Page 15 of One Drink
“Of course you wouldn’t.” Robbie continued. “And deep down she knows that. But, in her mind, it could still create tension between you two. That’s what scares her. I doubt she even knows it.”
“And how exactly do you know this?”
He gave me a huge grin. “Because I’m the king of daddy issues.”
Robbie had me there. Every time I struggled with my dad, I reminded myself how bad Robbie had it. Robbie’s father was not a good man, abandoning his children and their mothers like last week’s garbage. My dad drove me crazy sometimes, but I always knew he loved me and had my best interests at heart. The same could not be said about Robbie’s dad. “Then how do I help her work past that?”
“Patience.” He sipped his drink. “And show her you’re not her father.”
“She already knows that.” I stole a glance in Stephanie’s direction, and our eyes met. She smiled. It was faint, but I know I saw her lips turn up before she shifted her eyes back to Kate and Zoe.
“Yeah, but show her again. You’d be surprised at how often people need reassurances that not everyone is an asshole. A few pricks ruin it for all of us.”
“I see your point. I think.” I didn’t look back at her this time, but I felt Stephanie’s eyes on me. “And here I was, considering quitting my job.”
“That would be a bold move.”
“It’d be one less thing between us. She is my boss, and even though the timing would suck considering what happened last Friday, its way past time for me to move on. The magazine is in great shape. She doesn’t need my help anymore.”
“Couldn’t hurt to quit.” Robbie nodded. “Hey, you’ve been wanting to write that novel anyway, right? Maybe now is the right time.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Maybe it was time. I’ve been wanting to free up time to write. It was certainly something worth considering. I loved working at the magazine with Stephanie, but I loved it for the wrong reasons. I don’t think I fully understood those reasons until now. The work was okay, but I loved it because I got to see her every day. “Jeez, why are men such idiots?”
“Speak for yourself. I’m a fucking genius.” Robbie tried to hold a steady face, but he failed. We both burst out laughing. He was just as much of an idiot as I was when it came to women, but he made a few valid points.
I shifted my eyes toward Stephanie and caught her looking at me again. This time I smiled, and I felt a sliver of hope in my chest.
***
AFTER AN HOUR OF STOLENglances and half smiles, Stephanie got up and headed to the restroom. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she glided across the room, oblivious to the stares and turned heads from other men at the bar. A tinge of jealously ran through me. Stephanie was a very beautiful woman, and a man would have to be dead not to notice, but I didn’t want them looking at her the way I did.
“Are you just going to sit there and watch her all night, or go talk to her?” Robbie glared down his nose at me. “This is your chance.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to me.” I sighed, more at the pathetic tone of my voice than the situation in which I found myself in.
“Do you think Maya fell into my arms because I sat back and watched her?” He crossed his arms like he was waiting for me to answer. Robbie was a take-charge-of-life kind of guy. He’d never sit back and wait for things to happen to him. “You need to go to her and reinforce your feelings for her.”
“I told her how I felt.”
“That’s the problem, then.” Robbie chuckled. “Don’t tell her, show her. She’ll believe your actions more than she believes your words. Just take your cues from her.”
Maybe he had a point. And it sounded an awful lot like what Dad said to me as well. I wanted to give Stephanie space to sort out her feelings, but I also didn’t want her to mistake my distance as a change in heart or lack of interest. We hadn’t talked since Monday morning, not even about work, and that wasn’t like us. We talked every day, multiple times a day. Personally, this distance was killing me. Was it possible it was killing her too?
“I see your brain at work. There’s only one way to find out.”
“You’re right.” I downed the last of my drink and stood. “Get us another round, will you?”
“You got it.” He smiled at me as I headed towards the restrooms.
I stepped down the long narrow hall and leaned against the outer wall when I reached the women’s restroom. I had no clue what I was going to say to her, but I had to say something. This silence between us wasn’t doing either of us any good. I didn’t have to wait long before she stepped out and stopped.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hi,” she whispered. She stepped to the side of the door and leaned against the wall opposite me. She didn’t smile, but she looked relieved to see me. Our eyes locked, but neither of us spoke. The rise and fall of her chest quickened, and she sucked her pouty bottom lip between her teeth. That was one of the sexiest things I’d ever seen her do. I raked my eyes down her curvy form. Her deep purple pencil skirt hit just below her knees, but it hugged her body in such a way that it was far sexier than any shorter skirt would be. “Did you need something?”
The softness of her voice drew my eyes back to her lips. Her lips begged to be kissed, and I couldn’t stop myself from stepping across the hall and cupping her face with my hands. She sucked in a breath, and she placed her hands on my hips.
I waited to see what she would do. Would she push me away or pull me closer?