Page 79 of That Friendzone Feeling

Goodnessme, this wine is even more delicious than the one in hisNewYorkhotel room.

Hetakes a sip and puts his glass down as if it’s as ordinary as drinking water.

“Goodnews,” he says, resting his arms on the table and leaning toward me. “Mylawyers and managers are happy with the contract you gave us.Nochanges required.Andthat never happens.”

Igrip the stem of my glass, fighting to hold back a gasp of relief.

“So,” he continues, “we can sign tomorrow morning before you leave town.”

It’snot done until it’s done.AndInever allow myself to believe a deal is solid until everyone’s signed on the dotted line.I’veseen way too many people pop champagne corks prematurely only for something to go horribly wrong.

Ihave no idea if fate exists, butIhave no plans to tempt it anyway, just in case.

Ido allow myself to breathe easier though, to relax justa little.Heseems very positive, andI’dsay the odds are good he’ll sign.Butno chickens are being counted here.

“That’sgreat news,Chase.WalkerandIwill be delighted to have you on board.You’llbring a lot to our brand.Aperfect fit.”

“Weare, aren’t we?”Heflashes his film star smile that sets hearts across the globe aquiver.It’sdefinitely cute, andI’msure ifItried,Icould be moved by it.PerhapsIshould try.

“Didyou have fun this evening?”Heleans back to allow the server, who’s dressed in white from head to foot, to place a plate in front of him. “Thankyou.”

“Hm, thank you,”Itell the server asIsniff the aroma wafting from the plate he sets before me. “Thissmells delicious.”

“Lookat the size of these shrimp,”Iwhisper as the server leaves.

Chaseappears to enjoy my amazement at the enormous crustaceans, andIsip my wine.

“Thisevening was sort of fun,”Itell him. “Butbeing the center of attention like that isn’t my thing.”

“You’refront and center with the business, though.”Heslices into his steak, the knife gliding through it like through butter. “Itwouldn’t be the success it is if you didn’t put yourself out there.”

“That’sdifferent.WhenI’mtalking aboutToastedTomato,I’mrepresenting the business.Peopleare there to hear me talk about that, not about me.AndI’msaying how great the business is, not how greatIam.”

Istab the juiciest shrimp with my fork and twirl it in the herb-dressed tagliatelle. “Nobodyout there tonight wanted to know about the business.Itried, but they only wanted to know about me.”

Ilift the fork to my mouth but pause to say, “Anyway, there wouldn’t be a business withoutWalker’sbeer.Andthe love people have for it has absolutely nothing to do with me.”

Isink my teeth into the delicious forkful.GoodGod,Imight have died and gone to seafood heaven.

Chaseputs down his knife and fork and picks up his wine glass. “Ithink you sell yourself short.”

Thelast thingIneed right now is him repeatingWalker’srefrain of howIshould believe in myself more.

Ifinish chewing slowly.I’mnot hurrying this for anyone.Plus, it gives me a second to come up with a suitable response.

“Beingthe outward face of the business for meetings and things has always just sort of fallen to me.Walkerisn’t really one for public speaking or being the front man.”

Itake a sip of the soft, fruity wine. “Well, actually apart from onNewYear’sEvewhen he got up on a little stage and tried to get me to sing karaoke.”Walkervoluntarily speaking to that packed room really was a bigger deal thanI’dprocessed at the time.Asmile creeps across my face at the memory of him egging me on. “Butthat was only because he was trying to cheer me up.”

Andhe kinda did.Temporarily, at least, beforeIgot all maudlin again and he kissed me.

Ineed to change this subject and my train of thought.

“Anyway.”Ipick my fork back up. “Theseshrimp are enormous.”

“Iwas happy you ordered that.It’swhat this place is known for.”

“Thenit’s a good jobWalkerisn’t here.”Wayto go with changing my train of thought. “Whenwe were in college, he ate some bad shrimp and, well, it was a horrorshow.”Iscrew up my eyes and shake my head at the memory of mopping up the vomit from his bedroom carpet while the other end of him violently exploded in the bathroom. “Andhe hasn’t been able to so much as sniff one since.”