I’m busy setting up drinks and snacks around the dining room table since it’s poker night, our monthly get-together when we drink and swear like men. (Okay, we do that all the time, but this seems like a plausible excuse to go over the top with it and channel those with a Y-chromosome.) Of course, since it is happening on the night before my first date with Beckett, I get to run this new development by those who apparently (or so they think) have veto power over any man I’m seeing. My three friends are in the kitchen, looking at me while speaking in hushed tones, so I know that they know something is up. And they know that I know that they know. While I have a good poker face when it comes to cards, obviously I have a major league “tell” regarding men and my interest in any particular one. Madison, the network TV reporter, has a sixth sense about that which she refers to as her “reporter’s radar” and of course Tish will put on her lawyer hat turning a card game into a deposition. I’m surprised she’s never brought a lie detector machine to a game.

I finish putting out the goodies and look up at my friends. “Okay, let’s rock. I’m starting with something simple, five card draw.” We all take our seats and since I’m hosting tonight, I get the first deal. I start flipping cards across the table and it doesn’t take long for the inquisition to start.

Rory looks at her cards, then peeks over the top of them at me. “So, big date this weekend?”

I nod. “Yeah. You could say that.”

“I thought Josh was out of town.”

“He is.” I turn to Tish. “Your bet.”

The Grand Inquisitor flips a blue chip into the pot. “Twenty-five cents. So, how exactly do you have a big date with Josh out of town? You guys having phone sex or something?” She leans toward me. “Well?”

“It’s... uh... not with Josh.”

Everyone puts the cards down.

I cock my head at Madison. “Quarter to you, Network.”

She tosses in a blue chip. “Call. And who is bachelor number two?”

I turn to Rory. “Your bet.”

“Fold.” She pushes her cards toward the middle of the table. “Answer the question.”

I toss a blue chip into the pot and turn back to Tish. “I call. Tish, how many cards you want?”

“Three. And the witness is directed to answer the question.”

They have me totally cornered but I’m determined to torture them. I flip three cards to Tish. “I’m going to dinner with a nice guy I ran into yesterday. Nothing earthshaking.”

Madison tosses two cards in my direction. “Good God, this is like pulling teeth. I’ll take two, and the name of the guy.”

I’m about to give in and just as I flip a card in her direction Gypsy makes a flying leap from the couch, grabs the card and lands in the middle of the table, sending chips everywhere.

Madison laughs. “And I raise one cat.”

I shake my head. “Obviously she wants attention. C’mere, you little daredevil.” I grab the cat and put her on my lap while everyone else straightens out the table. With everything back to normal, I give Madison her cards and place one card in front of me. “Dealer takes one.”

Rory slaps the table. “For God’s sake, who the hell are you dating this weekend?”

I shoot her a Cheshire cat grin. “Fine. The man previously known as Speechless Guy.”

Her eyes widen. “Ah, he came back to the deli?”

“Yep. Apparently he’d been traveling and getting stuff to start his new business... which will be... drum roll please... across the street from the deli.”

Tish furrows her brow. “What business across the street?”

“He’s the person who bought the abandoned building and is fixing it up. He’s going to open a place that serves British tea and scones.”

Madison slowly nods. “Well, that will certainly be different. Not sure how many people around here know what scones are, but I got hooked on those things when I was on that British Isles cruise. Scones are addictive the way they serve them. Who knows, it might actually catch on.”

Tish picks up her cards. “Yeah, I had those years ago when I was in London. They really are different. And their tea is different as well. Don’t know how many tea drinkers there are around here though. I can’t even remember the last time I had a cup of tea.”

I pick up my cards. “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. Not sure a business like that is gonna fly on Staten Island. Might work in Manhattan.”

Rory rolls her eyes. “Guys, enough with the friggin’ tea and scones, we want details on the man. Start with a name, please.”

The poker game comes to a halt as I give them the lowdown on Beckett for the next five minutes, including the part about him living above the business on the second floor. Then I attempt to get the game going again. “So that’s the deal. Tish, your bet.”

