At work the next day, John told Mike me asking him to check up on Corey. Mike just shook his head, "How'd you let her talk you into this?"
"She's got me wrapped around her finger these days," John just smiled. "Any idea how to approach this?"
"Big brother point of view," Mike nodded. "Just being protective. A little warning, maybe, thrown in for good measure."
"You leavin' any time soon?" John asked.
"No way," Mike replied. "I have to see this. Then, I'll have something to talk to Kate about tonight. She hates hearing about autos."
John just shook his head. He went to the shop door and spotted Corey not too far away. "Hey, Corey, got a minute?"
"Sure," Corey stood up and wiped his hands off.
Once in the office, John said, "So I guess you've met my wife's best friend, Julie?"
"Yeah," Corey shifted around a little. "I met her at the grill-out."
"Well, Julie and Mary had lunch yesterday and Julie told Mary about this weekend." John paused. "I just want to make sure that you're going to act appropriately for a weekend outing." Corey turned beet read. "How many motel rooms do you have reserved?"
"One," Corey choked out.
"How many beds?" John asked.
"Two," Corey was having a hard time talking.
"Fine then," John clapped Corey on the back. "Just make sure both beds get used at night." John walked with Corey back to the shop door. "Otherwise, have a good weekend, Corey. Great job at work, by the way."
Corey gave a shaky smile as he muttered thanks and went back to the vehicle he was working on.
After the door shut, Mike started laughing. "I think he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. Do you think you put enough fear in him?"
"I just let him know that he had to treat Julie right, Mike."
"John, you basically threatened him if he tried to sleep with her."
"No, I didn't," John was going over the conversation in his head.
"Yeah," Mike was still laughing. "You did. Good job throwing in that comment about his work, though. At least he knows his job isn't in danger. Only his life."
"I'm not a scary guy," John replied.
"You are to Corey," Mike said. "At least now you are."
John went back to work and wondered if he'd done the right thing when he talked to Corey.
Julie phoned on Monday in tears. "Mary, can you meet me for lunch?"
"Sure, but what's wrong? Do you just want to come over and we can make something for lunch?"
"Yeah, that sounds better," Julie blew her nose. "Is eleven okay?"
"I'll be here," I replied. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?"
"No, I need to get back to work. I'll tell you when I get there."
"Okay. Hang in there, hon. Call me again if you need to," I reminded her. I felt just awful when we hung up the phone.
Julie was a mess when she showed up.
"What happened?" I asked her as I gave her a hug.
"It was this weekend," she sobbed. "Corey didn't have any interest in me whatsoever."
"What do you mean?"
"If I flirted, he didn't flirt back. He definitely kept his hands to himself. He wouldn't even hold my hand!" she was so upset. "Am I repulsive or something?"
"No. You are beautiful, Julie," I told her. "He wouldn't even hold your hand?" I just couldn't believe it.
Julie shook her head. Tears were streaming down her face.
We didn't even eat lunch. We got in the car and headed to the garage. Not to see Corey, but to see John.
"Hi, Mary," Mike greeted me as soon as he saw me. "Hey, Julie, what's wrong?" Mike inserted his foot in his mouth and Julie, who had been holding it together as best she could, broke back into tears.
"Thanks, Mike," I hugged Julie. "Is John here?"
"What? Yeah, I'll go get him," Mike couldn't get out of the office quick enough with a crying woman in the room.
"Hi, Mary," John was busy wiping his hands as he walked in, "what brings you down here in--" John stopped talking when he saw us standing there. "That's the matter."
"Corey wouldn't even hold her hand this weekend," I told him. "What exactly did you say to Corey?"
"Not much," John replied although he could not clearly remember the whole conversation.
"Well, now he has made it obvious that he has no interest in Julie."
John turned around and opened the shop door, "Corey! Come in here a minute!"
"Don't call him in here," I hissed at John.
"I'm not getting pulled into the middle anymore, Mary," John said as he opened the door for Corey. Corey's face was immediately red when he saw us. "Corey, you know Mary and Julie."
"Hi," Corey nodded to us as he choked the word out.
John opened the break room door. "Break room is closed, guys. Take it outside or go back to work." About half a dozen guys grumbled as they made their way out and divided between the shop and going outside.
"Julie, Corey," John walked over to us. "Forget all that I said before, Corey. Obviously, Julie is upset about this weekend. You two can have the break room for the next 20 minutes. Mary and I are done giving advice. You are adults and can figure it out for yourselves. We'll still be here for you, but don't ask us what to do. That's between the two of you."
Julie let go of me and followed Corey to the break room as held open the door for her. "Do you think they'll be okay?" I asked John.
"Whether they are or they aren't, it's their decision," John replied. "From now on it is up to them and we have nothing to do with it. I don't want to lose a good employee and you don't want to lose a friend."
I nodded and gave John a hug. "I'm so happy that I have you."
"You are?" he closed his arms around me.
"Yeah. I'm not thrown into the shark-infested waters of dating," I laughed. "You keep me sane." John's chuckle reverberated in his chest as I held him close. I was getting sleepy, John's body was so warm and comforting.
Mike popped his head in the door, "It is safe to come in here?"
"Yeah," John told him, "Corey and Julie are talking it out in the break room."
"Wow, I hope they get it worked out," Mike said. "I don't want to put my foot in my mouth again like that."
John laughed, "You did that, huh?"
"You know me," Mike said, "I get hungry about this time of day."
Julie and Corey came out of the break room and all heads turned their way. They hugged, and Julie said, "I'll see you tonight."
"I'll call when I get home, but supper sounds good," Corey smiled as he walked back into the shop.
"So everything is better now?" I asked Julie.
She nodded. "We're going out tonight." She turned to the guys. "Bye, Mike. Bye, John, and thanks."
"Anytime, Julie," John waved as we walked out.
"You sure you're fine?" I asked as we got into my car.
"Yeah," Julie smiled. "I feel so stupid for what I put you through today. I'm so embarrassed."
"Don't be," I replied. "That's what we're here for, each other's freak outs. And, since I'm pregnant with the hormones, I think I am ahead on the number of freak outs lately."
Julie's laughter made me laugh.