Anytime Soon (12 page)

As soon as I got back to my desk, I ran into Taylor, who was walking out of Jeff's office, looking exasperated.

When Jeff saw me, he said, “Anaya, can you come in here, please?”

Taylor stared at me with a look that could have taken my head off.

I walked into Jeff's office and sat down. He was leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the desk.

“Hey, you,” he said with a big smile. “I've been looking for you.”

I felt awkward and shy, but tried to shake it off.

“Hey,” I said.

“How's it going? Shirley told me you were catching on pretty fast. I knew you would.” He seemed excited.

“It's been cool, actually. I haven't had much to do, though, so not much to catch on to yet.”

“Good. Have you had lunch yet?” He asked this cheerfully.

He's never this relaxed on campus.

“Yeah, I just went out with Octavia.”

“We will have to have lunch one day and catch up. I want to know what you think. What you really think.” He sounded serious.

“We can have lunch whenever you want.”

We both smiled.

Just then Taylor walked back in and handed Jeff something.

“Here you go,” she said, standing next to his desk.

“Thanks,” he said, immediately putting the document down and continuing his conversation with me.

“Good, I will have to put you on my—” Jeff stopped talking as Taylor continued to stand there, looking at me as if I owed her something.

“I'll get back to you,” Jeff said to her.

Apparently, she had delayed hearing, because it took her a few extra seconds to get the clue and walk out. As she passed me, my eyes asked what her problem was, but my mouth stayed closed.

“Guess I'd better get back to work. I don't want to interrupt,” I said, standing.

“You aren't an interruption,” he said quietly.

I smiled.

“Talk to you later,” I said and headed back to my desk.

When I got to my desk, Shirley was there to give me pointers on the firm's database software. But my mind drifted to what had happened in Jeff's office with Taylor.

What's her problem with me?

By the time Shirley had finished, I realized that I had only heard a fraction of what she said.

I hope I won't have to use this program anytime soon.

EIGHT

W
orking in the law firm was more demanding than in the faculty offices. I found myself behind, so I stayed late one evening to catch up. It wasn't unusual for others to work late, so when I heard someone else in the office, I wasn't alarmed. When I looked up, I saw that it was Jeff.

“You still here?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Just finishing up these exhibits for Taylor.”

“She's been keeping you busy, huh?”

“Yes, I have to find a way to balance my school work while she's in trial. It's a lot,” I said.

“I remember when I was in high school, I was swamped with activities and homework. One semester, when grades came out, my GPA had dropped so low that my mom threatened to make me quit my other activities. I talked her out of it, though. It was a hard lesson, but I never took my studies for granted again. I always put them first. And you know what?”

“What?” I said, slightly rolling my eyes.

“You don't wanna hear this, do you?” he chuckled.

“Of course I do,” I smirked playfully. “I wanna hear all about your study habits from thirty years ago. Please, tell me more.” I gestured for him to come closer.

We both laughed.

“I'm only kidding,” I said. “I know you're only trying to help.”

There was a comfortable silence between us for a moment.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “I'm on my way out. I know it's late, but I haven't eaten anything all day. We can grab a bite at Skates, on the Berkeley Marina.”

“Why are you always trying to feed me?” I asked.

“You always look hungry, that's why,” he said jokingly. If it were anyone else, I would have probably taken the comment personally. Somehow I didn't get the feeling Jeff really thought I looked hungry.

“Okay,” I said. “That's cool. I'll follow you there.”

On the way, I sent Carl a text telling him that I'd call later. He had called me twice, and I hadn't called him back yet. When we got to Skates, I parked my car next to Jeff's.

As I eased out of the car, I smiled at the thought of something Aunt Marie had once said about men and cars.

“Share,” Jeff said, having seen my smile.

“What?” I asked.

“Share your thought.”

“Nah, it's nothing.”

“You can't share your thought with me?”

Um . . . not this one.

“Okay,” he countered. “How about we make a deal? You share your last thought, and I'll pay for dinner.”

I laughed as we entered the restaurant. We were immediately shown to a table.

“Why is that funny?” he asked. “Oh, you already
thought
I was paying for dinner? See, that's just like a woman—she always expects the man will pick up the check.”

I didn't respond.

“I'm only kidding, Anaya,” he said with mock seriousness. “I have every intention of paying the bill.”

That made both of us laugh, and as I sat with the menu, I felt myself becoming more comfortable.

“What are you having?” Jeff asked.

“I'm not very hungry,” I said shyly. “Would you mind if I just got coffee?”

“I know you're not scared to eat in front of me. Girl, I won't watch you chew. Just order some food. You know you want some of these baby back ribs with Hawaiian barbecue sauce.”

“Okay,” I said. “I will have a chicken Caesar salad, though. I am not having ribs this time of night.”

“Deal.” He looked directly in my eyes. “Are you ready to tell me what you were laughing about earlier?”

“That was so long ago. Why are you so interested in what's going on in my head?”

“Honestly?” he asked.

“That's why I asked.”

“You're an interesting person with interesting thoughts. Talking with you makes me think about things I haven't thought about in years. It's kind of nice,” he said.

“That's fair enough. Can I ask you another question?”

“Please.”

“How old are you?” I inquired.

“Thirty-seven,” he said without hesitating. “Why? You think I'm old?”

“No,” I responded.

When the waitress came around, Jeff ordered the Caesar salad for me, and fish for himself.

When she left, Jeff looked me squarely in the eye, and asked, “So, what do you think?”

“What do I think about
what
?” I asked.

“About
me
!”

I had hardly anticipated being asked that question. So I said carefully and slowly, “I think you're a nice person. I appreciate that you are taking a chance on me working in your firm. It means a lot.”

