After the turmoil of the past couple of weeks, Katie was grateful to be able to bury herself back into work--she didn’t have time to think about anything else. Or at least that’s what she kept telling Grace when Grace would ask if she had told Tyler--or Jack--the truth yet.

Katie, Grace, and Tyler were working late at the office at Henry’s urging, to deliver the newest pitch to the fancy Danish team they had impressed previously. Katie was starting to regret being so good at her job, if it meant pulling consistent twelve hour days. She missed Jack, she missed having a clear idea of who she was and what she wanted, she missed...feeling normal. Being around Tyler just left her feeling confused and guilty all the time, and Katie thought of herself as a good person. She was, wasn’t she? 

It was already 8 PM. Katie had blown right through her standing Thursday night Netflix and chill date with Jack. She had texted him an apology--again--and he hadn’t responded. She knew he was mad. Jack didn’t like it when things didn’t go according to plan. He was such a good guy in so many ways, but he’d never be spontaneous, like Tyler…

“Hey, you ok?” Tyler was asking her.

“Hmmm?” Katie realized she had been rubbing the sides of her face with the palms of her hands. “Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. And a little bit of a headache--”

“Hang on,” Tyler said, extending his long legs and hopping to his feet. “I have some ibuprofen at my desk.” He exited quickly, a man on a mission.

Grace just stared at Katie.

“What?” Katie tried to ask innocently.

“What did I tell you about secret-keeping and pain? You know why you have a headache, right?” Grace said, knowingly.

“Because all I’ve had to eat today is coffee and a handful of chicken nuggets?” Katie retorted.

“We should fix that too,” Tyler said as he returned, offering his hand with two ibuprofins and a bottle of water to Katie.

“My hero,” Katie said gratefully, opening her palm and accepting the medicine. Tyler put his hand over hers and held it there.

“Whatever you need,” he said. “I’m here to help.”

“I appreciate that, thanks,” Katie said, smiling, and not moving her hand away.

“Hey guys,” Grace’s voice broke the moment between them. She was staring at her phone. “I have bad news.”

“What’s up?” asked Katie, nervous.

“I have to go,” Grace continued.

“What? Grace, we agreed we’d all stay until we finished--” Katie began to protest.

“I’m sorry, it’s kind of an emergency. My dogwalker just cancelled last minute, and if I don’t get home to walk Pringles, my white carpet won’t be white much longer.” Grace shrugged her shoulders in apology and looked at them with her best “pity me” face.

“Ok, first of all? When did you get a dog?” Katie asked.

“Katie, I told you--I wanted someone in my life to love me and do exactly what I told him. So I went on Petfinder.” Grace scrolled through some photos on her phone and held up a picture of a perfect, tiny Bichon Frise puppy. “I know you’ve been...busy...lately, but we had a whole conversation about it.”

“We did?” Katie seemed genuinely confused. “I’m sorry, I’m just really out of it, I guess. He’s adorable, G.”

“My parents had a dog like that when I was growing up,” Tyler interjected. “If you need training tips or anything, let me know.”

“Oh, I know how to keep someone misbehaving in line,” Grace said, flashing him a smile, as she gathered her things. “Although I do feel bad leaving you guys to finish up. Let me at least order you dinner--what do you want?”

“I’ve had such a craving for tacos lately,” Tyler said. “Is there a place near here that delivers carnitas?”

“Tacos it is,” Grace said, punching the information into her delivery app as she headed to the door. Alright, I’ll see you guys tomorrow--good luck!”

The minute Grace was gone, a weird silence permeated the air. Katie couldn’t understand how two people who knew each other better than anyone in the world could now behave like strangers.

“Ok,” she said, determined to make the best of it, “where were we?”

***

Grace had ordered them a literal feast--and a to-go pitcher of margaritas. 

Katie and Tyler were surrounded by discarded taco wrappers, half-eaten nachos, a tub of guacamole, and coffee mugs of cheap tequila. They were full, but happy--both because they had finished the new pitch, but also because they had some time alone to get to know each other better. 

All over again, in Katie’s case.

It was close to 11 PM, and Tyler was buzzed. Katie remembered he was a lightweight, which made her giggle.

“What?” Tyler asked innocently, after spilling some of the margarita on his chin.

“You have a little--here, let me.” Katie wiped the drip off his face. The intimacy of the gesture struck them both, and they were frozen, inches away from each other.

“Can I confess something?” Tyler asked.

“Sure,” Katie said, terrified.

“I think Grace has a crush on me--” Tyler continued.

“Ohhhh...what?” Katie tried to feign innocence, but she had a terrible poker face and she knew it. Tyler raised an eyebrow at her.

“Ok, ok, I’ll ask her to dial it down. Unless...do you like her back?” Katie was silently having a nuclear meltdown at the very uncomfortable thought of her ex and her best friend hooking up.

“Grace is great,” Tyler said, slowly, trying hard not to slur his words, “but there’s someone I like more.”

Phew. Overwhelming relief. And then, Katie’s heart jumped. He couldn’t be talking about her, right?

“It’s complicated, though,” Tyler continued. 

“How?” Katie asked, trying to navigate this conversation through the margarita fog.

“Well...she has a boyfriend,” Tyler said. His eyes seemed to be searching hers for something. “Who she seems to really love. But I don’t know, there seems to be something between us. I can’t explain it--”

Katie quickly leapt up and away from Tyler. She knew where this was headed, and she wasn’t ready to go there. 

“My advice,” Katie started, “as your colleague, and your friend,” the word almost hurt her to say, “you have to respect her boundaries. When--if--she’s ready to pursue something with you, she’ll let you know.”

The words landed on Tyler. He nodded, seeming to understand. And then he shook it off--his demeanor changed, as if he hadn’t just put his heart on the table. “I guess we should start cleaning up, huh? I’m sure Jack is waiting up for you.”

Katie let herself smile. “We should clean up--but I have a question before we go.”