“I better get going.”
“That’s a good look on you, but maybe you should get dressed?”
“Of course, silly. I’ll do the walk of shame like everybody else.”
“Walk? I thought I’d take you home in my Corvette.”
“What color is it?”
“Green.”
“I don’t look good in green. I’ll get an Uber.”
“You don’t have to do that. In fact, it’s Saturday. I thought maybe you’d stay awhile.”
“I can’t.”
“Work?”
“No, personal.”
“Oh.”
James looks disappointed.
“Alexa, I would like to spend more time with you. When can we meet up again?”
I hear the words and feel relief. But seeing him again might not be the best business move.
“Actually, I think it’s best if we stop whatever this is because in the future, we might be business partners and . . .”
I look at James’ face, and he looks devastated. I’m feeling the same way that he is. Being this comfortable with someone doesn’t happen a lot in my world. I want to tell him that I can’t see him again, but I just can’t get out the words.
“Look, we don’t have to do “this” again.”
“Really? I liked this.”
“You did?” James asks, a hint of surprise in his voice.
“I did.”
“Well then, we have to do this again.”
I smile at him and sigh.
“Let’s see if we can work together and then we'll talk more about seeing each other.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
And that’s the way to close a deal.