Free The Lessons by Elizabeth Brown

old friend. Turns out he’s flying in today, and wanted to know if I was free.”
    “Oh, so now you are free?” she teased.
    Goddammit! She got me. Outmaneuvered by Lucy-fucking-Liu. I sighed. “I guess I am.”
    “Perfect. Brad and I will join you. I mean, unless this thing with Josh is—”
    “It’s not,” I replied quickly before catching myself. “Paulina, I don’t think— Fine. Whatever. But you have to invite him.”
    “You guys are going to be so cute together, Natalie.”
    I slumped back, covered my face, and groaned.
    “Just make sure I get an invitation to the wedding.”
    ~
    Josh arrived around six, and after a big bear hug and some brief introductions, Paulina, Brad, Josh and I had made our way across the street to Rusty’s, an old-school dive-y bar that was all dark woods and dim lighting. We’d taken up residence in a booth in the back and were safely ensconced in workplace gossip about who was dating who.
    “You know, I heard the custodian found them coming out of the supply closet together and his fly was down,” Paulina said as she picked up her phone and held it out at arm’s length. “Smile guys!”
    We all leaned in and smiled.
    “A little to the left, Nat. I can’t see your whole face.”
    I leaned in further. The fact that she was trying to get me closer to Brad was not lost on me.
    “Got it,” Paulina squealed at her screen, remarkably pleased with herself.
    “That custodian thing was just a rumor,” Brad chimed in, shaking his head.
    “I don’t know. The two of them seem very chummy.”
    Josh had been staring across the table at Paulina for a while now. Something had interested him, and I knew what it wasn’t.
    “Paulina,” he said cutting in. A spark glinted behind his eyes. “Gemini, right?”
    Paulina looked shocked. “How did you know?”
    “Josh knows everything about astrology,” I explained. “Most of the time, he can guess someone’s sign just from listening to them talk. He’s a Gemini too, by the way.”
    “Awesome.” She held out her hand and high-fived her Gemini buddy. “That’s amazing! Do Brad!”
    Brad looked at me and took a long sip of his beer before turning to Josh. “Go ahead.”
    “Hmm… well, you are out with us, so you’re clearly not a homebody. So that rules out the water signs. But you’re calm, confident. I think you’re…an Aries.”
    Brad pursed his lips for a moment and then nodded. “Wow. This guy is good,” he said looking only at me. “Make sure he doesn’t use his powers for evil. What sign are you, Natalie?”
    “LeeLee is a Virgo.”
    “A Virgo, eh?” Brad echoed.
    I hung my head apologetically. “I’m such a Virgo.”
    “She’s a total Virgo.”
    “Wait,” Paulina cut in. “What does that mean?”
    I exchanged a glance with Josh. “By all means,” I said, gesturing for him to go ahead.
    “Well, Virgos are known for thinking everything through. They’re also dependable and most of the time, perfectionists.”
    I held up my hand. “Guilty.”
    “LeeLee, you are like, the case-study Virgo, girl.”
    “Thanks?”
    Brad cut in. “So, are we all well-matched? Or is Heaven Sent headed for a meltdown because of our astrological incompatibility?”
    Josh chuckled. “I won’t venture to bet until I know everyone’s rising sign.”
    “Now you’re sounding like a Virgo, Josh.” I teased. Everyone laughed.
    “But you know, going back to what we were talking about—I bet it’s hard working at a lingerie company.” Josh cut in. “It must be like sex is always on the brain, right?”
    “I don’t know…” Paulina took a sip of her vodka soda. “Honestly, it becomes just like anything else, you know? I think your mind just gets used to it. Sometimes I feel like doing PR for cheeseburgers would be more sexy.”
    “So, all these people sleeping with each other at your office— they’re just sluts then?” Josh joked. I elbowed him in the ribs. “Hey, hey, just kidding. Just kidding.” He grinned