Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)

“I saw the look in your eyes, Ember, when David said his name. It was like you saw a ghost.” His concerned eyes teetered on hurt. Yea, the Ghost of Sexcapades Past.

“I haven’t talked to Adrian in like three years. When he was at Harvard Law he Facebooked me a few times, but I was tired of seeing the pictures he posted with girls who were nothing like me. I know that sounds bad, and I don’t mean it to. We haven’t meant anything to each other in five years, Bo. And, even then - look, I want to talk to you about this, but not here and not now. Monica’s coming over tonight so we can emotionally process what happened with Josh. Can we get together tomorrow night?” I wanted to tell Bo about Adrian, about my feelings for him, everything, but I couldn’t do it at work.

“I have to head back to New Hampshire today for a quick meeting, but I should be back by tomorrow late afternoon. I’ll call you when I get back to town, OK?” The distance in his voice sent tension searing through me.

“Bo,” I reached out and gripped the top of his hand, not wanting him to slip away. Thankfully, he turned it over and interlaced his fingers with mine, “what happened with Adrian is ancient history.”

“November, you don’t owe me an explanation.” He kissed my hand, “But, it can’t be that ancient to Adrian if he used work to get in contact with you, without giving you some sort of heads up or ‘how’s it going’ first…”

Gut punch.

He was right about Adrian, but he was oh-so-wrong about me owing him an explanation. You owe one to Bo because you love him; he just doesn’t know that yet.





Chapter Ten

“Do you think Bo was right, about Adrian not being over you?” Monica asked as she plunked on my couch with an over-full glass of wine.

Before Bo headed back to New Hampshire, he kissed me with complete disregard for the workplace, and told me he’d text me later. The second Bo left our office, I told her about our conversation.

“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.