"It's at eleven thirty," she says nonchalantly. I can tell by her response that she still feels she's got it in the bag, and I hope for all our sakes that she gets the job. It will make life a lot more bearable around here. "Don't worry, my friend, in a few weeks, you and I will be sipping champagne along the Champs-Élysées."
I smile and nod my head. "Well, that would be fantastic. Fingers crossed," I say, holding up my two fingers on both hands.
I'm trying very hard to concentrate on my work. I don't hear from Aiden, but I know he's in back-to-back interviews. I decide to put on my headphones so that it looks like I'm working really hard and also to drown out Bre and Aly who are talking nonstop about the interviews. When I hear my phone buzzing from my handbag, my heart starts to race expecting it to be Aiden.
Hey stranger. When we hanging out? Coffee? Brunch? Will
I haven't heard a word from Will since our "date." Even though we agreed that we weren't interested in each other romantically, we still agreed to hang out as friends.
Sorry. Been crazy with work. Sushi sounds good.
Is this weird? Should I not hang out with him? It's been so long since I've been in a good relationship that I don't even know what the rules are. Although Aiden and I haven't exactly labeled our relationship, nor have we said we're exclusive. Will and I text back a few more times and agree to meet on Sunday for lunch. I don't think you can get any closer to the friend zone than a lunch date/meeting. That's how Aiden and I started hanging out. Of course, that was before we started having these late-night rendezvous on my living room couch.
"Who are you texting?" Aly asks teasingly. I turn to her and casually slip my phone in my bag. I don't need anyone getting the wrong idea about Will.
"Oh, just a friend I haven't seen in a while," I say casually. "How was your interview?" I exclaim. A big smile spreads across her face.
"It was really good. They told me how impressed they were with my article considering I'm just out of school." She pulls me in for a big hug and holds on for what seems like forever. When she finally lets go, she gives me a grateful smile. "I owe so much to you. When I came here, you were so welcoming and helpful."
I shake my head. I'm about to tell her that she doesn't owe me, but she continues. "And Aiden is the best. He was so sweet and patient during my interview."
There it is again: why do I feel like she is purposely trying to make me jealous? Aiden is a nice guy, so what Aly is saying is not unusual. I'm trying to not think about what Bre said. Especially because I need to remember that Bre is going to say anything she can to undermine Aly.
"Yeah, Aiden is a great guy," I agree. All of a sudden our conversation turns really awkward. Okay, so what if Aly has a crush on Aiden? It's not going to make a difference, and Aiden has made it very clear how he feels about me, or at least it seems like he has.
Just then Kimmy rushes off the elevator, interrupting our awkward conversation, and I can tell she has some news. "So, I just heard that they will announce the team on Monday," she says excitedly. "I hope we all get to go together."
"Me, too," Aly says eagerly. "I wonder if we all get hotel rooms or if we room together?" I let a giggle escape from my mouth as I envision Bre and Aly living together for five weeks. If that was to happen, it might give Bre reason enough not to want to go.
Kimmy and Aly start talking animatedly about rooming together, which surprises me because I thought for sure that Kimmy would want to room with Bre. They ask me if I would want a roommate.
I hold up my hand. "Hey, I hate to break up all the planning, but let's just wait and see what happens on Monday," I tell them.
I sit back down at my desk as Kimmy and Aly ignore my request. It's definitely time to use my headphones again. I still haven't heard a single peep from Aiden. I know that he's been very busy all day, but I'm a little bummed he hasn't even sent me a text.
I arrive home and immediately rip open a package of cookies. I feel like this has been the longest week of my life. Right before I left the office I decided to send Aiden a text just to say hi, and I still haven't heard anything back. I'm trying to stay positive and not read too much into it. Looking around my living room, I remind myself that just last night he was here. The thought makes me smile. I have no reason to be worried.
