What will he think? Maybe he’ll be pleased to know that our group remains a part of the overall company plan. Then again, maybe he’ll just resent me. I greet him and boot up my laptop, feeling too keyed up to concentrate on work.
I could email Bryn and request an impromptu Starbucks meeting, I think, watching my laptop screen come to life. That’s what I would have done before the whole Bryn confession upset, and I do want to speak to her about Katie and Mike, but maybe not today.
I still have a phone call to return to Ryan. Lauren and Jonathan have convinced me to give him another chance. But it didn’t take much convincing. Also, I figure if he’s really thoughtless and unreliable those qualities will show up again soon enough. I also have a less than exciting job interview this week that I need to prepare for. There are so many pending items in my life, none of which I can make any progress on right now. Suddenly, sitting within my cubicle walls makes me feel claustrophobic. I grab my purse and decide to go for a walk. I feel Nate eyeing me as I leave without a word.
Out on the sidewalk, standing in the warm morning sunshine, I feel my heartbeat slow to normal. I pull out my cell phone and call Mom to give her the news of my new title and the bad news of my stagnant paycheck. She’s thrilled as she always is when anyone recognizes how wonderful her progeny is. The fact that the world does not do so on a daily basis always surprises her. Her advice to me is to see the new job through and to not jump so fast to a new company. Since I hate change, I’m inclined to agree.
Next, I dial Ryan’s number. I’m nervous to speak to him, and I suddenly want to get it over with. I know that I won’t be able to simply pretend that he hadn’t blown me off last week, but I’m not sure how to bring it up without sounding pathetic.
He answers on the third ring sounding very business-like.
“Hi. It’s Andrea,” I begin casually.
“Hey, Andrea. How’s it going?” He sounds pleased to hear from me.
“Good. You?”
“Good,” he answers. “How was your weekend?”
“It was a pretty busy weekend actually. I saw some friends and went to a family barbecue.” The subtext here being that my life is busy, and I’m not waiting around for you to call me. “How about you?”
“I drove Wes home. He starts school this week.”
“You’ve lost your slave labor then?”
He laughs. “I’m afraid so.”
“Did you tell your dad about his, um, continued problems?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t easy though. Now it’s up to him to handle things. I gave him my opinion about Wes seeing a therapist. I think he may finally be coming around on that point.”
“That’s good. Wes seems like a nice kid. I hope it turns out okay.”
“Yeah. Me, too. So, do you think you’re up for grabbing some dinner with me one night this week?”
“Well,” I hesitate. Then I take a breath and plunge forward. “You gave me the impression we had plans for last Thursday. When Thursday came and went and I never heard from you, I was a little confused.”
I hear a noise from the other end, like a breath being exhaled into the receiver. “I remember mentioning the possibility of getting together last week, but we never planned anything definite, did we?”
“I was under the impression that Thursday was fairly definite. The exact plans weren’t ironed out yet. You said you’d call about those. But the day was set.”
“Well, I really don’t remember that. I got called away on business at the last minute and the whole week got pretty hectic. If I forgot a date with you, I’m sorry.”
“Uh-huh,” I mutter. It was an apology without a confirmation of guilt.
“You’re pissed, huh?” he asks, but he sounds amused rather than bothered.
“Pissed might be a little extreme.” There is no way I’m going to let him know he matters enough to illicit an emotion as strong as pissed. “More like, skeptical of any future plans we may attempt to make.”
“Ah, I see. I have to earn your trust back. I can do that. Will I get the chance?”
I find myself smiling at the phone. “Yes. I guess you can have another shot.”
“I appreciate that. How about Wednesday night?”
“I can do Wednesday.”
“How about if I pick you up around seven and take