The One I Want

Ethan laughs. “I won’t pretend to be offended that a casual chat turned to business because it usually does. Normally, I’d say no, but Nick’s been a friend for a while, and I’ve done some research on CWM. What you’ve done with the company is impressive. I like the energy and new path you’re paving in a stale industry. Have your lawyer call mine.”

“Nick’s my lawyer.”

He chuckles again as we shake hands. “Even better.”

I stand, knowing when to make an exit. After another round of handshakes, I leave the guys to drink another round. Since it’s after hours and I didn’t reserve my driver for the night, I hail a cab.

Unplanned drunken nights are fun, but it’s been a while for me, and I’m feeling it. I have the cabbie drop me off two blocks from the building, hoping the cool night air and walk will help me sober up. The first one starts clearing the fuzz from my brain, and my vision sharpens.

But as soon as I reach the second block, I stop in the middle of the sidewalk because I must be hallucinating. “Juni?”

8

Andrew

Rascal sees me first.

And yaps, of course, causing Juni to look in my direction. Her hand plants on her hip, and a tilt of her head makes it hard to decipher if she’s happy or mad that I’m here. I walk toward them, hoping it’s the former for Juni. Rascal tugs on his leash, making me realize at least one of them is excited to see me.

I approach with caution since her expression is as unreadable as her body language, and ask, “A bit late for a dog walk, don’t you think?”

“When you got to go, you gotta go.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

For some reason, that makes her smile. Her defenses lower along with her hand. “Have you been drinking, Andrew?”

I lick my lips, admiring her as she comes into view under the lights sneaking out through the windows from the lobby. “Why are you asking that?”

“The way you’re walking, the slow drawl in your words,” she says, ticking each one off the top of a different fingertip, “or maybe it’s the first time I’ve seen you without a coat hanger holding up your shoulders.”

“Very funny.”

“I thought so.”

“You think I can’t have fun? I do all the time,” I insist.

“One doth protest too much.”

“Only stating facts, babe.”

Babe?

“Babe?” she repeats as if she can read my mind.

Shaking my head, I mumble, “Yeah, I got nothing.”

There’s a melody to her laugh, a sweet song that sometimes slips out for others who are lucky enough to hear. I’m one of them.

I look her over again, realizing I kind of missed her. “It’s been a few days since we ran into each other.” Not a question. Just a comment.

“You mean literally, right?” Humor punctuates her words. “Hopefully, your shirt is safe tonight.”

I chuckle. When the laughter dies down, I count the feet that divide us. Three. But I’m close enough for Rascal to jump up on my leg. He’s a great distraction. Squatting down, I pet his head and scrub down his back. When I glance up at Juni, I ask, “What’s with the name?”

“You don’t think he looks like a Rascal?”

Chuckling, I stand back up. “Your name.”

She smirks, and it’s quite appealing on her. “You don’t think I look like a Juni?”

Angling my head to the left, I twist my mouth to the side as if that will help me figure out the answer. “Oddly enough, you do look like a Juni. Both of you.”

“You see two of me?” An alarm rings through her tone.

I burst out laughing again. “No. I’m just messing with you. As for the name, I’ve just never heard it before.”

“Most people know it from Spy Kids. Juni Cortez.” She moves closer to the building when a group of people walks by.

Spy Kids? That’s a flashback. “I haven’t seen that movie in ages. Decades, in fact. Juni was the brother, right?”

“Yes. He was sort of annoying.”

I close some distance and rub my jaw. “I had the biggest crush on Carmen.”

“She was awesome. The actress does Hallmark movies now.”

“The Christmas ones?”

“They’re not all Christmas,” she says, shrugging, “but that channel, yes.”

“I haven’t seen any. My mom does, though.”

“Right,” she says between tight lips. “Your mom.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate—”

One of her hands comes up in front of her, and her expression softens again. “I know what you meant. It’s okay.”

Shit. I’m blowing this . . . whatever this is. “I like Juni on you much better.”

Restoring the joy that fits her features so well, she looks down shyly. “Thank you, Andrew.”

With my hands in my pockets, I rock back and then sidestep but play it off like I intended to stumble to the right. Distract. “Did he do his business?”

With pinched brows, she jerks back. “Who?”