Emilie gave him a playful punch. “Does that also apply to dating?”
Connor raised his glass. “Time will tell, ladies. Even the cringiest chat-up lines roll off with an accent,” he said as we toasted for the fourth time in ten minutes. I was so happy they were finally in New York.
Connor was living in Williamsburg with two other friends from Edinburgh.
“Just come for the view. It’s insane. Really. It’s worth the stench of beer and sweat. Honestly, you won’t regret it.”
Emilie made a face. “I need a couple of months before I can psych myself up for a Brooklyn frat house.”
“Have you even left Manhattan since we got here?” I asked.
She gave me a look. “This is the first time I’ve left the West Side. So, no.”
“Right. When do we get to see mum and dad’s little slice of America?” he asked.
Emilie shrugged. “When I’ve finally had a chance to unpack my boxes. I moved back on a Saturday, started work that Monday, and it’s been nonstop since. I got staffed on two DC Circuit appeals my first day and haven’t seen anything other than the inside of my apartment, my office, or a cab for the last two weeks.”
Connor tsked disapprovingly. “Thatis why I am not at a law firm right now, girls. I like being able to tell hookups I went to law school but never practiced. They love that for some reason.”
“I’m ignoring you,” Emilie said with feigned disgust.
“You can judge me all you want. But the phrase is ‘work hard, play hard,’ not ‘work hard,work harder.’ You need a little balance. If you start that shit now, you’re going to be miserable before you know it.”
I held up my hand. “Okay, wow. No one is going to end up miserable. Except maybe your date from Saturday night.”
Connor winked. “That’s not what she said on Sunday morning.”
Emilie raised an eyebrow. “She spent thenightwith you? After your roommates date bombed you at the bar?”
“That’s what sealed the deal. I never looked better. They’re a laugh, but I’m the funniest. She was smitten. Still is, I’d bet.”
I took a sip of my wine. “But you wouldn’t know because you still haven’t texted her.”
Connor shook his head. “It’s only Thursday. We just saw each other on Sunday. And we saw a lot of each other. I even took her to Barry’s. WhereDrewhad reserved the treadmill next to me. So it was a bit awkward.”
I forked a croquette. “Is Drew the guy you hooked up with when you were here over spring break last year?”
He nodded proudly. “And he looked better than ever, ladies.”
Emilie groaned. “Seriously, the whole population is fair game to you, and the world is still too small. Does she know you’re an equal opportunity offender?”
Connor looked wounded. “Doesn’t matter. I made her part of my Sunday routine. I liked her enough to invite her to work out with me. She’s a cool girl, girls. She’s a pan. Why are you roasting me?”
Emilie rolled her eyes. “She’s a cool girl that you haven’t texted since Sunday.”
I held up my hand. “Wait. She’s a ‘pan’? And did shewantto go to Barry’s Bootcamp? What did she even wear? It seems a little ... sadistic.”
“I’ll text her tomorrow. Putting someone else on the hot seat now, please. I know at least one person at this table whose love life is more exciting than mine.”
Emilie scoffed. “I know you’re not referring to me.”
Connor patted Emilie’s arm. “Not you, Miranda. You’re not making it into the book at this point. I’m talking about the pretty divorcée to your right.”
“Hey guys, it’s old news now. Except I completely let HR think I was a newlywed my first day at the firm.”
Emilie looked disgusted. “Why would you do that?”
“Name change confusion.”
