“You ready to go?” he asked, looking at Simon careful y. Simon straightened to his ful height and looked back, just as careful y.
“Yep, ready to go. Simon, this is James. James, Simon.” They leaned in to shake hands, and I could see that they both exerted a little extra
force, neither seeming to want to be the one to let go first. I rol ed my eyes. Yes, boys. You can both write your names in the snow. The question is,
who would make bigger letters?
“Nice to meet you, James. It was James, right? I’m Simon. Simon Parker.”
“That’s correct. James. James Brown.”
I saw the beginnings of a laugh on Simon’s face.
“Okay, James, we should get going. Simon, I’l talk to you later,” I interrupted, ending the handshake of the century.
James turned toward where his car was double-parked, and Simon looked at me.
“Brown? James Brown?” he mouthed, and I squelched my own laugh.
“Shush,” I mouthed back, smiling at James when he turned back to me.
“Nice to meet you, Simon. See you around,” James cal ed, steering me to the car with his hand on the smal of my back. I didn’t think twice
about it, as that’s how we always used to walk together, but Simon’s eyes widened a little at the sight.
Hmm…
James opened the door for me, then headed around to his side. Simon was stil standing in front of our building when we drove away. I rubbed
my hands together in front of the heater and grinned at James as he steered through the traffic.
“So, where are we headed?”
We made ourselves comfortable in the swanky bar he’d selected. It seemed very James: chic and sophisticated, and laced with hidden
sexuality. The deep red leather banquettes, thinly cushioned and cool, ensconced us as we settled in and began the process of getting to know
each other after so many years apart.
As we waited for a server to come by, I studied his face. He stil looked the same: closely cropped sandy blond hair, intense eyes, and a lean
frame folded in on itself like a cat’s. Age had only improved his good looks, and his careful y torn jeans and black cashmere sweater clung to a
body I could see was in great shape. James had been a rock climber, relentless in his pursuit of the sport. He viewed each boulder, each mountain
as an obstacle to overcome, something to be conquered.
I’d gone climbing with him a few times toward the end of our relationship, even though I grew up skittish about heights. But watching him climb,
seeing the sinewy muscles stretch and manipulate his body into positions that seemed unnatural, was a heady experience, and I’d pounced on him
those evenings in the tent like a woman possessed.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, interrupting my musings.
“I was thinking about how much you used to climb. Is that something you stil do?”
“It is, but I don’t get as much free time as I used to. They keep me pretty busy at the firm. I try and get out to Big Basin as often as I can,” he
added, smiling as our waitress approached.
“What can I get you two?” she asked, placing napkins in front of us. “She’l have a dry vodka martini, three olives, and for me bring three fingers
of Macal an,” he answered. The waitress nodded and left to fil our order.
I studied him as he sat back, then turned his gaze to me.
“Oh, Caroline, I’m sorry. Is that stil your drink?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “As it happens, yes. But what if I didn’t want that tonight?” I answered primly.
“My mistake. Of course, what did you want to drink?” He waved the waitress back over.
“I’l have a dry vodka martini with three olives, please,” I told her with a wink.
She looked confused.
James laughed loudly, and she walked away, shaking her head.
“Touché, Caroline. Touché,” he said, studying me again.
“So, tel me what you’ve been up to the last few years.” I put my elbows on the table and chin in hands.
“Hmm, how to encapsulate years in a few sentences? Finished law school, signed on with the firm here in the city, and worked like a dog for
two years. I’ve been able to ease up a bit, only around sixty-five hours a week now, and it’s nice seeing daylight again, I admit.” He grinned, and I
couldn’t help but smile back. “And of course working as much as I do leaves me very little time for a social life, so it was just blind luck that I saw you
at the benefit last month,” he finished, leaning forward on his elbows as wel . Jil ian attended many social events around town, and I accompanied
her on occasion. Good for business. I should’ve known I’d eventual y run into James at one of those shindigs.