The truth is that I really want to finish what I’m writing and head to the art department for some idea on fun images to go along with the article.Decoded: I want to go see Nate.
And as soon as Dex is in the elevator and out of sight, I do. I run to the art department with my copy in hand and, of course, trip over my own feet on the way in.
No one even looks up at me.
Nate sits at his computer with his drawing tablet and pen in front of him. His ear buds are in and I can hear a hip-hop rhythm beating out from where I stand. I tap him on the shoulder and he pulls out one headphone and smiles at me. “Hey, Jane. What’s up?”
“I just finished this funny little column and I was just wondering about some images and—”
“Yeah, well,” he grimaces. “I have a ton of stuff to finish right now. Gail will have it on the docket when it’s publishable and Caleb will put one of us on it.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” I know how it all works; I’ve worked here for years. I wanted an excuse to come and say hello, to see how he is. I think I’ll just be honest. “I know. I just wanted to come down and see how you were doing. You want to grab some lunch or something?”
He looks back at his screen. An image he’s working on in Photoshop is zoomed up. I can’t tell what it is. “I’m going to have to pass on lunch.” He points to whatever it is that is magnified on his computer and doesn’t give any explanation.
I can feel my face fall.
He notices and quickly stammers, “Um, but a bunch of us are going for drinks after work today. You should come.”
“Yes!” I say a little too fast. I lean back right after and let my shoulders go slack, pretending it’s no big deal. Inside, my heart is racing right out of my chest.
“Okay, then.” He grabs onto the end of his ear bud and goes to place it back in his ear. “I’ll see you later.” Then his ear buds are in and he rolls his chair back under his desk and gets right back to work.
I feel a little silly standing there watching the back of his head, so I back out of the office and wave.
Again no one even looks up.
I rush out into the hallway and a plan starts forming in my head. I just worked through lunch, I’ll take the hour I was supposed to have and hit some of the stores down the block. If I want Nate to notice me, I can’t show up to after-work drinks dressed the way I am right now. I need to buy something that shows off my curves. Something that screams, you should have stayed at the damn baseball game.
I grab my purse off my desk and head out shopping. I think Julia would even be proud of me when I tell her all this two weeks from now, when she’s onto her newest conquest and has forgotten all about the accident and getting caught cheating. She’s slept with the last five guys I told her I was interested in, and one she set me up on a date with, right after I went on a date with him. If they weren’t together any longer, why shouldn’t he be fair game? He was my Kiss Cam guy.
I change in the bathroom after most of the people clear out of the office and head to the bar. My new halter-top is sexy and my pants are tight and look like painted on leather. I even take out my bun and let my hair fall out around my shoulders and down my back like a wild mess.
My stomach rolls with ocean waves as I step on the elevator. I’m nervous and excited. I’m not sure what I’m hoping to accomplish tonight. I’m not sure where my head is at right now, but I know my heart is pounding and my palms are sweating and all I can think about is him sayinghe should have stayed at the game.He should have stayed and talked to me. And how at the dinner party even Dex knew the kiss Nate was telling everyone about was the kiss with me.
Before the elevator door slides closed, I hear a deep voice ask me to hold the door. I do, of course. Then I verbally abuse myself in my head because it’s Dex that ends up stepping in the elevator with me.
His eyebrows hit his hairline when he sees me.
We stare at each other for a minute until I can’t take it anymore. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
He leans against the elevator wall and cocks his head to the side. Neither of us has pressed the down button, so the elevator door closes but it doesn’t move at all.
“Are you going out somewhere?” His eyes are locked on my shoes, and a smile plays on his face.
I stand straighter. “Nate asked if I wanted to go gets drinks with everyone after work.”
His smile gets suspiciously bigger.
I cross my arms over my chest, feeling vulnerable.
“I see,” he says.
Neither of us has yet to press the down button.
His eyes slowly trail up my legs and stomach and torso until I jam my hands on my hips and purse my lips at his stupid grinning face. “Come on, Dex. Do I look that bad?”
He blinks at me.
