Page 8 of Getting Down to Business

“No. Actually, I’d like to run into her again.”

“Seriously? You just got out of a relationship. Give it a rest.”

Technically it had been three months. “This coming from Mr. Family Man himself.”

“We’re not talking about me. I’m trying to spare you,” Doug said. Grayson knew Doug would do anything to go back to his family, even though his wife had treated Doug horribly and used their daughter to manipulate him.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing her again.”

“It was a Wednesday,” Doug protested. Gray laughed again and surveyed the crowd on the sidewalk looking for Alyssa’s long, golden hair.

“I know. I’m as surprised that your idea worked as you are.” With a sigh of disappointment he went back to work.

“You want to hit the gym after work?” Doug asked later that afternoon.

“Sure. We’ll have to swing by my place so I can get some clothes.”

While going to the gym with Doug wasn’t what he’d been daydreaming about most of the day, at least he wouldn’t be sitting home alone.

They took the elevator in his building up to the second floor—the metropolitan equivalent of trying to find the closest parking spot at the gym.

“You still haven’t found a roommate?” Doug asked as they stepped inside his barren living room. The TV and the sofa had been Gray’s, but the decorations had been Trent’s.

“No. You want to move in?”

“Nah. I couldn’t afford it.”

“I’d be willing to lower the price for you.”

“Thanks, but I’m saving up to get a place with two bedrooms. The caseworker says I can’t keep Lucy overnight until she has her own room at my place. The apartment also has to meet all the other criteria of their inspection. Clean and safe. Do you know how much a clean, safe two-bedroom costs in the city?”

He did. He was living in one at the moment. And the empty bedroom was just sitting there.

“Until then, I’m going to stay in Queens so I’m close and can see her more. Besides, I don’t want to move in here, and then have Trent break up with his girlfriend and want to move back.”

“Fiancée,” Gray corrected. “And no. He won’t be moving back. They’ve sent out the save-the-date magnets.”

Trent had paid his rent through the next four months, giving Gray enough time to find a new roommate, or for Trent’s fiancée to change her mind and kick him to the curb.

Gray had to admit that he was kind of hoping for the second thing. Not that he had a problem with Tiffany or wanted his friend to be heartbroken. It would just be easier than finding a new roommate.

“Do you want me to put some feelers out to find someone?” Doug offered.

“You sure you don’t want it?”

“I can’t pay what Trent was paying, and I won’t take charity.”

“It’s not charity. It’s friendship.”

“Friendship is me helping you find someone who can pay you what it’s worth.”

“Fine. But the offer’s still open.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Are we doing this?” Gray asked holding the door while Doug inspected the kitchen.

“Yeah.” Neither of them sounded very convincing.