“Aspen Adams. A nice alliteration you have there. I have some friends who would love it.”
I have no idea what Finn is talking about, but I’ve run out of time to question him as Jake stops the Escalade in front of my building.
“We’re here. Thank you for the ride, Mr. McRyan.” I use my best business professional voice.
“You’re welcome, Ms. Adams. If you’d like, you can give me your number. If it’s still raining when you get out of work, we’ll be here to pick you up.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I don’t want to be a bother. I’ll walk home." I don’t want him to think I’m using him for access to a car no matter how nice it is.
“Aspen,” he says on a sigh, “that was my lame attempt to get your phone number without actually asking for it. Don’t turn me down in front of Jake. He’ll tell everyone at the office how I was rejected.”
I look up at Jake, who at the moment is starting steadfastly at the view out the front window, but his face twitches in an attempt to suppress a smile.
“Well, we don’t want you to be the butt of any office jokes, now do we?” I turn back and search my purse for my pink phone before getting his contact information.
*
The rain stops mid lunch and doesn’t pick up again regardless of how many times I check out my window or wish it would. Finn said he’d pick me up if it was still raining, but with the lack of the wet stuff and no text from him about what time I leave work, I’ve given up hope by quitting time.
My steps to the elevator are sluggish. As I reach it and press the down button, Amanda, the one friend I’ve managed to make at the office this week, stands beside me.
“I’m so ready for Friday tomorrow. Aren’t you?” she asks and tucks a piece of her short blonde hair behind her ear.
“I guess. Do you have big plans?” Amanda is one of the friendliest people I’ve met, but she hasn’t given me the party-girl vibe.
“Not at all. I’m going to spend my weekend with a good book. One that won’t even mention the decline of granola-based dog food sales in our East Coast market. You?"
Her comment makes me grin. Our company president has asked us all to think of ways to make up the four percent decline we’ve taken on the East Coast. I’d planned to spend some time this weekend charting out new growth areas. I need to secure my promotion to Executive Account Manager within a year to stay on target with my career goals.
“I’m the new girl. I figured I’d throw around some ideas. My brother is coming over Saturday to watch the baseball game and I'm having brunch with a friend on Sunday. You should come.”
The elevator arrives and we both step in.
“I don’t want to intrude on your friend time.”
“Nonsense.” Great, now I’m not only thinking about Finn an insane amount of the time, but I’m starting to sound like him too. “Marissa, my friend, moved to Oakland after college. She’ll use any excuse to get into the city, so she’s mandated a Sunday meetup."
“From what I’ve heard, people in San Fran love their brunch, but I haven’t had anyone to go with before. You’re sure I won’t be the third wheel?”
“Absolutely not. It’s done. I’ll text you the details as we figure them out.” Amanda moved here about three months earlier, but I get the impression she hasn’t had time to make many friends. It will be nice to add another person to my small circle of friends.
Our elevator stops and as the doors open, I head to the front while Amanda takes a side exit. A hand reaches out, grabs my forearm, and pulls me back into the building. Without thinking I brush it off and get ready to scream.
“Hey. It’s me.” Finn’s voice cuts through my fear.
“Oh my god, Finn. You scared me.” I lean forward to catch my breath. People stare as they walk out of the building, but no one stops to help.
“I’m sorry. I stopped by to see if you wanted a ride.” He looks awkward as he stands with his hands now in his jean pockets.
“Oh. I figured since it wasn’t raining….” I tail off and pick up a new sentence, not wanting to admit I was disappointed when I thought I wouldn’t see him again today. “How did you know when I would get out?”
Finn smirks with his answer. “I used reasonable inference from the other times we’ve met up in our lobby and subtracted the time it takes to make the walk and stop for groceries. I took another thirty minutes to account for if you were the world's slowest walker. Then I waited around, similar to a stalker, so I didn’t miss you.”
Wow, half of his words fly over my head, but I still think of the action as incredibly sweet. “It must have taken some time. Didn’t you have video games to play today?” I joke.
Finn reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a cell phone. Waving it in the air he says, “We’re testing the mobile version.”
