Page 37 of Brooklynaire

“Yeah. I probably won’t ever understand.” At the time, Nate had insisted that it was a “lateral move,” and that he needed someone he trusted in the new Brooklyn office. Although it rattled me to be moved out of his innermost circle in Manhattan. I assumed I’d let him down in some crucial way. I thought I was one step away from gettingfired.

But now I’ve had two years to get used to the idea, and Nate is still as friendly to me as ever. Maybe even more so. Everything seems fine and ordinary. Or at least it did until I hit myhead.

* * *

Georgiaand I find our friend Ari at the north elevator bank on our way to Lauren’s room, which is on the top floor of the hotel. And from the direction we walk when we exit the elevator, I’m thinking Lauren’s ocean view is going to bekiller.

When she opens the door, I’m at the back of the pack. And when Lauren spots me, her eyes light up with surprise. “Hithere.”

“I see that look of excitement on your face. But, sadly, I’m not back in action yet. My fancy new doctor has outlined several weeks of therapy.” I walk toward a sweeping view of the ocean and pluck a pickle off a full-sized dining table. “I whined so loudly that Nate agreed to a temporary furlough. I’ve been let out for good behavior for this party so long as I’m back at the therapist’s office in forty-eighthours.”

“Oh.” Lauren’s face falls. “Ah, well. I guess I have to go to this fucking party after all. Somebody open thewine.”

We get busy with our hair and makeup in Lauren’s enormous mirrored dressingroom.

“How are you feeling?” Georgia asks, flopping down on a sofa besideme.

“Right now? I feel great. I’m sitting here eating overpriced hotel food, and I just painted your toes a kickass shade of pink. But sometimes I get all squinty and the room tends tospin.”

“Bummer,” my best friend says with a sadsmile.

“It really is. But I like my new doctor, and I feel really hopeful that they know what to do. I’m so tired of being adrag.”

“You’re never a drag,” Georgia saysquickly.

“If only that weretrue.”

“Is it weird being away from work?” sheasks.

“So weird. I feel like maybe they’ll just forget about me and hire someone else.Didn’t we used to have someone at that desk? Better put someone in thatspot.”

“What’s it like staying with Nate?” Ari asks me. “He’s probably never home, I guess. Except tosleep.”

“Maybe? But I’m in his private lair. He can’t walk around naked orwhatever.”

Georgia giggles. “If you see him naked, I want details. Thatbody.”

Heat climbs up my neck. “Stop it. I try not to sit around thinking about Nate’s naked body.” Though it’s probably a masterwork. When Nate travels with the hockey team, he does their yoga workout every morning. He’s really,reallygood at it, too. And very bendy. Not that I’venoticed.

“Why not? Everyone has a naked body,” Georgia points out. “Even the guy wearing the eight hundred dollar sneakers.” We all know the price of Nate’s shoes becauseGQdid a story about his fashion choicesonce.

“But we don’t have to picture it. That’s dangerous. If I indulge in that kind of curiosity, some day we’ll be sitting in a meeting with the marketing department, and I’ll be picturing Naked Nate. And someone will turn to me and ask a question about ticket sales, and I’ll probably answer, ‘biceps.’”

“He has really nice biceps,” Georgiasighs.

“Stop,” I nudge her. Although he really does. And I don’t want to perve on my boss who’s been so good to me lately. The whole topic is making meuncomfortable.

“Becca—it’s your turn to show us your dress,” Lauren prompts, setting down her curlingiron.

I unzip my garment bag and pull out my dress, which couldn’t be more different from Georgia’s svelte pink gown. “It’s a vintage 1950s strapless.” I hold it up to show off the rose-colored lace covering white satin, with a matching red sash circling thewaist.

“Wow!” Georgia says. “I’m glad you decided it was time to wear thatone.”

“I know, right?” I give it a little shake. “I hope it’s dressy enough. Nate asked me to have drinks with him before this shindig starts. He’s meeting his old friend before the party starts, and he says…” I pull out my phone and squint at it, as my head gives a stab. “Stick close because I don’t want to talk business. Alex wants to pick my pocket on the routerdivision.”

Lauren laughs. “Oh, Nate. Way to handle it like a grown-up.”

“I met Alex once a long time ago,” I tell her. I’m betting Lauren knows more, though. “Do you think Nate has a thing for her? Is there another angle here? Am I supposed to make her jealous orsomething?”