“I heard from my client on Saturday after we had lunch. He wanted some modifications, and I dreaded the thought of doing them, but when I looked at it again, it came pretty easily, and he approved it a few hours later.”
She smiled despite herself. “See, I told you a little block wouldn’t stop you.”
“I almost called you to tell you you were right, but I didn’t need you getting a big head, and I wanted to let you decompress and prepare for your first day back on campus.”
Eri paused on the page she was turning because she hadn’t expected him to say that. Was that why he hadn’t called her? Because he wanted her to prepare for the upcoming semester on her last couple of days before it started? It was a sweet gesture, and it wiped away any thoughts she’d had about why he hadn’t.
“Eri,” he called, gaining her attention. “Did you hear me?”
“What?” She hadn’t realized he’d said something. “I’m sorry, I was getting a couple of things together for homework.” It wasn’t a complete lie. “What did you say?”
“I asked if you had plans this weekend.”
“Um, no.”
“Do you want to go to a party on Saturday?”
“A party?”
“Yeah. It’s for a former client,” he supplied.
She was unsure if she wanted to attend something tied to his business. She also wasn’t sure if she was ready to go on an actual date with him, but wasn’t sure that would count as one because it sounded more like a work thing.
“If it helps, Avian and Marco will be there.”
Yes, that helped a little. She was used to that setting; them hanging out with multiple people from their friend group around.
“Can I let you know?” she asked.
“Yeah. No rush. I should let you go so you can do your homework.”
“No,” she stated faster than she meant to. “You don’t have to. I’m ahead, so this isn’t due for a few weeks. Unless you need to go.”
“Nah, I don’t.”
When they finally hung up, Eri hadn’t expected to finish two assignments during their conversation or for it to be almost four hours later. Their conversation flowed easily, and they moved from one topic of discussion to another effortlessly. She’d learned that they had several things in common, which had surprised her because she didn’t see him as the type to enjoy foreign dramas, but you couldn’t judge a book by its cover.
As she put her school materials away, she thought back to him asking her out and decided to text him tomorrow to let him know she’d go. If, for some reason, it was a disaster, her best friend would be there, and she wouldn’t be left alone to deal with any awkward energy.
6
Elias knocked on the front door at seven o’clock. The party started at eight-thirty, but he had told her he’d pick her up at seven when she accepted his invitation. He didn’t consider his invitation to the party a date, and while he planned to take her to dinner beforehand, he still didn’t think of it as one. He wanted them to hang out again in an environment where she was comfortable before he took her out.
The door opened, and Eri stood on the other side in a form-fitted maroon sweater tucked into high-waisted black skinny jeans and matching boots. He couldn’t think of a time when he’d seen her and she hadn’t looked beautiful, and tonight was no exception.
“Hey,” she greeted, stepping aside to let him in. “I’m almost ready. You can have a seat.”
“I’m not in a hurry,” he told her, sitting on the couch.
While she finished getting ready, Elias looked around the living room. There were pictures of her with Avian, her with other friends, and of who he assumed were her parents. A large photo collage on one wall, the images spanning from high school to the present. She liked to capture her memories, to preserve them. Elias understood that. Most of the pictures in his own house were of his bikes, but he kept others in photo albums, a habit he’d gotten from his mother.
When she returned a few minutes later, purse on the crook of her elbow, a soft red painting her lips, they left. He openedthe car door for her, and when he pulled out, he clued her in on the plan for the night.
“Since the party doesn’t start for another hour and a half, I thought we could get dinner together.”
“Where are we going?” He had a place in mind, but if she had a taste for something else, he didn’t mind going there instead.
“Where do you want to go?”
