Donuts Diamonds and Assorted Details Read online

  Joel chuckled as he leaned against her door. “I thought as much. Why don’t we have lunch together and discuss this some more?”

  The understated request didn’t surprise her. This wasn’t about the high profile pitch or lunch. This was him making a move even if it was a subtle one. It took him longer than she expected, but since she shot him down every other time he asked, she figured she might as well give him a break. “Sure,” she finally managed and hoped she didn’t seem too excited. He was the last guy she had been with and that was nearly six months ago. She needed some attention even if it was from Joel.

  Joel offered her a wink then raised his coffee cup in salute. “See you later, then,” he finished before walking out of her office.

  She watched him leave and felt envious female and a few male eyes glaring at her. Joel was the epitome of a daydream for the women in the office. She knew because she used to be one of the hopeless that fawned after his tight body. It came as a complete surprise when he asked her out a year ago. She made a multitude of enemies that day and the days that followed when Joel would have “lunch” with her. She bit her bottom lip, remembering the fun lunch dates they used to have. “I could go for a few of those,” she mused. Her love life was lacking in all aspects and a quick romp might do her good.

  Absently, Gwen returned to her desk and was soon engulfed in research on her latest project. Her desk quickly filled with stacks of papers and folders filled with needless statistics. If it hadn’t been for the light knock on her door, Gwen may have stayed in the same position all day. Raising her eyes, she spotted Jeremy on the other side of the window holding a little white paper bag. She smirked when he walked in and set the bag on her desk before plopping down in the seat opposite her. Gwen dropped her pen and cautiously looked at the bag. “Is that what I think it is?” she asked, eyeing him.

  Jeremy sat back and folded his arms over his chest. “Open it and see,” he replied nonchalantly.

  Gwen carefully opened the bag and peered inside. The scent of her favorite bakery filled the office. White powdered donuts met her eyes and she giggled. “You successfully killed my diet,” she scolded, grabbing the fluffy pastry.

  Jeremy snagged one of the miniature donuts after her. “Good. You’re too skinny anyhow.”

  Throwing her better sense aside, Gwen eagerly dissolved in their favorite childhood snack. She bit into one and recalled the first time Jeremy brought a bag just like this to her house. They had become friends that day and she was grateful that such a tiny treat could result in so many years of fun and camaraderie. “Do you remember eating these after prom?”

  “If I recall correctly, you were a little ‘under the weather’ that night,” he retorted, grabbing another donut.

  Gwen giggled at his sarcasm. Yes, she had been a bit dizzy after their classmate spiked the punch bowl with vodka. “I still remember how crazy Mrs. Pools got when she realized she had been guzzling the stuff.” The two laughed and Gwen wondered how they stayed such good friends after all these years. She was no saint and drama seemed to follow wherever she went, but Jeremy kept up with her despite all that. She glanced over to him, trying to keep the powdered sugar off his newly tailored suit. Somehow, he stayed, she thought. Her work phone buzzed annoyingly and she checked the caller ID. “It’s Joel,” she announced then answered on speakerphone, “Gwen Smidt,” she said between bites of donut.

  “Are we still on for lunch? I’m planning on leaving now,” Joel stated.

  Glancing at the clock, Gwen wondered where the morning had gone. It seemed like five minutes had passed since she finished her coffee. She shook her coffee cup. It was still half full. “Okay, I’ll be ready,” she replied then hung up. Glancing up at Jeremy, she noticed an odd expression on his face.

  “You’re going to lunch with Joel?” he asked, replacing the donut in his hand to the now crinkled bag.

  Gwen stacked her papers orderly as usual and smoothed her hair. “Do I have any donut on my face?” she asked Jeremy as she locked her computer screen.

  Jeremy stood quickly and shook his head after scanning her face. “Nope. You’re good.” He leaned over her desk and lowered his voice. “You know what happened last time you went out with him, right?”

