Ryan laughed. ‘And not as expensive as a shrink, huh?’ She smiled weakly.
‘Really, though, in all seriousness, I didn’t mean to bring up things that make you sad, Beth. I don’t want you to be sad. But I do feel honoured that you would consider talking to me.’
‘Anyway… I think we better get the check now? Time for us to be getting back.’ She made a big show about looking around for their server.
A moment later they had their bill, which Ryan insisted upon paying even though she protested.
‘If you’re my shrink, shouldn’t I be paying for lunch?’
‘Consider it a business expense,’ he teased, putting a few twenty-dollar bills down on the table.
‘Well, thank you,’ she said, standing up. ‘I appreciate it. Next one’s on me.’
‘You got yourself a deal.’ He stood up next to her and put his hand on her back, helping her navigate her way through the crowded restaurant.
The gesture did not go unnoticed and just as she thought the words,stop overreacting, he’s just being a gentleman, Ryan leaned close to her ear, and said in a whisper that sounded like a promise, ‘Just for the record, Beth, you are not the type of girl anyone should put in second place. If your guy is doing that, with all due respect, he’s nuts.’
And Beth’s stomach did a little backflip.
Chapter 6
It was the following week, and Jodi sat on the couch in Beth’s living room, barefoot, feet curled up under her, munching on popcorn while Beth scrolled through Netflix, trying to decide what they should watch.
The two women were having a movie night in, something they did regularly.
‘SoSleepless,Definitely Maybe,When Harry Met Sally,Valentine’s Day, orMusic and Lyrics?’Beth asked.
‘Has Netflix profiled you, or what? Do you ever watch anything other than “Romantic Comedies 101”?’ her friend asked archly. ‘Why don’t you try something different once in a while? There are probably a few classics that you have never considered. Like maybeScarfaceorDie Hard. A little blood and violence never hurt anyone.’ She laughed into her glass of wine.
Beth shook her head. ‘Judge all you want. At least I have apositiveattitude towards love and life.’
‘Oh, yeah? And what attitude would that be? The more the merrier?’ her friend shot back with no small measure of sarcasm.
Beth quickly turned back towards the TV as she felt a familiar blush creeping up her neck. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Jodi sat her wine glass down on a coaster on the coffee table and unfolded her feet. She sat upright, leaning forward to where Beth sat on the floor. ‘You know full well what I am talking about. The hot guy at work – Ryan. He’s been spendinga lotof time in the shoe department lately, and he doesn’t look like the cross-dressing type to me. What’s going on? What are you up to?’
Beth had known to expect this question. She had been trying to avoid Jodi’s enquiring gaze for days – the mocking expression she’d worn every time Ryan had ventured over into their department, making Beth laugh, inviting her to lunch, bringing her coffee from Starbucks to stay alert during one long afternoon…
Yes, it was true that she was seeing a lot of him lately. But they werefriends. OK, so they’d had lunch together a few days since, and Beth couldn’t deny it had all been enjoyable. In truth, the little bit of flirting that was taking place between them was akin to the way she handled relationships back in school. It was harmless.
‘So? Did you hear me?’ Jodi persisted.
Beth put the remote control down and turned to face her friend. ‘Yes, I heard you. I was just thinking.’
Jodi’s eyes narrowed. ‘You haven’t done anything you regret, have you, sweetie? I would never have taken you for a cheater.’
Beth blanched at hearing that word spoken aloud. She knew what Jodi thought about cheating and most definitely didn’t want her friend to include her in such a category.
‘No, of course not. I wouldn’t do anything of the sort.’ She glanced down at her hands and wrung them in her lap, trying to figure out what to say next. ‘It’s really nothing. I’ve just made a new friend. I didn’t think there was a law against that.’
Jodi tsked. ‘Beth, let me tell you one thing.Friendsdon’t look at each other the way you and that guy Ryan do.Friendsdon’t smile and tease, and try to make some kind of bodily contact with one another at every available opportunity.’ Eyes wide, Beth opened her mouth to speak; denying that she did any such thing, but Jodi shushed her with her hand. ‘Don’t tell me that’s not true. I know you, honey. And if people around you can feel the sparks flying when you and Ryan are near each other, there is no way you aren’t aware of it too.’
Beth wanted to deny it, but also knew that her friend wasn’t an idiot. Yes, there were sparks. Definite sparks.
‘OK, so maybe there is a teeny bit of attraction there. And I can’t deny that it’s fun. But that’s all it is – harmless fun. I already told him, Jodi, I told Ryan that I wasn’t available. I was upfront with him about Danny from the start. He knows that I am in a serious relationship.’
Jodi shook her head and sighed deeply. ‘Oh, Beth. Look, I believe you when you say that, and I know you are a genuine person. I also know that you love Danny. But something else is going on, too. You have to admit that. It might be something as simple as you liking the attention that Ryan is giving you. And while you believe that your intentions are pure and you can deal with this situation, maybe Ryan is less concerned about your relationship? But if this so-called harmless flirtation – or whatever it is – is allowed to persist, it’s you and Danny who stand to lose. It’ll be your relationship that suffers. Ryan is footloose and fancy-free – he has nothing to lose or to fear.’
