Maybe Someone Like You

by Stacy Wise

  “Sometimes.”

  “I hope this time will be memorable for you.”

  I struggle for a response. “It already is.” I clear my throat. “Did you see the water fountain over there? I love the way it creates an illusion of water spilling down the wall.”

  “It’s not an illusion,” he says, straightening his tie. “The fountain is constructed that way. We have a smaller version in our office. I should install one in my condo. They’re soothing, aren’t they?”

  “Very. I could look at it for hours.”

  A server arrives, and I give the menu a quick glance before placing my order. Edward orders the same thing, along with a side of tempura shrimp, and I wonder if he likes yakisoba or if he didn’t have enough time with the menu.

  “Are you having fun?” he asks, leaning forward.

  “Yes. Thanks for driving all the way up here.”

  “I was happy to. In fact, I arrived early and walked around the town. I haven’t been up here since I was a kid. I forgot how these beach cities have such a small-town feel. It’s nice.”

  “Yeah. I love being here. It seems like we’re a million miles from L.A.”

  He smiles and shifts his chair to the side as a large group of guys follows the host to a table in the corner. I glance at them as they squeeze past, and my heart kicks up to an alarming rate.

  Ryan’s with them.

  I admonish myself for choosing one of the most popular restaurants in town. Nonetheless, I can’t help but sneak glances at him. He’s wearing jeans and boots and the gray leather jacket he wore to the photography exhibit. I reach for my water glass and sip slowly, hoping to quench my parched mouth.

  “Have you lived here for a long time?”

  I set my glass on the table and train my focus on Edward. “Um, yes, I have. I’ve been here since I graduated from college.” Although maybe it’s time to move from this dinky little town if I’m going to see Ryan everywhere now. “How about you? You said you live in Brentwood, right?”

  “I do. I bought a condo there three years ago. It needed a little work, but I was lucky enough to have some money left for renovations. It doesn’t hurt that I work at my parents’ firm. They’ve been a big help to me.”

  As he talks, the guys take their seats around the table. I subtly watch Ryan as he turns to sit. He brushes a hand through his hair, and any doubt I had that it might not really be him is absolved. Even though his face is shadowed, the tattoos on his knuckles give him away. His chair faces in my direction, so if he looks a little to his right, he’ll see me.

  Edward continues talking, but my mind wanders down a rainy highway. I’m holding onto Ryan, pressed into the warmth of his body. My legs are snug against his, and my hands grip his torso as rain dances across my back. In seconds he’ll stop and swoop me across his shoulder. I can smell the rain on his skin, the oceany scent of his shampoo. And then…

  Chuckling, Edward says, “Katie? You there?”

  His words knock me from my reverie—before I reached the kissing part—and my face flushes. “Yes! I was just thinking about what you said. How do you like it? Working for your parents, that is?” I press a cool hand to my cheek and rest my chin on my hand as I lean in. Edward’s great. I need to be present in the here and now, not wandering around in some former fantasy.

  “It has its challenges, of course, but for the most part, it’s great. How about you? How’s life at Janks and Lowe?”

  I bite my lip to keep from blurting the news about Kenneth. “Great. Interesting. It’s definitely keeping me on my toes.”

  Our food arrives, and Edward toasts once again. “To our first official dinner together.”

  I clink my glass to his. “To our first official dinner.” To anyone watching, I’m sure I look like a girl who’s happy to be out with a great guy. They’d have no idea that my insides are caught in a tornado. Damn Ryan for coming here tonight. As I set my glass down, curiosity gets the best of me, and I risk a glance at his table.

  My tenuous grasp of calm crashes to the floor when I see he’s already looking at me. His gaze grips me with so much force, I can’t look away. It’s like he has mind-bending powers that make it so that nothing exists but him. His jaw is tight, and he stands, his eyes still on me.

  But maybe he’s nearsighted and I’m nothing more than a vaguely familiar blur. In fact, it’s possible he can’t see me at all and just needs to use the restroom. He rubs a hand down his mouth as he walks toward my table. I fumble for my napkin and slide it to my lap.

