Page 57 of The Alibi Club

“I’m game for the phone thing if you guys are,” Kyle said. Jamie nodded and put hers in the middle of the table, followed by the others. Rick reluctantly relinquished his device. But, Cliff declined without explanation. He just said, “I can’t do that. I’m sorry, but I will put it away.” Cliff put it in his pants pocket.

Amber arrived with Justin the bartender as they delivered small porcelain serving spoons on which was a perfectly composed “seared scallop with a truffle foam and a white wine reduction,” as announced by Amber. “Bon appétit.” She briskly walked away.

Jamie picked up her spoon and tipped it into her mouth for the first divine bite, as did the others. Group conversations were always a little hard for her because it was mostly small talk about things that seemed like they revealed your personality, but in actuality did not. Rick, however, had no problems with this line of talk as long as it was about him. Jamie half listened as he yammered on about his job while she stole glances at Cliff.

Every time, she got caught. Every time, he held her gaze.

“And then we won the Furbear Dog Chow account, and that put us on the map.”

“It’s interesting,” Holly Kim said.

“Thank you. I think so, too.” Rick smiled broadly.

“No, I meant that it’s interesting that you think regular people care about advertising.”

Rick started turning red. “Great advertising is the intersection of art and commerce. You remember brands because of the work we do.” He used both thumbs to point at himself. “You pick laundry detergent, cars, computers, and yes, dog chow, based on how we sell it.”

“I disagree.” Holly took a drink from her glass and looked away as Rick balled his hands into fists.

“You write jingles? I love that one about wieners,” Shannon said.

“You’re missing my point, and jingles are the lowest form of advertising,” Rick protested.

“What’s wrong with jingles?” Kyle asked.

“Jingles work,” Jamie added, helpfully singing, “Gimme a break, gimme a break—

“Break me off a piece of that KitKat bar,” Cliff finished the jingle.

Kyle started another totally new jingle and the entire group, except a fuming Rick, joined in the chorus. They even did harmony. “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!”

Jamie sung, “Every kiss begins with Kay!”

Cliff started low, “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…”

Shannon in a soft, high jazzy voice, “Chili’s baby back ribs…”

“Stop!” Rick shouted as he covered his ears with his hands. The whole table went silent and stared at him.

“Just sayin’,” Shannon implored. “Jingles are the best!”

“I do not write jingles!” Rick bellowed and then skulled his fancy French wine.

Everyone looked down at their dish, each spoon empty except for lingering sauce. Amber was back collecting plates when she said, “Anyone else need another drink?”

All hands went up.

As the six singles settled in at the table, alcohol lowering their inhibitions, Jamie half heard the conversation going on between Rick and Holly.

Holly asked, “So how did your last relationship end?”

Rick said, “I just told her, ‘Look, there ain’t no good guy, there ain’t no bad guy. There’s only you and me and we just disagree.’”

Holly squinted at him. “Aren’t those Dave Mason lyrics?”

“Shit.” Rick paused for a second. “Do you think she knew that?”

On the other side of the table, Shannon and Kyle were dancing around information but were having a hard time getting to the point.