Page 83 of The Frog Prince
“It’s fine.” But he’s disgruntled and defensive. “And not that it’s any of your business,” he adds, even more prickly than before, “but I’m crazy about Tessa.” And he hangs up on me.
His cubicle is just a couple of feet away, so I walk over and stand next to his desk. “Josh.”
“Gay.” He’s fuming.
“Josh, I didn’t think you were—”
“Do you think Tessa believes I’m gay?”
“No.” And I don’t. I actually think Tessa’s interested in him, too. “Have you asked her out?” “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t believe in office romances. It just muddies the water.”
He has a point. I glance toward the break room, where David and Kirk are still talking, and I can’t see them but I can hear their voices. “Maybe you’ll meet someone else,” I say.
Josh scowls at me. “I don’t want to meet anyone else.” He falls silent, shakes his head, expression brooding.
“Maybe you should work in a different office.”
Josh glares at me, more peevish than I’ve ever seen him. “Thanks, Holly. You’re a big help.” He clicks on his computer, opens a new window. “I think I’ll get back to work now,” he says pointedly, and I return to my cubicle.
Kirk and David talk for nearly an hour, and when Kirk leaves, David walks him to the elevator.
I wonder how it went between them, but I can’t ask David and I won’t call Kirk, and I put their meeting out of mind. But the next day at work, a bouquet of red roses arrives. The card reads, “Thanks. I owe you. Kirk.”
I guess the intro went well.
ChapterFifteen
It’s Wednesday, thelast week of October, and the Leather & Lace Ball is Saturday, two days before Halloween. Returning from lunch on Wednesday, David stops by my cubicle and asks if I’d like to join him as a guest at his table Saturday night. “I can only offer you one ticket,” David adds, “but you’ll know Kirk—”
“He’s going?”
“We’re seeing each other.”
“Sounds serious,” I tease.
“Could be.”
I’m surprised by David’s candor but don’t dwell on it. Kirk and David’s relationship is still relatively new. “Is anyone from the office going to be at the ball?”
“Tessa will, because she’s working the event, and I think Josh is going along with a couple folks from Tessa’s team, to lend a hand if need be.”
Josh is going. Sneaky bastard. “I’d love to go.”
“Great. Just give your name Saturday night at the door. You’ll be on my guest list.” He starts to turn away but remembers one last thing. “And don’t even think about attending without a costume. This is the Leather and Lace Ball. It’s got to be exotic, or erotic.”
Exotic. Or erotic. Hmmm. This requires a shopping expedition to the Castro district, and I’m not going to Castro without some girl power. I call Katie, tell her what I need.
“We’re going to sex shops,” she says, getting the picture quickly.
“Pretty much.”
*
We agree tomeet on Castro Street after work. I drive from Market to Mission, and then Mission to Noe Valley and up Castro. After I park, I look at the sky, and it’s the twilight I love, the sharp clear light of autumn, the colors all pewter and gold.