Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)(30)

“He didn’t say Adrian wasn’t over me, Monica. He doesn’t even know what happened with him; I told him I wanted to tell him about Adrian, but that everything was ancient history. Bo said it couldn’t be that ancient since-”

“Since Adrian pulled the weasel-move of orchestrating a venture between our agency and one whose legal team he’s on? I’d say ten points for Bo.” It’d been a long day for everyone.

“What the hell am I supposed to tell Bo about him?” I really had no idea, so this was the perfect Josh-distraction technique.

“Start with the truth; you two were Princeton’s most beautiful couple with the best sex life.” She gave an impish smile.

“Oh, well, that seems easy enough,” I laughed.

Monica’s phone rang and she ignored it as soon she saw who it was.

“Josh again?” I asked sympathetically.

“Yea. Not sure what he could possibly have to say to me. He covered it pretty well last night.” Her face blanched at the thought.

My phone began to ring. It was Josh.

“Mon, he’s calling me. Let me answer so he doesn’t track us down.” I scurried to the bedroom and answered.

“Josh what do you want?”

“Ember, Jesus, thanks for answering. Is Monica with you?” He sounded calm, with just enough angst to keep me from hanging up.

“She is. She came here after work.” I wasn’t going to offer any of what Monica already filled me in on.

“Is she OK?”

Yea douchebag, she’s perfect.

I caved a little. “Not really, Josh, what the hell?” I kept a firm edge to my voice.

“November, you have to understand. Just, like, when you know you feel something, you know when you don’t . . .”

“You didn’t know you didn’t feel whatever it is you think you’re supposed to feel until you chatted up Bo, Joshua.” I hoped he could sense my arched eyebrow.

“Shit, I should have known she’d tell you about that.” Yes, you should have. “Don’t tell Bo, OK? I don’t want him to think I’m a lame blabbermouth.”

You are lame.

“Whatever Josh, look, she’s here, she’s with me and she’s fine, no thanks to you. You need to leave her alone for a while. If she wants to talk to you again she’ll call, and you better answer your damn phone.” I’d given Josh all I could afford with my brokenhearted best friend in the next room.

Josh let out an exasperated sigh, “OK, Ember. Listen . . .”

“Josh, not tonight, I’ll come by and see you at Finnegan’s tomorrow after work, OK?” Why the hell did I just offer that?

“Really? Thanks, Ember.”

“Yea, really. I meant what I said about answering any and all of Monica’s future calls. And, if she gathers enough of herself together to see you face-to-face, don’t be a douche - look her in the eyes this time.” I hung up, feeling rather triumphant on behalf of Monica.

As I walked into the living room, tears in Monica’s eyes were escorted away by curiosity.

“He was just checking that you were OK . . .” I shrugged.

“What’d you tell him?” A hint of a grin graced her face.

“Oh, you know that we finished the VooDoo doll in his likeness and were dancing around a fire on the beach drumming a death chant.

“Awe, thanks!”

“I told him to leave us alone, and you’d call him if you wanted to.” She smiled. “But I told him I would meet him tomorrow at Finnegan’s after I got out of work.”

Monica’s brow furrowed as I continued.

“He knows that I know what Bo said and, Monica, if I’m going to be spending any more time with him I need some more information on their discussion.” It wasn’t fair. Not to Josh, Monica, or Bo - especially Bo - that I was stalking out his feelings for me, and via Josh, no less.

“Why can’t you just bring it up with Bo?”

“I will talk to him about it, when he’s ready to talk to me about it. I’m sure he never intended for Josh to tell anything.”

Before she could answer, my phone dinged with a text message.

Bo: Wish I could see you now “Who’s that?” Monica questioned “Bo wishes he could see me.” I tried to shrug off the Irish jig trampling my insides.

“Em, you don’t need me here taking up your possibly limited time with Hottie Mc Guitar!” I flinched a little at ‘limited’, but quite enjoyed her nickname for him.

“Ha, thanks for your concern. But he’s in New Hampshire tonight - we’re going to get together tomorrow.” I picked up my phone and texted him back.

Me: I miss you too. Wish you were in town.

Bo: Me too.

Me: I’ve got to talk to Josh tomorrow after work, at Finnegan’s . . . stuff about Monica and whatever - want to meet me there around 7 and we can decide what to do from there?

Bo: I’ve got a better idea. I’ll text you in a little bit.

I didn’t text back; I just smiled at my phone.

“Ember,” Monica said dreamily, “it’s so nice to see you happy.”

“I’m always happy, you know that. My happiness and men are mutually exclusive. Though, it is nice when they intersect,” I winked.