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“What? Damn. That’s a while.”

“Yeah.” I reach up and scratch the back of my neck, trying to keep my tone light. There’s no way I’m getting into the reason why I’ve been away for so long, not if I want any shot at seeing her a second time. You don’t lug your past relationship baggage to a first date; trauma dumping is not my style.

“And you’re living in Miami?”

“Right now, but I’ve also lived in SF and Nashville.”

“That’s a lot of moving. What do you do for work?”

“I work in real estate.”

“Oh.” Her tone sours slightly.

“Wow. That’s a great response.”

“Oh my God. I’m sorry, I—” She presses two fingers between her brows and closes her eyes. “I have no filter tonight. That was so rude.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Despite how stuffy it is down here, Verity is like a breath of fresh air. Just being around her lighthearted personality has mefeeling at ease. It is a refreshing change of pace, one that I could get addicted to.

The server comes back and drops our drinks on the barrel table between us. I lift my cocktail and wait as she does the same before clinking them together.

“So, what’s your deal with brokers?”

“The guy who stood me up is one. Well, he is an agent.” She lets out a tsk before taking a long sip from her drink.

“Ah. The shitty man.”

“Yes, him.” She gives me a once over. “That explains why you have a Saturday meeting.”

“Comes with the territory.” I shrug.

Honestly, I am successful enough at this point that I don’t need to bend over backward to please clients anymore. My name is known in the business, and companies know that if they put their trust in me, I’ll get the job done. Tomorrow’s meeting is different though. Rumor has it that the Clifton Bank is going up for sale, and I want in on that. The commission would be one of the highest I’ve ever dealt with, and adding a bank to my portfolio wouldn’t hurt either.

“What about you? What do you do for work?”

“I’m in graphic design.”

Now, it’s my turn to make sure I don’t pull a face. What are the odds we both work the same jobs as each other’s exes?

“Nice, have you worked on anything I’d know?”

“Everyone asks that.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to tell me?”

Excitement peeks through her attempt at nonchalance. I wonder if she knows how much of an open book she is?

“Do you know Health Potion?”

“The energy drink company?”

“Yeah, HP Energy.”

“I know of them. Don’t drink the stuff though.”

“I worked on this really cool campaign with them a few months ago.” She picks up her phone and scrolls a bit before flipping it around. “It was a 360 campaign, where I not only got to design the ads but also the product label and select merch for PR boxes.”