Page 36 of The Plus One Professional
How in the hell was a woman that sexy, that cute, that adorable, that sweet, that kind, that fucking perfect still single?
15
BAILEY
“He still hasn’t sentthe NDA for me to sign.” I hoped that the panic I was experiencing over hiring Cole wasn’t evident in my voice as I grabbed my razor from my shower to pack it in my overnight bag.
Cole was picking me up in less than an hour, and I was in full what-the-actual-hell-had-I-been-thinking mode. In fairness, that mode had been percolating in the background all week, but it had definitely risen to the surface today.
It had taken me a week to gather the courage to go over and ask Cole to accompany me to the wedding. I thought once I did, I’d feel better. That hadn’t happened. Since he’d agreed, I’d only been more anxious. This morning, I’d awoken to a full-blown panic attack. I hyperventilated, and even had to breathe into a paper bag.
“Maybe he’s just eye candy after all,” Olivia observed as she put her feet up on the ottoman and reclined back in the chair Whiskey had claimed as her throne.
Duke and Whiskey were both stereotypical antisocial cats. Whenever my sisters, or Olivia and Trevor were over, they made themselves scarce. Whiskey was terrified of men, although she tolerated Trevor. Duke was just on his own program and only deemed company worthy of his presence on very rare occasions.
“That is reverse sexism,” Trevor stated as he flipped through my closet with purpose.
I wasn’t sure what he was looking for or what I should pack. This was a work trip. Yes, I’d agreed to attend the wedding as a guest, but until the actual event, I would be working. Sort of. Technically, Miranda would be taking the reins before the welcome mixer, but there was no way I was going to let anything slip through the cracks. I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to think I’d done anything to sabotage Simon’s wedding.
Simon’s wedding. I’m not sure the reality of what was happening had truly sunk in yet. I felt numb. Maybe I was in denial. Maybe all the anxiety I had about hiring Cole was just misplaced emotions that I was transferring onto a situation with a lot less at stake.
“Reverse sexism?” Olivia repeated as she rubbed her ever-growing belly.
I still couldn’t believe that my best friend was not only married and pregnant; she was expecting twins. I had never seen that plot twist coming in the story of her life. Just like I’d never expected to be planning Simon’s wedding to a twenty-two-year-old woman or hiring an escort for the occasion.
So yeah… Plot twists for everyone, it seemed.
“Yes,Lawyer Barbie, reverse sexism.”
Besides being called The Maneater, Olivia had also earned the moniker, Lawyer Barbie. Her blonde hair, generous curves, and beauty translated to her not always being taken seriously. I found it amusing that Trevor was calling her out for showing the same disregard for Cole.
“Do you think Lawyer Barbie would evernotget an NDA signed?”
“Touché. But I think this might not be a case of forgetfulness. I think maybe Mr. Plus One Professional would like to be Mr. Plus OnePersonal.”
Olivia’s brows lifted the way they did when someone said something she hadn’t thought of but agreed with.
“No! What?” I shook my head as I zipped up my toiletry bag. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He definitely wants things to getpersonal,” Trevor emphasized.
“No,” I insisted. I’d seen his expression when I’d asked him if he was free this weekend. And I’d seen the relief in his face when I’d told him that I wanted to hire him. “This is just a job to him, nothing else.”
Trevor grinned. “So, you’ve paid him?”
“Well, no. But I mean, I will.”
Olivia and Trevor once again exchanged a knowing glance before Trevor turned his attention back to my closet. He emerged with a strapless red dress I bought six years ago when Simon was in town around Valentine’s Day. It still had the tags because Valentine’s Day came and went, and I never heard from him.
Looking back, I couldn’t believe how long I’d held onto the hope that he was the one. It was embarrassing and pathetic. Almost as embarrassing and pathetic as packing to go to his wedding.
I still wasn’t sure what was compelling me to attend. When I handed my sisters their invitations and dropped the bomb that Simon was marrying Devin, they both were Team Fuck This Wedding. They wanted me to just wash my hands of the entire thing. Maybe I was just a glutton for punishment, but something inside of me wouldn’t let me do that.
“This dress is four-alarm fiyah hot.”
“I’m not wearing a red dress to the wedding.”
Trevor’s heavy sigh indicated he was not happy about my refusal. He placed the red dress back in the closet and continued his search.