  Edward smiles. “Hey…”

  I look up as I smooth my napkin. “What?”

  “Don’t be nervous about eating in front of me. I know you have perfect manners.”

  “Thanks. I guess I am a little nervous.” It’s wrong to let him think he’s the cause of my nerves, but the truth is too pathetic to admit. Ryan’s only feet from our table now, and my heart is pounding out of control. It’s inevitable. I have to look up. Steeling myself, I turn to him, my mouth dry.

  He meets my eyes. “Hi, Katie. It’s good to see you.” He turns to Edward, offering his hand. “Hey, man. I’m Ryan.”

  Ever the gentleman, Edward stands to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Edward.”

  Ryan turns to me as Edward resumes his seat. “I don’t want to interrupt your dinner, but I saw you over here and wanted to say hi.” His eyes blaze into mine, and I feel a rush of heat engulf me. “I was hoping to see you at the gym again, but Javier says you’ve been too busy to come back.”

  My napkin falls to the floor, and I reach for it, pressing a hand to my chest as I do. Thank God I’m wearing a button-down that covers the blotches. “Uh, yeah,” I say, straightening. “I’ve been swamped.”

  He nods and taps a hand to the table. “I hope you remember what I’ve taught you.” His expression is stern, but his eyes drink me in, completely unnerving me.

  Does he think I’ll need to punch someone sometime soon? Maybe he thinks every guy I date is an asshole, though Edward has done nothing to give him that impression. “I remember.” I steal a look at Edward, wishing I could turn him to stone for five minutes so I could ask Ryan what he means. Twisting my napkin in my hand, I mutter, “You taught me well.”

  Our eyes lock, and I wish I could decipher what’s in his, but I’m no better than the psychic who thought we were a lovely couple. Ryan’s impossible to read. “Enjoy your meal.” He turns to Edward with a wave. “Nice meeting you.”

  Once he’s out of earshot, Edward whispers, “Who was that?”

  “A guy I know from my gym.”

  He nods as he twirls noodles with his chopsticks, a pensive look on his face. “I gathered as much. Is he your trainer with the awesome tattoos?”

  “No. He’s not my trainer.” I wish I could tell him everything. It’s burning to leap out, but I extinguish the temptation. If I were to mention a word of my feelings for Ryan, it would put Edward in a horribly awkward position. And it’d ruin whatever chance I have with him.

  “Oh. A lot of guys in that scene have tattoos, I presume.”

  I shrug. “I guess. How do you like the yakisoba?”

  “It’s great. You should try the tempura. It’s delicious.”

  “Thanks. You look very handsome, by the way. In case I didn’t mention it before.”

  He lowers his chopsticks. “You’re going to make me blush. Damn pale skin. But thank you. You’re sweet for saying that.”

  “It’s true.” I focus back on my food, promising myself not to sneak another glance at Ryan. This is where I should be. Across from Edward Benner, having a positively lovely dinner with my perfect date. But my mind travels back to Bud’s. I try to crash-land and run from the thought, but it’s no use. My memory accelerates to the moment when we shared burgers, and I wondered what it’d be like to date Ryan. He sat across from me, and I felt safe. And lucky. So very, very lucky. Swallowing hard, I remind myself I’m lucky to be with Edward, too. It’s just different.

  We finish our
food, and Edward insists on paying for everything, even though I offered to buy this time. I can’t help but smile to myself when I think about offering Ryan money and he called me stink foot. But the next second, a feeling of sadness slams against me. Those days are gone. At least I have my memories of him. He was the one who reminded me the memories help. My eyes burn as I relish a last look at him, giving him a silent goodbye. It’s time to move on for good.

  Edward and I head outside, and his car is parked next to mine. “It’s still early. Would you like to have a cocktail somewhere?”

  “That sounds great, but I should get home. I need to catch up on some sleep, as sad as it sounds. Work has been killing me lately. Next time?”

  He sighs. “I don’t like that you won’t have a drink, but I love that you mentioned a next time. Can I call you again?”

  “I’d like that.”

