Nara

The day flew, and by the end of it, my mood had upgraded from crappy to hopeful but resigned. The Mommy Knows software sensors were working like the champs I knew they were, and that was a huge load off everyone’s back. The moms who had come in for the day’s test had raved about the results, thrilled that they might be able to know their little ones had a dirty diaper before they got some kind of nasty rash, or worse, someone smelled it.

I’d left Simon two messages but strangely had not heard back. I was hoping against hope we’d reached some sort of détente, and that I would get my divorce with no further trouble.

But who was I kidding?

And I’d pretty much convinced myself to just let the whole Brodie thing go. He was just one guy, like many others, who’d come into my life. I’d had some fun with him, and I’d forget about it in due time. No harm, no foul.

And yet…

No. I would not waste my time thinking about how he touched me and was so in tune with me that a single look from him made me weak in the knees. And then there were those dark eyes that looked at me like he saw every bit of who I was.

Yeah, right. Forget it.

I straightened up my desk and headed to Joi’s cubicle.

“Well, look who left her laptop on her desk,” she said, observing my lack of tote bag.

I nodded. “Yup. I’m leaving it here. We’re going out, and I’d like to try and forget about work for one evening. Just one.”

She stood up and grabbed her things. “I’m with ya on that, sweetie. Let’s roll.” We headed out the door like we had serious business to take care of. And we did.

Five minutes later, Joi and I settled into a dark paneled place staffed by hipster bartenders with man buns, retro mustaches, and bow ties.

“What’ll you have?” she asked me.

“Scotch. On the rocks.”

“Damn. Goin for the hard stuff. All righty then, I’ll join ya.”

The first sip of the brown liquor burned the hell out of my throat and reminded me why I hardly ever drank the stuff. And of course, it reminded me of Brodie. Ugh.

“So what’s the latest with the wedding?” I asked Joi.

Talking about it thrilled her to no end, and I was happy to oblige. I could sip my burning scotch, toss back a few of the salty peanuts they’d set before us, and smile and nod. The problem with that, though, was that my mind wandered back to exactly where I didn’t want it.

Joi’s elbow stuck in my side. “Are you listening?”

I perked up. “Yeah. Of course.”

Hand on hip, she asked, “Okay then, what was I just saying?”

“Something about purple tablecloths and white flowers?” Not my taste but whatever.

“No. No, that is not what I was talking about. I said we’d decided on white tablecloths and purple flowers.” As offended as she was, you’d think I’d called her baby ugly. If she’d had a baby.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m distracted. You busted me.” I shook my head.

Ugh.

Joi put her hand on my arm. “Okay, hotel guy is moving across the country. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Huh? There’s nothing to do about it. He doesn’t even know I know. Apparently, he didn’t care enough to mention it to me.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. I was not going to cry over that jerk.

“Look,” Joi said, “you want my opinion?”

Not really. “Okay.”

“You don’t have the whole story. I know you don’t like me telling you this, but I’ve seen you jump to conclusions before. You drive yourself crazy. You drive me crazy.”

I shrugged. “Yeah. That’s me.” I took another sip of my scotch. It wasn’t burning nearly as badly now.

The phone rattled in my pocket.

Guess who?

we need to talk. are you free?

I put my phone face down on the bar. Time to change the subject. “So the tests went well today, didn’t they?”

“What? Oh yeah.” She nodded. “Pretty exciting. Now that our proof of concept is solid, do you think the investors will come through? I mean, with some nice, green cash?”

“Ugh, I hope so.” I hadn’t been working on this damn software application every day of my life for the last several years for it to go nowhere.

My phone vibrated again, skittering a few inches across the bar.

I picked it up and yes, it was him again. A knot in my stomach tightened.

“Who is it?” Joi asked, craning to see my phone screen. “Oh, it’s him! Answer it!”

I turned my phone away from her. “Do you mind? This is personal.”

i’m serious. i need to see u.

Joi threw her hands up in the air. “He has no idea you are tweaked at him. At least give him a chance.”

i’m out with joi.

where can I meet you?

why do you want to meet?

c’mon. it’s important.

all right. come meet us at epic grill.

c u in 20.

I put my phone down. “He’s on his way here.”

“Thatta girl! Talk it out. I’m sure everything will make sense soon.” A huge grin was plastered over her face as if she’d won the lottery.

She kind of had won the lottery. Unlike me.

* * *

Brodie entered the bar like he’d been born in the place. That’s how confident he was, never looking out of place, never facing a moment of faltering confidence.

What must that be like?

I watched him over Joi’s shoulder as he scanned the bar, looking for us. When his gaze met mine, my heart nearly pounded out of my chest. Damn him.

“Ladies,” he said with a quick peck on my lips. He shook Joi’s hand, leaving her beaming like she’d solved the world’s problems.

“Brodie! So nice to meet you,” she gushed. That’s the effect he had on women.

He took a sip of my drink. “Whoa. Going for the hard stuff.” He raised his eyebrows at me.

When I tore my gaze from his magnificent face, I saw Joi gathering her things.

“You guys. I am just exhausted,” she said with great drama. “And I have another early day tomorrow.” She gave Brodie a squeeze on the arm, which she clearly enjoyed, and leaned to hug me.

“Don’t be a bitch,” she whispered in my ear.

I made a silent plan to kill her first chance I got.

“Good night all!” she sang as she sauntered out of the bar.

That left just Brodie and me, staring at each other. He climbed into Joi’s vacated bar stool and shook the ice cubes in her half-drunk scotch.

“So,” he started, “what was with the quick exit this morning?”

He didn’t waste any time, did he?

I shrugged one shoulder. “Big day. Yeah, I had a big day. In fact, our testing went really well today—”

He held his hand up to stop me.

“No. That’s not why you left.” He looked serious. “I need you to be honest.”

Well, shit.

If he wanted honesty, he was going to get honesty.

I took a sip of my drink and straightened my back. “I overheard you planning your move to San Francisco.” I looked at the ice melting in my drink, leaving wavy lines as it mixed with the booze.

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed loudly. “So you just leave? Without a word?”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “What was there to say? I heard all I needed to.”

He looked up at the ceiling as if he were counting to three. Then he turned on his barstool to face me directly. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. The sooner this ended, the better.

He continued. “I’m sorry you heard only part of the story.”

“What else is there to know?” I asked.

“That I want you to come with me. To San Francisco.”