Ian smiled, when Ainsley asked if they were having a sleepover on Friday night.

"I won't say no to the invitation, but I'm having brunch with my dad."

"Just your dad?"

He nodded. "He said something about Margot having a nail appointment.

Ainsley looked at her short unpainted nails. "These drive my mother crazy. Do you mind they aren't hooker red?"

Ian's eyes grew wide. "I didn't notice until you said hooker red. Not sure what it is, but now I'm curious."

She pushed his shoulder. "It's not an actual color. At least, I don't think so. I call it that to annoy my sister."

Ian groaned. "You would get along with my sister. She loves to push my buttons."

"You have buttons? I've examined all of you and haven't found any. I found a lever I like to hold on to though."

He tsked. "Dirty, dirty, dirty."

"And wet. Will those words ever get old?"

Ian laughed. "Maybe in five or ten years." Ainsley froze. He sputtered, "I don't know what I'm saying. I'm not looking that far ahead. I should have a tattoo that says 'commitment-phobe'."

"We can have matching ones." She shook her head. "I don't mind some stability. Knowing you won't tire of me is nice and some warning when you start to. For me it's the expectations I'm not into."

"Who has the expectations?"

"My mother. Marry someone respectable. Pop out a boy and girl and join the garden club. I'm destined to disappoint her and don't feel guilty about it." She waved her hand as she forced a smile. "Enough of that. Sleep over tonight. You can go off to brunch and then we will meet your friends."

"You can come to brunch."

"No, you see your father alone. Maybe I'll paint my nails to impress your friends."

"They'll like you with these." He picked up her hand to study her nails. "I like your fingers." His smile faded as he raised her hand to his lips.

Ian felt like he was in uncharted territory. Women he knew had never been as much fun as Ainsley. He was used to intense women who had their eye on the future, but it was him who made the stupid future remark.

Leaving her warm body, he had to shower to meet his father. He expected his grocery order, or rather their order. He had raised the question; either he cancelled his order to shop with her or she added to his order. Big and bold no longer between the lines was the truth. They were sharing every dinner, so it was only lunch and breakfast foods she had to add. He liked bagels, and she liked English muffins. To an innocent observer they were a couple, and oddly, it didn't scare him.

Andrew was waiting at the table when he arrived at the restaurant. He stood to shake Ian's hand. "You look happy, son."

"I am. My knee is doing great. It's not climbing ready, but I can walk distances."

"Glad to hear. And your friend?"

"Is good. We're casual. Do you know what that means?"

Andrew laughed. "I wrote the book, but the right woman can change everything you thought you knew or wanted."

Ian looked at Andrew's relaxed face. The older man looked younger than his years. "What do you want?"

"Companionship. Being alone as a young man never bothered me, plus you made me feel needed. Growing older feels lonelier. Invitations have lost their appeal when I have to go alone."

"But marriage is complicated."

Andrew winked. "I wouldn't know. Marriage isn't the be all. I'm not sure it's where I'm heading."

Ian felt relieved his dad wasn't shopping for a diamond. "I'm glad she makes you happy."

"Does your Ainsley make you happy? And I don't mean in bed."

"Dad!"

"Come on, Ian. We're both adults."

"She's fun to spend time with."

Maybe he hadn't realized he was lonely until he wasn't anymore. A Saturday night without plans was still a date even if they just watched the antics in Schitt's Creek.

"I'd like to meet her. Maybe you could bring her to dinner sometime. Margot is quite a cook." Ian could invite them since Ainsley cooked. "Or if she likes the symphony?"

"I don't know. She likes when I play."

"Bring her over. You can play and we'll share a meal."

"Maybe. I might come to play for a while today." He didn't need to spend every minute with Ainsley, but he texted to let her know he would be out longer and told himself he was being courteous.

Ian dressed in jeans and a sweater to meet his friends. Ainsley wore skinny jeans and a sweater that hugged her bust.

She winked. "You dressed up for your dad, but not me."

With the left corner of his mouth turned up, his eyes sparkled. "I dressed for the hotel restaurant, not my dad. I saw how you dressed for brunch."

"That was one-hundred percent for my mother. I would have worn jeans if I was meeting friends."

"You would not. You would have worn one of your sexy work skirts."

She smiled. "You think I'm sexy?"

He rolled his eyes. "Off the charts. I'll show you later, but let's not be late."

On the train to Cambridge, Ian squeezed her hand. "Don't worry. They're great."

It was a short walk from the Harvard station to the Mexican restaurant. As they stepped inside the warm spice air enveloped them. Ian looked around the small dining room and bar area but didn't see his friends.

He turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Seamus towered over him with a rounder Josie at his side looking at Ainsley.

"Last time I saw Ian he was single. You've been busy." Josie poked his chest.

"You didn't look like you've eaten a basketball when I saw you."

Ainsley chuckled. "When was that?"

"Sports guy. Seamus blew us off and Josie copped out, so I rescued you."

"What's this story Ian Gillespie?"

Seamus said, "Our table's ready. Some of us need drinks to hear this story."

The minute they sat down, Josie said, "I'm not drinking. I want to hear the story now."