  And then he leans in and kisses me. His lips are soft. Nice. He tastes of tempura, but then, I probably do, too. There aren’t any fireworks to speak of, but it’s not uncommon for first kisses to feel a bit awkward. Anyway, I’m sure our next kiss will be amazing. He briefly links his fingers with mine, and I move my hand to get my keys from my purse. Maybe too quickly, but I don’t want him to go in for a second kiss just yet. He opens my car door once I unlock it and steps aside to allow me to get in.

  A question circles through my mind as I make the short drive back to my apartment. Why did Ryan ask if I remembered what he taught me? Does he think I’d actually seek out another guy like Lachlan? Ha! Thoughts of Edward snap in, like meerkats popping their tiny heads up, but I shoo them away. I need to figure out this business with Ryan first.

  It’s simple. I’ll just call him. We’re friends, after all. That’s how he wants it. And as his friend, it’s perfectly fine for me to ask. God knows he won’t call me. He admitted he’s not good at telling people how he feels. I look at the time on my phone as I walk up the stairs to my apartment. He could still be at the restaurant. Or maybe he’s going out after. With a sigh, I unlock the door. I’ll just watch a show, and when it’s over, I can call.

  A commercial plays, and I sneak a look at my phone. An hour has easily passed since he stopped by my table. It’s fine to call now. I mute the TV as I touch a finger to his number.

  My heart tries to distract me with its thunderous beat, but I stay focused. I’m calling a friend. That’s all.

  He picks up on the second ring. “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s Katie.” I wait for him to respond, but there’s only silence. “I, um, wanted to ask you—”

  “Hey. Now’s not a great time. I’ll talk to you later.”

  I strain to listen for background noise, but there is none. Maybe he’s with a girl. Or maybe he’s home and just doesn’t want to talk to me. “Sure. Bye.”

  He mutters a response and ends the call.

  And I’m an idiot.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The woman across from me swipes a finger beneath her lashes but succeeds only in smearing more mascara. “I’m scared.” Her shoulders shake as fresh tears spill down her cheeks. The first time I helped someone like her, my eyes filled, too. It was hard not to want to slide the paperwork aside and hug her. It still is, I suppose, but with Valentina’s guidance over the past two weeks, I’ve become better at leaving my feelings at home and focusing on the work.

  “I understand. And it’s okay to be scared, but we’re here to help you through every step. You’re not alone, Miriam.”

  She looks at me through her watery eyes and nods. “Thank you.”

  Valentina peeks her head into the tiny office I share with another volunteer, though I’m the only one left tonight. “It’s eight. How are you coming along?”

  “We’re wrapping up. Thanks,” I say with a grateful smile. If I had said I needed help with a form, she would’ve pulled up a chair and gotten down to business. Her level of patience is impressive.

  “Very good. I’ll be in my office for another half hour or so. Stop by when you’re done.” She smiles and steps out.

  Twenty minutes later, Miriam has filled out all the necessary documents, and I’ve given her detailed instructions on what to do tomorrow. “Here’s my cell phone number. I’m a five-minute walk from the courthouse, so if you need anything at all, call me, and I’ll be right over, okay?”

  “Yes. I can’t thank you enough. I finally feel like I’m doing something right.”

  “I’m proud of you. I’ll check in tomorrow. Good night.”

  She leaves, and I head down the hall to Valentina’s office. “Hey,” I say when she looks up from her laptop. “Miriam is all set, at least for now.”

  “Good. Do you have a second?”

  “Sure,” I say, taking a seat across from her. “What’s up?”

  She slips off her glasses and sets them on the desk. “I wanted to thank you. Your dedication to the program is impressive. You stay late, you’re engaged, and you’re empathetic. And furthermore, you have a tremendous understanding of the law.”

  “Wow. That means a lot coming from you. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. It appears you enjoy this kind of work.”

  “Yes, a lot.”

