Nemesis(5)

His lip twitches.

“I’ll wait for someone who is right for me, or I’ll be alone,” I continue, answering with brutal honesty. “I won’t settle for less. And as for love, yes, I believe in it. I don’t think we have one soul mate or anything though. I believe there are lots of people out there for each of us.”

“I see,” he says, an odd expression on his face. “So, you want love, but you’ll also be content being a crazy cat lady if you don’t meet someone worthy of you.”

“Crazy dog lady,” I correct, laughing. “I don’t much care for cats. So, why did you ask me that?”

“That’s how two people get to know one another, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” I say slowly.

“Plus, you said you’re terrible at small talk,” he adds, smirking. “Your turn.”

“Okay…” I pause, racking my brain for something to ask him. “You can’t fire me or anything if I cross the line with these questions though.”

He laughs, his whole body shaking. “I won’t fire you, Christ. Ask me anything. Your job is safe.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly, then lean across the table, giving us an illusion of privacy. “Did you like the fairy bread I made yesterday?”

I saved him a piece, and he grabbed it when he was on his way out to a meeting. I didn’t see him after that though, so I never got to ask him about it.

“I did,” he replies, shaking his head and laughing once more. “Fuck, you never say the things I think you will.”

“I can be a little random,” I agree, nodding. “You’ll get used to it, friend.”

Our eyes connect, and we hold one another’s gaze.

“Your eyes are really blue,” he says suddenly. “I noticed them the first day you started working here.”

His were really green, like emeralds, but sometimes they looked more of a hazel-green. I don’t say that out loud though; instead, I just keep my mouth shut. He doesn’t need to know just how much attention I’ve been paying to him since I started to work here.

“Uh, thanks?” I reply, lowering my gaze to his lips, another unsafe place. I quickly force myself to look at my hands. Just what is going on here? So he’s giving me a few compliments, so what? It doesn’t mean anything, right?

Right?





Chapter Three


The food arrives, which thankfully gives me something to do. “You don’t normally eat here,” I point out. This is kind of my lunch place, and I’ve never seen him in here before the other day.

“Jason recommended it to me,” he says, referring to one of the other lawyers. “I usually just grab something from somewhere on the way to a meeting. This is the first time I’ve actually eaten here.”

I look down at his plate of pasta. “And what do you think?”

He glances up at me and smiles slowly, dimple popping out. “I think I’m going to have to come here more often.”

I shove a chip in my mouth and chew slowly. “I see.”

“Plans tonight?”

“Date night,” I say, referring to my weekly dinner out with Sadie. He didn’t need to know that though.

“With who?” he asks, raising his brow.

I just grin at him, not offering any answers.

We finish our food, then fight over paying the bill.

“Friends don’t pay for other friends’ meals,” I say, reaching for my purse.

“I don’t know what kind of friends you have…” Cohen replies, handing his card over to the waitress.

I grit my teeth. “If you’re going to pay every time then this ‘lunch friend’ thing is over.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. I’m sure he has plenty of money, but that’s not the point. This isn’t a lunch date, and his paying makes me feel super awkward.

“I’ll pay for both of us next time,” I decide, waiting for him to agree. Obviously seeing no other way out, he unhappily mutters a “Fine.” I sit there silently, enjoying my small victory while we wait for the return of his card.

“Look at you, sitting there all smug,” he says, shaking his head at me. “All because you get to pay tomorrow, when most women would never even offer.”

“Well,” I start, flashing him a sweet smile. “I’m not most women, now am I?”

“I’m beginning to see that,” he replies, gaze softening. He gets his card back, tips the waitress, and we walk back to the office together, crossing the road side by side.

*****

Everybody has somebody they regret dating, or wasting their time with. I don’t necessarily see it that way, because even failures are lessons; however, if I had to pick one ex-boyfriend I wish I never had to see again, it would be the man sitting on the other side of the restaurant, on a f*cking date with another woman. His name is Dan, and he’s a doctor. He’s also a douche bag of epic proportions.

“At least you don’t have to look at him,” Sadie grumbles, pulling a face. “I can see him out the corner of my eye as I look at you.”

I grin, happy to have my back to him. “Rather you than me.”

“Looks like he’s put on weight,” she murmurs, eyes dancing with glee. “It really is the small things in life.”