you’ll have to excuse me； because I have found someone who’s right
for me 。 。 。 for right now。” She literally jumped off the couch and
skipped back to William； who looked undeniably happy to see her。
I felt self…conscious sitting on the oversize velvet couch alone and
looked around to find Christian； but he wasn’t at the bar anymore。
It would just take a little more time； I decided。 Everything would
just sort itself out if I just stopped worrying so much。 Maybe Lily
was right and I did like Christian—what was so wrong with that？ He’s
smart and undeniably gorgeous； and the whole take…charge confidence
thing was incredibly sexy。 Hanging out with someone who just
happened to be sexy didn’t exactly translate as cheating。 I’m sure
there had been situations over the years in which Alex had worked
with or studied with or gotten to know a cool； attractive girl； and
he may have had thoughts。 Did that make him disloyal？ Of course not。
With renewed confidence （and a now…desperate attempt to see； watch；
hear； just be near Christian again）； I began cruising the lounge。
I found him leaning on his right hand； talking intently to an older
man； probably in his late forties； who was wearing a very dapper
three…piece suit。 Christian was gesturing wildly； hands flailing；
with a look on his face that registered somewhere between amused and
supremely annoyed； while the man with salt…and…pepper hair looked at
him earnestly。 I was still too far away to hear what they were
discussing； but I must have been staring rather intently； because
the man’s eyes locked on mine and he smiled。 Christian pulled back a
little； followed his gaze； and saw me watching them both。
“Andy； darling；” he said； his tone entirely different from what it
had been just a few minutes earlier。 I noticed he made the
transition from seducer to friend of your parent quite smoothly。
“e here； I’d like you to meet a friend of mine。 This is Gabriel
Brooks； my agent； Business manager； and all…around hero。 Gabriel；
this is Andrea Sachs； currently ofRunway magazine。”
“Andrea； a pleasure to meet you；” Gabriel said； extending a hand and
taking mine in one of those annoyingly delicate
I’m…not…shaking…your…hand…as…I…would…a…man’s…because…I’m…sure…I’d…just…snap…your…girly…little…bones…in…half
clutches。 “Christian has told me a lot about you。”
“Really？” I said； pressing a bit more firmly； which only caused him
to loosen his already slack grip。 “All good； I hope？”
“Of course。 He said you’re an aspiring writer； like our mutual
friend here。” He smiled。
I was surprised to hear that he actually had heard about me from
Christian； since our conversation about writing had sounded like
just small talk。 “Yes； well； I love to write； so hopefully someday 。
。 。”
“Well； if you’re half as good as some of the other people he’s sent
my way； then I look forward to reading your work。” He dug around in
an inside pocket and produced a leather case； from which he drew out
a Business card。 “I know you’re not ready yet； but when it does e
time to show your stuff to someone； I hope you’ll keep me in mind。”
It took every ounce of willpower and strength to remain standing
upright； to make sure that my mouth had not flopped open or my knees
had not just given out。Hope you’ll keep me in mind？ The man who
represented Christian Collinsworth； literary boy genius
extraordinaire； had just asked if I would keep him in mind。 This was
craziness。
“Why thank you；” I croaked； tucking the card into my bag； from where
I knew I would pull it out and examine every inch of it the first
chance I got。 They both smiled at me； and it took a minute for me to
recognize this as my cue to leave。 “Well； Mr。 Brooks； um； Gabriel；
it was really great meeting you。 I’ve got to be getting Home now；
but hopefully we’ll cross paths soon。”
“My pleasure； Andrea。 Congratulations again on scoring such a
fantastic job。 Right out of college and working atRunway 。 Very
impressive。”
“I’ll walk you out；” Christian said； placing a hand on my elbow and
motioning to Gabriel that he’d be right back。
We stopped at the bar so I could tell Lily that I was heading Home；
and she unnecessarily told me—in between William’s nuzzlings—that
she wouldn’t be joining me。 At the foot of the stairs that would
take me back to street level； Christian kissed me on the cheek。
“Great running into you tonight。 And I have a feeling I’m going to
have to hear Gabriel talk about how great you are now； too。” He
grinned。
“We barely exchanged two words；” I pointed out； wondering why
everyone was being so plimentary。
“Yes； Andy； but what you don’t seem to realize is that the writing
world is a small one。 Whether you write mysteries or feature stories
or newspaper articles； everyone knows everyone。 Gabriel doesn’t have
to know much about you to know that you have potential： you were
good enough to get a job atRunway； you sound bright and articulate
when you talk； and hell； you’re a friend of mine。 He’s got nothing
to lose by giving you his card。 What does he know？ He could have
just discovered the next best…selling author。 And trust me—Gabriel
Brooks is a good man for you to know。”
“Hmm； I guess you’re right。 Well； anyway； I’ve got to get Home since
I’ve got to be at work again in a few hours anyway。 Thanks for
everything。 I really appreciate it。” I leaned up to kiss him on the
cheek； half expecting him to turn his face forward and half wanting
him to； but he just smiled。
“More than my pleasure； Andrea Sachs。 Have a good night。” And before
I could e up with anything remotely clever to say； he was headed
back to Gabriel。
I rolled my eyes at myself and headed to the street to hail a cab。
It had started to rain—nothing torrential； just a light； steady
stream—so of course there wasn’t a single cab free anywhere in
Manhattan。 I called the Elias…Clark car service； gave them my VIP
number； and had a car screeching to the curb exactly six minutes
later。 Alex had left a voice mail asking me how my day was and
saying that he’d be Home all night writing lesson plans。 It had been
too long since I surprised him。 It was time to make a little effort
and be spontaneous。 The driver agreed to wait as long as I needed；
so I ran upstairs； jumped in the shower； took a little extra time
making my hair look good； and threw together a bag with stuff for
work the next day。 Since it was already after eleven； traffic was
tame and we made it to Alex’s apartment in Brooklyn in under fifteen
minutes。 He looked genuinely happy to see me when he opened the
door； saying over and over and over again how he couldn’t b