The Waiter by Bradleigh Collins (bill gates books recommendations .txt) 📕

tan,” I replied, taking off my coat. “But yes, I did have all of the sex this weekend.”

“So, how was it?”

“The sex?”

“No, silly. California.”

“Warm. And sunny. And perfect.”

“Oh god,” Katie said. “You’re leaving us, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not. When I said perfect, I meant perfect for their business. After I saw the space, I totally got why they’re opening there. Right location. Right market.”

“But not right for you,” Lucy said.

“Totally not right for me.”

“So, what does this mean?” Katie asked.

“It means I’m going to have to get used to being bi-coastal.”

“See?” Lucy said. “I told you that’s what you should do. It’s the best decision for both of you.”

“I agree. But now I just have to convince him of that. He told Nick that he would give up the deal if I didn’t move out there with him.”

“Seriously?” Lucy asked. I nodded.

“I’m not gonna let him give this up. He’d end up resenting me. And I’m not gonna give up my job and my life here either. I’d end up resenting him. It’s the only logical solution.”

“Have you told him this?”

“Not yet. He’ll be home on the twelfth for two weeks. I’ll tell him then.”

“Aw, he’ll be here for Valentine’s Day,” Katie said.

“Yeah. And then two weeks later, he’ll be moving to California. Without me.”

“You’ll get through this. You guys will make it work. I know you will.”

“I just feel terrible because I spent the weekend acting like I loved California and that everything was perfect. I intentionally gave him the impression that I was going to move out there.”

“Did you actually say that?”

“No. He asked if I could picture a life out there with him and I said yes to that. But what I was picturing were long weekend visits. Not me moving there.”

“So, how did you leave it with him?”

“I told him exactly what you just said. That we would make it work. And guys, I really want it to work. But it has to work for both of us.”

“Sam,” Lucy said. “I know this is going to be hard on you, but you made the right decision. You can’t leave New York.”

“You can’t leave us is what she meant to say,” Katie added. “Besides, Josh would die.”

“Speaking of Josh, what are we doing for his birthday next month? Are we still planning a surprise party?”

“We can’t surprise him,” Katie replied. “He’s already told me he wants a karaoke party. Karaoke with a twist.”

“What does that mean?”

“He has this idea of having a karaoke-requests-themed party. Like, we all write down songs we want him to sing on a piece of paper and put them in a jar or something. And then throughout the night, he’ll pick a song out of the jar and sing it.”

“Oh my god! That is so Josh!” I said. “That will be hysterical.”

“Where are we having it?” Lucy asked.

“Well, since the twenty-fifth falls on a Saturday, I was thinking we could reserve the upstairs lounge at Pageant.”

“Where’s Pageant?”

“It’s on Ninth Street,” Katie replied. “Between Third and Fourth.”

“I like that place,” Lucy said. “Yeah, let’s do it there.”

“Wait,” Katie said. “Sam, you’re not going to be in L.A. that weekend, are you?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t miss Josh’s birthday for the world.”

“Maybe that should be a weekend when your man comes to New York,” Lucy stated.

“Or I’ll just be the only one at Josh’s party without a date.”

“Don’t tell Darryl that,” Katie said.

“Oh, I love Darryl.”

“You don’t love Darryl the way Darryl wishes you loved Darryl,” Lucy replied.

“No, but I still love him.”

“Because he punched Dalton?” Katie asked.

“I smile every time I think about it,” I replied.

“Me too,” Lucy agreed. “So, is Nick leaving De La Guarda?”

“He already has. An understudy took over for him. You should see him out in L.A. He’s had no problem adjusting to that scene.”

“I’m sure the ladies out there will have no problem adjusting to Nick either,” Katie said. I felt Lucy kick her hard under the table. “Oh, shit. I can’t believe I just said that.”

“No, Katie, it’s okay,” I said. “I’m certain the ladies will be all over both of them.”

“That man would never cheat on you, Sam.” Lucy said. “He’s not Dalton.”

“I know he’s not, but my god, the women out there.”

“What?” Katie asked.

“They’re gorgeous. They’re all perfect. They’re all tanned.”

“You’re gorgeous,” Katie said. “You’re perfect. Okay, you’re not tan, but nobody who lives in New York is tan in January.”

“I just know I’m gonna be obsessing about it. Like every day, I’m going to be wondering if some girl is flirting with him. Or worse. Because you know they’re gonna be flirting with him.”

“Sam,” Katie said, “don’t you trust him?”

“Of course I trust him. I don’t trust other women. Except for you two. And Dana. And my sisters. And my mom. And that’s it.”

“Did you ever stop to consider that he’s thinking the same thing about you?” Lucy asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, other guys flirt with you all the time. And that’s gonna drive him crazy too. Unless...”

“Unless what?”

“Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Don’t ask what? Don’t tell what?”

“You guys could have an arrangement. When you’re together, you’re together. When you’re not, you see other people. But you have a rule that you don’t talk about it.”

“You mean like Fight Club?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“I guarantee you he won’t be able to do that,” Katie said.

“Well,” Lucy continued, “you should both think about it. That could be the key to your sanity. And to making this long-distance relationship thing work.”

She had a point. My biggest fear was that he would cheat on me. If we had an arrangement, then I wouldn’t have to worry about him cheating. If we were seeing other people, there could be no “cheating.” I mean, I still hated the thought of him being with someone else. But the thought of him doing it behind my back was even worse. What I’d been through with Dalton had scarred me for life. Not just because I found