She smiled politely. “Thank you,” she said, and then turned toward me. “See you later, Anderson.”
“Yeah, later,” I said, not even bothering to look at her as she made her exit.
“Uh oh,” Tobias said, coming in to sit at the edge of my desk. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Who said Lauren was anyone’s paradise?” I said, annoyed.
“I thought she was one of your…uh…escapades?”
I shook my head. “Nah, we were always just friends. We both agreed it was easier with no sex attached.”
“What happened?”
I folded my arms. “She bailed on me. Granted, she and I haven’t had much going on lately, but she was supposed to be my date to the gala. Now she’s claiming she can’t go. Some bullshit excuse about her sister suddenly needing help with her kids.”
Tobias shook his head. “I always told you that one of these women were going to get you back one day, man,” he said and then chuckled.
“Don’t laugh. You know how ridiculous that empty seat is going to look next to me?”
“Well, fill it with someone else,” Tobias said, shrugging his shoulders.
“Someone else like who?” I asked. “It’s too short of a notice to ask anyone.”
“Is there no one else in your life? No one you could ask?”
I’d been standing at my office window looking out at the traffic on the road when Tobias asked the question. I froze, feeling his gaze on the back of my head, but not daring to turn around. I stuffed my hands into my pocket. “No…” I said. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” Tobias said. “The Anderson Lawrence I know just isn’t the type of guy to stress over getting a date, that’s all. What happened to the line of females you typically have, waiting their turn for a shot?”
I forced a laugh and chanced turning around to face him. “You’ve had me working too hard, that’s what. I don’t have time to keep up with them anymore.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. Maybe you’re just losing your touch, man.”
“No, never that,” I said.
Tobias sat silently for a moment, appearing to be deep in thought. He then scratched at the stubble at his chin. “Hmm…” he said.
“What?”
“I might be able to help you out.”
“I’m not taking you as my date,” I said.
Tobias laughed. “Good. Because you’re not my type anyway.”
I laughed. “What are you talking about, man?”
“Why don’t you take Joanna? She probably doesn’t have anything to do that day.”
I swallowed nervously and hoped that Tobias wouldn’t notice the abrupt change in my demeanor. Taking Joanna had been the farthest thing from my mind because the gala was considered a workplace event, and Tobias, of course, would be there. Taking her would feel like confirmation of our relationship, or whatever it was that we had going on. It just seemed too risky.
“Oh come on,” Tobias said. “Don’t look like that.”
“Don’t look like what?” I asked, hoping my voice didn’t really sound as high as it did in my own ears.
“Don’t look like taking Joanna is the worst idea you’ve ever heard in your life. She’s mellowed out a lot since she was a kid. It wouldn’t kill you to take her. And considering you’re in quite a bind already, it would be the quick fix you need.”
I ran my hand through my hair and almost laughed in relief. Tobias thought I was repulsed by the idea of taking her, which meant he was still in the dark about how I really felt. “I don’t know,” I said, trying to play along. “I mean…Joanna? Really?”