“Sorry, man.” Jake offers me an apologetic smile. “Best I could do if we want to fit everything in.”
I’m trying my best to be happy for Jake, but Lauren can be a challenge. He proposed last year, but she’s always had an excuse for why they can’t set a wedding date just yet. Now, suddenly, she’s found a date and a location, and not only is it a month away, it’s on the fucking Fourth of July. She’s excited to have fireworks as the co-star of the event. Now she’s convinced Jake that our annual guy’s trip to San Diego could double as his bachelor party so he won’t have to leave town twice before the wedding.
“So, you gonna tell me what’s going on with you?” Jake steps out of the cart and heads toward his clubs in the back. He doesn’teven give me a chance to dodge his question. I put the brake on and meet him at the back as he grabs his driver out of his bag.
“I saw Blair.”
I’m not sure why I keep my eyes focused on the tee box. Maybe so he can’t see my excitement, the torture of it all, or that I’m absolutely gone for her? He’s quiet for a minute, so I know he understands.
I can’t get Blair out of my head—mostly the way I stupidly doubled down on keeping everything professional. At first, I thought I saw a look of hurt, and I hoped it was because maybe she wanted something more. Then I quickly realized that I had insulted her and it’s quite possible she hates me. Talk about a gut punch.
Blair has haunted my thoughts for years. I dated in college, but Jake used to get so frustrated every time I ended it with a girl after a few dates. He would tell me I was romanticizing the past. He begged me to give any girl a real chance and stop comparing her to Blair. He said I was probably just a blip on her romantic resume.
Jake takes his place in the tee box and bends over to place the ball on the little peg sticking out of the ground.
“So, what’s the plan, then?” he asks as he takes a few practice swings to get a feel for his shot.
“Plan? There’s no plan. She’s trying to sign my sister. I ran into her when I had lunch with Sophia the other day.” I conveniently leave out dinner the other night.
“So, that’s it? You see the woman you’ve been obsessed with since we met in college, and now what? You’ll just go back to normal and not see her again?” He chuckles. Like a jolly old fellow.
“Not exactly,” I say.
Jake just nods and strikes the ball, sending it sailing toward the first hole.
“So, I’ll ask again, what’s the plan?”
“I asked to be assigned to work on The Manhattan Group and TWA merger,” I tell him. He may not realize our firm is helping, but he knows the deal I’m referring to. He also knows Blair works for TWA. He gives me a curious grunt.
“But I told her there was nothing to worry about and that we’d keep things totally professional.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Because there was something to worry about?”
“Well, no. But I wanted her to know I’m a professional. I wouldn’t let lingering feelings or our past impede our relationship.”
“You have a relationship?” He’s got both hands on the end of the club propped in front of him. His lawyer is showing.
“No. We don’t…” I say. “Workingrelationship. I just thought it would set her mind at ease in case we have to work together. I don’t have any expectations.”
“Except complete professionalism.”
“Fuck. I’m such an asshole.” I wipe my hand down my face and then move past him to place my ball on the tee.
That’s why she left our dinner without saying goodbye. I completely insinuated there might be feelings—likely from her—and it looked like I was shutting it down. I’m such an idiot. I was so excited to see her again and doing my best to rein in my own feelings—apparently in the worst possible way.
After a day of golf and a few private poker games, we’re headed to a Cage Warriors MMA matchup. It’s the main reason we’re celebrating Jake’s bachelor party here this weekend. He’s a huge fan and, in another life, would have loved to pursue it as a career.
My phone buzzes as we take our seats, and I’m about to shut it off when I see my sister’s name flash across the screen.
SOPHIA
Sorry to interrupt man weekend, but can you send me Blair’s address?
ME
Why?
SOPHIA
