The Right Touch

Chapter 17

All the usual disclaimers

Enjoy!

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Chapter 17

"What the heck is the matter with Bobby?" demanded D when he ran into Jack in the hallway. "Have you seen him?"

"No." Jack had no idea what D was talking about. "I've been out all morning checking out a job site. Why? What's the problem?"

"I asked him if he was almost finished with that proposal for Dan Peters and he nearly bit my head off!" explained an irritated D.

"Which proposal for Dan Peters?"

"You know, his latest idea. With his new offices he wants new furniture and he wants Bobby to design it. He likes Bobby."

"Oh, that proposal," Jack nodded in comprehension. "Maybe he's stuck for ideas. You know how frustrated you can get when that happens."

D looked at Jack skeptically. "My gut tells me it's something more. He was kind of absent-minded this morning but now, he's in a really bad mood."

"So what do you want me to do about it?"

"Talk to him. Peters wants a proposal first thing Monday morning."

"Got it," responded Jack. "I'll go talk to him right now."

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Bobby frowned as he stared at the blank sheet of paper on the table. He was supposed to be working on some furniture designs but all he could see was Sue with another man. Another man. She said she wasn't involved with anyone so who was this guy that she looked so cozy with? Is that why she seemed so distant their last couple of calls—because of that guy?

Snap! The pencil he held in his hands broke. Annoyed, he flung the pieces at the door.

"Hey, Bo… Whoa!" exclaimed Jack instinctively closing the door as the pencil halves came hurtling through the air.

Slowly, the door opened as Jack made sure the way was clear. Bobby was standing hands on hips irritation clearly evident in his stance.

"Sorry, mate," he apologized half-heartedly. "Didn't mean to do that."

Jack eyed his friend. "Rumor is you're having a bad day," he commented matter-of-factly.

Bobby just stared at him.

"A really bad day." Jack jerked his head in the direction of the door.

Bobby threw up a hand. "Can't a person have a bad day?"

"You never have a bad day," Jack retorted pointing a finger at him, "especially since you started talking to Sue. One call and you perk up like magic."

At the mention of her name, the muscles in Bobby's jaw tightened. Jack noticed the movement immediately and understood what was the problem—Sue.

Oh-kay, he thought. But what exactly about her was the problem? "Maybe you need to give her a call and see if she can give you a dose of sunshine," Jack suggested jokingly.

A sour expression appeared on Bobby's face. "I don't need her help. I was fine before I knew her, I'll be fine again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

"Are you upset with her?" Jack probed.

"Why should I be upset with her?" Bobby demanded.

"I don't know," shrugged Jack, "but when I just mentioned her name, you almost snapped my head off."

"Rubbish! You're imagining things."

"No, I'm not. It said on the memo the number one indication of being upset is breaking pencils," he remarked trying to inject a little levity to break his friend's mood.

Bobby's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What memo?"

"The one that listed ten signs on how to spot a friend who's upset," Jack fibbed. "Number two is evading the question which you're doing now." He looked at Bobby. "So, you wanna talk about it?"

Bobby thought about his friend's offer. "All right." He settled himself on his chair while Jack leaned against Bobby's desk.

"Start from the beginning," he ordered.

"I went to lunch with Darcy."

Jack nodded. Nothing unusual there.

"She wants me to spend the night with her after the benefit."

"Is this a problem?" asked Jack wondering where this was leading.

"It wouldn't be if I was still interested in Darcy," Bobby declared.

Jack was taken aback. "Let me get this straight, you're saying you're no longer crazy about the woman?" he clarified.

Bobby shook his head. "Nope."

"When did this happen?" Jack had his suspicions but did Bobby? He and Tara had had a discussion Sunday night and both agreed—there was a strong mutual attraction between Bobby and Sue but neither was aware of it. Tara's actual comment was, clueless, both of them.

"I don't know," replied Bobby confirming Tara's belief. "It just didn't feel the same when I saw her today."

"You gonna tell her?"

"After the benefit," declared Bobby. "Now would not be a good time to tell her. She's already stressed as it is."

"You don't seem very upset," Jack observed. "In fact, you're kind of calm about it."

"I am."

"So what happened that got you going?" asked a curious Jack.

In a seeming non-sequitar, Bobby commented, "Sue was at the same restaurant."

"She's allowed to eat."

"With another man."

"Oh, I see," said Jack. And he did—Bobby was jealous.

"There you go again with your 'I see'," pointed out Bobby in exasperation.

"I say 'I see' when the light bulb goes off in my head," Jack retorted. "You know, an idea is occurring. Obviously, this doesn't happen to you because it's very dim in yours and right now it's pitch black."

Bobby stared at his friend in irritation. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Tara was so right, thought Jack. Bobby was clueless, totally clueless.

"Spell out what?"

"Look...you just said you're breaking up with Darcy, right?"

"Right."

"Are you bothered by it?"

Bobby thought. "Not really."

"All right. Now you said you saw Sue with a man. We'll assume it's a date."

Bobby glowered at the memory.

"Look at your face...your whole body language." Jack gestured at his friend. "It's screaming something."

"What?"

Jack's shoulders dropped in disbelief. "I don't believe you. Tara said you were clueless but like a good friend, I backed you up and said to give you a break because you're a guy...a single guy at that. I was wasting my breath."

Bobby looked confused.

Jack tried another tack. "Okay, let me explain it to you in simple terms. You break up with Darcy...you're a little sad but okay with it. On the other hand, you see Sue with another man. We don't know if it's a date or her cousin from Philadelphia but this upsets you. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

Bobby's look of confusion didn't change.

"You're jealous," Jack said plainly.

Instant denial was on Bobby's tongue. "Jealous? I can't be," he denied. "I would need to have feelings for her to be jealous."

"Are you saying you don't?"

"Certainly I have feelings for Sue but as a friend," he emphasized.

"So you're upset because Sue was with a friend that's not you." Jack was trying to get his friend to admit the obvious.

"Yes! I mean, no!" Bobby's eyes darted back and forth as he thought of his response.

"Well, which is it? It can't be both," Jack said logically.

"I'm... " began Bobby totally confused, "not sure," he finished.

Jack pushed himself off the desk. "Then I suggest you think about it good and hard and prove you're not so dense." He walked to the door. "By the way, D said to remind you the proposal for Dan Peters has to be ready by Monday." Just before he closed the door, he turned to say, "Think about it."

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