  “Yes, I know, but I need this,” she replied rummaging through her purse. “Every girl here wants a little one-on-one attention, especially with Joel. Since we have a history, I know what I’m getting into.” She liberally applied her mint flavored lip gloss. Jeremy was acting peculiar. Normally, he didn’t make a fuss when she went out on a date, and this wasn’t even a real date. She figured he was worried she would fall back into the routine she and Joel shared last year. She learned from that mistake and wouldn’t repeat it. “It’s a working lunch, Jeremy. We are going over the pitch for Doctor’s Inc.”

  “He gave you that pitch?” he asked, surprised.

  Gwen pulled her coat on. “Isn’t it great? I’ll knock it out of the park and be halfway to Miami by the end of summer.” Before Jeremy could open his mouth to reply, Gwen spotted Joel and held back a smile. “He’s here. I’ll see you later.”

  Jeremy caught her arm. “Be careful. He is still the same guy that broke your heart.”

  “Oh, Jeremy, you’re so overprotective,” she chided, escaping his grip.

  “I’m serious,” he argued, blocking the door with his body.

  Gwen met his dark brown eyes and paused. He looked worried, genuinely worried for her. “I’ll be fine,” she argued, giving him a side-hug then scooting through the door. “I’ll see you after work.”

  “Ready?” Joel asked, meeting her outside her office. He tossed Jeremy a wave.

  “Yep. Where are we going?” she asked, falling in step with the office hunk. Either way she looked at it, she was getting lunch and dessert for her eyes. After six months of pointless dates, it was all she could hope for at this point.

  * * *

  Jeremy bit his cheek until he tasted blood when he saw Joel loop his arm into Gwen’s. From this viewpoint, they looked like a staggering couple. Both physically fit and lacking nothing in every department imaginable. He clenched his hand into a fist and leaned it against her office door. Gwen never paid much attention to him when it came to advice about men. She went to her best friend, Andi, for those conversations. Jeremy heard Gwen’s light laughter drift further away until he was sure they were outside.

  Unhurriedly, Jeremy made the walk back to his office, taking the stairs this time. Joel would no doubt charm her pants right out from under her like he did last year. He grimaced, knowing it wouldn’t be the first time for Joel or in general. Being the only child of two workaholic parents made Gwen independent yet naïve at the same time. She trusted without bounds and fell head over heels far too easily.

  Taking the steps two at a time now, Jeremy felt his resentment boil up. He was the one who comforted her each and every time a guy dared break her heart. Never once did she give him a chance at her heart. He paused mid-step at his thoughts. “No, she gave me one chance on graduation night,” he recalled to the empty stairwell. And what a disaster that had been. Maybe not at first when she accidently tripped on her damn heels then catapulted into him, knocking them both down. That was the perfect moment for them. Jeremy had gently pushed back her graduation cap and lightly kissed her. Nothing dramatic or sketchy. Just a dainty kiss on her lips that resulted in smeared lipstick on his lips. Jake came across them on his way out of the building, interrupting whatever else might have happened. They never spoke of it.

  Jeremy was back at his office now, and he saw his phone flashing red with messages. “Why didn’t we?” He wandered over to his angry messages. “Surely, it couldn’t have been that bad for her,” he finished lamely. To this day, he couldn’t forget the way she felt against him and the vulnerable look in her eyes before their lips met. Even if it obviously hadn’t fazed Gwen, it did a number on his memory and emotions. One that made it impossible to try and move on.

  A new text message popped up on his phone from Melanie or maybe Molly if he recalled correctly. He ignored it and tried to push down his feelings. He diligently made the effort to see Gwen as only his friend and domesticate with some other nice girl, but he couldn’t bring himself to settle for anyone. “I still love her.” He realized. He knew he always would, but it seemed that as perfect as their friendship was it would never amount to anything deeper.

  Jeremy’s eye caught on the redhead passing his office. He wouldn’t start at the office, though. That was just trouble if you had a work romance. Maybe he could convince Jake to go out to the bars that week. He doubted it given Jake’s unfortunate position on women and life for that matter. Jeremy deleted several emails and scrolled down the page to his appointments for the rest of the day. A meeting with his boss at two in the afternoon then a staff meeting at four. If he was lucky, he would get some work done before his first meeting.

