She shrugs. “You’ve seen him. He’s got mob enforcer written all over him. And those mysterious meetings he’s always having…” Her eyes flash. “And you know what? I bet his whole thing about getting Dandelion is so he has some more actual legitimate business to throw the FBI off the scent. Like, ‘oh, ignore me, agents, I’m just a humble Russian logistics kingpin looking to get into tech, don’t pay attention to me…’”
“Honestly, you’re starting to sound like a conspiracy theorist. He’s so busy with AngelCorp that I have no idea when he’d even find the time to hang out with mobsters or whoever.”
“I bet if you patted him down, you’d find a gun strapped to his thigh. Give it a try, next time you see him.” She winks, making it clear she’s thinking about this little scenario in the tawdriest way imaginable.
“Angie! Come on.”
“What? You don’t think he’s hot? I mean, sure, he’s got a couple of decades on us, but he’s total silver-fox material.”
“Just ignoring the fact that he’s old enough to be our dad?”
What the hell is wrong with me? I’m making a case against him, like I didn’t just get knocked up by the man.
“Age gaps can be hot. And trust me, when you’ve spent as much time in the trenches with performative, flakey guys our age, you start to crave something a little more mature. Speaking of which…”
“What?”
She’s grinning again, and I know what that means.
“Wait, are you seeing someone?”
She nods. “Yep. And I have to admit I’m a little crazy about him.”
“Who is he?”
She arches her eyebrow. “Oh, now you’re all about the tea? Was starting to think you considered yourself too good for that, my dear.”
“Well, I’m notanti-tea. Who is he?”
“Not ready to name names. But he’s rich, successful, and a little older. NotSashaolder, but enough to inject some desperately needed maturity into my life.”
“You’re practically glowing, Ange. Is this guy, like, future husband material?”
A shrug, totally noncommittal. “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see what the future holds. But for now, well, I’m happy.”
I reach across the table and squeeze her hand, loving the radiant smile on her face. “I’m glad. You deserve it. Seriously.”
“Thanks, Gab. And don’t worry, I won’t keep you in the dark for too long. If this guy seems like the real deal, you’ll meet him.”
“Looking forward to it.”
She raises her mug to her lips and takes a sip, looking dreamily, happily out the window. I can’t deny it—she looks content. But who is he? Rich and successful? And she’s being secretive about it. Maybe I know him?
I sip my drink and force a smile. I’m genuinely happy for Angie. But keeping this secret—thesesecrets—from her hurts. I don’t like lying.
Just get through the merger, and you can spill. Just hold out a little longer.
Telling Angie will make it all real. And I’m not sure I’m ready for “real” with everything going on.
She checks her watch. “Shit, I forgot about my meeting. Want me to walk you back to the office?”
“I’m good, thanks. Gonna squeeze every last second out of this break.”
She cocks her head to the side, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. “Are you sure you don’t have anything you want to talk to me about? Come on, Gab—I know I’m being sketchy with my mystery man, but we usually tell each other everything.”
Part of me wants to spill right then and there, but the bigger part of me wants to keep it buried for a little while longer.
“Nah, just boring work stuff. I’ll see you later, OK?”
