“I’ll see you soon, Grace! Charlie give her my number,” and with that last demand, called out over her shoulder, they're gone and I’m left alone with Grace.
Her mouth hangs open a moment in complete shock.
“You alright?” I ask her warily.
“I just… did I really just agree to be your sister’s bridesmaid?” Blinking rapidly, Graces looks between me and the now closed doors to the bar.
A smile forces its way onto my face as I see Grace look around her like she just got swindled.
“You did,” I tell her easily.
“Holy shit,” she says with a smile. “I need a drink… you’re buying this time.”
A chuckle leaves me, rough and low and I follow her over to the bar.
“You got it, sweetheart.”
Given how my family can be, my sweetheart handled herself pretty well, but I don’t know how we’re getting out of this one…
Grace
It’s late, definitely after five o'clock already. Darn it. Glancing into the cubicles in the office, I find them empty. I slide my headphones off and hit pause on the playlist that I listen to when I really need to focus.
I had a feeling it was getting late, but not this late. Flicking my gaze to the clock on my computer screen, I confirm it’s almost six. Yep, it’s past quitting time for most of my coworkers and now I’m here all alone. Physically separating myself from my work and letting out a long exhale, I push myself back from my desk.
I spent the day working up several new ads for a health food company who wanted the whole package. From billboards to Google ads and social media placements. I’m not going to lie; I think they’re going to love them all. Their branding and messaging is solid. Still, it’s always a good idea to sleep on it, and look at it with fresh eyes the next day. It’s already six anyway; I can email the files for approval tomorrow.
When I stand up I have to crack my neck and back I’m so sore. And then I try to down the rest of my coffee but I find it empty. Oh how I wish Tracey were here now with a hot cup to keep me from falling over. I probably need some water to balance out the crapload of caffeine I put in my body today.
I head to the small kitchen to the right of the elevators, where they keep a filtered water cooler and stumble on Diane, who’s talking with Elaine and Karan, two coworkers from a couple of floors up.
“Oh! Hey,” I say, tossing my coffee cup in the trash can next to them. “I didn’t realize anybody was still here.”
“I saw you at your desk, but you had your headphones on,” says Karan, a pretty girl of Middle Eastern descent. She has a bit of British in her accent, though it’s slowly fading. “I thought it would be better not to disturb you.”
“Yeah,” I admit sheepishly. “Thank you; I appreciate it. I banged out three packages today and I’m wiped.
“Elaine was just telling us about getting hit on at the bar,” Diane says. “Right, Elaine?”
Elaine is the new girl at our company. She has dark hair and porcelain skin, which turns bright red at Diane’s statement.
“Well, I wouldn’t sayhit on,” she stammers. “I was just saying, a guy I’ve liked for a while talked to me for a long time last night.”
“Oooh,” I let the word drag on, moving past them and grabbing a paper cup, “That sounds like a win of a night. How did it end? You get his number?”
Before Elaine can do anything other than shake her head, Diane teases, “I hear that our Grace got asked out by that hot bartender Charlie.”
I freeze with the empty cup in my hand. Everyone who knows Diane at all has been introduced to Mac's, and by association, Charlie. I shoot Diane a look as I fill the glass with water, but she ignores it. I like to keep some things private, but nothing is private with Diane.
“He asked you out?” Elaine says. “You have to tell us all about it!” She’s far too excited, but it only makes me giddy. He did kiss me on the cheek. I nearly blurt it out, but feel a blush rise instead and take a drink of the cold water rather than speak.
“Yeah, 'cause Charlie is dreamy,” Karan says, practically drooling.
I laugh trying to shake it off, “It’s not that big of a deal.” It really isn’t. “I’m just doing him a favor really.”
“Spill!” Diane says. “We all want to know howyoumanaged to snarehim.”
My gaze narrows at the manner in which Diane just made that statement. How could a girl like me snare a man like him? Insecurity steeps through every inch of me slowly. I didn’t. I couldn’t. That’ s how. I’ll be damned if that doesn’t hurt to admit. I won’t; I take another sip instead, pretending that the truth doesn’t feel like stepping into a cold ice bath.
