“Let me take you out. We’ll have dinner, go for a walk on the bay. Maybe even another goodnight kiss.”
“Are you joking?”
“I’m deadly serious.”
“I thought you and I were way past all that.”
“But we never went through the right steps.”
“I didn’t have you down for a guy who stuck to the ‘right steps’.”
“No, that’s true – but you’re the kind of woman who makes me want to take those steps.”
She smiles, blushing furiously. She still hasn’t told me to piss off, yet.
“Don’t waste your moves on me.”
“You have no idea how many more moves I have up my sleeve.”
She rolls her eyes, but her expression is amused.
“You should save them for someone else. Someone who might actually fall for them.”
“And you think you won’t?”
“Exactly.”
“Great. So… What do I have to lose?”
She looks at me.
“If you’re so sure…”
“Even if I accept – which I would only do just to prove that you have no effect on me whatsoever – there’s still a conflict of interest.”
“We’ll find a solution.”
“There is no solution.”
“Well, I don’t think dinner and a little walk is a violation of any codes.”
“Probably not, but as for that kiss…”
“I can pass on the kiss.”
She looks at me, unconvinced.
“If you promise me that I can at least hold your hand when we’re at the docks.”
“That violates our contract, too.”
“It’ll be pitch-black. I promise, no one will see us.”
She considers this for a moment, then looks out at the kids, who have put on their vests and divided themselves into two teams.
“Fine. But until then…”
“Friends,” I say immediately. “Just friends.”
