I chuckle. “Well, that and I can sometimes turn into a colossal prick when I get bored.”
“I’m shocked.”
“Plus, I’m generally what you’d label ‘non-committal’ when it comes to relationships in the first place, so that could have contributed to the demise of a few of my relationships, as well.”
She frowns. “Ah, so, you’re a cheater?”
“No. If I say I’m exclusive, then I am. It’s just really,reallyhard to get me to say I’m exclusive.”
She nods, apparently approving of that answer. “I’m the same way.”
“You turn into a colossal prick when you get bored, too?”
She giggles and winks. “Only when provoked. No, I consider myself ‘non-committal’ at the moment, too. For the foreseeable future, anyway. While I’m trying to launch my budding journalism career, I’ve decided not to focus on anything or anyone else.”
“Do you have a job lined up after graduation?”
“No, unfortunately.” She secures the lid on a metal shaker. “That’s why I went to that event today. To try to give CeeCee a couple of my writing samples. My dream job is writing for her latest magazine,Dig a Little Deeper.”
“I’m familiar with it. I think you’d be great at that. You’re obviously good at connecting with people. Drawing them out.”And wrapping them around your pretty little finger, I’m sure.
“Thank you. Fingers crossed.”
“Was it mission accomplished with CeeCee? Did she take your writing samples?”
“She did. I got lucky and bumped into a professor after the panel who introduced us, and then CeeCee invited me to coffee. That’s why I left without saying a word to you—because when opportunitycame knocking, I did exactly what you told me to do: I said, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’”
I chuckle. “Well, fuck. When I instructed you to say those three magic words, I was hoping you’d be saying them tome—and under much more intimate circumstances.”
She flushes. “What did you think when I left with CeeCee?”
“I was intrigued. I couldn’t decide if you were CeeCee’s new personal assistant or intern or niece, or if you were playing the world’s most masterful game of chess with me.”
She slides a martini in front of me. “Withyou? How could me leaving with CeeCee have anything to do withyou?”
I shrug. “It was an event for music students, so, I assumed you had to be an aspiring pop star with a demo in your pocket, like everyone else in the building. I thought you’d seen my long line and decided you’d get far more traction out of leaving with CeeCee—and gambling on me tracking you down tomorrow—than staying and trying to compete for my attention.”
She looks shocked. “Damn. That’s quite a leap. When I left with CeeCee, I was sure I’d never see you again. I can’t even imagine thinking two moves ahead like you’ve suggested.”
Jesus, she’s such a bullshitter. “Yeah, well, if you’d actually been a music student who wanted to use me for more than my hot body,” I say, “then I guarantee you’d not only have played chess with me, you’d have been fucking Bobby Fischer.”
“Who’s that?”
I smile to myself. For a second there, I’d forgotten how young she is. “He’s generally regarded as the best chess player who ever lived.”
“Oh.”
“After observing you, I’ve got no doubt you’d be fully capable of playing chess like him, if the need arose.” I sip Josh’s Scotch again. “Seriously, Georgina, you wouldn’t believe the shit people do to get my attention. Nothing surprises me anymore.” I take a sip of the martini she slides across the bar and suddenly realize she looks sincerely offended by something I’ve said. “Oh, come on. Really? Don’t act like I’ve slandered you by calling you out, Little Miss Journalism Student Who Goes To A Music Event to Ambush CeeCee Rafael. You’re a hustler, baby. Scrappy and relentless. I’ve seen the way you expertly hypnotize your customers,including me, into giving you big tips. Don’t even try to pretend you’re not fully capable of playing chess as masterfully as Bobby Fischer.”
She blushes crimson, letting me know I’ve pegged her right.
“But it’s all good, Georgie girl. I’m a chess-playing hustler, too. In fact, one of my mantras in life is ‘All good things come to those who hustle.’” I raise my glass to her. “To being scrappy and relentless. To hustling and playing chess.”
She slides my third martini in front of me, looking tentative. But after a moment, a delightful sort of “what the fuck” expression washes over her gorgeous features. She grabs one of the martinis and clinks my glass with it. “To playing chess.” She grins. “Even more masterfully than Bobby Fischer.”
9
GEORGINA
