The Christmas Party

It's Lovely Weather for a Wager With You

This morning, I made it a point to knock before I unlocked the door since Thea took such offense to me walking into her apartment unannounced yesterday, even if it was to bring her coffee. I walked through the door after a short pause and found Thea on the floor in the living room doing a Pilates workout.

"Hey, Thea. Your coffee is on the table."

"Thanks, hang on. I'm almost done," she said breathlessly. I watched her finish the workout and wondered how she kept her pose for so long. Her body began to shake with fatigue and I noted how even when her body protested and wanted to quit, Thea refused to allow it; her face barely showed any indication that she was struggling.

Thea was terrifying.

When the workout video ended, she popped up and greeted me. Her sweatshirt lay tossed aside and her body glistened in sweat. For one unabashed moment, I stared at her stomach, tight with muscles, then looked back to her face. Even if I was guilty of checking out my best friend's sister; Luca would understand. I'd let him checkout my hot brother if I had one.

"Impressive," I said.

"Thanks."

She picked her sweatshirt up from the floor and slipped into it.

"Thanks for the coffee," Thea said taking a sip.

"You're welcome."

"You know, you don't actually have to bring me coffee every morning."

"That was part of the deal."

"Yeah, but you're going out of your way to bring it to me."

"So?"

"So it's fine. You don't have to do it anymore."

"No way. A deal's a deal." Thea quirked her eyebrow. "I don't mind, really."

Thea shook her head. "Whatever you say. Do you want breakfast? I'm about to make an omelet."

I checked my watch. "Sure, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Thea said with a smile.

"What's with the smile?"

"I knew you wouldn't refuse food."

"Why would anyone ever refuse food? I'm not stupid."

Thea laughed again. "I guess I somehow know things about you too, despite myself." Thea brought her coffee to the kitchen and began pulling out her cooking supplies. I sat on a stool around the kitchen counter.

"What do you know about me?"

"That you will never refuse food."

I grinned. "I still think I'm ahead in the whole 'who knows who' better."

"'Who knows whom.'" Thea smirked.

"You think you're so smart."

"No, I know I'm smart."

I laughed out loud. "And so cocky."

"Confident."

"It's so obvious that you're a lawyer."

"How so?"

"You spin everything I say!"

"You make it too easy."

"You're just avoiding the point at hand: another underhanded lawyer scheme, but I'm on to you."

"Which point is that, exactly?"

"That I'm winning."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really. But more to the point: we really should go over things about ourselves so at the Christmas party it seems like we're actually a couple; I have this feeling that Monica is going to grill us, or me, or you. Or at least have some semblance of a cohesive story."

"What exactly does she have against you?"

"I have no idea. She was kind of nice to me at the beginning but now she just hates me. Or maybe I hate her. I don't know, the only thing that matters is us passing as a couple and shutting her down for good."

"With schemes like these you could be a lawyer yourself."

"I'm much too nice to be a lawyer."

"You don't think I'm nice?"

"You're ruthless."

Thea paused and looked up at me. For a moment, I thought I'd offended her and was preparing my apology when she laughed. "Good. That's what I aim for."

Thea finished our omelets, put our plates on the counter, and slid into the stool next to me.

"Bon appétit."

"This is really good," I said after a few bites.

"Thanks. I know food is the way to your heart."

I grinned. "True, but that's still the same point you made before."

"Are we keeping score?"

"Always. I know your three different coffee orders and I named four things about your food choices yesterday."

"Those are all food related, so you get one point and I get one point since mine was food related."

"What? No way! I have named six different things you like and dislike."

"That are all in one category; thus one point."

"Cheater."

"These are the rules."

"Fine. Challenge accepted. You hate driving, that's why you walk everywhere."

"You're always cold, no matter the temperature."

"Your favorite bands are Death Cab for Cutie and Iron & Wine."

"You love Wes Anderson movies."

"Your favorite movies are Rom-Coms."

"You broke your ankle in high school playing soccer and again in college when you were running to class late and fell in a hole and a third time rock climbing."

I laughed, impressed. "Wow, I had no idea you were keeping such close tabs on my ankle."

Thea took a bite and chewed slowly. "I'm not, but you never shut up about it and this apartment isn't very big."

I laughed again. "Then you've heard all of my secrets, huh?"

"I know much more than you're aware of."

I looked at her curiously, but before I could question her, my phone lit up with a text and I realized I was going to be late if I didn't leave. "We are definitely coming back to this, but for now, we'll call it a draw. I have to warn you though: I'm going to win this. We both know it."

"I don't lose."

"You should figure out how to do it, since you will be losing." Thea put on her face of confidence and I suddenly questioned my ability to win this debate.

"Care for a little wager?"

"What did you have in mind?"

Thea drummed her fingers on the counter in thought. "Loser has to buy dinner?"

"You're on. I'm going to make you take me to the most expensive restaurant in town."

"Careful what you ask for, because I'll do the same and order the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu."

"Oh, I'm not worried; I know I won't lose."

Thea smiled and I saw a faint hint of laughter on her lips and I swore that was the first time Thea had ever looked at me with what could only be described as affection. It had taken almost three years of knowing her, but it seemed like I was finally beginning to win her over.

"By the way, I do actually think we should get together and get our fake dating story straight before the party," I said.

"It looks like we're meeting for dinner then," Thea replied matter-of-factly.

"When?"

"Thursday?"

"I'll pick you up from work?"

"It's a date."

"Oh, it's a date now?"

"Yes it is, because you're paying."

"Wait, what?"

"You're my girlfriend right? Aren't you supposed to pay for things?"

"First of all we are equals in our relationship which means I don't pay for everything. Second of all I'm pretty sure you make at least twice what I do, so shouldn't you be the one paying?"

"And yet, I was under the impression that you're the one trying to court me? I don't need a fake girlfriend." Thea smirked with her eyebrow curved high in victory.

"How are you so good at getting your way?" Thea shrugged, feigning innocence. I shook my head. "You're the worst. I'll pick you up 5:30."

"Bye Louise Dearest, have a wonderful day at work."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna be broke before this is over."