  “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” She folds her glasses and leans forward. “My partner and I are looking for a new attorney to join us. It’s currently just the two of us along with a paralegal and secretary, but we’re in a position to grow our firm. As you’re well aware, we’re a victims’ advocacy firm, but we have had great success with the family law side of things.” She raises a brow. “Divorce is lucrative business, as unfortunate as that sounds. That being said, I know you’re at a great firm, and understand if that’s where you want to remain, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t put it out there for you to consider.”

  I swallow hard. “Really?” I squeak.

  “Yes. Really.” She smiles. “Does that look mean you’re open to the idea?”

  “Yes!” I stand, and she moves from around her desk to hug me. “Absolutely.”

  “Good. I’ve already told Barbara Nussbaum, my partner, about you, but I’ll set up a formal meeting, and we can all chat. I think you’ll love her. We can talk salary once you come in. How’s early next week?”

  “Perfect. Thanks.”

  “Have a great night. And thanks, Katie. I have a good feeling about all this.”

  “So do I.”

  Twenty-four hours later, I’m standing in Mom’s kitchen, trying to act like everything is fine and normal when inside I’m a mess of nerves. I can’t stop questioning what the best move will be. Last night it seemed so simple: I would agree to the interview, and if they offered me the position, I would give my notice at Janks and Lowe.

  But the what-ifs started rolling in bright and early this morning. Will I seem flighty if I leave Janks and Lowe before a year’s up? And secondly, Ramirez and Nussbaum won’t offer as much as I’m making now. I’d be looking at a pretty significant decrease in salary. But can you put a price on happiness? Ugh. I’ve made a list of pros and cons for both firms, but I can effectively argue my way around the entire spreadsheet.

  Mom fills two glasses with Chardonnay and sets them on the counter. “It appears you have a lot on your mind.” She points to my hand. “You’re doing that thing with your fingers. Stop.”

  I close my hand into a fist. “Sorry. You’re right.” The apology rolls out automatically, and it hits me: I’m always worried about what someone else will think. I’ll apologize even if it’s not my fault. And that’s not me. That’s the scared version of me. I tighten my fist. The real me is fierce—a badass. The girl Ryan brings out in me. A vision of him drifts into my mind. If he were here now—if we were still friends—he’d cheer me on, firing off my positive qualities with passion.

  I return my gaze to Mom. “You know what? I just had an epiphany. I thought I was coming here for advice, but I’ve figured it out.”

  “That was fast. What’s your epiphany?”

>   “I’m going to do what you’ve always taught me.”

  She raises a brow. “And that is?”

  “Fight for what I want.”

  She smiles—a genuine one that reaches her eyes. “And to think I’ve always credited that to your dad and Gran.”

  “They taught me to follow my heart. You taught me to be strong.” I look at her intensely. “It’s all so clear now,” I say, more to myself than to her.

  She slips off her shoes and pads over to the kitchen table. “Bring your wine and sit with me. My feet are tired. I want to know what exactly you’re talking about. You may need advice, after all.”

  I take the seat across from her—the place I’ve sat so many times before—but something is different. The resentment I’ve felt toward her is slowly seeping out of me. “I won’t, but I’ll fill you in.”

  “You sound remarkably sure about that.”

  Leaning forward, I say, “I am sure. Here’s the thing. I’ve always felt like I got the job at Janks and Lowe only because of your influence. I—”

  She frowns. “That is categorically untrue.”

  “There’s some truth to it, Mom. We both know that. And the other thing is, it’s never felt like I earned it, like I wanted it and went for it. The truth is, it was handed to me. And maybe I shouldn’t have taken it.” She starts to interrupt, but I talk over her. “There have been some great things about it. It’s a good fit in many ways.”

  She adjusts her bangle bracelets before looking at me. “In some ways, but not all?”

  “Yes.” I heave a sigh. “Kenneth hasn’t been the easiest person to work for.”

  She purses her lips and sips her wine. “Most attorneys aren’t easy to work for, Katie.”

  “Right. Well, to be perfectly honest, he’s an ass. I’ll just leave it at that. Anyway, it’s really beside the point now. He’s leaving the firm to hang his own shingle. He’s asked me to go with him, but I can’t do it. Thomas and Steven have offered to have me stay. It would be a relatively simple transition…”