  He tried to focus on the workload in front of him, but it was no use. If Gwen got the promotion to Florida and kept moving forward with her life, Jeremy was in for a heap of heartache. Something he was not about ready to take lying down. He had to do something or she would forever be lost to him. Whether it was to Florida or to another man’s charms.

  * * *

  Gwen stood in the lobby three hours later and flipped through her phone. A new text from her co-worker Gabby who, true to her name, was already spreading the news that Joel was off the market again. She made a mental note to stop by Gabby’s cubicle tomorrow and explain everything. Namely, that Joel wasn’t off the dating market especially by her. He still wanted to fool around with her and he all but said those exact words. There would be no romantic dinners, moonlit picnics, strawberries and champagne and meaningless sex in their future, though. For the time being
, she was swearing off men. At least, that was what she told herself. The reality that her time between the sheets was done solo for the last six months depressed her. Des Moines was the worst place to meet a good guy. Sure, you met lots of men, but none were ever worth extended time together. Her four years at Drake had been enjoyable, to say the least, but settling for one of those party guys wasn’t on her agenda then or even now. She hadn’t busted her ass through school to end up as some man’s accessory.

  Glancing up from her phone, she heard the elevator chime. She stuffed her phone into her oversized purse and buttoned her coat before searching the incoming crowd headed for the freedom of the front doors. Mondays sucked but not half as bad as Tuesdays, and they all were thinking it. She spotted Jeremy toward the back of the group. He was talking on the phone and smiling at whatever the other person was saying. Before he reached her, he disconnected the call, leaving Gwen in the dark and now suspicious.

  “Ready?” he asked, nodding to the door.

  “More than ready,” she replied, pushing the heavy door open with Jeremy hot on her trail. The bitter wind whipped at them as they walked, and Gwen was glad when they reached the safety of Jeremy’s car. His ‘mistress’ as he called it roared to life and Gwen wished the heat would hurry up. She was freezing her fingers off. She vigorously rubbed her hands together, trying to create warmth.

  “Here, use my gloves,” Jeremy said, handing her his wool gloves. Gwen took them greedily and he chuckled in response. “I don’t know why you don’t wear the ones I bought you,” he began. “They are exactly like mine. Nice and warm. Gloves that would keep your fingers from turning to icicles.” He smirked. “I don’t know how much more of a hint I can give.”

  “Who were you talking to?” Gwen asked, changing the subject as the Jetta backed up.

  “No one in particular,” he retorted slyly. Gwen raised her eyebrows and Jeremy conceded. “All right, all right, Nancy Drew.” He maneuvered the car onto the interstate. “It was Melanie King. We met a while ago at a work conference. She wants to get drinks.”

  Gwen didn’t reply. How could she? She had no reason to care, but she still felt a tinge of jealously for some reason. “Oh. I didn’t know you were interested in her.”

  Jeremy changed lanes. “Well, I figure if you can date someone like Joel Stratton then I can have my hand at the Melanie King’s of the world.”

  She relaxed a little at his response. It didn’t sound like he was that into Melanie, but even if he was, she would be happy for him. Jeremy had been through quite a bit in the lady department, including two broken engagements and a girlfriend that ran off with her hairstylist. If anyone needed a break, it was Jeremy. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw him date or even take the walk of shame. “You were right about Joel. He just wanted in my pants and as tempting as that sounds, I don’t want to get involved with him again,” she revealed and swore she saw a grin flash on his face.

  “Aw, I’m sorry that didn’t work out,” he said with as much seriousness as his face allowed.

  “No, you’re not. If you weren’t driving you would be jumping for joy,” she teased.

  Jeremy pulled the car into Gwen’s drive and threw it in park before turning to her and saying, “You’re right. I am glad it didn’t work out. Joel is the biggest tool in the office and not in a good way.” He gently pulled his gloves off Gwen’s fingers. “You deserve someone much better than him.”

