Stacy walks out of her director’s office, a bit dazed and lightheaded. The position she applied for and dreamed about since she put in the paperwork will now be hers. She was one of four top candidates who were interviewed; one of the four is her good friend Abby, who works in the regulatory affairs department. Because of required clearances through the Ethics Office and the negotiations with the Compensation Office, Stacy is told not to let on to anyone about her promotion until it is announced to the company in a week or two. In the meantime, she’s to carry on at her present job in quality control.

When she returns to her cubicle, a message flashes on the screen. It’s from Abby, who suggests they go to lunch at the diner down the block. Stacy wants to go, but she isn’t sure if Abby has been told yet that she didn’t get the job. She should have asked the director. Now getting together could be awkward. But it would be awkward not to. Abby has Stacy’s calendar and knows she’s free this afternoon. She messages back, 12:30?

They settle into a booth and order iced tea and tuna melts.

“I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m almost sure I got the job,” Abby says when the food arrives. “I had an awesome interview.” She begins to eat her sandwich with a knife and fork.

“Did someone say something to you?” Stacy asks, and then immediately regrets not saying “that’s great,” and then changing the subject.

“No,” Abby says, “but it’s a week since the last interview and I haven’t gotten a so sorry letter. Besides, I’ve been having positive vibes for the last few days. I really, really want this.” Abby closes her eyes as though meditating, but Stacy feels something more is about to erupt. “I know you applied,” she says, “but I didn’t think your heart was in it.”

“My heart is in it. I do want this job.” She picks up a potato chip, looks at it, and puts it down. Her tuna melt remains untouched.

“But you like what you’re doing in QC. Right? I thought this was just an exercise, going through the motions to see what it’s like to compete.”

“Abby, let’s face it. We both want the job.”

“Well, that’s all changed since our last conversation. Then, you said you didn’t care. Or am I mistaken?”

“No, you’re right. I did say that then. But I was trying to convince myself, in case I didn’t get it.” Stacy forces herself to maintain eye contact with Abby.

“Does that imply I should never take anything you say at face value?”

“No,” she says. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I didn’t bare my soul to you about how much I wanted the job. I thought you’d be a shoo-in, and I was trying to give myself a soft landing when it didn’t work out for me.”

“And now you don’t think I’m a shoo-in?”

“Come on. Stop it. Maybe neither of us will get the job. There are other candidates.”

“But they’re from outside the company,” Abby says. “The committee must realize there’d be a long and steep learning curve for those people.”

“We can’t know what the committee is thinking.”

“If I don’t get the job, I hope it’ll go to one of the outsiders.”

“Abby! I can’t believe you said that. I thought we were friends. Close friends. Wouldn’t you wish the best for me? I’d never say that about you. I’d be delighted if you’re the one selected. Sure, I would be sad it isn’t me, but you’d be great in the job, and I’d root for you.”

“You know you got the job! Isn’t that it? So, you can afford to say that. Am I right?”

“I’m going to leave.” Stacy tosses her napkin on top of her uneaten sandwich. “This is a conversation we never should’ve had, and if what you’re saying is true, I don’t see how we can continue to be friends.”

“Wait! I’m only joking…to see how you’d react. After all, you lied to me, so now I’m lying to you.”

“Abby—I hope you get the job.” Stacy picks up the check and pays at the cash register. She can afford to be generous.

---

Toby Tucker Hecht is a writer and scientist who lives and works in Bethesda, Maryland. Her short stories have been published for over 25 years in both print and online literary journals, including Epiphany, The Baltimore Review, The MacGuffin, Summerset Review, and Blue Lake Review. A native New Yorker with a rather traditional life, she writes fiction to probe lives more interesting than her own. She is now working on a story collection and a series of linked stories. Many of her previously published works of fiction can be found (for free) on https://tobythecht.substack.com.