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“As if I have time for that.”
Finished chewing, I tackle what I know is going to be a problem with him. “We’re in this for the long haul. You can find some time for a personal life, Enz.”
Mouth full, he doesn’t answer.
“I told you that you’d regret missing so much in college.”
“I don’t regret anything. Including missing out on your party scene. I think you’re confusing me with you.”
Sometimes I wonder how we became such good friends. “Well,Icertainly have no regrets from college. And I don’t plan to have any in life either.”
But a lump forms in my throat even as I say it. I know it’s not quite true.
Enzo just smirks, but a second later his expression is serious again. “We’re so close I can feel it. Everything is shaping up with the formula for the wine. When the site visit’s out of the way, we can fully switch gears. Unless you see something up there that needs our attention.”
“I just talked to Paul yesterday. Everything is on track.”
Our plant manager is one of the best in the business. We snagged him from one of the largest chemical production facilities in the country.
“You looked at all of the protocols for the visit?” he asks.
“I did. And I don’t see any areas that should give us a problem. I’m sure we’ll pass the inspection with flying colors.”
Enzo puts down his fork. “But?”
He’s always had a sixth sense for a guilty conscience, or at least he’s always able to detect it when I have one. I can’t keep this from him. Lunch was one thing. It wasn’t supposed to ever happen again. But it did, and I feel like a dickhead for not spilling earlier.
I take a swig of beer, preparing myself.
“I don’t want you to worry . . .”
“Not a good start, Hayden.”
“You know the RPM on our case?”
“Oh no, please tell me you’re kidding.”
“I had her cell phone number, and we were texting back and forth to coordinate things . . .”
“Did you sleep with her?”
“No.” I shake my head, wanting to laugh out loud as “Something Stupid” starts to play. Sinatra and I are on the same page with this one. “I didn’t.”
But I wanted to. Still do.
“We were texting, innocently enough, and we ended up meeting for lunch on Sunday.”
I’ll give it to him, Enzo has one hell of a poker face. “And you forgot to mention it until now?”
“We both realized it was a bad idea. I didn’t want to concern you.”
Enzo reaches for his wine glass. I can tell he thinks that’s the end of the story. Part of me wants to let him think it, but I told myself I’d be honest.
“I think we both figured it was the end of the story. Until we met up, by chance,” I emphasize, “at the Corner Deli yesterday. I ran in for dinner after the lab and Ada was there. She was out running and got caught in the rain.”
“Ada?”
I wince.
