Alan was working at his desk a few days later when Shirley entered his office unannounced.
"Alan, may I speak with you?"
"Certainly Shirley, what's eating your particularly luscious grape today?" Alan looked up and smiled.
"It seems your impromptu party the other week was very well received, and so I thought we might hold another as the firm. It will be Friday if you'd like to invite a plus one."
"Denny is always my plus one, but thank you for your consideration." He paused. "Out of interest, what made you feel it was relevant that I know that?"
"I was in a restaurant last week and saw you with a young lady. I thought you might like to invite her."
"Again, I ask why this is of relevance to you?"
"Alan. I know you well enough to know you don't take women for dinner. My attention has been piqued."
"I've been trying to peak you for a long time Shirley."
"You wouldn't even reach base camp my dear," she said, smiling as she walked out again. "You should bring her."
Alan sat back in his chair thoughtfully. There was no reason not to invite Rosalie, if not to avoid upsetting Denny. Yet he had become used to having her in his space over the last week or so. The morning coffee on his nightstand when she got up early to work, waking in the night to see the mess of her curls spread across the pillow next to him, her beauty products in a bag on his bathroom shelf, the way her books and pencils were always scattered across his living area, the way she had folded his shirts yesterday and put them next to ties they'd match with, the way she kissed him after sex. He had been lonely, and now he wasn't, and he wanted to enjoy a night on the town with her. He just didn't know how to broach the topic with Denny because in truth, he didn't want him to disapprove.
"A party? That sounds fun," Rosalie said as she closed her laptop lid and sipped a glass of red wine. "At the firm?"
"Yes, it's Shirley's idea. I thought you might like to go." Alan stood at the balcony doors, staring into the night sky.
"Together? What about Denny?"
"I take it you haven't seen him yet." Alan sipped from his own glass of wine, trying to be nonchalant. As much as he wanted her to stay, he also wanted them to resolve their conflict. It was getting difficult to not tell Denny why he'd been happier than usual, and why they hadn't had a sleepover for a while.
"I've been… working." She gestured lamely to the books that surrounded her.
"I think the Romans can wait another day after thousands of years," he said gently. "Maybe talking to your dad can't."
"I'll speak to him at the party. We can tell him I came up as a surprise to bury the hatchet and then I bumped into you when he was in court and got invited! It's perfect!" Alan looked at her, and realized she was on some level scared to face Denny again. He shook his head slightly and stared out across the view.
"You can't stand lying to him, can you?" Rosalie walked over to him, placing her hand reassuringly at the base of his spine.
"I'm not lying to him. I just haven't told him about this. But at the same time, I don't want to give this up. I like you… I suppose I mean, I like having you here." He slipped an arm around her and pulled her closer to him. "I think I don't want you to get that rental just yet."
"I won't be staying in Boston forever Alan. I have to go sometime." Alan felt her nestle into his side.
"Well, let's focus on the time we do have then."
The next day, Rosalie went up in the elevator with a sense of trepidation. She tucked her hair behind her ear and bit her lip gently. As the doors slid open she walked out with every inch of confidence she could muster and went up to the front desk.
"Denny Crane please?"
"He's in court," came a voice from behind her. She turned to see the man she had been speaking to at the party. "Can I help… oh, it's you."
"Yes, yes it's me," she replied, slightly thrown as she looked up at Brad's chiseled jaw and sparkling eyes. "Uhh, I really needed Denny if he's around?"
"He won't be back all day. Why don't you come into my office? It's nice to see you again, although I'm sorry I don't think I caught your name." He extended a hand warmly towards her and she shook it with a smile.
"I'm Rosalie Moran." From behind Brad Alan had suddenly appeared, and immediately swept in to her rescue.
"Rosalie, you must be here for Denny?"
"Yes I am, Alan isn't it?"
"It certainly is. I'll take it from here Brad, I think I know why Ms Moran is here." He took her arm and steered her towards his own office to Brad's chagrin.
"So this is where the magic happens?" Rosalie said with a playful tone as Alan shut the doors behind him. She walked over to his desk and picked up an ornament, looking through the window at the city view.
"It's one of the places, yes."
"Think we got away with that? It didn't look too much like I've got intimate carnal knowledge of you?"
"I think we got lucky. Better to have Brad sniffing around you I suppose." Rosalie snorted slightly with laughter.
"Buzz Lightyear over there? God no, I'd rather flay myself alive."
"Glad to hear it," Alan replied, and he was surprised to realise he was telling the truth. Seeing her smiling at another man had prompted something a bit like jealousy within him. Rosalie perched on the edge of his desk and sighed.
"What am I doing Alan? I can't even face him. I'm too scared."
"He loves you, and he would want to see you. He's upset that he forgot is all. It's the Mad Cow."
"What is all this Mad Cow nonsense anyway?"
"I'll let him explain."
