As I read a report on the performances of the latest campaigns, I heard a knock on my office door. When I opened the door, it was James. “Hey, I made the changes, Autumn. Do you have time to help me again?” he asked.

“Of course! Come on in. I won’t be able to help for very long today. I have some reports I need to go over,” I said, motioning for him to come in. I sat on one of the office chairs near the table.

James sat on the chair across from me. “Your changes really helped a lot,” he said.

I examined the document, and it really impressed me. He had taken all my previous advice and then some. I gave him some further advice, and then it occurred to me Jackie was right. I’d known this guy since my freshman year of college and well after getting our master’s. But I’d never really got to know him. He didn’t really talk about other friends in his life or even his family. I was shocked. I’d known him for seven years, and I was not sure if he even had pets. “Hey, do you actually want to go over these plans over the weekend?” I said.

James shuddered and went completely pale. Before, he was comfortable making eye contact, but now, he couldn’t even look me in the eye. “Um… well, I can’t Saturday… I have to… do things… like… clean my car! It’s an all-day process.” The color came back to his skin. “But I can do Sunday night when I am finished camping.”

Man, I knew I could be a little strange, but geez, this was the second time he came up with a lame lie. Besides, if it were true, how dirty was his car? “Sorry, but I can’t do Sunday night. That’s my cousin’s engagement party.” Getting up, I walked over to my computer. “I will schedule a meeting on Monday for us to go over your project.” Sending the invite, I looked over. He was practically glowing with happiness; it was almost as if he didn’t just reject me with that lame-ass excuse.

“That would be wonderful, Autumn! Okay, I will let you get back to work,” James said, packing up.

“Oh, before you go, I’ll text you an awesome campsite to go to,” I said, sending him the address. “This is a place that Jackie and I always go to. In some spots on the site, you can even see the mountains. Which, let me tell you, is an incredible view when you wake up.”

“Gee, thanks!” With that, we ended our impromptu meeting, and I went back to reviewing my reports.