16. Eden
EDEN
About an hour after I leave Hot Beans, my phone rings. When I look at the caller ID, it’s Connor.
“Hi!” I’m a little enthusiastic, maybe, but whatever.
I can’t mask my excitement—now we’re going to explore this thing between us, and help each other in our careers.
“Hi.” His voice is decidedly…reserved?
I proceed more cautiously. “That went well, I think. Thanks for setting it up.”
“Sure, yes.”
What happened to his communication skills? “I’m pretty sure I want to sign with you guys.”
“That’s great.” It doesn’t sound sincere.
I keep pushing, trying to get some clear emotion from him. “Yeah. You can manage me.”
“Okay.”
Sheesh. “You don’t sound excited.”
There’s something like a growl on the other end. Why do I picture him running his hand through his hair?
“Here’s the thing.” His voice sounds pained, and I stay quiet so he continues, “I want you to come on board. Milo’s the best, and it really sounds like he—well, we—could help take things off your plate.”
I’m confused, isn’t that good? “Yes, for sure. Plus I’d love to be your first client, and help you kickstart your career.”
A sigh comes through the phone speaker. “But…”
This is getting annoying. “But what?”
“If we do that, I won’t be able to do what I really want to do…and take you out. Apparently, we have a no-dating-clients rule.”
Oh. Oh.
Shoot.
Because I want to help Connor sign his first client—me—with all the stress he’s carrying about his future. Not to mention, after hearing Milo out, I genuinely need a manager.
“Well, that’s not…ideal.”
He sighs. “I know.”
“We could still hang out, as friends?”
“Sure.” He sounds thoroughly unenthusiastic about that option.
I feel really conflicted. It’s not like he’s going to quit his internship for me, and the best thing for both of our careers is for me to join his firm.
“I don’t think I should decide this second. Can I think about it?”
“Of course.”
“Bye, Connor. I’ll get back to you soon, I promise.”
“Okay.” He sounds resigned. “Bye, Eden.”
As soon as the phone clicks dead, I march to Bree’s room and knock. “NEED YOU.”
“Coming…” I hear through the door a few seconds later.
She strides out of her room and plops on the couch in our common area, where I’ve already settled.
“What’s up?”
“You know how I’ve been completely overwhelmed lately?”
“Yeah, and it’s justified. Everything you got going on, it’s a lot.”
I explain how Connor had suggested I meet with Milo and him, and all the things they could do for me.
“Oooh, this would help you a bunch!”
“Definitely.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“You know how Connor and I hooked up at that one Fourth of July party?”
She gives a giggle. “Obviously, I remember that. But then you didn’t at the wedding…is he being weird about things?”
“No, no, nothing like that. It’s just…I kind of hoped it would happen again. Finally.”
“OHHH.” Her face brightens, before her brow crinkles. “Well, wait, is that a good idea when you’ll be working together?”
“Apparently not—so much so that his company bans relationships with clients.”
She rubs her hand over her face. “Well, yeah, I kinda get that.”
“So I’ve got to decide, do I hire Connor or go on a date with him?”
She leans forward. “Oh, friend, it’s no contest. I have no doubt that the blond boy with slutty little glasses remains yummy—I mean, I remember those abs, after all…”
“He’s even more stacked now,” I whisper.
“I bet.” She chuckles. “BUT no way should you sacrifice what you need for your career over a hot night or two.”
I ignore the nagging feeling that a lot more than a couple of nights would be involved.
“There are so many guys who would gladly fill the void. You aren’t looking for a relationship, right? Your plate is already full.”
I don’t answer, but it’s definitely a valid question.
I don’t want a Greg-type relationship, for sure. We always ended up hanging with his crew, and it wasn’t particularly romantic. Not to mention the waste of spending time with people I didn’t necessarily want to.
I don’t think that’s how it would go with Connor—he seems more attuned to what I want than Greg. But there’s something to what Bree’s saying. I’m not in a place where I can take on emotional labor, or new demands on my social battery, to satisfy a guy’s wishes.
She takes my silence as agreement. “So that’s that.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll message him that I’m going to sign with them.”
“Great, and in the meantime…” She gently slaps my arm. “Let’s go to Eclypse after the game Thursday.”
Eclypse is the local nightclub, and entry is twenty-one and older. “Most of the team won’t be able to join.”
“Yeah, that’s not a bad thing. Just the two of us, on the prowlllll…”
I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, okay. I’m in.”
I stew on the dynamics another couple of hours, but Bree’s points are still valid by the time we’re back from practice, so I decide to text Connor.
How should I play it? I don’t want him to feel like it’s a rejection.
I’ll deflect that on myself. Make it a joke.
EDEN: Hey, I know this means I’ll be friend-zoned, but I would like to sign with you guys. I really need the help.
I see three dots appear a minute later and linger. Three dots, three dots, three dots…
Crap, this is so weird. And feels off, but I don’t know what else to do.
Finally, his answer comes through.
CONNOR: No problem. I’m glad we can work together. I will send you an email with confirmation and some info we need for the engagement letter.
Okay, formal Connor.
EDEN: Thank you.
No more three dots after that. Well, that was anti-climactic.
The next morning, I get the official email with the engagement letter. Reading through it, I understand about 90 percent of the sections, but the other 10 percent...
I should probably ask Dad if he can look at it. He’ll know if anything is weird.
Five minutes later, we’re on the phone, and I get him up to speed.
“Oh yeah, my lawyer should review it. He’ll be pretty fast.”
“Perfect, thanks, Dad.”
“You know, I’m glad you’re hiring someone to help. Your mom called me after she visited, worried about all the things you’re trying to handle.”
“Oh, really? I’ll be okay…”
“She actually thought something might be going on between you and Connor.”
Yikes. Not going there with Dad. “No…no, there isn’t.”
“You’re an adult, and I totally trust you. Your mom too, so it doesn’t seem like I’m throwing her under the bus.” I wait for the but…and then it comes. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to us, but maybe…”
I can read between the lines. They don’t want me to have to deal with something like when Mom got pregnant with me. Before this gets any more awkward, let me shut this concern down.
“Don’t worry, Dad. Nothing’s happening with Connor. Or anyone right now.”
“Okay, good.”
Little does Dad know he’s hammering a nail in an already-sealed coffin, or whatever the saying is. Which is reinforced by the official tones of the emails between Milo, Connor, and me the rest of the week, once Dad’s lawyer gives his thumbs-up.
When Bree and I go to Eclypse on Thursday, she ends up talking with some giant redhead who’s in town for a game, but I gently blow off his friends trying to chat me up.
Instead, after throwing a wink in her direction, I dance alone to the beat of the club music a few feet away, happy to escape my overstuffed brain for the night.