He nodded.

“Well, I appreciate that you accepted the challenge,” he said, leaning closer to me. “You made me very happy.”

“Happy?” I asked, a bit startled.

“Yes,” he said, looking steadily at me. “Happy.”

The waitress brought our food. I didn't have much of an appetite, but I managed to get half of my food eaten. When I looked up, Jeff had finished his food.

“You have a big appetite,” I said.

“Yeah,” he said, looking down at his nearly empty plate. “I guess when I really like something, I just go for it.”

“I will be sure to keep that bit of information in mind,” I said, smiling.

“Please do.”

I then asked him something I had wondered about for weeks.

“How do you manage to work and have a personal life?”

He looked down quietly. I was almost afraid I had asked the question.

“I manage,” he said simply, then focused on me. “What about you? What do you do for fun?”

“Fun? What's that?” I scoffed.

“Aw, come on, you are too young to be so serious. I know you have fun sometimes.”

“Sometimes, but not much lately. There's a lot going on with my family, so I've been laying low on the fun.”

“There's never too much going on to lay low on the fun. You gotta live. You can be there for your family, but remember to take care of you, too. That's important.”

I hadn't thought of it that way. His advice was certainly more pointed than Judy's.

“Thanks,” I said. “I will keep that in mind as well.”

We talked for almost two hours. Jeff was funny and smart, and he knew a little bit about everything. I began to get sleepy.

“How do you know so much stuff?” I asked.

“I don't know. I'm a bit of a nerd, I guess. Always have been. I just like to learn and know stuff.”

I smiled shyly. “Jeff?” I asked.

“Yes?”

“I've had a very long day. I really need to get home and get some rest.”

He started to say something, but then he apparently thought better of it.

As we went out the front door, his hand brushed against mine for just a moment. When we got to my Honda, he took my hand in his.

“I had a nice time,” he said.

“Me, too.”

“We'll do it again soon?”

“Yeah,” I said, biting my lower lip.

He gave me a gentle hug, and then he watched me get into my car and drive away.

I drove home in a blissful daze, thinking about our conversation. I kicked myself for missing opportunities to say something witty or cute. What was I getting into? I knew better than to ask my mom for advice, although I wished I could have talked to her about it. Better to stay quiet, I decided.

As the next few weeks flew by, I realized that I liked working in the law firm more than I ever had expected. The people-mix was anything but boring (the way I had thought it might be, with stuffy lawyers, ancient legal secretaries, and nerdy paralegals). Jeff's firm was fun. Everybody was friendly—well, almost everybody. Taylor still had a gavel stuck up her butt.

Carl and I dated when I made time. I could tell he still liked me, and I liked him, too. But I wasn't ready to be in a serious, full-time relationship with him, which is what I realized that he wanted. I kept promising him that I would hang out with him, but something always came up. Working in the firm consumed more time than I had expected, but admittedly, I could have made time for Carl—I just didn't. My biggest time-killer lately was Jeff. We talked on the phone at least once a week, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. Whenever we talked, we had such a good time. Plenty of laughter and good conversation. I was comfortable with him, and he made me feel like I could be myself. It was nice. I wasn't sure what to make of the fact that he hadn't tried to hit on me. Part of me was relieved, and the other part of me was offended. I was attractive enough for him to try something. Why hadn't he? Maybe he just needed a friend to talk to; hell, maybe we were distant relatives. I don't know. What I did know was that I enjoyed him, and I made sure to have time for him when he called.

One evening, while I was still at work, Carl called me.

“Hey,” I said cheerfully.

“Hey. Have I offended you in some way?”

“No, what do you mean?” I said, even though I knew what he meant.

“I don't know what you are feeling anymore about us,” Carl began. “When I call, you don't call me back. When I ask you out, you are always busy. I thought we were getting along just fine.”

“We did get along fine. I mean, we do. I've been busy. I'm sorry. This new job is more than I thought it would be. It's not you, though, I promise.”

“Okay,” he said. “Are you learning a lot?”

“I am.”

“And you like the people?”

“Yes, I really do,” I said, smiling to myself.

“And this is Professor Alexander's firm, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What made him decide to ask you to work there?”

Carl sure is being nosy.

“I don't know. He said I was a good assistant in the faculty offices, and he needed a clerk here.”

“So he stole you from the university, huh?” Carl surmised.

“No, Carl. He didn't steal me. I came willingly,” I said.

“He stole you,” Carl said.

“Oh, stop it. I'm at work. I'll call you a little later,” I said.

“Anaya?”

“Yes?”

“I miss you,” he said sincerely.

“I miss you, too,” I said quickly, to get off the phone. “Call you later, okay?”

“Okay.”

Just as I hung up, I saw Jeff walk by.

“Hey, you!” I called cheerfully.

“Hey,” he said slowly.

I got up and walked toward him. “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, but not convincingly. “Everything's fine.”

“You sure?” I said, concerned about what was troubling him.

“I'm just tired,” he responded. “I'm having some problems with the caterer for my parents' anniversary party, and I had a little issue on campus today. No big deal,” he said with a rather forced smile. “I'll be fine.”

“I was just on my way out,” I said. “If you need to talk, I'll stay.”

He thanked me, and I followed him to his office.

I sat down in one of the chairs that faced his desk.

He tilted his head to the side.

“How are things going?” he asked.

“Um . . . pretty good.” I suddenly felt timid. I had thought we were going to talk about his problems, not about me.

“I'm happy it's working out for you, Ny. This is the second time I've seen you here this late. Do you work this much overtime on a regular basis?”

“Sometimes. I want to finish an assignment I've been working on. Why? Am I not supposed to work late?”