“No,” I began. “Just…looking over these elevations for the second floor of the stadium.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, Ari, I’d like to steal Porter away for a minute. I need to ask his opinion on the Buckhead Events Center remodel that I’m overseeing. Not that I need it. But I’m trying amicably to resolve a dispute with Jacobi, and I need an impartial opinion.”
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll be there in a second. Ari, can you pull up the 3D model from last week we worked on?”
“Of course,” she said. She turned to Greer. “Oh, and Greer, I’d be happy to look at the remodel plans, too.”
I looked at Greer, waiting for a response. I knew the answer but part of me hoped he’d surprise me for a change. Greer folded his arms. “Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’d trust the eye of the most senior architect here. No offense.”
Ari shrugged. “None taken.” But one look at Ari’s face made it clear she was highly offended. She’d designed entire convention centers for goodness’ sakes.
I interjected. “She really has a good eye, Greer. You should take her up on her offer.” Because your dumbass isn’t as good as you think, I thought to myself.
Ignoring my suggestion, Greer continued. “So, Porter, if you’re not too…preoccupied…see you in about 5.” Before I could object, Greer turned to walk out the door.
“Well, he’s a delight as always,” Ari said under her breath.
I laughed. “I heard that. Let me go see what this fool wants. He’s probably wrong, by the way.”
I gathered my iPad and a legal pad as I headed out the door to Greer’s office. Before heading into the hallway, I paused. We can be friends, right? I mean, nowhere in the rule book of platonic friends who happen to be coworkers does it say friends can’t hang out on the holiday, right?
I turned, clearing my throat. “Since you mentioned Thanksgiving being around the corner, do you have any plans?”
Without looking up from her sketches, Ari answered. “Probably not. Bella is heading to Martha’s Vineyard with her in-laws. My mom is going to the casino with her girlfriends and going to hit the Turkey Day buffet with them. I’ll probably be home watching football and eating whatever I can find in the fridge. Maybe I’ll order takeout.”
That seemed totally sacrilegious. Thanksgiving was about the four Fs: family, food, football, and fellowship. Ari didn’t need to be alone with thoughts of her dad looming.
She looked up, clearly bothered by the horrified look on my face. “Hey! Don’t look like that. Trust me, it’s no big deal.”
“Takeout on Thanksgiving? Sounds depressing.”
Ari laughed. “I assure you it is not depressing. It’s cool. Just another day. It’ll be me, a marathon of Flip or Flop, and some Mongolian beef.”
“So, do you like gumbo?”
Ari smiled, widely. “Absolutely. Are we ordering that for lunch?”
I smiled, pushing up my reading glasses. “No. I’m just checking. I’ll make sure my mom knows I’ll be bringing a guest to Thanksgiving, so she needs to make extra. Be forewarned: My family can be a lot.” I took a pause then sighed. “Especially my little brother.” Holidays made Todd outrageous and sometimes unbearable. He was a half-time show unto himself. Maybe with company present, he’d think twice about showing his ass.
Ari narrowed her eyes. “How’s your brother a lot?” She was an only child and didn’t have a clue about sibling relationships. She knew that Todd and I were close. I talked about him all the time, but she had no clue how contentious our relationship could be.
I waved my hands, dismissively. “It’s nothing. Sometimes he’s just…forget it. So, will you come?”
Ari looked at me, her lips a bit twisted as she thought it over. “I don’t know. You sure? I don’t want to impose.”
Instead of whining about us being in relationship limbo, I decided being her friend was what she needed most right now. “Hey! You said you like gumbo. And we always make Senior’s gumbo every Thanksgiving. It’s tradition.”
Ari shrugged and I knew then what she was thinking: It was a date. One where she was meeting my entire family. Calmly, I assured her that it was all good but internally my brain was yelling “Just say yes. God, just give being a normal couple a freaking chance.”
“It’s not what you think. Listen, this is one friend looking out for another. It’s Thanksgiving and you don’t need to be alone. Besides, my mama would love to meet the woman who’s been my rock at work. Don’t break my mama’s heart, Ari James!”