“Ladies, rest assured we will look at everything before we start making our report.” They nodded and walked out, looking slightly less distressed than when they’d arrived.
When I got to my desk, I saw that I now had a message from my sister and the phone was lighting up with a call from Tariq. I decided to take his call first in case anything had come up with the project.
“What’s up, man?”
“Did you RSVP? Dani and I are going home to change and then heading over there.” I rolled my eyes as I sat back down.
“RSVP for what? I don’t know if I can go out tonight.”
Tariq was one of the junior consultants on the team and sort of my mentee. He was sharp as they came and we’d become close since he’d started at Davidson’s over a year ago. He was also the friendliest guy on the planet. When we were on a project, Tariq could get the goods from staff better than the most seasoned veteran, because everyone loved him. Which was just one of the many reasons why I’d picked him to come to Sturm’s. Tariq was as sunny as the Honduran beaches he’d grown up on. I, on other hand, had the broodiness that could only be produced from five generations of mixing Woodside Irish with Corona Italians.
Tariq helped me to not be such a scowling asshole on the job, which did help. Only downside was that no matter where we were, he was instantly the most popular guy in town. We’d only been at Sturm’s for a few weeks and he was already best friends with Dani Andam, one of the top marketing guys in the company and a bona fide Instagram celebrity. Still, I wasn’t up for socializing, especially after my little interaction with the twins.
“My dude, check the email. I got a feeling you’re going to be up for this one.” I could hear the grin in his voice. It was impossible to stay pissed when Tariq was around.
“Fine, give me a second,” I said, feigning exasperation, as I clicked to actually open the email this time.
Gotham Exiles Club-Happy Hour
If you’re an ex-New Yorker working at Sturm’s come have a cocktail and shit talk the MTA with me at Rose Dove Gastro Pub.
Date: This Friday!!
Time: 7:00-Who cares they got $5 Margs and it’s Friday!
I was chuckling at the invitation until I got to the end and saw the name of the host.
Julia Ortiz.
I coughed, choking on the laugh that got stuck in my throat.
“Julia’s organizing this?”
I didn’t have to tell Tariq why I sounded flustered; his favorite new game was giving me shit for mooning after her.
“That’s right, baby. Julia and a few others have been wanting to do some kind of ex-New Yorkers get-together since there are so many of us at Sturm’s. You know her and Dani are tight, so I got an invite and I hooked you up.”
Great. I was going to crash her party too, like I wasn’t enough of a pain in her ass.
“Riq, I don’t know man, it’s not cool to invite people to something you got invited to.”
Tariq clicked his tongue, clearly running low on patience.
“Just RSVP, Rocco. You know you’re dying to go.”
I could lie, but what was the use?
Shit. I should be more professional than this. I stared at one of the cuff links that my sister had given me for my birthday this year, the nickname my niece used for me engraved in it: “Unca Rock.”
I was here for them, and I could not get distracted by crushes that were going nowhere. But what would it hurt to go for one drink? Like my sister told me all the time, I had to at least try to have a life.
“Did you do it?” Tariq was one pushy fucker.
“Give me a second. I’m thinking.” I was very close to whining.
“Damn, Rocco, you’re doing the most right now.” Tariq’s voice was tight, and I wasn’t sure if he was really irritated or just laughing at me, but before I lost my nerve I hit yes.
“Done, you pushy son of a bitch.”
The cackling on the other end told me he’d been laughing at me the whole time.
“I knew you’d cave. See you at the parking lot in ten?”
I nodded distractedly, still looking at the box on the screen that said, “Will attend.”
I had no idea why my heart thought this was a reason to break out of my chest, but it