I needed to see the sky. I needed food not out of a vending machine. And I needed Jenny. If luck was on my side, I’d get all three.
The café was tucked in between the two buildings and catered almost exclusively to the occupants of both.
I got in line and glanced around as casually as possible. Jenny was sitting in a booth in the back right corner, but she wasn’t alone. I studied the sleek blonde head of the person facing her and inwardly groaned. Britta Skinner. Why did it have to be Britta? And why were they sitting together? Those two did not like each other.
Adding me to the mix would not go well. The last time we were all together was on a hot air balloon date not intended for three. The memory of it had haunted more than one night’s sleep—I kept remembering the look on Jenny’s face when Britta showed up last-minute to say she could make our date after all. The more the merrier had never applied to a situation less.
I had to get out of the café before they spotted me. Of course, as soon as I’d made my decision, Jenny looked up. And then Britta turned in her seat to see who Jenny was looking at, and her mouth dropped open.
“Noah! I didn’t know you were back. Get over here.” She giggled, pressing a hand to her chest. “I mean, order first. Duh. But then come over here. We only have like twenty minutes left of our lunch break.”
Jenny stared me down, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Fake an injury? Get a sudden urgent phone call? Except, Jenny would see right through it, and worse, she’d expect me to do it. Always looking out for myself. Wasn’t that the message I’d continually sent her?
“I’ll be right there.” The person in front of me finished paying, and I stepped up, ordering a Panini sandwich I could carry back and eat in case things went south. I wasn’t all that hungry anymore with thoughts of how much Britta looked forward to seeing me again, and how little Jenny did.
I got my bottled lemonade out of the cooler and went to go face my doom. Britta scooted over to make room for me on her side, but I pretended not to see and slid in next to Jenny.
The side of Jenny’s foot connected with my ankle, letting me know the smile she’d just plastered on her face was one-hundred percent for show. Message received.
Just for old times’ sake, I stole a fry from her plate and watched her lips twist into a pout while I ate it.
Britta reached across the table to get my attention. “Holy moly, Noah. Are you back at corporate? You have to tell me all about the California branch.”
Work talk I could do. I told them both about how the expansion was going, with the marketing team in California handling all the company’s social media, radio, and TV ads. I had been square in the middle of it all, and yet perfectly miserable, thanks to how I ended up there.
“So, what are you doing back here?” Britta asked, folding up her burger wrapper into neat triangles that got smaller and smaller with each fold.
I could feel Jenny leaning in. She’d asked me the same thing. I should have told her more. It wasn’t like my new job was top secret.
“I’m working for a travel company called Uncharted Treasures.”
“They made you an offer you couldn’t refuse?” Britta smiled, her confidence in me unwavering.
“Not really. I just knew I had unfinished business here. Connecting Hearts wanted me to stay in California. Transferring back wasn’t an option so… I quit and started looking for something else.”
“Wow. That’s so brave.” Britta sighed. “Good for you.”
“How are things with you?” I asked, before she could throw more compliments at me I didn’t deserve.
“Same old, same old. I love having Jenny as our new team leader. I was just telling her she doesn’t need to doubt herself at all. She’s a little too quiet, but she’s doing such a good job.”
Jenny squirmed under the backhanded praise and didn’t say anything. An awkward pause descended, and the longer it went on the more it felt like my button-down shirt and tie had teamed up in an effort to choke me. It didn’t help that Britta stared at me with flirty amusement, like Jenny was this inconvenient third wheel, and all she needed to do was wait her out so the two of us could be alone. I’d just have to fix that.
“Yeah, Jenny’s amazing. I’ve been trying to find a time to catch up with her now that I’m back. I’m glad I found her here.”
Britta opened her mouth to respond and then closed it. I saw the moment she got my drift. “Well, I need to head back. Jenny was just giving me the lowdown on my new assignment, and I want to get started.” She scooted out of the booth, but paused after she stood. “Noah, your number’s still the same, right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
I pressed my leg lightly against Jenny’s, not lifting my eyes to meet Britta’s. “I’m not, but I have someone...”
“Say no more.” Britta squeezed my shoulder. “Lucky girl.”
I let out what felt like a lungful of air as she walked off, relief rolling off me in waves.
“They’re calling your number.”
