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Rick went back to work after Andy's funeral. They hadn't done any good-bye show for him, but they'd all visited him at the hospital. Penny had come with him both to visit Andy and to the funeral.
It wasn't fair Andy was already gone, at forty, leaving two children and a desperate wife. Watching Andy's children at the funeral had made Penny realize what she'd done – except of course, she'd been allowed to come back. Andy would never come back.
Rick wondered what he should do with his life. If he should try to continue on his career path at the company or just do whatever he was supposed to do to keep his job and look after his family instead.
"Are you all right?" Bea asked from the doorway to his cubicle. She looked worried.
"Yes," he answered. "I'm just kind of tired of all these sudden changes in my life. I wish I could have some rest."
She sighed. "I guess life is changes... And things will get better for you."
"How do you do it?"
"What?"
"How do you handle the loneliness?"
"Oh, that! Well, I'm an introvert. I don't feel lonely most of the time."
He nodded, thoughtful. "You don't go out much, do you?"
"I don't like going out." She crossed her arms on her chest, frowning at him.
"Neither do I, although I could now, when I sleep at my mother's."
"And has Penny found someone else or not?"
"She had, but it didn't work. I think she's back for good. Except I don't really love her anymore."
He shrugged. No passion, no anger, nothing. Maybe it was the funeral, but he didn't feel anything at the moment.
"Would you like to meet the kids this weekend?" he suggested, looking at Bea who gasped in surprise.
"If you insist," she answered hesitantly.
"I insist."
"Okay." She almost ran away, as if she were scared.
Which made him chuckle. He hadn't asked for a date. Bea was weird, but a good kind of weird. He felt the need to get to know her better after she showed she cared about him in spite of being a self-proclaimed loner.
***
"So he invited you over," Kevin said. "What are you worried about? It's not a date, is it?"
"No, but..." Bea couldn't express her uneasiness. "I'd feel like an intruder! Why did he invite me?"
As if she hadn't been dreaming such a thing could happen! Why was reality so hard? She'd visited his house a hundred times in her mind since his birthday almost three months ago, and now that she could do it for real, she freaked out?
"Maybe he wants to get to know you better." Kevin shrugged. "Like he did with me. And unwillingly with Julie. I think he's trying to make friends here at the office."
"But why?" Bea tapped her foot impatiently, almost hiding behind the snacks machine in the break-room.
"Why don't you ask him?" Kevin suggested. "Why are you hiding, Bea? What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid!" She glared at him and stepped out of the corner where she'd found refuge. "We're all grownups, aren't we?"
Still, she wasn't sure she should go at Rick's. Maybe she shouldn't have asked him if he was okay. Maybe she should just stay away from him.
Except she couldn't. Curiosity was stronger. Now that he wasn't all taken by Penny, Rick was opening up with everyone, and his guard was down, which made him even more charming.
Drat! I'm supposed to have a life outside of the office! And not with a handsome younger coworker who is technically still married!
Maybe when Rick's divorce came through... If he was going to divorce Penny. But then, he didn't love her anymore. It must be tough to go back to one's parents at forty...
Julie had tried to convince him to move in with her but had failed. She still considered his kids a hindrance, which was probably why Rick had enough of her. Is he considering me now? Bea wondered. Kevin said he didn't date, though...
Snorting at herself, Bea went back to work.
***
Fred's school musical was a success. Rick went with Penny, Mandy and Harry, but invited also Kevin and Bea – and the grandparents, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Sam who was the loudest to cheer the start of his nephew's onstage career. Charlene and her boyfriend, Jamal, also came, and so did Julie, albeit late.
It was Penny's week with the children, so Rick left the school with his coworkers, and they went for a drink with Charlene and Jamal to a nearby place. Sam also tagged along, although he ended up meeting some friends and leaving them at their table.
"You could go back to singing too, Rick," Kevin said.
"I don't know," Rick said, but he was in fact thinking he missed the shows. Singing and dancing on stage had been the best part of the boyband. The rest, he could live without. But he wasn't going to be a solo artist like Robbie, so a second career in the music business was out of the question.
"Hey, let me tell you that the boy can shake his ass," Charlene said. "I've seen him dancing with the kids, and he's darn good!"
"Aw, come on, Charlene..."
"Hey, why don't we all go dancing a little?" Jamal suggested. "Come on, I'm sure the ladies would love it!"
Julie looked expectantly at Rick, but he turned to Bea instead.
"Shall we?"
She hesitated, but then followed him on the dancefloor. Rick noticed Julie's frown, but saw Kevin staying with her. Maybe Kevin could take her off his back and live happily ever after.
Bea danced with her eyes closed, as if she didn't want to see what was around her. A slow dance came on, and she had to look at him when he stepped closer and took her in his arms.
"What are you doing?" she asked, stiffening.
"Dancing?" he answered, amused.
She relaxed only slightly and kept her eyes wide open.
"Relax, Bea, I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to."
"Good, because I don't want you to do anything besides dancing," she replied, looking away. "Mmm, I think Kevin is ridding you of Julie."
Rick turned to glance at the two seated at the table, very close now. They weren't kissing, but Kevin's arm was around Julie's shoulder. She was still frowning, but she was listening to whatever he was saying.
Rick looked back at Bea and grinned. "Good. I think it was high time they united their lonelinesses."
She raised her eyebrows, skeptical. "And how are you doing in that area? Still feeling lonely?"
"No, not anymore. I guess I'm enjoying singletude."
She smiled and he felt her relax.
"Great!" she said. "Now we're talking!"
"Are you going to take me to the Singles' Club?" he asked, amused. "Is there such a place? Where do you go with Kevin and Julie?"
"Kevin and I go for walks on the lake shore, and I don't go out with Julie. We shared a room once at a convention and it was more than enough."
"So where do singles hang out?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask Kevin to take you to the right places. For me Singles' Club is more a metaphor than a real place."
"So, you don't go out much, but you like dancing."
"Yes. Charlene is right, you're a great dancer."
"Thank you." He pulled her closer. "That's not the only thing I'm good at, by the way," he whispered in his ear.
He felt her stiffen again.
"Sorry, that was creepy," he apologized, pulling back. "I'm changed, Bea. The past three months have been a total wreck, but I survived. Except I don't know yet what I've become."
"It's okay," she whispered, eyes low.
He pulled her closer again. "How about a date?"
"Rick, I don't think..."
"Hush."
He kissed her. It felt good. It might not be the start of a new relationship, but he didn't want to think about it. Just be in the moment. No plans for the future. Just waiting for the next change in his life.
She pulled back, breathless. And then she kissed him back with unexpected fervor.