  As usual, Jeremy was right and they both knew it. She offered him a smile and he returned the same. “I better get inside before it starts snowing again,” Gwen said, opening the door. “Don’t forget the donuts tomorrow. I have a feeling I’m going to need them after all the wine I’ll be drinking tonight.”

  Jeremy laughed and shook his head. “I’ll be over later to check in on you,” he promised and Gwen closed the door then retreated to her front step.

  Despite the cold, she watched Jeremy back down the drive then up his. Jake’s old pickup truck was in the driveway covered in snow. He hadn’t left all day for who knows how many days. She couldn’t blame him, though. His fiancée died six months ago and Jake wasn’t ready to function in society yet.

  Gwen unlocked her door as snowflakes began to fall. “Winter stays here too long,” she grumbled, crossing the threshold. She promptly hung up her coat and slipped out of her heels before making her way to the kitchen, and more importantly, the wine cooler. Not bothering to look at her selection, Gwen easily uncorked the red alcohol and poured it into her favorite, yet chipped, wine glass that was a gift from Jeremy three years ago.

  Flipping on the TV, Gwen was grateful for the distraction. She didn’t want to think of anything or anyone right now. She just wanted to drink and watch mind-numbing shows. Taking the bottle with her, Gwen crossed the ranch-style house and collapsed into her comfortable oversized chair that could easily fit two people.

  The files teetering on the coffee table beckoned to her. They were the old police reports and general investigations she did regarding her friend Abby. “I need to get back on track with that.”

  Gwen snatched the yellow folder and flipped it open. Photos of Abby’s body were pinned to the left side and her stomach cringed at the sight. It wasn’t how she wanted to remember her friend.

  Swallowing hard, she re-read the accident report. Abby’s case remained unsolved despite her attempts of helping the Des Moines Police Department. It was as if the person driving the car that night didn’t care whatsoever about who they hit.

  After Abby’s untimely demise, Gwen swore to track down as many leads as possible, but there was only so much she could do. She wasn’t a reporter or a cop. A press release she could handle, but solving a crime, not a chance.

  A thought in the back of her mind urged her toward the next step. It would be expensive, but worth every penny. With that thought, Gwen focused on her wine and tried to forget all else.

  * * *

  “Hey, buddy, how was work?” Jake drawled when Jeremy stepped inside.

  Jeremy smelled the liquor on his breath from ten feet away. Nothing new for Jake. Not lately that is. He never used to touch liquor, but now it was his crutch to get through each day. Jeremy was surprised he hadn’t bought all the stocks in any variation of liquor yet. “Well, there was a beginning, a horrible middle then a better end,” he replied, tossing his shoes in the closet. “What did you do all day?” Jake didn’t reply. “Ok, how about any accomplished work on those computers?” Still nothing. “Then, how about finding a job?” The computers Jeremy found at work that were desperate for repair had enticed Jake for a split-second the moment he brought them home three months ago. Now the computers sat in the basement collecting rampant dust bunnies.

  “Nah, I found some pretty funny videos online, though,” Jake replied, taking a drink of what Jeremy assumed was rum. He couldn’t tell from the dark cup in Jake’s hand. But he was using a cup instead of drinking from the bottle so that was an improvement. The first time in six months to be exact, and it boosted Jeremy’s faith in his old friend.

  “Glad you’re enjoying those,” Jeremy replied, moving to the kitchen. Of course it bothered him to no avail that his best friend was drowning his sorrows and living free at Jeremy’s expense. He glanced over to where Jake sat on the couch with his scruffy red beard and tangled mess of curly red hair. “But he would do the same for me,” he reminded himself and turned to the cupboards. “He has done the same for me,” he argued, recalling his past triage of disaster-ridden relationships. Jake and Gwen were the ones to keep him sane through Crazy Chick #1 running off with her female hairstylist, Crazy Chick #2 deciding she wanted to tour the world, and Chick #3 who cheated on him with her college boyfriend. He frowned, remembering those dark times. He was desperate back then to find a girl and marry her that he didn’t care who she was or where she was from. The dull ache from those episodes still resonated in his heart, but with great friends like Jake and Gwen helping, he managed to run through the muck and come out better because of it.