the beginning. We’re missing something.” Bryan whispered as his ceiling filled his portion of my screen, “Shhhh. It’s Anderson, he’s fine. A pussy, but fine. Go back to sleep, Baby.”
“Thanks for that, B.”
“Eric?” Bryan didn’t have to work too hard to solicit help.
“A complete pussy. Start from the beginning. Who the fuck is this?” Eric asked as he wiped the sweat off and took a drink of his green smoothie.
“Jurnee is the woman that sat down when I had that meeting scheduled at Pastis the other day. We had a meeting at Morgan the following day, and Graham partnered up with her.”
“Wait, did she know you worked at Morgan?” Bryan asked, now standing in front of his refrigerator.
“No. Get this: she has no idea who I am. She asked me where I went to college.” Rover snorted in frustration from my lack of attention.
“Why hasn’t she Googled you? Where the fuck is she from?” Otis questioned.
“She’s from Michigan. Went to Michigan State. This is not the point–”
“Journey what?” Eric cuts me off as he leans over the island in his kitchen and tapped his laptop awake.
“Messer. Jurnee is J U R N E E.” The sound of him banging on his keyboard verified what I already knew. “I responded to a text from a guy she had scheduled a blind date with and told him she needed to cancel. Then I deleted the message.”
“Why?” Bryan and Eric asked at the same time.
Eric looked at me through the phone, “Are you interested in her?”
“The reason I called Otis is I can’t stop seeing her sad face from dinner last night when it hit her she had been stood up twice.”
“Dinner?”
“Yeah, not only did I cancel her date, I showed up at the Russian Tea Room, where they were planning to meet, and invited her to have dinner with me.” It felt good to get it all out.
“I guess that answers the question is he interested in her,” Bryan declared.
“I don’t know if I’d say I am interested in her. I was in the mood for stroganoff.” I rubbed my head with my free hand. “And I didn’t want her waiting at the restaurant alone.”
Silence.
I waited.
More silence.
“Fuck!” This wasn’t good.
More silence.
“You assholes are no help,” I complained, but I had no idea what I wanted them to do. “I’ve got to get ready for work. She’s meeting me at nine, and she seems to be someone who arrives early to everything.”
More silence.
“Assholes!”
Bryan was first to speak, “Anderson, I think you–”
“Dude, you are so into this female.” Otis cut in.
More silence.
“You guys are not helpful at all. I’m hanging up now.”
“Whatever, Pussy.” Eric volume muffled as he removed his shirt.
“Shit. Eric, Graham wants you to come in for a meeting this week. His secretary will be calling so–”
“What’s up with Graham?”
“I’m going back to the honey in my bed. See you guys in a couple of weeks, correct?” Otis interrupted.
Bryan chimed in from behind the large bowl of cereal he was consuming. “Faith will be in Spain for work, so I’ll be there.”
“Pussies. I am surrounded by pussies.” Eric snapped. “I’ve got some meetings this morning. I’ll text you later about Graham.”
“Cool.” I refilled my coffee and headed to the elevator. “Thanks for nothing, assholes.”
“Anytime.”
“Always here for you, dude.” Otis smiled as a lady’s arm slid across his chest, revealing her bare back before going black.
“Don’t be a pussy.”
11
Anderson
By the time I walked into the building an hour later, my conversation with the guys was competing for space with the image of Jurnee’s sad face. The scent of clean and spring flowers that was becoming familiar hit me as I passed the conference room. Shit. She’s already here.
Martin sat at his desk and welcomed me with his cheerful greeting. “Morning, Boss. Jurnee is in the conference room.”
I nodded and continued into my office. He followed me in and took his regular seat across from my desk. “Is that a new suit?”
Looking down, I straightened my tie, “I’ve had it for a while.”
“I don’t remember that shirt and tie.” He peered over at me. “I don’t recall you wearing green.”
“I wear green.”
“Do you? Because I don’t ever remember you wearing green.”
“Why are you keeping track of what I’m wearing?” Standing, I grabbed a few folders and walked toward the door.
“Because I’m the world’s best assistant, and it’s my job to know everything about you. It’s how I make your life easier.”
“You are not making anything easier by questioning the color of my shirt. Go