a work in progress

Chapter 13 - Nothing Inappropriate, I assure you

"You're going."

"Harper, why should I?"

"Because you need this. And I need this. And you're supposed to be my wing woman at all costs. You're supposed to have my back."

"I do have your back; but I think speed dating is stupid. What could you possibly learn from someone in five minutes? This is a waste of time."

"Don't be such a party pooper MC. I don't really understand how you don't see this as an opportunity for you too. I mean you're single too. We need to catch up to Hayley. I need a plus one for the wedding that's coming in the not so distant future. Oh wait and you do too," she rants. I can feel her disapproving eye roll her as she closes.

"What if I don't want to worry about a plus one right now? We don't know that Connor's going to propose."

"MC what planet are you living on? Connor is so gonna – hold on. Hold the phone. Hold the motherfu–"

"Vulgar much?"

"Look at me."

"Harper, we're on the phone."

"You can work some magic. Look at me dead in my face. What aren't you telling me? The only reason to avoid this kind of experience is because you have a prospect. But you couldn't possibly have a prospect that you haven't yet told me about, right?" she asks rapid fire.

"Harper, I don't even know how to respond to your line of questioning. You're getting into that lawyer babble and it's always a bit hard to follow."

"Noe Marie Cortes," she adds slow and methodically.

"You're three-naming me?" I ask slightly piqued.

"And you're avoiding my questions. Wasting precious time and words on unnecessary statements regarding the supposed perplexing nature of my inquiries, when we both know you know exactly what I'm talking about. Use your words and speak," she continues plainly enunciating each new word.

I honestly don't know what to say to her. Maybe if I wait long enough she'll just let it go.

"I know you hear me. I know you're hiding something. And I'm not going to let it go, so out with it," she retorts as if she can hear my thoughts.

"For the love of all things sweet Harper...it's not that I have a prospect necessarily. It's just that...I don't know."

"You're not saying anything. It's a black and white issue. Either you have one or you don't. So what do you have?"

"Do you remember me saying anything about Matias?"

"Matias?" she asks pausing a bit roving through the numerous files in her head. "Wait, your boss?"

"Technically he's not my boss. Well, he's sort of temporary. But it doesn't really even matter because there aren't any rules that say that we can't be friends."

"What's with you and all these shades of gray? He is your boss and if you want to jump his bones I'm certain he's not in the category of 'friends'."

"Harper what is it with you? You are so crude. Who said anything about bones? And I think we are becoming friends."

"What has happened for you to think that you are becoming quote-un-quote friends? You've clearly been a terrible friend to me because I haven't been made aware of some goings on in your life."

"What do you mean what has happened?" I ask ignorantly.

"You've got this playing dumb thing down really well, and I want to know when you became that girl because she is getting on my nerves."