Chapter Eleven
Andrew stood on the sidewalk, near the buildings and out of the flow of traffic. On his left was the restaurant where Susan said they were meeting. People in their early twenties arrived in groups of two and three. How many friends did this master’s student friend of hers have? He didn’t know why he agreed to her request. Though, when she offered to get down on her knees, the assault of images jumbled his brain to the point of temporary insanity.
A tiny part of him was willing to admit he didn’t like the idea of a rift between them. He couldn’t say why though, and that bothered him.
On his other side, people arrived for what seemed to be a company holiday party. Conversations overlapped and blended in a disjointed symphony.
“I heard some of the new people from ArorTech’s Chicago office will be here. Replacements, possibly”
“I can’t wait for winter break, but the last-minute exams are killing me”
“Open bar this year. For once. Only good thing to come out of this buy-out”
“I’m going before the thesis board in February. There’s no way I’ll be ready”
“I can’t believe we’re having the company party on a weeknight. Especially with so many of us who live in the valley”
“Did you hear why Jodie picked Stanford over BYU?”
“Everyone’s saying admin screwed up booking, but I hear they’re doing it on a Tuesday because Chicago wanted to be here, and they wouldn’t miss their corporate party for ours”
The chatter faded into the background when Susan approached. He managed to tear his gaze from her to notice that her two friends were identical twins, blonde, and in designer clothing. He couldn’t look away from the smile Susan wore when she saw him, though.
“I so sorry we’re late.” She and her friends joined him on the sidewalk. “This is Olivia, and Rissa.”
He gave the women a nod, noting their hesitation and traces of discomfort when they looked him in the eye. When he spent too much time with people who knew him, he forgot how strangers reacted to the scar. Thankfully or otherwise, times like this reminded him.
“And this is Andrew,” Susan said.
Rissa’s attitude shifted in an instant. Knowing he was the guy with the wallet had that effect sometimes. “Andrew Newton?” She shook his hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.” She slid between him and Susan, and pressed close.
He didn’t care what she’d heard that caused the change in attitude; he wasn’t interested. “Nice to meet you both.” He moved around her, to join Susan. “Should we head inside?” He ignored the huff from behind when he wrapped an arm around Susan’s waist and guided her to the door.
The brush-off seemed to destroy Rissa’s interest.
“Catch up with us later?” Olivia asked.
Susan nodded, and her friends melted into the crowd.
“Your friends seem… nice.” He tried to grasp a better word but couldn’t find one.
“Olivia is amazing. My link to sanity. Rissa isn’t a friend. She does think I’m hilarious.”
“Why is that?” Andrew regretted the question as soon as he saw Susan’s scowl.
“Because what kind of repressed prude can’t even get a pity fuck by the time she’s twenty-one?”
The venom and mocking in her voice surprised him as much as the language did. “I don’t understand,” he said.
She pursed her lips. “It’s not like I’ve taken myself off the market. The opportunity hasn’t presented itself.”
“I didn’t mean you. Your reasons are your own. No judgment. I don’t understand her. Why does she care if or when anyone else is fucking? It’s not like getting laid is a contest.”
“It is, in some videos.” Her irritation melted into a shy smile.
“You got me there. Take it from someone who knows—you don’t want real life to be a reflection of porn.”
Her smile grew, and any follow-up evaporated. He had a growing list of things that made her genuinely happy.