I honestly didn’t know how to proceed. Women were eyeing me with appreciation. That had happened since high school, but never once during.
The re-appearance of Will saved me from deciding. Marley’s features remained amiable as he came near. She must have remembered him as the person who’d smiled and waved at me earlier in the hallway.
Will approached with arm outstretched, shaking my right hand and slapping his left against my shoulder. “James, how ya been, man? I wasn’t sure you’d come after the way these assholes treated you back in the day.”
I felt a fondness I hadn’t expected to feel tonight, as I recalled the Will of my youth—feisty, bold, the obligatory goth kid in our class. It didn’t surprise me he’d cut to the chase. He’d been the closest thing I’d had to a real friend at Seattle Elite. We hadn’t spent much time together outside school, but we’d been constant companions inside, providing a measure of protection.
“I needed to come put a period on things,” I said, leaving it there. “But I could also ask the same of you. You weren’t exactly bro-ing down with any of these guys.”
Will nodded, shaking the same mane of blue-black hair he’d sported in high school. Back then, he’d been a short, skinny teen, drowning in tight black jeans and band t-shirts. He was still on the shorter side, but he’d filled out some, and his uniform tonight was a sleek charcoal Tom Ford suit with a vee neck tee underneath. Nothing Christmasy about it.
He didn’t mince words. “I came because I made some smart investments right out of college. Not to be crass, but I’m even richer than my parents now. And probably most of the folks in this room. I’ll admit I wanted to rub it in these assholes’ faces a little. I spent my whole life going to the same country club as these guys, the same stupid fundraisers. My dad played golf with their dads, stuff like that. But they never stopped making me feel like shit. I’d like to return the favor.” He turned to Marley and stuck out his arm. “Will.”
“Marley,” she said. “It’s nice to meet a friend of James’s.” She looked around and did a quick sweep of the room, not hiding the disdain on her face. “And I’m sorry to hear these bums were awful to you, too.”
Will took a sip of his beer. “I take it James told you how it was for him back then?”
“Um hmm. And I was prepared to fight for his honor, but so far, I haven’t had to. Mostly, I’ve just been trying not to laugh at how oblivious he is to all the ladies looking at him like he’s dinner.”
“Gotta protect your man.”
“Oh, he’s not my man—” Marley started.
“It’s not like that,” I finished.
“Ah,” Will said, darting his eyes between us.
“We’re friends,” Marley clarified. “Very good friends.” She put her hand in mine and I immediately felt the sense of rightness come over me I’d only ever felt with her. I needed to stop taking it for granted. What she gave me. Space to open up. Air to breathe. I would have missed out on getting this closure if she hadn’t supported me. If she hadn’t known exactly what I needed.
Marley and Will continued making small talk. I learned Will was single and currently made his living as a venture capitalist. He liked the money, but not the job. He played first base in an adult softball league and owned a condo in Bellevue, across the lake from Seattle.
Although I appreciated Will’s friendly face, I only heard him with half an ear. Marley held my attention. The way she ran her fingers absently along my forearm sent shivers down my spine. Her joyful, throaty laugh sent a shot straight into my heart. I longed to place a kiss on the elegant line of her exposed neck.
I felt more than ready to move thissituationshipforward. The instinct to put my arm around Marley and claim her—to let everyone know she was mine—gripped me like a vise. Everything in my life had been better since she’d come into it.
The appearance of Jonas at our table interrupted my thoughts. He swept in on Will’s right side, catching me off guard. He may not have recognized me, but he evidently knew my old friend.
“Hey bro.” He threw an arm around Will’s shoulders. I folded my arms across my chest, once again obscuring my name badge.
“Hello, Jonas,” Will replied, giving the other man a sardonic smile. “What brings you over to our table?”
Jonas observed Marley first, then me, hinting at an introduction. Will clearly took subversive pleasure in remaining silent. Jonas shrugged and addressed him directly.
“We were supposed to have lunch a few weeks ago before you had to cancel,” he complained. “I called your office on Monday and then again on Wednesday, but your admin said you didn’t have a free day until February.”
“Sorry. I am very busy.” Will’s face was the opposite of sorry.
“I know, but, dude, we’re old friends.”
Will raised an eyebrow. “We are?”
“I mean, we went to the same high school.” Jonas scratched his forehead. “That’s something, right?”
“It’s definitely something.” Bemusement crossed Will’s features as he explained to us, “Jonas would like me to invest in his new company. He has wonderful ideas.”
I held back a giggle. Oh my.
Jonas made a face. His inebriated state revealed itself when he shook his head and whined, “Look, Will, I’m just asking to get on your calendar. Whatever our history is or isn’t, I have a good pitch.”
