She greets me on her feet, and with several gaping once-overs. “Okay, wow. You’re in Chanel, girl. Your hair is down. You lookstunning. I’ve literally begged you to let me give you a makeover, and you shunned me.Howdid this happen?”
I motion to the table. “I need coffee.”
“Okay,” she says. “But I need answers.”
“Coffee. Answers.”
She nods and we slide into our seats. “Talk,” she orders. “Did your dad get that big payout for his work already and treat you? No,” she says, rejecting that idea as quickly as she’s spoken it, her brows dipping, “No,” she repeats. “No way that happened this quickly, and this is more than that anyway. There’s a transformation to you beyond the clothes.”
“There is something,” I say, the lies I’m about to tell burning on my tongue and lips. “I met a guy. A civil engineer. He just—wants to spoil me.”
“Wait.What?And I don’t know about this? Who the hell is he?”
“It happened fast. He was the cartoon guy on the dating app.”
“The one who upset you?”
“I think it was more like him being the male version of you. He basically told me I needed to break out of my shell.”
“But not as nicely as that.”
“No. You’re right. He was far pricklier about it than that, and he did upset me, but it also hit a nerve. Let’s just say, he drove home your years of preaching.”
“Okay. Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t feel comfortable with this. He’s thecartoon guy. He literally used a cartoon character as his photo, which shouldn’t be allowed. You don’t even know what he looks like.”
“I do. We did the whole video thing. He’s actually really good looking.”Which is true,I add silently. Heisgood looking. He’s also crazy, but I leave that part out. “So much so,” I add, still talking about his appearance, “that it felt like a joke that he was interested in me. He was the one leaving me the notes, by the way. He recognized me from the dating app.”
“Hmm,” she says, sipping her coffee. “I’d really hoped this was more romantic than creepy. Now I’m not sure what I think.”
Go, Jess,I think. Thank you for being right there with me, even if you don’t know you’re right there with me, right now.
“On the bright side,” she says. “You can now be a part of my dating-app story.” She waves that off. “Or not. I’m unsettled by all of this. I’m just—I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“It’s—this thing with him—it’s only a week old. You’ve been busy, and I worried it was a joke.”
“And that means what? We are us. We figure things out together. You didn’t even tell me he existed.”
“Well, I am now. I’m talking to you now. I’m telling you about him now. He even wants to meet you.”
“He who? You haven’t even spoken his name.”
“Adam. Adam wants to meet you.”
“And that’s a hell yeah to a meetup. I need to assess this man. I mean, he has good taste in clothes, but those are some expensive gifts he’s throwing your way after only one week. That feels a little fast and off. Then again, men can be that way.” She holds up a hand. “Don’t let me be a Debbie Downer. I’m happy for you. When can I meet him?”
“I’ll see what I can work out.” Eager to just get past the lies, I change the topic. “Speaking of the dating-app story, you actually went to Jack’s place?”
“I told you I was. I’m desperate to get this article done. And by the way, his knee seemed just fine. Was he lying and just taking sick time?”
“Why do you always think the worst of him?” I challenge. “His pain comes and goes. That’s the way bad knees can be, and he had an MRI. His doc wants him to have surgery. And by the way, I don’t know what you said to him, but you must have scared him. He actually suggested he and I go on a date.”
Her eyes go wide. “What?I scared him into asking you out? That is the most illogical thing I’ve ever heard.” I open my mouth to speak and she holds up a finger. “Let’s tell it how it really is. This new guy showers you with gifts and pulls you out of your shell, and Jack wants to date you now? How many times have I said it? Jack doesn’t sit right with me.”
“First, Jack doesn’t know about Adam. And he wasn’t serious about the dating thing. He’s just afraid you want to marry him off, and then it’s just you and me again.”
“This is on me now?” She rolls her eyes. “Good grief. I have a life. He does not. I date and I’m thrilled you’re dating. There is something off about Jack.”
“He’s a good friend, Jess. Be a good friend to me by being one to him.”
