“Fine.I did want to harass you about your personal life. Now that you’re having sleepovers with him, are you going to invite the peachperson to the Loot Christmas party tomorrow?”
We’re back to Beau? “I hadn’t thought about it.” I’ve been too busy alternating between enjoying him and worrying about the future to think about the Loot event.
“Well. Think about it now.” Priya goes back to her tablet, reviewing some text and letting me know she won’t be going anywhere until I decide what I’m going to do. Damn technology letting her wait me out.
I do want to spend more time with him. And show off a little with our extravagant Loot holiday party; it makes an epic city event. Most importantly, the party is open to some of our clients, so it won’t be too strange if I bring a non-employee.
The lengths of mental contortions and twisting myself into an approximation of a pretzel to justify inviting him is worrying, but it doesn’t stop me saying “Yes.”
Priya looks up, and missing nothing, starts to clap her hands.
“As a client,” I say before she gets too excited.
It works, and she dims immediately. “But you love love. You watchLove Islandand get so invested in the relationships that you get mad when you find out the couples don’t stay together after the show even though your brain can’t possibly think they’re going to last. They only knew each other for an eight-week, alcohol-fueled competition. Maybe less if it was a person who came in late.”
“They made me watch them fall in love. The least they can do is stay together or lie to us.” And believing in love for other people has never been my problem. I encouraged Priya to get to know Gavin, when it was clear to everyone that they were into each other. It’s just harder to believe in it for myself. Or to take that risk when it comes to me.
“You watched them fall in lust,” Priya corrects me.
“He’s coming as aclient. Who is leaving soon to go home.”
“That part is less than ideal. But we can work on that. I’m still telling Mom in the meantime. She worries.”
“No. Wait—” But I’m too late, because scarily efficient Priya has already sent me an email on her way down the hall.
I get back to work and ignore my phone, knowing how many texts are coming.
Beta, are you dating a boy??
What does he do?
What is his birthday? And his birth time?
I scroll through Chachi’s texts right before I turn my work computer off, ignoring the fact that she’s trying to get his horoscope information from me to do a compatibility check.
This is the downside to inviting him to the party. People will assume, even though he is clearly just a client. With some benefits, I guess. Besides profit.
I text back that this is a work thing and leave out the rest, knowing that isn’t going to deter her curiosity but trying anyway.
I close the laptop and send a quick text to Beau, telling him my schedule has freed up and offering to take him to another Christmas event, if he still wants to. I’ve been thinking about him all day, with the help of everyone who keeps mentioning him, and I want to see him. So what the hell? He’s leaving soon either way. I either get more of him and then he leaves or less, and it’ll suck either way. Might as well enjoy while I can.
He texts back after a few minutes, confirming that he’ll be there.
This is the first time we’re going out without first doing work stuff. I can’t even try to pretend I’m being forced to spend time with him for work. This is all about what I want.
I make it to the ground floor and all the way to the subway station without getting accosted by any of my family, so the night is already off to a great start.
At the Paley Center, Beau’s waiting for me at the entrance, head bowed over his phone. I take in the usual happiness that warms me from toes to head at the sight of him and pause to savor the feeling that I’m only going to get for a short time.
After a not insignificant amount of time passes, I call his name before I get caught staring with no other excuse other than I’m really into him.
Beau looks up and then lifts me completely off the ground again in his welcome hug. And this time there’s no Ajay to ruin the moment. He lowers me down, not removing his arms from around me. Which is fine because mine haven’t left his shoulders either.
“What do you have in store for me tonight?” he asks.
“Something very low-key.” Something both of our old selves need if we’re falling asleep when we could be making the beast with two backs. “The Paley Center plays Christmas movies and Christmas episodes of shows likeThe Rugrats. It’s great and there’s hot chocolate.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
