“Yeah, the guy I was working with last night, he’s most probably one of the most famous ones I work with.”
“Oh, what’s his name?”
“Oh, I don’t think you guys will know him. I think you will just laugh.”
“I promise I won’t laugh, Connor,” I said and bit down on my lip. Please don’t let it be a crazy name, please.
“Well, his name is Popo Polisi.”
“Sorry, what?”
He started chuckling. “His name is Popo Polisi.”
I burst out laughing. Sarah started laughing too. And even Harry was chuckling.
“Sorry. I know I said I wouldn’t laugh, but you have to admit that name was really funny.”
“Yeah, look. What can I say? I don’t choose the names. I just work with the artists. They pay for my time for editing their music and hey, I didn’t say that they’re all good. But at least I get to do what I love.”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess one day you’ll get to be with the big stars,” Harry said, and I could tell that it was a slight dig at Connor.
Connor stared at him for a few seconds and then shook his head and looked at me. “So what have you been up to my beautiful girl? I’ve missed you.”
“Oh yeah? How much did you miss me?” I said, the alcohol made me even more flirtatious than normal.
“I missed you so much that I’d love for you to sit on my lap right now.”
“Oh, Connor,” I laughed giddily, looking over at Sarah who was eavesdropping on us. “I can’t do that in front of my friends.”
“Why not? I’m sure they don’t mind. Harry doesn’t look like he’s too much of a stick in the mud. Right, Harry?”
“I’m not a stick in the mud at all,” Harry said dryly. “Wouldn’t you say, Sarah? I’m a lot of fun.”
“Oh yeah, Harry. You’re so much fun.” Sarah sipped her drink and grinned.
“You know what this makes me think of?” Connor said.
“What?” I asked him curiously, having no idea what he was talking about.
“Have you ever heard of Immanuel Kant?”
“Um, the philosopher? Vaguely.”
“Yeah. He said happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination.”
“Oh, that’s really cool. I never heard that before.” Was he high? Where had that thought come from?
“You know what springs to mind when I think of you though, Connor?” Harry said, leaning forward.
“No, what’s that?”
“Have you ever heard of Niccolo Machiavelli?” Harry said, a sly light in his eyes that made me nervous.
“Who hasn’t heard of Machiavelli?” Connor said. “Why?”
“Well, it makes me think of that quote,” Harry said with a smile. “Let me think. What was it? God is not willing to do everything and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.”
“Um, what does that have to do with anything?” Connor looked confused, as did I.
“Oh, nothing. But I just thought we were sharing quotes from philosophers that we knew to look impressive to the ladies,” Harry smiled over at Sarah, who I could see was pinching him. I didn’t know what his problem was.
“Um, okay,” Connor said and looked over at me. “Is this guy always like this or was he born that way?”
“He was born that way,” I laughed, loving the fact that Connor was calling Harry out to his face. Harry was a douchebag sometimes and he needed to know.
“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to upset you. We’re just very protective of Gemma. She’s one of our best friends and we want her to be with a guy that can treat her right and who’s not full of shit talking about ancient philosophers in a conversation that has nothing to do with—.”
“Okay, Harry,” I cut him off, trying not to glare at him too much. He was going to totally ruin my date with Connor.
“Hey man, it’s cool.” Connor shrugged. “I understand you’re being protective. I have friends who are girls. And you know what? If they brought around a guy, I’d want to figure him out too. The only reason I quoted Kant is because I love to study philosophy and...” He shook his head as Harry pulled out his phone.
“Connor is just a very intelligent and eclectic guy. He’s into philosophy. He’s into music. He’s into all sorts of cool things.”
“He’s into strip clubs as well it seems,” Harry said, looking up from his screen.