Page 96 of Chasing the Dream

“There. Now we can go.”

“Wait.” She pulled a tissue out of the box on her desk, swiped it over his mouth, and then tossed it in the garbage.

He smiled and reached for her hand.

“What are you doing now?”

“Holding your hand.”

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Somebody might see us.”

“It’s almost six o’clock. We’re the only ones here.”

“Almost six? What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

He chuckled, snatched her hand, and pulled her out the door. He kept ahold of it while they rode the elevator and only reluctantly let go right before the doors slid open. When they reached the parking lot, he glanced around, and not seeing anyone, he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to his car. Then he opened her door and waited for her to slide in.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a date,” she said as he backed out of the parking lot.

He just smiled.

When they arrived at the pub, Maria and Matt were already there, sitting close together at a high-top table with half-finished drinks before them.

“Finally,” Maria said as she stood up and greeted them both with a hug. Then she turned and introduced them to Matt, who smiled and shook their hands.

Gabe pulled out a chair for Morgan and waited for her to sit down before he hopped up on the seat beside her. The pub was a popular place for the after-work crowd, and they were packed in tightly, but he didn’t mind, because it gave him an excuse to sit close to her.

A waitress came over to take Gabe and Morgan’s drink orders, and then the four of them made small talk.

“So, Morgan, Maria tells me you’ve been best friends since junior high,” Matt said.

“True story,” Morgan replied with a smile.

“And you two work together?” Matt looked at her and Gabe.

“That’s right,” Gabe said.

“But only for another six weeks, and then I’m returning to Michigan.”

Gabe flinched at the reminder.

“Unless we can convince her to stay,” Maria said, shooting Gabe a pointed look.

What is she up to now? Gabe wondered.

“I wish I could, but the woman I’m filling in for will be back soon, and then I’ll be out of a job.”

Gabe gave her a sideways glance. Would she stay if I asked her to?

The waitress interrupted to set down their drinks and take their food orders. After she left, talk turned to other things, but Gabe couldn’t stop thinking about asking Morgan to stay.

Matt turned out to be an amiable guy and a good conversationalist. Between the drinks, the company, and the cheerful atmosphere, Gabe felt more relaxed than he had all day.

Morgan was laughing at something Matt had just said, and Gabe could tell she felt the same. They finished their drinks before the food arrived, and Gabe ordered another round for the four of them.