Hours later I open my eyes and look around. I'm still in my clothes I wore to work and my bags are still on the floor from where I dropped them when I came home. I can't believe I fell asleep on the couch as soon as I got home. I look at the clock on the wall to see that it's ten. I jump up to find my phone and my heart speeds up when I see a missed call from Aiden about an hour ago.
I decide to call him back. I'm hoping it's not too late.
"Hey." He answers on the first ring.
"Hi. I hope I didn't wake you," I say. "Believe it or not, I just woke up. I came home and dozed off right away."
"No, I'm just relaxing," he says. "I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to talk. This interview panel is proving to be more stressful than I expected." He sounds exhausted. I really want to ask him what he means by that, but I don't want to make things more awkward for him.
"I'm sorry," I say. "I can imagine it's difficult being that you have to face everyone you're interviewing from time to time. I hope I'm not complicating things." I tense up my jaw waiting for his response. As it is, we've tried to keep our "relationship" on the down low as much as possible being that he's on the panel.
"No, it's not you at all," he insists. "Please don't think that's what I was referring to."
I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm to the point now that I just want it to be over with and for them to make the announcement no matter what the outcome is. He doesn't mention us getting together, and I certainly don't bring it up. I remind myself that he's just preoccupied. We hang up after a little bit of small talk. The end of this interview process can't come soon enough.
* * *
"It's good to see you, buddy," Will says cheerfully.
We both start to laugh. I've actually been looking forward to hanging out with Will again. He really is a lot of fun, almost like a brother I never had. Not that I don't love my brother, because I do, but Will seems so much more easygoing than Eric. Not only that, but my weekend has been kind of boring.
"If Margie and Sharon could see us now," he says after we sit down at our table.
"Oh my gosh, could you imagine?" I reply. "Um, you didn't tell your mom about our plans today, did you?"
Will gives me a curious look. "Of course I did. You know I'm all about pleasing my mommy."
At first I think he may be serious, but then he cracks a smile. "Oh, you're funny," I say nervously. He lets out a loud laugh.
"Trust me. That's not what's funny. I was going to tell you that she paid me to keep asking you out, but I didn't want to get you mad at me. I get the impression that I wouldn't want to be on your bad side."
I give him a wicked smile. "You got that right, and don't forget it," I reply. "Seriously, though, she didn't pay you, did she?"
"Hmm…wouldn't you like to know?" he says, folding his arms. "So, how are things going with that guy you were seeing?"
I'm a little surprised that he's asking me about Aiden, or even that he remembered. But I'm also really glad he asked because I feel like I'm in desperate need of some advice.
"It's okay, I think. It's kind of complicated at the moment" I reply. I explain everything that's been happening, including Aiden's distance over the past few days. Will listens, even though I think I caught him off guard by unloading on him.
"What's the problem?" he asks curiously. "He's a guy. Sounds to me that he had a stressful day at work and just needs some down time." He takes a sip of his drink then continues, "He may just have to keep his distance right now."
"You're right." I say. I already knew this, but it's nice to hear it from someone else.
"Anyway, let's talk about dessert," he says, changing the subject. He hands me the dessert menu. A few seconds later, out of the co
rner of my eye I notice someone staring at me.
"Erin, is that you?"
I look up from my menu to see Aly and another girl sitting right next to us. She's looking back and forth between Will and me. I can only imagine what she's thinking.
"Hey, Aly," I say cheerfully. She smiles and then her eyes shift right back to Will. "This is my friend Will," I say, pointing at him. I try not to be too obvious as I emphasize the word friend, but I feel like I need to make that clear for some reason.
"Aly works with me at Strike a Pose," I tell him. I can see that she's sizing me up, and I can't help but worry about what she will say at work. Not that it should matter because I can be friends with anyone I want, regardless of whom I'm dating.
"Great to meet you, Aly," Will says kindly. "Are you a journalist as well?"