Rory puts up her hands. “Whoa, just stop a minute. Am I the only one who sees a major conflict with this situation?”

I shrug. “What conflict? It’s not like I’m going steady with Josh and we’ve only had a few dates. We haven’t talked about being exclusive. And, thanks to your new rules, we haven’t really done anything.”

Tish tosses two blue chips into the pot. “Fifty cents. Really, Rory, I don’t see anything wrong with her playing the field. We’ve all done it. It’s not like she’s dating one guy while she’s sleeping with another.”

Rory turns to Madison. “Are you missing the obvious as well? You’re a reporter. Don’t you see it?”

“I don’t see anything wrong with it if A.J. wants to date two guys. And if you remember I was doing that and ended up with the correct one. If I had only dated the bad guy I might have made a huge mistake. Sometimes it’s good to have a choice.”

“Well, I guess I need to lay it all out for you guys.” Rory turns back to me. “So, let me get this straight. This British guy Beckett who you are going to date along with Josh is going to open the business across the street.”

“Right.”

“And he’s going to be living in the apartment on the second floor.”

“Yeah. I do the same thing, living above the business. He wants to save money on rent same as me. What’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal?” She reaches over and taps my head with a knuckle. “Hello, McFly! And who is the architect designing the apartment he will be living in?”

My eyes instantly become saucers. “Oh, shit.”

***

I’M NERVOUS.

No, the anxiety isn’t about my date with Beckett tonight. Or about if Josh would have a problem with me seeing other people.

It’s about two guys I find interesting basically working on the same project. Think about it... Josh designing an apartment for Beckett. Imagine if they both found out I was dating the two of them. The conversation might go like this:

––––––––

JOSH: I’D LIKE TO GET A.J. in a tub big enough for two. I could put it against the far wall with a skylight overhead.

Beckett: Sounds lovely. Do you think she’d enjoy an invigorating steam shower after a hard day at the deli?

Josh: Good idea. One with enough space for a couple. You know, with these high ceilings in the bedroom, a trapeze is doable.

Beckett: While you’re up there installing that, how about some mirrors?

Josh: Yes, that would be a nice feature if she likes being on top.

Beckett: She does seem to be the type who prefers being in control.

––––––––

TRUE, BUT MY BRAIN is out of control.

Thankfully the buzzer sounds interrupting this ridiculous scenario and I take a deep breath, then buzz Beckett in. I look around to see where Gypsy is hiding and don’t see her, so I know the cat is going to add to the tension by launching a sneak attack.

I open the door and something I’ve never, ever seen is heading up the stairs.

A man carrying flowers.

And the anxiety pours out of my body as if someone opened a spigot. I can’t help but smile as I greet him. “Beware of Brits bearing gifts.”

He hands me the bouquet, obviously not one bought from a street vendor for five bucks. “Just a little something to brighten your day, as you brightened mine earlier this week.”

Damn, I’m gonna melt before we even get out the door.

(Of course the old me would have just hauled him straight into the bedroom.)

He looks around the apartment. “Ah, what a lovely flat.”

“A what?”

“Sorry, a flat is an apartment.”

And right on cue, Gypsy sails by his head from the top of the refrigerator, landing on the counter.

“Oh my!” He puts his hand over his chest.

I grab the cat. “Gypsy! That’s not how we greet a guest for the first time.”

He reaches toward the cat and scratches her head. “You startled me, kitty. My, what a beautiful Russian Blue. Her eyes are like emeralds.”

“You know cats?”

“I adore them. You said her name is Gypsy?”

“Yes.”

He continues to pet her. “Well, Gypsy, you provide quite a unique greeting.” She licks his hand.

Okay, he likes cats. And she likes him. We can check that box.

I take a deep breath of the bouquet and the beautiful aroma makes me close my eyes and savor it. “This is very sweet of you, Beckett. Let me get these in some water and we can be on our way.”