the great Ward Maddox?”
I shake my head. Hearing Ward’s name out loud does something to me. So far this night has been successful, and losing myself in the music meant not thinking about Ward. I’m eager to know what makes Jamie think Raleigh is not the one for him. I decide to flip this conversation because it could give me some insight into my current dilemma with Ward.
Raleigh is standing over by a tree, talking to some people. I’ve been watching her and have noticed that she’s been glancing in our direction. Jamie’s had his back to her, so he has no idea.
“Look at her,” I say, tugging Jamie’s arm, and trying to be discreet without pointing.
“What about her?” he throws a glance over in her direction and turns back to me.
“She keeps looking at you.”
He doesn’t say anything.
“Oh my goodness.” I slap my hand to my forehead. “I’ve messed things up. She thinks you and I are together.”
“And what if she does?”
“But we’re not. Go and talk to her,” I insist.
“I don’t want to talk to her, I want to talk to you.”
“You won’t get an opportunity like this again, Jamie.”
“I’d rather stay here and talk to you.”
“This could be your last chance!”
“I don’t want to talk to her,” he insists, sounding more annoyed than he should. I stop pushing and we’re quiet for a long time. I’m not sure what’s going on with him tonight.
“Do you think this is a sexy dress, or a really sexy dress?” I ask.
“What?” he blinks, rapidly, as if the question is confusing.
I run my hand down my dress. “Do you think this is tastefully sexy, or slutty sexy?”
His mouth opens as if he’s going to say something, but he doesn’t.
“Well?”
“You really want me to answer that?” Now I’m worried, because his reaction tells me that Ward’s reaction might not have been what I hoped. All of a sudden I’m pulled down the rabbit hole of what that might be. Maybe my stunt to show him me in a sexy dress isn’t as clever as I first thought. Maybe he’ll see me as a slut and it might confirm what he already thinks. Maybe he’s glad he cooled things down between us.
“Yes, I really do. I need to know. Ward was in the kitchen and he saw me go out in this.”
Jamie squints in disbelief. “And?”
“And … and … nothing. I mean, I just wonder what he thought.”
“Why are you so worried about what he thinks?”
Jamie won’t understand it, but what Ward thinks matters to me.
“I don’t want him to think I’m some sort of floozy.”
“So what?” There’s a tightness in Jamie’s face. “He’s not going to fire you. Why the hell do you care so much about what he thinks?”
“I got into trouble because of you.”
How's that?
“I didn't tell him you took his pen.”
Jamie's mouth twists as if he's baffled. “Why's that such a big deal? Can't the guy take a joke?”
“You've met him. What do you think?”
“I'll tell him,” he says. “I'll tell him it was me.”
“No. Don't. Just leave it. He thinks I misplaced it. It's all good.”
“It can't be all good, because you're still talking about it.” He sounds irritated and annoyed. “You're always talking about that guy. Even now. We're here, in a different setting, meeting our friends and you're still harping on about Ward.”
“Sorry.” I take his arm. “You know what it's like. I have no other work gossip to talk about.”
“Then don't talk about work. Talk about something else.”
His anger startles me. “Okay, sure. Let's talk about ...Uh ...” I'm trying to think of something. “I know. Uh, I'm going to start looking for apartments as soon as Ward's job is over. I promise I'll be out of your hair real soon.”
“It's not a problem. You can keep your stuff at my place for as long as you need. You can stay at my place if you don't find something you like, you can stay as long as you like.”
I squeeze his arm, lean in and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks. You're a darling.”
When I pull back, he stares at me, and is surprisingly speechless.
“Are the two of you together now?” Raleigh asks, joining us.
“No! We are just friends. It's not like that.” I swat Jamie's arm playfully. “He's like my big brother.”
I wouldn't usually have more than two words to say to this woman, but I feel the need to explain our situation, especially because I can see the way Raleigh looks at