Page 24 of That Friendzone Feeling

“Soundslike you andWalkercould talk for hours about malt ratios and mashing,”Emilysays with one of her luminous smiles as she tapsChaseon the arm.

Hiseyes meet hers, like he can’t believe how lucky he is to be breathing the same air as her.Tobe fair, that’s how everyone around her should feel.

“Oh,Ihave no idea what either of those things mean,” he says. “Ijust knowIlike the taste.”

Self-deprecating, charming, faultless bastard.

Itap the next glass to draw his attention. “Thisone’s theIPA.You’llprobably find it fruitier.It’s—”

Hisphone goes off.

“Sorry.Ihate to be rude.Wouldyou mind ifIjust check who that is?”

“Ofcourse,”EmilyandIsay together.

“Shit.It’smy agent.Doyou mind ifItake this quickly?”

GuessIneed to add polite to his endless list of delightful attributes.

“No, of course,”Isay again, at the same timeEmilyoffers, “Pleasedo.”

Hejumps off the stool and steps away with his back to us.

Emilygrins and raises her eyebrows, like she thinks it’s going well.

InsecondsChasespins back to face us as he hangs up his phone.

“I’mso sorry.Ihate to do this because we have a commitment, andIhate going back on those.ButIhave to run.Iwas able to fit you in today because the directorIwas due to meet is sick and canceled.Buthe’s feeling better and can see me now.Butonly right now.”

So, he adapts his schedule for others and doesn’t believe the world revolves around him.There’sonly so much lack of dickishnessIcan bear.

Thedisappointment behindEmily’ssmile is obvious. “Notto worry.Perhapswe could get together tomorrow so we can show you the plans and photos of the resort.”

Chasepushes his perfect hair off his perfect forehead. “Ifly back toLAtomorrow morning.”Thenhis eyes brighten. “ButIcould do this evening.Iwant to get to know you both better anyway.Bringthe plans and everything to my suite.We’llhave dinner, and you can talk me through everything.Iinvest in the people as much as the business, soIneed to get to know you both better anyway beforeIcan make a decision.”

“Oh, we’re both thoroughly delightful,”Emilysays, fanning her face and batting her lashes in an exaggerated impression of a coy southern belle.

“Idon’t doubt that for a second,” he says.

Ibet he doesn’t.

Thelast thingIwant to do this evening is spend it inChaseCooper’shotel suite watching him slobber overEmily.Wecan easily do a virtual presentation when he’s back inLAtomorrow or any day.

Andif we couldn’t both make it tonight, then it would have to be done that way.

“Damn.Sorry, folks,Ihave to head to our brewing site.It’sway up in theBronx, atBathgate.”

Emilyfurrows her brow. “That’snews to me.”

“Yup.”Iturn toChase. “Miguel, my head brewer, has a bit of a problem that could take a while to fix.Ilikely won’t be back till late.Let’sdo a video meeting when you’re back inLA.”

“Sucha shame,”Chasesays.Eitherhe really is the phenomenal actor his awards would suggest or he’s honestly disappointed.Heturns toEmily. “Couldyoustill make it?”

Shit.No.Hesaid he needs to get to know usboth.Itneeds to be the two of us or neither.

“Well,”Ijump in asEmily’smouth opens. “You’dneed both of us there, so—”

“Yes.”Shecuts me off. “Ican totally make it.Letme know where and when andI’llbring all the details and explain everything to you.”