A huge smile spreads across her face, and I can see that she's about to explode with talking about her job. "I sure am," she says proudly. "I just graduated, actually, and this is my first job. Thankfully, Erin has been there to help me." She looks across at her friend who is so busy on her phone that she hardly looks up. "This is my friend, Tara." Tara glances up from her phone long enough to say hello.
Aly's attention has quickly returned back to Will and me. "So, how do you guys know each other?" I look at Will, expecting him to chime in, but he doesn't say anything. Is he waiting for me to say something? Now we are looking at each other, and there is an awkward silence, and that makes it look like we have something to hide, which we don't.
"Our mothers are best friends," I say quickly. "Or at least good friends this week, anyway. You never know, really." Will nods his head.
"Yeah, I think old ladies are more catty than young ones. My mom gossips about every one of her friends," Will says, leaning back in his chair. "Speaking of friends, and while I have the full attention of you ladies, please explain to me why women talk so horribly about each other? Even women they claim are their friends. I know this is a random question, but I'm just curious."
I laugh until I snort. Aly smirks. "That would be one of life's greatest mysteries," I tell him in a deep voice.
Will seems intrigued.
"Really? Why is that?" he asks curiously. Wow, does he really want to get into a topic like this? This is really deep, like politics or religion.
"I don't really know, to tell you the truth. I guess something drives women to want to be better than others. Jealousy? Ego? What do you think, Aly?" I can almost see the wheels turning in her head. That's another thing I've noticed about Aly, she really thinks about things before she speaks.
"I don't think it's always bad. Sometimes it's just flattery," she says thoughtfully. Will looks at me and raises his eyebrows. I have to admit that I agree with what he's thinking. I hardly consider bashing a friend a form of flattery, but to each his own. I guess she can see my reaction, so she gives an explanation. "I don't mean when a someone says horrible things, just when they discuss you with someone else." Thankfully, the server interrupts her odd opinion of true friendship.
A few minutes later, our server brings the check. I reach into my bag to get my wallet when Will stops me. "No way, buddy. I've got this." Of course, Aly is watching us like she's a private investigator. I almost expect her to pull out a pad of paper and take notes.
"Will, you're not paying for my lunch." I put my card on the table when the server returns. "Please split the check."
Will rolls his eyes. "Well, since you paid for your own meal, we can't consider this a date. Now do you hear that sound?" He holds his hand up to his ear. "That sound is Margie's and Sharon's hearts breaking. You're so cruel."
I laugh nervously. "They will survive."
We sign our bills and say good-bye to Aly and her silent friend, Tara.
"So, what's Aly's story?" he asks after we walk out of the restaurant. It's a very cloudy and chilly afternoon, so I zip up my leather jacket. I tell him all about the sweet and innocent Aly that came to work and then about this diva that I had a hand in creating.
"Sounds like you've really been an inspiration to her. She obviously thinks very highly of you."
I shrug my shoulders. "I guess." It would actually be weird if I blurted out that it bothers me when she flirts with my man, but Will doesn't need to know that, and Aiden isn't officially my man. "She's a sweet girl but almost too sweet. My friend Bre can't stand her. She insists she can't be trusted, but I think she's fine. I really think it comes down to jealousy with Bre though. She sees Aly as a complete threat."
Will is listening, or at least it seems like he's listening. His eyes are hidden behind a pair of very expensive sunglasses. He could be fast asleep for all I know.
"Are you still listening?" I ask. He doesn't say anything at first. "Will?"
He cracks a smile. "Of course I am." I punch him playfully on the arm. "I figured you totally zoned out on me. Girl drama can be boring."
He leans in to me. "Believe it or not, I find girl drama fascinating. Growing up with three sisters will do that to you. Day after day it was another ridiculous issue with bitchy friends, broken hearts, and some nonsense about wearing the same prom dress." He throws his head back. "I'll have you know that I'm an expert at girl drama and how to handle it."
I'm in complete shock. I think I've found my new best friend. Maybe he's secretly gay? That would be awesome. "Wow. I've got to tell you, Will, that I'm very impressed. Not many men can admit to understanding and knowing how to deal with the complex issues of women."
