I’m a little bummed at the same time. You know what I mean?” He sank into a chair across from Brock and said, “What happened to you? You look like crap.”
Brock shook his head and gritted his teeth. “Nothing. What do you need? I emailed you my okay on the latest plans you sent over.”
“I was in the area and thought I’d drop by to see you. Nothing, huh? I know I told you I liked you better miserable, but just looking at you is bringing me down. Want to go for a beer?”
Brock glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s ten in the morning.”
“Why be the boss if you can’t do what you want, when you want? That’s why I freelance. I could fly off to Europe for a week, right now, if I wanted to. Nothing to stop me.”
“Or hit a bar on a Thursday morning.”
“Hey, you’re the one who looks like you need a drink.”
Brock leaned back in his chair. “Kate’s not taking my calls.”
“Want me to get you a box of tissues or go ask her for your balls back?”
“Shut the fuck up. I’m serious. I may have really screwed it up with her.”
Tyler crossed his legs at the ankles. “So you came to me for advice.”
“Actually, you came here. But I probably should ask you what you think. Anything is better than what I’m doing now.”
“Which is?”
“Waiting for my new phone to come in. I smashed mine this morning when I tried to call her and it still went straight to voice mail.”
Tyler nodded sympathetically. “Tell me what you did, and I’ll tell you how to fix it.”
“I told her I love her.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. And now she’s not answering my calls.”
“Fuck. There’s no coming back from that.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” Brock said bitterly. “We should do this again. I feel so much better now.”
“Hey, if I thought it would work out, I’d tell you to send her flowers. But when women run from those three words, it’s over. Done.”
“So going over to her house after work today is a bad idea?”
“Unless you like living dangerously. I believe the legal term is ‘stalking.’ ”
Brock laid his head down on his desk. “It was going so well. Why did I have to open my mouth and fuck it up?”
“I ask myself that all the time, but then I remind myself there are millions of women in the United States, so chances are I’ll meet another one I like. That cheers me up.”
Brock sat back up and shook his head sadly. “I’m not going to find another Kate.”
Tyler stood up and sighed. “Brock, forget her. Seriously. She was pretty and nice, but you can find that combination again.”
Brock slammed his hand down on his desk. “I don’t want to find it again. I want Kate.”
“Want me to date her and be an absolute dick? That might send her running back to you.”
Brock stood. “You touch her and I’ll kill you.”
“Okay, so that’s out. I’m just tossing ideas out there. Don’t flip out on me.” Tyler rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You’re right, if you’re not ready to move on, there really isn’t anything you can do besides go see her and hope for the best.” He headed toward the door. “Coffee run?”
Brock nodded. “Sure.” He was putting on his coat when he heard a beep deep within his desk. At first he dismissed it as his imagination. Then, realizing what it was, he knew he’d lose his mind if he didn’t check his prepaid phone. “I just remembered I have something I need to do. How about lunch tomorrow? I’ll head down your way.”
Tyler shrugged. “Tomorrow works. Hey, good luck with Kate. I mean it.”
“I know you do.”
As soon as Tyler was gone, Brock whipped open his desk drawer and pulled out the phone. It was on, which was strange, but since he had checked it recently he figured he must have left it that way by accident. It still had a charge.
And one new message.
Brock dropped into his chair with the phone still in his hand.
One new message from Kate to Mr. Elf.
Why would Kate contact