I was expecting some sort of joke about spreadsheets and Sadie being part robot, but instead Noah rubbed his chest and sighed. What was that about? He didn’t respond back for several minutes, but maybe that was just because we got distracted by Dan and Sadie arguing over the music. Dan liked obnoxious pop hits. Sadie didn’t like anything from this decade. Which was why we usually didn’t have music on in the car.
Carpool Noah: I’m going to find you at lunch today.
Jenny: Like that’s not at all creepy.
Carpool Noah: You’re avoiding me IRL.
I totally was. Since I knew he wouldn’t dare sneak into my building again, for reasons I didn’t want to analyze, I’d been bringing my lunch with me. But I’d forgotten today, and clearly that hadn’t escaped his notice. I sighed. Fine. I’d meet him at the café. That way there would be plenty of people around us.
Jenny: Café at noon.
Carpool Noah: Sounds good.
I put my phone away and joined Dan in singing along to a Justin Bieber song while Sadie covered her ears and Noah laughed at us.
“No bets today?” I asked after Dan finally had mercy on her and turned the music off.
“Nope.” Dan checked his mirrors and then moved into the fast lane. “Sadie won’t make one with me on whether or not Denver kicks her out before the month is up.”
“He’s not going to kick her out.” Sadie had promised me she’d make this work. And Denver had promised me he’d make this work. We were taping over the huge gap between their personalities with lots of promises, and I was determined to hold the two sides together.
“So, they’re getting along?” Dan raised his eyebrows like he knew better.
“Yyess?” I eyed Sadie, not sure what percent of my answer was a lie. Was it lying if the answer was both yes and no?
“My brothers made a bet this week,” Noah interrupted, saving me from having to decide. He told us about their stupid bet over figuring out what Uncharted Treasures meant, and what his oldest brother had promised to make the loser do.
“So, who won?” I asked.
“They texted me the next morning to say they were calling it off. I guess they didn’t trust each other not to look it up after they left.”
“If you show me your mole, I’ll show you mine.” Dan cackled.
“You’re disgusting.” Sadie shook her head. “Brothers.”
“Sing it, sister.” Noah turned and smiled at her, and then his eyes found mine, like they always did.
I should make him meet my dad.Then my dad could be the one who asked him what his intentions were. Because I had no idea. All I knew was that Noah had to stop looking at me like that. Like I was beautiful and wonderful and he had secrets he wanted to tell me. He had to stop practicing that look on me. It was perfected already. Time for him to move on. I didn’t believe for one second he wouldn’t.
Breaking eye contact, I looked down at my phone and pulled up my text message thread with Lauren.
Jenny: Going to miss Hawaii?
Lauren: Yesss! But we’re excited to get back on Sunday. Clay says hello.
Jenny: I’ll have a lot to tell you. Call me when you’re settled. You know, in like a year.
Lauren: Oh no. What’s going on?
I sent her a gif of Michael Jackson eating popcorn, and told her she’d have to wait. She sent me one of Mr. Smithers from The Simpson’s rubbing his hands together in anticipation. And then she told me she had to go. They were hitting the beach.
I looked out the window at the slow moving commuters who didn’t get to cruise along in the carpool lane like we did. See? I had it good, too. Not beach good. Not love-of-my-life good. But life had seasons and mine didn’t have to match up with anyone else’s to be just as good.
We got to work right on time, and after saying goodbye to Sadie, I got off the elevator and hurried to my desk, ready to work. I had a pileup of contracts to go over and sign off on. They tended to sit in limbo until Friday when they hit me all at once.
I pulled up Keegan’s Cupid jack-in-the-box first and checked over the exclusivity clause, the wholesale pricing, and the order amount we were planning for our initial run, going through it in my usual way to make sure I didn’t miss anything. After signing, I sent it on to the legal team and pulled up the next one.
After five more contracts, I took a stretching break and sipped from my water bottle.
