Chapter 46: Foiled by Foosball
When it came time again to meet with Kevin, Angela had a plan. She had spent the week asking Gunther's advice and formulating a strategy that would hopefully allow her to work on the book with Kevin but not have to spend half a year in France with him. She had yet to speak of it to Alice Monroe, choosing instead to seem perfectly at ease with everything.
In order for this to work without a hitch, it was imperative that Kevin be the one to make alterations to the plan before anything was signed and official. After all, if it was Kevin's idea, Alice was much more likely to endorse it.
Kevin had no idea as yet that Angela knew his scheme. She stayed calm during dinner, enjoying her food and drink and silently relishing the moment when she could blind-side Kevin just as he had her.
She kept the conversation mild and amusing. Letting him regale her with anecdotes of his years in France. Nothing too personal, nothing too serious.
They both laughed a great deal. Kevin had always been good at spinning a story orally. It was in the written form that Angela excelled in contrast.
"Maybe you should be taking notes," he teased, leaning close to nudge Angela's shoulder.
"Oh believe me, I am. Up here." Angela replied, tapping her temple with a fingertip. Her eyes darted across the room to the foosball table. "So, what do you say to that game now?"
"You're that eager to get beaten?" Kevin returned.
"I thought we could make it interesting..." Angela suggested as they rose from their table.
Kevin grinned. "What did you have in mind Angie~? And remember, you do have a boyfriend so try to keep it PG." He finished with a wink.
Angela smiled thinly, "Ha ha. Well. Since you were so kind as to go behind my back, if I win, you will alter the terms of the tentative agreement you made with Alice Monroe. I will no longer be required to spend six months with you in France. Instead, you will suggest to her that perhaps it would be best if I was only there for one month seeing as your schedule is busy, what with you opening new restaurants and being a world-wide famous chef and all."
Kevin's mouth fell open before he burst out laughing. "You found me out! I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Oh...I was surprised alright." Angela replied dryly.
Kevin's eyes twinkled as he smiled at Angela, "I'm surprised at you Angie. I would have thought you'd jump at the opportunity. Six months paid trip to France? I figured you would love it."
"You thought wrong." Angela stated firmly.
Kevin waved his hand then reached in his pocket for a dollar to put in the foosball machine. "Let me guess? Because of this guy you're seeing?"
"Because I have a life here! And you can't just waltz in and sweep me away just because you think it would be fun or whatever else!" Angela protested. "You don't have the right!"
Kevin lowered his gaze and picked at a corner of the wooden table with a fingernail. "...I know." He frowned then nodded. "And if I win this game?" he countered, blue eyes suddenly sharp.
Angela shrugged, feeling a tad flustered under the intensity of stare. "Then...I don't know. What...what do you want?" Angela stammered out at last.
Kevin stared at her levelly for long minutes. "You. In France. With me. Six months, no sneaking away, no running."
"Why?" Angela couldn't help but ask.
"I want this book written." Kevin said evenly then added with a wink, "And the only way to spend some decent time with you seems to be to have you write a book for me."
Angela rolled her eyes, "Wow. That is not a good reason. Come on! A whole book just so we can spend time together?" Angela sighed inwardly, if it was time together he wanted, he should have thought of that before he moved to France.
Kevin seemed to read her thoughts. "I never intended to be away so long you know."
Angela looked away. "Kevin. You can't just make a mockery of my work by forcing me to write for you just to satisfy your personal agenda. I mean, you know me, do you honestly think that would be any way to impress me? Or win me over? Even if I wasn't seeing someone?"
She was surprised when Kevin chuckled.
"Nah. But I like seeing you get all fired up." He grinned in reply.
Angela grabbed the dollar he put on the edge of the foosball table and jammed it into the slot to start the game. "You're aggravating."
Kevin laughed, "And you've missed it."
Their wrists moved as they controlled the players on the table, spinning them back and forth, sliding them up and down the makeshift field.
Angela's eyes followed each flip and jerky wrist snap, her own hands tense as she blocked Kevin from scoring. His attacks were relentless. Angela was nearly always forced to defend. She bit her lip and tried to concentrate. She could do this! She had come here each day this week after work to practice but the more Kevin tirelessly came after her, the more Angela wondered if he had been practicing as well. But how could he have known?
