fog again, why don’t you tell me what you were going to do in New York for a month besides ‘practice’ dating.”
“The air quotes were a nice touch. Actually, I had each week broken into categories so I could see the entire city. This week was bridges, next week museums–”
“You can’t see all the bridges in New York in one week. There are over twenty-six bridges in Central Park alone.”
“I scheduled a whole day for Central Park.”
An animated Anderson waved his hands in the air for me to stop, “Thank God you took me up on my offer to practice dating. Clearly, I was meant to save you from yourself in the world’s greatest city.”
“How do you know?”
He tilted his head and leaned toward the middle of the table. “That this is the greatest city in the world?”
“That there are twenty-six bridges in Central Park.”
“My parents had a love-hate relationship with Central Park. My mother loves the park and insisted the nannies take me every day, weather permitting, when I was young. My father, on the other hand, talked endlessly of Seneca Village and how the City took over the land from its freed black landowners.” Our dishes were placed in front of each of us. Anderson gave the waitress a curt, “thank you.”
“I didn’t know that.” I stared at my food, embarrassed at my lack of knowledge in an area I had been obsessed with for as long as I could remember.
“I believe that’s true of most Americans.” He gave me a smile as he picked up his fork. “What’s the deal with homecoming?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s homecoming. It’s a weekend to relive the best years of our lives. You know, reconnect with old friends. Drink too much. Eat too much. Cheer on a team that we love.”
“Do you always go?”
“Mmmm.” I surprised myself with moaning noises as I took a second bite of the ravioli. “Sorry, but this is the best Italian I’d ever eaten. I’ve only missed one homecoming in fifteen years. Michigan State football is a big deal back home. Like, big.”
“You scheduled your meeting with Graham during football season?”
“My job ended, and I have a six-week break before the next project begins. I never really expected Soraya to be able to add me to Graham’s calendar. Trust me, if there had been any other time of year, I would have jumped at it.”
“I guess Graham wanting to partner with you in the coffee shop business really tossed a wrench in your plan.”
“Are we ready for dessert?” The waitress asked as Anderson and I looked at one another.
“We’re good.” My face felt flush as the words slid out of Anderson’s mouth, followed by a definite licking of his lips.
This is such a bad idea.
16
Anderson
This had been the best week of my tenure at Morgan Financial Holdings, and it was approaching an end. Every morning, Jurnee arrived at the office with either bagels or muffins, orange juice, and coffee. We’d clocked almost three hours a day virtually alone in this conference room. Each day, our chairs mysteriously moved closer. I was already dreading the two next days without seeing her.
By Friday morning, Martin, Jurnee, and I had developed a morning routine. It began with me stepping into the conference room ten minutes before our scheduled start to find Martin sitting across the table from Jurnee, enjoying breakfast as they chatted.
As the clock hit nine, Jurnee would jump up to clear the breakfast mess, and Martin would make his way to his desk to field calls and inquiries for my time. I looked forward to Jurnee taking her seat and exhaling into her workday. The sparkle in her eyes when she glanced at me was expertly chiseling away at my protective layer that had been in place for far too long.
“Should we begin?” I knew the answer, but I had asked the same question each of the previous mornings.
Jurnee smiled from ear to ear. “Of course.”
And just like that, we settled into a new day of reviewing the Morgan Financial Holdings partnership agreements. There was a knock at the door, and I instinctively moved away from Jurnee. It was Martin with a handful of possible lunch menus. The day’s rainstorm had started earlier than expected, so he wanted to get our orders in before the masses decided eating lunch in was the best course of action.
“I had a crazy idea,” Jurnee announced once Martin departed with our sandwich orders.
“You mentioned you’ve never been to a college football