I look over at Gabriel’s plate filled with a short stack of pancakes, a side of bacon and sausage, fried potatoes topped with cheese and sour cream, and what looks like a frothy cappuccino. I blink down at my plate with the tiny amount of food that wouldn’t feed Shelly, my turtle, then over at Gabriel. “I’m allergic to eggs.” Okay, so I’m not really allergic to eggs. I just really dislike them, especially boiled eggs. Yuk!
“You are?” he asks perplexed.
“Yep.”
He turns to Doug and shrugs. “I learn new, wonderful things about her every day.”
Ooh, good save, Gabe. Good save.
“In my defense, sweetie, I was trying to order things that would help you.”
“Help me?”
He looks at Doug then back at me. “Yes. To help you lose weight. Isn’t that what you want?”
No. “Oh, right. Of course.” I opt to play with the fruit on my plate rather than eat it.
“So, Lexie,” Doug tries again. “Are you two talking wedding bells?”
“Oh, n…”
“Oh, Doug. You rascal. It’s too soon for that. Right honey?”
I nod and smile. Why bother speaking?
“Lexie? What do you see in this guy?” he asks with a chuckle, using his thumb to point to Gabriel.
He’s got to let me speakthistime. “Well, look at him. He’s handsome, talented, and intelligent.” I reach over and place my hand on his, so very tempted to dig my fingernails into the top of his hand. “He’s got a great sense of humor, he’s a wonderful boss who cares about the people who work for him. Gabriel is very philanthropic giving to many children’s and cancer charities in Chicago, and he’s a doting boyfriend.”
“Wow, that’s high praise.”
“Indeed,” Gabriel says smiling at Doug.
Ugh.
“So, what drew you to Lexie, Gabriel?”
“Well, she’s beautiful. Although, she’s a little chunkier than I’m used to dating, but what she lacks in physical fitness she makes up in cheerfulness. She always has my favorite candy on her desk. And… uh, she’s a hard worker.”
“Alrighty then.” Doug looks down at his little notebook, making a lengthy notation after that train wreck of a response.
As Doug begins to ask another question I use the opportunity to get the hell out before I lose it. Standing suddenly, I raise my hand to Doug. “Well, this has been wonderful, but I need to get to work. My boss is a slave driver.” I chuckle. It’s fake.
The truth is I’ve got to get away from Gabriel Parker. In no less than twenty minutes, he’s made me feel almost as bad about myself as I did the night Randy Mathis stood me up for the senior prom. To put this into perspective, my friends, getting left standing on my front step for an hour as I waited for him to pick me up was life-alteringly devastating. My mom made that all better, but there’s no one to make this better. This morning’s interview was only marginally better than that. Marginally.
“So soon?” asks Gabriel turning to face me. His expression is giving away his irritation. His eyes have narrowed at me, and one brow is higher than the other.
“Those phones wait for no woman.” I chuckle. It’s fake.
I shake Doug’s hand. “It was very nice meeting you.” I turn to leave and mutter to Gabriel. “See you later, darling.”
I don’t lean down to kiss him, I don’t touch him. Honestly, I’ll be fine if I never kiss or touch Gabriel Parker again. I step away from the table and nearly trip on the leg of his effing chair. Luckily, the older gentleman that was talking to the concierge earlier was there to stop my fall. “Madame? May I escort you out?”
“Y-Yes. Th-Thank you.”
I slide my arm through his holding tightly since if feel like my legs are about to give out on me. “Thank you,” I whisper as we walk out the door.
“He’s a fool, young lady. I think you’re the bee’s knees.”