Will stands up tall and proud. "Pretty unbelievable, I know. And as far as your friend Aly, she seems innocent for the most part, and she definitely looks up to you. At the same time, I wouldn't let your guard down completely."
Will walks me to my car and gives me a quick hug good-bye. When I get in, I think about what he said about Aly. I hear my phone buzzing from my bag. My heart starts pounding against my chest.
Been thinking about you. Sorry been so out of it. Dinner tomorrow night?
Like he has to ask? Okay, I need to act cool. I refuse to act like a crazy, paranoid person. I'm just excited he texted, but at the same time, I think I'm going to make him wait before I respond. It won't hurt to play a little hard to get. Crap—maybe Harry's right. Are we playing games?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Okay, I initially had no intention of playing games with Aiden, but I have to admit this adds a little excitement. It's Monday and I have somehow managed to resist the urge to respond to Aiden's dinner invitation. I was going to respond late last night but I fell asleep on the couch while watching Twilight. This morning I overslept and was so frazzled that I almost left my apartment wearing two different shoes. Thankfully, I noticed before I ran out the door. Not that anyone would notice, I'm sure everyone will be on the edge of their seats waiting for the big announcement. Chelsie said we should hear sometime today, and I just want to know and move on with my life.
"What are you going to do if you aren't selected?" Kimmy asks Bre. What is wrong with her? Why would she ask her that? This reminds me of a saying my grandma used, "don't throw rocks at the bear."
Both Aly and I look over to see Bre's response. She's just about to say something when Chelsie interrupts her.
"Everyone who was interviewed needs to meet in the conference room in ten minutes. Madeline Bufont will be making the announcement." We all look at each other. Here it is, the moment of truth. The next ten minutes feel like an eternity.
We all make our way to the conference room and sit semi-patiently. Chelsie sits down at the head of the table and pushes one of the flashing buttons on the phone.
"Madeline, are you there?"
"Bonjour," she answers in her amazing French accent. The room is completely silent.
"I have our team here," Chelsie says. "They're anxiously awaiting your announcement." She looks around at everyone. It's actually an interesting scene. Bre is picking at her nail polish, Kimmy and Sean have plastered fake smiles on their faces, and Aly has her hands in prayer position.
"Thank you to everyone. We have seen so much talent, but of course, unfortunately, we can't bring you all on. Please keep in mind that if this project goes well, we may have many more opportunities in the future." That's good to hear, I think to myself. "After much discussion and review, we have selected our new team. It will consist of three from your department and two from the art department. Welcome to our team, Aly Sanders, Sean Wilson, and Erin Taylor."
That's me. Oh my gosh. I look around to see Aly jump up from her seat screaming. Kimmy congratulates Sean, and Bre is frozen in her seat. She has no expression, no anger, no tears.
"Bre, are you okay?" I ask cautiously.
"Congrats, Erin, and to you all," she says and gets up from her chair and walks quickly out of the room.
"We did it, Erin," Aly says excitedly. I nod and smile. I do feel badly for Bre though, and I'm a little surprised by her reaction. It wasn't quite what I expected from her—it was too calm.
The rest of us calm down and listen to a few more instructions from Madeline before Chelsie hangs up the phone.
"Is Bre all right?" Aly asks as we make our way back to our desks. Her concern doesn't fool me. She may be acting like she cares, but I know she's gloating on the inside. Bre hasn't exactly been nice to her.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," I reply.
When I get back to my desk, I finally text Aiden back, accepting his dinner invitation—if he's still available. I'm about to call my mom when he replies that he will pick me up after work.
Bre's bag is gone, so I'm assuming she has left for the day. Her pride may be a little hurt, but I know she will be okay.
"This is a dream come true," Aly says, looking up from her computer. "I feel like we owe Aiden big time for this."
Why does she continue to say that? We don't owe Aiden anything for this.
Friends ForNever Page 10
