“Thanks for meeting me,” Katie said. She and Jack were in the outdoor courtyard that separated their two work buildings, each with a coffee in front of them. It was where they used to meet almost daily for lunch--after their first coffee date at one of the small café tables. 

Katie was starting to see similarities in her relationships with Tyler and Jack. Mainly, trying to spend every waking moment with each of them when things were going well. And feeling absolutely devastated when they were distancing themselves from her, like a constant stomach ache that comes at the end of a sugar rush. She wasn’t sure if this pattern was normal or unhealthy, but she knew right now all she wanted was for Jack to hold her again. 

“I just want to--” Jack started. “You’re--” Katie said at the same time. They both looked at each other and smiled. “You go,” Jack said, gesturing to her. 

“Ok, so…” She had practiced what she was going to say to him with Grace, but now that he was here, looking at her with those deep blue eyes, everything rehearsed went out of her mind. She remembered how safe he made her feel, and she just knew she had to get him back. 

Physical touch, she thought to herself. That’s his love language. Katie quickly reached across the table for his hand--too quickly--accidentally knocking her cappuccino all over his lap and his favorite, expensive suit.

Jack jumped to his feet out of shock both for the spill and the heat of the coffee.

“Oh no, oh God, I’m so sorry--” Katie started stammering as she looked for napkins, but of course they didn’t take any with their drinks. “Hold on, I think I have a tissue,” she continued, digging through her impossibly full tote bag, pulling out makeup and notebooks, and scarves, also spilling the contents everywhere. Other people in the courtyard were starting to notice the commotion.

“Katie, it’s--” Jack was trying to get her to calm down. She had found a crumpled tissue at the bottom of the bag and was going to work trying to wipe the spill from Jack. But of course it had spilled in between his legs, and from where she was kneeling and he was standing, it looked to spectators that Katie was helping Jack out...in a different way.

“Babe,” Jack said, as she frantically dabbed his pants. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she said again. She was starting to get upset. 

“Katie?” He said again, clearing his throat. 

Katie finally looked up at him--and then noticed their suggestive positions and everyone staring.

“I can’t do anything right! I can’t even apologize without making a mess!” Katie started having a full meltdown in the courtyard, falling to her backside and using the coffee-stained tissue to now wipe her eyes. It started sticking to her face.

Jack knelt down to her level. “C’mon. It’s ok. It’s gonna be ok.” He offered her his hand, and she took it. Jack pulled her to her feet and into an embrace. People around them started cheering them on.

“Ok, ok,” Jack tried waving them off. “We’re good.”

“Kiss her!” someone yelled.

Jack looked at Katie and shrugged. “I mean we have to give the people what they want,” he said, smiling.

Before Katie could respond, he swept her into a dramatic dip and kissed her, in front of everyone. Again, Katie remembered why she had so much fun with Jack--he never missed a moment to put on a show, especially when it involved showing her off. She kissed him back and finally smiled.

The crowd gave a round of applause before turning back to their own coffee lunches, although less dramatic.

Jack set her back on her feet and led her to a new, clean table. “What was that you were saying? About being sorry?” He was smiling, but Katie knew she needed to say it again, sincerely.

“I’m sorry. You were right. I shouldn’t have kept that big of a secret.” Katie looked at him for a reaction.

“And I’m sorry for reacting the way I did. I should have stayed and talked it out with you,” Jack said. “I just never expected someone I love could keep something like that hidden from me. It made me wonder if you’ve been hiding anything else,” Jack said, looking at her, a question in his eyes.

“I haven’t, I promise,” Katie said. “From now on, I’m your own personal lasso of truth. Or, you know, like the lasso is around me, I guess?” Jack seemed to have no idea what she was talking about. “No more lies,” she said, simply.

“And what about Tyler?” Jack asked. ‘When are you going to tell him the truth?”

Katie hesitated, and Jack sighed.

“Katie, I thought you just said--” Jack started to say more, but then saw something out of the corner of his eye.

“Hey guys,” said Tyler, carrying his own cup of coffee. “I thought I heard some commotion over here--should have known it was you lovebirds.” 

“Oh we were just--” Katie began.

“We spilled some coffee, so we were cleaning up and people got...excited,” Jack said, gesturing to the front of his pants.

“Ah, I see,” Tyler said, trying to hide a laugh.

“I’m glad we ran into you, actually,” Jack continued. “We were just talking about you--Katie has something she’d like to tell you. It may be hard to hear.”

Katie stared at Jack in disbelief. He wanted her to do this here? Now?

Tyler looked at Katie, quizzically. “Okay…?”

“Yeah, um,” Katie started. Both men were staring at her, and she started to feel sick all over again. “The annual company retreat is coming up, and Henry requested you come. I was going to tell you after lunch, but...here we are!”

Jack shook his head and looked away.

“Why would that be hard? That’s amazing news!” Tyler seemed genuinely thrilled.

“It is? I mean...yeah, it is,” Katie said, hoping the news would cover the moment. Everything she said was true, it just wasn’t...the whole truth. “I was worried you wouldn’t be able to leave town.”

“Anyway, we should probably all get back to work, right?” Jack said, as Katie noticed him starting to get uncomfortable.

“Yep. Tyler, I’ll see you upstairs--I’ll circle back to give you the full download.” Why am I talking like Henry? She thought. Katie waved at Tyler, hoping he’d get the clue to leave.

And he did. “Great, see you upstairs. Bye, Jack, glad I saw you--still up for more drinks soon?”

“Yeah, man. Absolutely,” Jack answered with a strained smile.

Katie waited until Tyler was out of sight. “Ok, that wasn’t a lie, I promise. I told you about the retreat weeks ago--”

Jack just sighed again. Katie hated when he got on his soapbox, and she knew he was about to.

“I forgive you for lying to me, Katie. But I can’t forgive you for lying to Tyler until you actually come clean. He’s my friend too, and I won’t cover for you forever,” Jack said with gravity.

“I will, I just need some time,” Katie said.

“How much time?” Jack asked.

“I don’t know, but soon, I promise,” Katie said, reaching for Jack again.

“I just hope this is a promise you can keep,” said Jack, his words stinging her. “I need a partner that values the truth as much as I do.” He kissed her on the forehead and turned away, letting go of her hand, still sticky from the cappuccino.