Page 81 of The One

“I am,” he said. “Texts more than anything. He’s from California so I’m surprised to hear he is interviewing here, but that means nothing. People have headquarters all over the world, but that doesn’t mean they’d move there.”

“Would you like him to be closer?” she asked.

He honestly wasn’t sure. Toward the end Dean was difficult to be around. He was moody and depressed and Rick could understand that. Everything the guy wanted in life and spent years working for he’d sold and then got taken for half the money.

But Dean did sound like his old self on the phone so maybe things were better for his buddy. He’d find out later for sure.

“It’d be nice,” he said. “Dean works more than me though. Even if he was closer I don’t think I’d see him much. The only reason we were together so much before was because of the work we were doing.”

Yeah. That might be what they’d had in common. He wasn’t sure they would have much more in common outside of work.

He never realized that either until he moved. Dean was focused and determined but limited in that he couldn’t keep his vision on track. That was where he wasn’t good enough.

He was like George with squirrels in the yard. Every time another one came in, he’d change directions and run. He couldn’t stay focused on one to get close enough.

Rick felt that was where he came in. He kept Dean on track to get them to the point their code was worth something. They had a base to work off of. To build from.

That was what the company they’d sold it to wanted.

He could have been a dick and fought for more than the forty percent. He was sure there were plenty out there in his shoes that would have. But it wasn’t him.

He was thrilled he got the payday he did and maybe that was why he was happy when Colleen suggested Dean sell.

There was part of him that worried Dean was pissed because Rick encouraged it too. Not because of Colleen but because he was burned out too and didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. He needed that light to turn on to just freaking breathe again.

When Dean had seen the payday, he’d agreed it was a smart move. Probably not when he got the divorce papers though.

“There isn’t anything wrong with that,” Gillian said. “People have work friends and they’ve got friends that know nothing about their work.”

“That’s right. I wanted you to know. I want you to meet Dean.”

“I’d love to meet him, but I’ll go home after. You can spend the time with him before his flight.”

“I figured you’d say that,” he said. “He’ll be here by the time you get out of work. I’ll just order dinner in if you’re fine with it.”

“That works,” she said. “I need to run now.”

He hung up the phone and got back to work and the next thing he knew his doorbell was ringing.

George started to bark and he went to the front door. “Dude,” he said. “Look at you all bundled up.”

Dean pulled him in for a hug, and yeah, this was the guy he remembered. Dark rimmed glasses on his face that were falling down, big winter jacket on that might still have the tags attached to it for the trip here, his blonde hair in all directions.

Dean was a surfer-looking nerd. Said he grew up on the beach and getting a tan, but his glasses kept him out of the water and he couldn’t handle contacts.

“I was just going to say the same. Damn, you’re living in suburbia. Who would have ever thought it?”

“Not me years ago,” he said. “But it sure the hell grew on me.”

“And who is this?” Dean asked, bending over. “A dog too. Where is the woman and white picket fence?”

Rick laughed and took Dean’s jacket and told him to follow him upstairs with his bag. The two made the trek up. “The fence will be put in this spring and you’ll meet the woman tonight for dinner. Then she’ll go back home rather than stay the night.”

“Wow,” Dean said. “Guess you are sliding right into this life. What’s her name and where did you meet since you work from home?”

“Gillian Bridges. She’s a dietician my doctor wanted me to see.”

Dean started to laugh. “Dare I ask if all that junk food finally caught up with you?”