Cassie sat up and started listing counterarguments on her fingers. “One, he also likes climbing, which automatically elevates a guy, in my book.” She winked. “And not all tech bros are the same. Michael is a software engineer and he’s really into art and photography, and he’s super fun to be with. Two, the way Ian talks about his family, they seem totally chill. He told me that when his mom first came to the US and learned about high-fives, she started giving them to everyone. How cute is that? And he’s pretty progressive, not old-school. Whatever his family is like, it can’t be anywhere close to as bad as what your family was like. Third, you’ve been single for seven months. You told me that you felt like you were in a slump with your music writing. Maybe he can help you get out of it. Music is about feelings, right? Maybe he’ll help you feel something? Inspire you?”
That was what I was afraid of. I didn’t want him to make me feel anything. Feelings made things complicated, and I needed life to be simple right now. To Cassie, I grumbled, “Sure, maybe, but all you’ve told me about him is the good. What about the bad? What are his flaws?”
“Uhhh. He...works too much? I’m honestly impressed that you got him to stay with you all weekend because he works his ass off. And he can be very blunt, sometimes. He’s usually a really nice guy, but if he thinks you’re wrong or being unreasonable, he can get kinda scary. Not someone you want to argue with. He’s definitely made some enemies at Stumpstash with this bluntness.” Cassie tapped her chin with her finger. “I think that might be it.”
I shook my head. “Just means you don’t know him well enough.” That list was too reasonable—there had to be something else wrong with him.
“Just give him a chance,” said Cassie. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I sighed. I could think of lots of things.
He could turn out to be an asshole, and then we’d break up and I’d be miserable at work.
He could make me lose my mind with lust and I could accidentally get pregnant. I vowed to be more careful from now on.
Or he could make me fall madly in love...and utterly break me. Given our explosive chemistry and my fucked-up past, this seemed the strongest possibility of the three.
On screen, Cassie was rocking side to side, waggling her eyebrows and and holding two thumbs up. “Dooo it! Nana! Dooo it! Nana!”
I laughed. “Fine! I’ll give it a shot. But Cassie...if you’re wrong, I’m never taking dating advice from you again.”
She grinned. “I’ll take that risk.”
Later that evening, I texted Ian. My onsite is on Wednesday. Dinner after?
He responded immediately. Absolutely.
Chapter 14
-Ian-
I thought that after such a restful, lazy weekend, I’d be more productive at work.
Instead, I found myself constantly distracted by anything that reminded me of Anna. And that was a lot.
A teal-colored backpack. Bananas. Pizza. Indie music.
Cassie.
“Soooo. Anna.” Cassie and I had a conference call scheduled to review the design spec, but I could see that it was going to be derailed from the start. Her eyebrows danced up and down, and I was sure that if I were in the SF office that day, she would’ve been nudging me in the ribs with her elbows.
“Yep. Anna. I assume that you know that I wasn’t really helping her with her interview prep?”
Cassie’s coy smile said it all. “Of course. She had her post-sex face on.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Ah...Cassie. Tell me the truth. Do you think I have a chance with her?”
She took a deep breath. “So, I’m not going to say yes or no, but I will say that she’s been through some shit. Just treat her with respect and maybe it’ll work out. I think you guys would be great together.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You think I wouldn’t respect her?”
“Nooo. I just mean that she wants to be independent, and she needs someone who can be her partner, not like...controlling her. She’s had bad experiences with guys in the past. And her family.”
I sighed. “I know. You told me when you were drunk that she had ‘daddy issues’.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh shit. I said that?” She paused and bit her lip. “I didn’t...say anything more than that, did I?”
“No,” I replied slowly, “but should you have? Is there more that I should know?”
She vehemently shook her head. “It’s Anna’s story to tell, not mine.” She pointed an accusatory finger at me through the screen. “And don’t go asking me questions about her when I’m drunk.”
“Not even about benign things, like what she likes and doesn’t like?”
“Psh, c’mon, Ian.” She rolled her eyes. “You can ask her those things yourself.”
I laughed. “Fine. Now are youready to talk about this design?”
She heaved a big sigh. “Fine.”
◆◆◆
“How many people work in this office?”
I glanced up from my computer at the sound of Anna’s voice. She was talking to the facilities manager, who was leading her around the office on a tour. We locked eyes for a second but she quickly looked away, pretending not to know me. As she walked past, I continued to watch her from the corner of my eye, taking in her ponytail, tan cashmere sweater, tight black pants and black heeled boots. The pants and heel combo was very...stimulating. I looked forward to dinner, and to what I hoped came after.
From across the room, I heard Tom exclaim, “Oh HEY, it’s you!” Anna responded in an appropriate indoor voice, so I didn’t quite catch what she said. Tom’s booming voice continued, asking her about what she was
