Page 5 of Reaching Gavin

“I mean, sure, he’s insanely hot. But he gets this weird look on his face every time he sees me. I guess he is the boss, but that doesn’t mean I’m beneath him.”

“I meant about Trevor,” Jess said.”

“Oh.”

“She thought you were talking about the boss,” Jillian said with a touch too much enthusiasm. I braced myself for the inevitable peer pressuring that followed.

“It’s been six months,” Jess said as if she’d been keeping a calendar of my break-ups.

“I told you that I’m done with men. Or really, boys. Basically, anything with a penis.”

“Thanks for the clarification.” Sarcasm dripped from Jillian’s voice. “It’s okay to date again.”

“Just take it slow,” Jess advised.

“I’m hanging up,” I warned them. My finger hovered over the disconnect button.

“I’m sure he doesn’t think you’re beneath him,” Jillian said.

“He just wants you beneath him.” Jess grinned wickedly.

“Isn’t marriage supposed to make you settle down? You’re shameless.”

“Speaking of, my husband is calling me into dinner, so I need to run.” The grin morphed into a full-blown smile that lit up her whole face. Even thinking about him had that affect on her. I couldn’t remember ever feeling something so strongly that it radiated from me like the sun.

Jealous. Table for one.

“I should get some sleep. We’re driving up to Inverness tomorrow.” Jillian yawned, and I realized it was now after two in the morning in her part of the world.

“Tell my sister hi,” Jess said as we began our goodbyes.

“I’m going to tell her that you’re love crazy and acting like a damn fool.” I would do no such thing, but Jess had been my straight-laced, good girl friend for too long to not revel in the insane 180 degree turn she’d made that had ended only a month ago in her elopement.

“I worry about her,” Jess said. “I think we may lose her to Scotland.”

“I’ll call her mother,” I threatened, only half joking. I wanted my best friends to find their happily-ever-afters. I just wanted them to do it closer to home.

* * *

“Doesyour cat know how to open drawers?” I asked as soon as Lillian got in from the office hours later.

She startled at the sound of my voice but recovered quickly as she dropped her purse and briefcase on to the dining table. “Not that I know of.”

Lillian and I were still growing accustomed to each other’s presence. Since I’d spent my last three years living in a dormitory it was a bit easier on me. She still seemed surprised to find me there every night. It had only been two weeks since I’d moved in with Jess’s older sister for the summer. Since Lillian was a high-profile lawyer she worked late. Really, really late. She pretty much used her condo for the bed and shower, even going into the office on weekends.

That was one of the reasons she had agreed to let me stay with her when I landed the internship at NorthWest Investments. There had been stipulations, of course. No partying. No boys. Since I wasn’t in the market for either, I’d agreed. Seattle was an expensive city and I knew I wouldn’t find cheaper rent anywhere. Okay, free rent. I hadn’t figured out yet whether I should stay in my room and out of sight, or if she wanted company.

Tonight, she smiled blearily as she dug through the fridge and came out with a takeout container. She didn’t bother to reheat the noodles. Instead, she grabbed a fork and sat on the opposite end of the couch.

“How was the first day?”

I shrugged, not ready to share the details after my hour-long conversation with Jess and Jillian. Lillian didn’t pry. We weren’t exactly close. Given her insane workload, she’d only visited Jess in Olympic Falls a few times. We’d been out to dinner or come to the city to see her, but we didn’t know one another that well.

“That good, huh?” She slurped down a long, greasy noodle.

“You can tell?”

“Lawyers know how to read people,” she explained. Her cat jumped into her lap and glared at me as if to say this was her time with her.