Robbery in Progress

Thirteen

The next day at work, I told Paul what I did with Derek. He was very supportive of my decision and when I told him that Christina had been the one to tell me that the best thing was for me to apologize, he laughed.

"That seems like something she would tell you to do." I rolled my eyes and got back to work.

I noticed Paul kept looking at me weird throughout the day and when it was almost time to call it a day, I called him out on it.

'"Do you have a problem?"

"A problem?" Paul chuckled. "I definitely do not have a problem...at least not yet."

"Then what's the deal? You have been looking at me weird all day. What do you need to tell me, Paul?"

"Why do you think I have something to tell you?"

"Because I know you, Paul. Now, tell me."

"Okay, okay. Christina and Julie were talking last night and they thought that it would be nice if you came over for dinner this evening."

"That's what it was? I've been over for dinner before. I don't get why it was such a big deal to ask me this time..."

"They want you to bring Derek with you."

"What?"

"I told them I didn't think you would want to do that but they made me promise to ask." By this point, we had clocked out from work and walked outside to my car. I leaned against it.

"Paul...I don't know if I am ready for that yet."

"Jen, I know how you are. If this will make you too uncomfortable then I will just tell Christina and Julie when I get home that you said you would love to come over for dinner, but you just don't want to bring Derek." Paul turned to go to his car but not before I grabbed his arm.

"Paul, wait. I'll have to see if Derek is working but if he isn't then I will bring him with me." Paul smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder for a second before walking to his car.

As soon as I got home, I showered and got changed. It was time for me to call Derek and honestly, I was nervous. When I called, the phone rang but there was no answer. I put on a little makeup and then tried to call again.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Derek. My partner, Paul, and his family invited the two of us over for dinner at their house this evening. How does that sound?"

"I can't. I have to work."

"Oh." I was disappointed but I understood. "That's okay. I'll see you later."

"Yeah." He hung up the phone and I honestly felt like he was being pretty rude to me but I just brushed it off and got in my car to leave.

*knock knock*

"Jen!" Christina opened the door. "Where's Derek?"

"He had to work."

"Well, we are still glad you're here. Come on in. Julie and I are just finishing up. Paul is in the living room." She walked off into the kitchen and I sat down on the couch. Paul was sitting in his usual chair.

"Derek had to work?"

"Yeah, he did." I was really trying to avoid the subject but I wanted to talk to someone about it.

"Is everything okay Jen?"

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when I called Derek I told him you all invited the two of us over for dinner this evening and he said he had to work. I told him it was okay and that I understood. I told him I would see him later but before I could even find out a day he could come over here with me, he said "yeah" and hung up."

"Now Jen, you said he had to work."

"Yes."

"Then he was probably about to go into work and was in a hurry. I wouldn't stress about it, but if you think he was rude or cut you off and you're upset about that, then you need to tell him." I nodded.

The dinner Christina and Julie made was just as great as all the other times I had been over. This time they made chicken alfredo and homemade garlic bread. Julie had also put together a salad for us before we had our pasta. After we were all finished, we talked for a few minutes, and then Christina took our plates to the sink and brought back a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies. They were Julie's favorite, ever since she was a kid, and Christina still made them for her.