“It’s not a date,” I insisted even though I felt a momentary irritation at hearing Desmond being called a jerk.
My words did nothing to dampen their animated personalities.
“Since when did you start using words likejerkhole?” Gabriela asked, turning to Lily while Freya announced that she was going to search the internet for Desmond gossip.
“Freya, relax,” Lily muttered. “There’s no way Ava and Desmond’s date is going to make it to your favorite gossip magazine. And, Gabi, to answer your question, ever since a certain colleague of mine became the physical embodiment of it.”
“Is it a guy?” I asked, but Lily waved me off.
“We need your scandalous story first before we get to mine,” she said. “Now, Ava, spill.”
I spilled. I really didn’t have much to hide from my friends. From the elevator incident to the meeting in his office and the potential meeting with him tomorrow, there was a lot to talk about. With Gabi and the others, there was never any judgment to go around, and God knew that I needed someone to tell me if I was doing the wrong thing.
“I hope Desmond can put Kyle behind bars,” Freya announced. “Also, you and Desmond going out is the best thing I’ve heard all day,” she added.
“Yes for the first thing. And no for the latter. We’re going for a work thing,” I pointed out, feeling the ache in my chest. “Why are we even talking about this? Desmond and I are a non-thing.”
“Because you keep taking two steps back every time,” Gabriela pointed out. “Why are you so hesitant, Ava? I think the man is interested—that’s as clear as day.”
“Because I’m a professional,” I said, taking a sip of the prosecco. “I don’t want this thing to go south and then haveto deal with the agony of seeing Desmond at work every day while he’s seeing someone else.”
That would be agony.
“So, you’d rather see him date someone else right away?” Freya asked. “Because the man is popular, ladies.” She brought up a photo from a digital magazine on her phone. “Betty Hill, the actress fromSouthwest Girls, named him as most desirable man.” She leaned in toward me conspiratorially. “You’ve got competition.”
I grabbed the phone from Freya and took a look at Betty. “Well, I’m no match for her,” I said woefully as I looked at the raven-haired beauty on the page.
“Desmond thinks you are,” Gabriela said. “And as a matter of fact, I think you’re prettier than Betty Hill too.”
I got up and refilled her glass of wine. “Thank you for being completely oblivious to Betty’s beauty,” I said, giving her a hug as I took my seat.
She patted me on the back gently. “I think you should give the relationship a chance. He’s not a complete stranger. You know him from before.”
I considered that. “Every time I’m around him, all I can think of is how little I knew of him when I thought I loved him back in high school. He was planning to ditch me as soon as high school was over while I was planning our future together. I can’t trust him. Heck, I can’t trust myself around him.”
“I agree. That sounds rough,” Gabriela sighed. “But it’s been ten years, you know. He might not be the same person anymore. Why don’t you give your friendship a chance before you give your relationship a try?”
I could get on board with reviving the friendship we’d had.
We moved on to Lily’s news about her manager, Matt,who seemed to be doing everything he could to get her riled up, and Lily’s game was to act completely cool and levelheaded about it.
“Well, good luck to you both,” Gabriela said as we ended the night, more than a little tipsy. “Ava, you can tell Mrs. Wilson that I’ll bring her a sample of my perfume the next time I’m here. It’s Ambery Saffron by Dossier.”
Lily got up and reached for her coat. “And on your date tomorrow, give Desmond hell from me for putting me in the same room as Matt.”
I grinned. “It’s not a date,” I maintained just as I noticed a flutter in my stomach. I was nervous.
“Fine.” Lily rolled her eyes. “The CEO of Luxe Hotels is in the habit of giving his employees a ride to another office forty minutes away. Nothing strange about that.”
I laughed. “To the legal department,” I reminded her. “Desmond will probably leave me to them and walk away.”
“Ah, but if he doesn’t, well, that’s saying something,” Freya said with a wink before she followed the others out the door.
Itwouldsay something. Something worth finding out.
12
AVA
