“Same thing.”
Bernie the dog casually sniffed Ginny’s hand. She crouched down and scratched behind her ears, which sent Bernie into a flurry of tail wags and wiggles. “Did you invite anyone else?” I asked.
“Hell no. I see all those people every single day at work. I don’t need to see them in my apartment, too.” He gestured. “Look how lonely Ginny looks. She has nobody to talk to.”
“She has Bernie,” I said.She’s a dog person. That’s a good sign.
“As much as I love that dog, Ginny deserves better company. Go talk to her. You can be her knight in shining…” He touched my tie. “I was going to say knight in shiningArmani silk, but you clearly bought this somewhere cheap. Where do poor people shop? Kohls? Men’s Wearhouse?” He sucked in his breath. “Please don’t tell me this is from Walmart.”
“I’ll go talk to her if it means I don’t have to listen to you anymore.”
August pumped a fist. “Mission accomplished.”
I downed the rest of my drink and weaved through the crowd toward Ginny. Her face lit up when she saw me. “Hi!”
“Making friends?”
She grinned down at Bernie, who was weaving in and out of her legs happily. “I love dogs. The bigger, the better. I wish I could get one.”
“Why can’t you?”
“My apartment is too small. It would be cruel to keep a big dog there while I’m at work all day. When I have my own place, a bigger house with a yard, I’ll get one.” She looked around. “Cool party.”
“We throw these all the time. You’ll get sick of them eventually. I’m actually surprised to see you here.”
“August invited me before I left the office for the day,” she replied. “He said you really wanted me to come.”
I gave a start, and turned to look back at August in the kitchen. He flashed a smile and gave me two thumbs-up.
Oh my God.
Ginny grimaced. “He made that up, didn’t he?”
“No! I definitely wanted you to come. It’s… a good networking opportunity for you. And to meet some of the people on the receiving end of our grant money.”
“Here’s something you’ll come to learn about me.” She leaned in close enough for me to smell her fragrant perfume. “I never turn down free food. Or drinks.”
“Fortunately, we have both.” A waiter came by with a tray, and we both took a plate of tiny sliders.
“I love miniature food,” she said, plopping it in her mouth. “I don’t know why, but the food tastes better this way. What’s so funny? Why are you making that face?”
“Don’t let August hear you say that. He was just complaining that he wants to serve trays of Big Macs next time.”
“Big Macs? That seems out of place for an apartment like this.” She scanned the surroundings. “This is the penthouse suite. The top floor. I can’t imagine how much a place like this costs per month!”
“You think this is bad? You should see the place we were at last week. It was a bachelor party for some douchebag investment bankers. It was bonkers.”
Ginny snorted. “I can imagine. I…” She started to say more, then stopped herself and pulled out her phone. She smiled at the text she had received, and sent a reply.
I wonder who that is. The same not-a-date she had last Friday?
I gave myself a little shake. Was I really getting jealous over someone I didn’t know? For that matter, I barely knew Ginny. It was stupid to let myself get all worked up.
“I’ll grab us some drinks,” I said. “You want wine?”
“White, please!” she said. “If I get red, I know I’ll spill some of it on my blouse.” She stuck out her chest a little bit and looked down at herself.
I turned away and went looking for the bar before she could see me staring.