Ian smiled, and Ainsley laughed. "I watched Ainsley's date ignore her while we talked. When you left, I stopped by her table."

"He rescued me from a guy who couldn't keep his eyes off the pregame show."

"Pregame. Ouch! That's bad." Seamus laughed.

"Ian offered to walk me home."

The server came by so they could order drinks and food. It was one of their favorite restaurants. Only Ainsley looked at the menu before ordering fish tacos.

Josie jumped in her seat. "But how do you know each other?"

Ian smiled. "We're neighbors. Same building."

"Why were you on a blind date with a single neighbor like Ian?"

Ainsley smiled. "Maybe because Ian had only flirted with me."

Josie almost choked on her water. "Ian flirted?" She covered her mouth. "Look at his red face."

Ainsley laughed at his expense. "I knew you would like Josie, but I didn't expect you to gain up on me."

"Sorry." Ainsley gazed into his eyes.

"S'okay." He smiled.

Their drinks arrived. As Ian sipped his beer, Josie turned to Seamus. "They are so cute."

"Stop!" He lifted his drink to his lips.

"Yeah Josie, leave Ian alone. How's work?" Seamus squeezed his wife's hand.

Josie turned to Ian. "What did you do about the help desk?"

Ainsley sat back with a frown. Ian looked from her to Josie. "It's a mess. HR is involved, so I can't talk about it."

She covered her mouth and turned to Ainsley. "Don't worry. He only told me as one techie to another. Don't feel bad if he didn't tell you."

Ian shook his head. "Ainsley knows, but she is bound by the same confidentiality. Neither of us can discuss it."

Seamus said, "It sucks to have to work with people. I'm happy being alone all day using my mastermind."

Ian chuckled. "Does that mean your startup is going well?"

"Things are going great."

"I'm happy for you. Josie deserves to see you once in a while."

Seamus turned to Josie. "Did you tell him?"

"He knows. You cancelled on us last time." Josie rubbed her belly and Seamus' eyes followed her hand.

"You're right. Sorry, babe."

Josie turned Ian. "Make time for Ainsley, girls like that."

Ainsley shook her head. "We're just dating. It's not serious."

Josie said, "I like you. Ian, did you hear that?"

He felt warm again. "Why did I think this was a good idea?"

Ignoring him, Josie leaned towards Ainsley. "I haven't liked a girl he's dated before."

"Have there been a lot?"

"A handful. Some were obvious like psycho Sue."

Ainsley laughed. Ian said, "Seamus, I hate your wife."

Ainsley put her arm around him and pulled him closer. "Come on. I told you about all my crazy dates."

Ian didn't really care. Her hand was warm on his waist and he wasn't a third wheel. He smiled at her sparkling eyes. "You have dated more losers than me."

"Now you found each other." Josie held up her water glass. "Here's to Ian and Ainsley and to friendship."

They clinked glass just as the server carried a big tray with their meals. Ian asked about preparation for the baby. His goal was to take the focus off him.

After Ainsley bit into her tacos, he leaned over. "Do you like them?"

She smiled. "Delicious."

He put his hand on her thigh. His plan was for another sleepover.

"You'll both come visit to meet this little one." Josie looked from one to another.

Ian smiled. "I'm happy to be an honorary uncle."

Ainsley bit into her taco. Josie used to be a night owl, but started yawning halfway through dinner.

Seamus pulled out his credit card. "We are duds these days."

Ian smiled. "That's fine." He slipped his card out of his wallet. "Split it."

After they said goodbye at the station, the married couple went towards the outbound platform. Ian stood with Ainsley on the inbound side.

"Sorry."

"For what? I like them."

"For Josie."

Ainsley smiled. "Poor thing. She embarrassed you, but she's a good friend to you."

"She's almost as annoying as Olivia."

Ainsley turned to him. "Who's Olivia?"

Ian smiled. "Jealous. My sister. Did I never mention her name?"

"Nope. Pretty name. Olivia and Ian."

"If you say so. You didn't regret saying yes?"

"No. I'm not sure about the baby thing. I hope she's not like my cousin who only talks about breast milk and other bodily fluids."

"I doubt Josie will be like that."

"You know what. I think you should meet my best friend."

"She's not from your department is she?" He didn't need to meet Henry's nemesis or crush or both."

"Nope. Maybe we can meet for drinks one night after work. Not a meal, so you won't have to stay long."

"Okay. Why not? Are we having a sleepover tonight?"

Ainsley smiled. "Friday and Saturday nights and separate beds on work nights."

"Exactly."

By Thursday night, Ian was hoping it was Friday. He had a meeting with HR which ran late and he was supposed to meet Ainsley's friend. As he reached the lobby to head to the bar where he rescued Ainsley, he saw Zach out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey, Gilly. I heard you hide in the basement."

He laughed. "Occasionally I see daylight."

The two men stepped out onto the sidewalk. Ian pointed. "I'm going this way."

Zach nodded. "Me too. Lilli's waiting for me at the Public House bar."

"I'm going there too."

"Great." Zach smiled. "Our first kiss was there. She ran away."

Ian laughed. Ainsley liked Josie, but she would really like Zach's wife. Maybe he would introduce them.

It had to happen eventually ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️