Page 70

I cross my arms. “I could’ve met an exciting fisherwoman for all you know.”

Trey waves me off. “Enough with that nonsense. Lizzie wants to see you, she said as much, but didn’t want it to be a huge deal.”

“Lizzie?”

“Bobby calls her Lizzie, and so do I.”

I can’t believe how much I’ve missed. “So you and he are a serious item?” Trey nods and I go around the desk, slap him on the back. “Congrats, man. I’m happy for you.”

He grins. “Fair warning. You’ll be the best man when we get to that.” Then he scrunches his forehead and shakes his head. “But you’ve just distracted me again with your lawyerly wiles. I’m here to tell you that you are going to lunch with me. Today. In the cafeteria. At noon sharp.”

“I have a lot of work today...”

“Joe!”

“What?”

“Quit the bullshit. Do you want to reconnect with Liz?’

I stop. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I know. I can’t take you moping around and I definitely can’t take any more fishing stories. You were a whole new man when you were with her. Fun. Energetic. Outgoing. I never even knew you could be like that—I’d only ever known your depressed post-breakup-with-Kim ass. Then all of a sudden you’re like this Extrovert Jolly Giant. I want that dude back. Not this zombie who never leaves his office and won’t go out to lunch with his stylish gay colleague and best friend.”

“I’m not moping around,” I grumble. “I’ve just resigned myself to eternal solitude.”

Trey rolls his eyes. “You don’t have the hair to pull off that emo nonsense.”

We both laugh.

“Look,” says Trey, his face turning serious, “Lizzie wants to see you, but doesn’t want it to be too much pressure. So here is what's gonna happen. Roxie and Lizzie eat together in the cafeteria on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Roxie is a Jizzie diehard—”

“Jizzie?”

“Your ship name. Joe and Lizzie. Jizzie.”

“Jesus.” I rub my head. “I suppose it’s better than Jiz.”

“Indeed.” Trey grins. “Anyhow, Roxie is happy to help and will make sure Lizzie is there today. She and I will disappear and let you two lovebirds talk.”

My heart beats fast and I think I’ve started to sweat. I haven’t seen Liz in five months. I’ve thought about calling or texting her to an alarming degree, many times a day at first, and I still do several times a week, even though I’ve pretty much made peace with the fact that I made a mistake falling for her, and that she never felt the way I did.

I’ve been on half a dozen dates through the apps, none of which went anywhere, but that’s what I expected. It’s hard to muster interest when you’re still very much into someone else.

And now, this.

I pace across the room a few times while Trey watches me patiently, seated in one of the guest chairs with arms across his chest.

Finally, I plop in the chair opposite him.

“What the hell.” I throw my hands up. “Let’s go have lunch in the damn cafeteria.”

****

I’m in a bit of a daze, feeling like a teenager who’s about to see his crush somewhere where she doesn’t expect it. I have no idea what food I order and it doesn’t matter, since my stomach churns and I can’t tell if I’m hungry or not.

I simply follow Trey as we pick up our food and move to the seating area.

“Ladies!” Trey exclaims. “Fancy meeting you here!”