people said things you didn't want to hear. "It's fine if you don't mind it sounding like an early 2000s Avril Lavigne song."
"Let me know when you come up with a better option," he said. "Until then, we're sticking with Stalker Boy." He propped his elbows on his thighs, his fingers steepled under his chin. "You're seeing him tonight?"
"You're both overreacting," I said. "We're getting dinner and drinks, and that's it. I'll be home by midnight."
"If you are ri-fucking-diculous enough to go anywhere alone with Stalker Boy, get a picture of him and his driver's license," Tatum said.
"And text it to both of us," Flinn added. "And your location. We need to know where you're going with him so the sniffing dogs can start at the right place."
"Maybe we should come with you," Tatum suggested. "We'll sit a few tables away and keep an eye on things. He'll never know."
"I'll know," I objected.
"Then you need to work on your open face. Stage presence too. Fix your face and get your shit together," Flinn said.
I rolled my eyes at that. There was no hierarchy in my office. Not one bit. Not that I minded. I appreciated people who told it to me straight but it wasn't every day they were telling it on the topic of my love life.
Love life. What a funny phrase. I had a life and I could catch a dick whenever I wanted but love…that didn't enter into the equation anymore. I loved my sisters and my parents but I wasn't looking for more. I had friends, I had family, and I had regular visits with Stephen, Leif, and Harry. I didn't need anything else.
Until this morning, I'd believed that the same way I believed the earth was round. I still believed the earth was round but now I had a few other questions brewing.
Flinn leaned back and patted Tatum's shoulder. "I think this conversation is closed, Tate."
She nodded. "I think you're right, Flinn."
I glanced at my phone and then my assistants. "Let's get back to business. We have to divide and conquer because Lucian McKendrick isn't going to make it easy on us."
