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Tory turned out to be a very bright and witty young woman with plenty of ideas about how the bank wanted the sponsorship to look. She challenged many of Jenni’s ideas.
At first, Jenni wasn’t sure they’d work well together but by the end of their first meeting at Jenni’s office, she felt the relationship would work out just fine. She was impressed that someone who was obviously younger than her had the self-confidence to hold her own. Tory also had a great sense of humor which would be helpful, Jenni knew, when they got down to crunch time.
They were finishing up their conversation when Tory looked at Jenni and said, “Mr. Prescott said he met you recently on the Outer Banks.”
Jenni felt her face redden. “Oh, it was really just a few chance meetings,” she said dismissively.
“Huh,” said Tory, looking doubtful. “I’ve been working with Mr. Prescott for a few years now, so not terribly long, but longenough to know that when he mentions something personal like that, I take note.”
Jenni looked at Tory and smiled. “Well, I’m sure Mr. Prescott meets a lot of people given his position and how busy he must be. But this was just a fishing tournament that I unexpectedly found myself involved in. It was really just sort of a passing thing.”
For one brief moment, she allowed herself to be flattered that he’d mentioned her.
Maybe hewasinterested in her in a good way.
But no, he was a businessman who probably—no, absolutely—met a ton of people. All potential clients. Not potential partners.
Tory gathered her belongings and looked at Jenni with a trace of a smile on her face. “I see,” she said. “Well, it’s been a good meeting today and nice meeting you, Jenni. I’ll get back to you next week and let you know which one of these ideas we’ll run with.”
Jenni watched her leave and then began collecting her sweater, laptop bag, and purse, as well as her thoughts.
She was very thankful the meeting had lasted right up until five. Now it was the weekend, and she could relax a bit. But what was she going to do?
That evening she tried to get into the latest binge-worthy show on Netflix, but her thoughts kept returning to Hatteras. She had received a text from Caitlin asking how the week back at work had gone, and if she had recovered from the tournament.
Jenni hesitated and then picked up the phone. In her opinion, sometimes a call was so much better than a text.
“Hey CayCay,” she said when Caitlin answered. “It’s your ol’ fishin’ buddy.”
Caitlin laughed. “Yes, I know it’s you. To what do I owe this honor? It’s Friday night. Why aren’t you out kicking your heels celebrating the fact that you don’t have to fish in the morning?”
“I’m celebrating all right, but it’s just me and the TV and a nice glass of pinot noir,” said Jenni. She moved a pillow behind her back and stretched her legs out on her couch. “I had what you might say was a very interesting week, and I just had to share.”
“Do tell,” said Caitlin.
Jenni thought she heard Andrew in the background, and this was confirmed when Caitlin asked for a refill. “Andrew is waiting on me tonight. My adult beverage of choice is Chardonnay. I have a feeling I might need at least one more while you share.”
“You might,” said Jenni, and she relayed to Caitlin the events of the week beginning with
the surprise meeting with Caleb at the bank, to the news of the sponsorship, to the meeting with Tory that afternoon.
Caitlin gasped, laughed, and murmured various “oh nos” and “no ways” as Jenni spoke.
“So, it’s been quite the week,” Jenni concluded.
“You can say that again,” responded Caitlin. “First, congratulations on the sponsorship. That’s awesome, and I’m proud of you, although not surprised. But more importantly, what are you thinking and feeling?”
Jenni took a sip of her wine and paused a moment before answering.
She could try to bluff Caitlin, but Caitlin knew her far too well. And she’d called her so that she could try to sort out her feelings, so she might as well be honest.
“I’m not sure,” Jenni shared. “I’m really not in any frame of mind to think about another guy. I did want to be with him. But I did have to teach, and I guess I sounded pretty cold, and maybe even rude, when I told him. Caitlin, I think about him all the time, but I’m just not ready. And hey, an offer to go for a drink might have just been a drink. So, it’s not like he’s ready to ask me to make a life-long commitment. But he’s so perfect, or soit seems, and there’s got to be a catch. I can’t risk getting hurt again. I just won’t go there.”
“Jenni, no one is perfect, and we both know that,” said Caitlin. “But there are nice guys in the world. Really nice ones. With little faults here and there. But that is what makes them attractive and worth it. They aren’t all Compys.”
“I know, I know,” sighed Jenni as she stood up and started pacing the room. “At first, I hoped we’d be working together, then I was disappointed. But now I’m kind of relieved we’re not. I’m all mixed up. But I have to admit, I’m really looking forward to the gala. My time to shine and all that.”
“And you will shine,” Caitlin assured her. “This will really be a feather in your cap.”
