By the time I pull up outside her apartment building, I’m drunk on the scent of her perfume. She smiles over at me, her eyes shimmering in the early evening light.
“Thank you again,” she says before getting out of the car. The moment the door shuts, I lower the window.
“See you tomorrow.” The hope in my voice is apparent, but if she notices it, she doesn’t make it known. Instead, she offers me a wave and a nod before I watch her disappear into the building.
Sighing loudly, I shake my head and pull out onto the road and take the turn toward Eli and Kate’s place. With my mind on Nea, I realize there’s something about this girl that’s well and truly fucked me over. I don’t know if it’s the pain I see in her eyes or the fire that she exudes, but I know that being around her every day is going to be a challenge.
When I reach Eli’s place, I kill the engine and exit the vehicle. I haven’t been here in so long I feel like a damn stranger as I knock on the door. It flies open seconds later, and I’m met by Kate. She’s a stunner.
“Julian,” she says, pulling me in for a hug. “I really didn’t think you’d actually come.”
Furrowing my brows, I have to ask, “Why wouldn’t I?”
“It’s been too long,” Kate tells me, stepping aside before gesturing for me to enter. I step inside and immediately feel the warmth of their home. You can tell the people who live here love each other immensely. I haven’t felt that in my house for a long time. Not since my father was alive. And that saddens me because I never thought my life would end up the way it has.
“It’s been one of those lifetimes,” I tell her as I make my way into the living room where she follows me.
“How are things going, though?” Kate asks as Eli comes in from the kitchen holding a beer out to me. I gratefully accept it.
“Hey, man,” I greet my friend, and we shake hands before we settle on the sofa. “Thanks for having me over.”
“You know you’re always welcome here, even if your grumpy ass is not in the mood.” Eli and I banter all the time. Most people would think we’re fighting or something, but it’s just how we are.
He was the grumpy bastard for a long time, until Kate.
“Yeah, but at times, being alone is the only thing I can muster.”
“What about your new assistant?” This comes from Kate, and I can tell she’s excited to hear the news.
“I don’t know. I mean, she’s okay. I haven’t paid that much attention to her.” I tell them the lie with a shrug
“Bullshit,” Eli calls me out quickly. This man can see right through me, and he knows it. I sit back, crossing my left ankle over my right knee as I regard him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t even try to lie, Julian,” he tells me. “I know you, and that expression right there is a man interested.”
“Okay, so maybe I am interested in her, but she works for me. What is that old saying? ‘Don’t mix business with pleasure’?”
“So, you’ve obviously thought about it,” he challenges, and I can’t help but sigh, which has him laughing. Asshole. “I knew it. Why don’t you just take her out on a date or something? I mean, I’m not saying marry the woman, but you don’t know what could happen.”
“And if it doesn’t work out, she’ll quit, and then I’m once again left with nobody to run the gallery.” He tips his head to the side and shrugs. He knows I’m right. Granted, he and Kate worked together temporarily, but that’s different. They had history, and he loved her as much as she loved him. Them being close to each other only solidified their feelings. Whereas Nea and I are strangers, and I can’t put that on her. I mean, yes, she’s gorgeous, and I wouldn’t mind taking her out, but she could turn around and hate me, and then what?
“You’re overthinking it, Julian,” Kate speaks up. “She can refuse a date, and she may agree and not feel the same, but you’re both grownups, and that means you can be professional about it. Spend some time with her outside the gallery and work. If you don’t feel it, or if she doesn’t feel anything after a night sitting at opposite ends of the table, then so be it.”
“Why do my friends have more sense than I do?”
“Because you just haven’t reached our level of maturity.” Eli guffaws when I flip him the finger.
“Stop being an asshole,” I bite out, but even through my annoyance at my good friend, I know he’s looking out for me, and Kate is too, which is appreciated more than they know.