I'll Be Seeing You

October Apartments

Two days had passed since the kiss, and not a peep from Jamie. She hadn't seen him in the office on Friday and she fought the urge to text him Saturday morning. She reminded herself that she was playing the long game. If Jamie wanted her, he could chase her. She would not be chasing him. She also had no logical reason to text him. What was she going to say, "Hey thinking of you?" That made no sense. She was an adult. She could make it one weekend without hearing from him.

Her resolve lasted a whopping eight hours. By Saturday night, Lydia found herself in a body suit, looking hot with no one to appreciate it. She had gone out with Kit hoping to have fun but couldn't get Jamie off her mind.

"You should just text him already." She and Kit had met up with college friends at a biergarten. They had gotten a new round and Lydia couldn't help but check her phone for a new message.

"Ugh I want to."

"What do you have to lose?"

"Absolutely nothing but my dignity."

Kit laughed, "Who needs that anyway! Stop overthinking it. Text him!"

Lydia took a sip of her drink and reached for her phone.

"Hey stranger, I'm out in the Lower East Side. What are you up to tonight?" She locked her phone and slid it back into her jeans pocket. She smiled when her pocket vibrated almost immediately.

"Warehouse party on the West side, come!" Lydia took a deep breath. She wanted to see him but getting in a cab and going to a random warehouse felt intimidating. She looked around at the crowded bar and felt the comfort of seeing familiar faces.

"Oh my god look who's here" Kit was outwardly as shocked as Lydia felt as she saw a familiar blonde head bop through the crowd. She would know that head of hair anywhere. Tonight was going to get very weird.

"Brendan! Hi!" Kit jumped off the bench she was perched on to give him a hug. Kit loved Brendan. It was no secret that she shipped Lydia and Brendan more so than Lydia and Brendan did themselves.

"Lyd" he gave her a hug.

"What are you doing here?"

He waved at one of their mutual friends. "Matt texted me that people were getting together. Surprised you didn't let me know." She knew from the tone of his voice he wasn't mad. He was striving for playful. This was a familiar routine for them. She played into it more.

"Ugh I know I'm the worst!" Before Brendan could answer Kit was interrupting. "Brendan, introduce me to your friends." She gestured to the back of a group guys already headed towards the bar.

"They're getting drinks, I'll introduce you when they're back."

"Who are they?" Kit had no tact when she was on the prowl for a new man.

"They're just people I met from work." Lydia's stomach dropped. Work meant she might know them too or worse, they might know Jamie. She pushed down the suddenly nervous feeling taking root in her stomach. She had nothing to worry about. Jamie was at a warehouse party and she had been extra careful at work not to flirt. No one knew anything.

"So, how are you?" Brendan leaned down to be heard over the music. At 6'4 he had a way to go before he met Lydia's level.

"I'm good!" Lydia was overly enthusiastic.

"Mmm, you're lying. You miss are never just "good". What's going on?" She giggled. He had called her missy since the first day he met her at school. In the beginning it was because he couldn't remember her name. Now it was reserved for pure affection.

"Nope, all good. Now what's up with you?"

He gave her the "I know you're lying" look, but she let it go. She was deflecting. She didn't want to tell Brendan about Jamie. She wanted to keep that aspect of her life separate.