Ty looks at me and smiles. “Talk about a small world, bro.”
I grin. “Tell me about it.”
“Rachel, this is Maria. Maria, this is my Rachel,” Ty introduces the ladies. Maria and Rachel shake hands immediately.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m an old friend of this guy right here,” Maria explains and nudges my side playfully. “From way back in our high school days. Though, it’s been quite a few years since we’ve seen each other.”
“Wow,” Rachel remarks, surprised. “And you just so happened to get stuck in an elevator together?”
Maria doesn’t even try to suppress her burst of laughter. “Yeah. What are the odds, huh?”
“It’s good to see you.” Ty steps forward to give Maria a hug and then turns to face me directly. “So?” he asks, so obviously eager for me to hand over the ring it’s hilarious. He’s g-o-n-e gone for this girl.
I discreetly slip it out of the front pocket of my backpack and hand it to him.
“Thanks, man,” Ty says quietly, shoving the ring into his pocket as quickly as he can manage.
He’s not as sly as he thinks, though, and Rachel’s radar pings immediately.
“What is that?” she asks, suspicious.
“I’ll show you in a bit,” Ty responds, keeping his cool as he pulls Rachel to his chest and affectionately squeezes her shoulders.
“Okay. Well, then. It was good to see you two. Glad you’re both okay. And now, if you don’t mind, Rachel and I have something we need to attend to.”
“Ty!” Rachel slaps at him over his perceived rudeness, but both Maria and I smile. We know what’s coming, and we’re not offended in the slightest.
“What?”
“Your brother and Maria were just stuck in an elevator for two freaking hours,” Rachel scolds. “Don’t you think we should invite them up for a bit?” Rachel looks at us imploringly. “Come upstairs so we can get you some water and food and whatever else you need.”
“No, it’s okay,” I refute with a gentle smile. “We’re going to head out, actually.”
I’ve done my job, and Maria could use some fresh air. I know from experience that the last thing she needs to deal with right away is Mrs. Patricia Clemmons.
“That’s great!” Ty exclaims, excitedly tossing Rachel over his shoulder and making her shriek.
“Ty!”
“Bye, guys!” He just laughs, ignoring a mortified Rachel completely and turning on his heel toward the stairwell doors.
“I’m so sorry he’s a rude idiot!” she calls toward us. “And it was really nice meeting you, Maria!”
Maria smiles and laughs, looking up at me conspiratorially as they leave earshot. “Man, to be a fly on the wall to see what’s about to come for her. Seems like she’s going to be shocked.”
I laugh. “I’m not sure how. Ty is the world’s worst secret-keeper.”
“He’s in love. It’s cute. Different from what I remember.”
I chuckle again. “He was a little prick back in the day, wasn’t he?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Don’t worry. He still is in a lot of ways.”
She laughs.
“Come on, I’ll walk you out.” Slow and easy, Maria and I make our way down the four flights of stairs to the street level. I place a gentle hand at her back as we walk through the lobby, and I hold open the front door for her to exit first. She smiles gratefully, stopping just outside to wait for me.
I look into her pretty caramel-brown eyes for a long moment before saying anything, and when I do, she opens her mouth to speak at the same time.
“Well, I should be going to meet—”
“Have dinner with me,” I request because it feels like two hours together in the elevator wasn’t enough. I want to chat more. To laugh more. To remember what it’s like to be around a woman whose company I truly enjoy.
Her smile is soft but hesitant as she shakes her head. “I really shouldn’t. I told Mrs. Clemmons I’d get in touch with her to reschedule as soon as I was out, and I have two contracts to write up tonight. Some other time, maybe?”
I want to push the issue—to fast-talk her into going with me anyway—but knowing what she’s been through and how tired she potentially is, I realize it’s a much better idea to lay the groundwork to have another opportunity at a less chaotic time.
“Some other time, definitely,” I respond with a wink. “And I’m going to hold you to it.”