Her eyes briefly flicked up to his.
He didn't even look mildly concerned. His lips slightly curved in that slanted grin of confidence.
Angela grit her teeth. Her wrists pumped, her eyes darting back and forth and then she flung her arms in the air, the final goal of the match scored.
"Ha! I win!" She cheered.
Kevin leaned back with a nod and a smile. "You did. Great game."
Angela eyed Kevin warily, he was taking the loss rather well, all things considered. "So...you'll talk to Alice?"
Kevin nodded solemnly, "Absolutely. I see now, you are not to be trifled with."
Angela's gaze narrowed. "Really?"
"Oh yes. Lesson learned." He added with another nod but his eyes betrayed him, shining with veritable amusement.
"You think this was funny?" Angela's eyes were wide with disbelief.
Kevin sighed and reached out to pat Angela's shoulder lightly. "Well, yeah, a little. I mean come on Angie. One month to write a book? Be reasonable."
They resumed their seats and ordered drinks. Guinness for Kevin and tea for Angela.
She took a deep breath before speaking, "Kevin. I'm not saying I would write it in a month. I'm just suggesting I only spend one month in France. And maybe not one month in one shot but...perhaps a few trips scheduled over the duration of the entire project that may add up to a month. Doesn't that make more sense?"
Kevin frowned as he sipped his pint. "Mm. You're really against spending that much time with me huh?"
Angela sighed, "It's not YOU specifically. It's the whole idea of being abroad by myself when I've just only started to get my life in order here. Yes, you can argue the experience might be good for me but...I think, honestly, I might go a little crazy if I'm there for six months."
Kevin nodded slowly, relenting at last it seemed. "Ok. I hear you Angie. I do. If it matters that much to you...I will talk to Alice Monroe."
Angela sagged in relief. "Thank you."
Kevin raised a hand to silence her, "Don't thank me just yet. There's no telling if Alice Monroe will go for it. She seemed...very keen on the idea of you being in France for her own reasons that had very little to do with me."
"But you'll try?"
"I will."
The tension between them seemed to dissipate with those words. Angela was beyond relieved. She knew of course that Alice Monroe might not like Kevin's new proposal. But she was certain she might be willing to bend, at least a little.
"You know...my proposing you write this was never meant to upset you. I don't want to be that bad guy that forces you into things." Kevin said with surprising softness, gaze intent on his Guinness. "And I do realize that, that's not how writing works. Obviously you won't be writing your best if you're unhappy about it so...yeah. I'll talk to Alice about it. I'll just...arrange a meeting once I've sorted my schedule out for the next six months but before I do, I'll send you an e-mail with my proposal and you can approve or disapprove. Sound fair?"
Angela nodded and they lapsed into silence, each taking measured swallows of their drinks.
Kevin finally looked up, blue eyes intent. "What will you do though, if she refuses?"
Angela shrugged, "Initially, I thought I would resign...but that was my temper talking. Honestly...I'm not sure. I know she thinks I'm capable...but I don't think I'm ready for it. Not the biography writing," she amended then continued, "The whole...getting contacts in France bit. I'm so not good at the schmoozing thing."
Kevin laughed.
They settled their bill shortly after and Kevin once again insisted on walking her home. On the short walk they talked about old times. But were both careful to keep it non-romantic. So instead of reminiscing about heartfelt moments, they joked about all the silly things they did. Well mostly, it was the stupid things that Kevin did while Angela laughed. Like hiding a raw slab of ham in the ceiling above a certain classroom, smuggling alcohol into class in coffee cups, breaking into a professor's office to change the signature on his faculty e-mails to something that suggested he was overly flatulent...
"I never understood how a guy as smart as you did so many bad things." Angela commented as they approached her door.
Kevin shrugged, "Meh, I was bored?"
Angela laughed softly. "I guess...you're lucky you were never caught."
Kevin chuckled in agreement then extended his hand, "Well played tonight Angie."
"Oh," Angela chuckled softly and shook his hand, "Uh, thanks."
"I'll be in touch." He finished and with a salute and a wink he was off, jogging through the snow covered streets to hail a cab.
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Continue to Chapter 47.