Page 18 of Catalyst
“What shall we drink to next?” I ask.
“How many older women flirt with Matthew?” Adam smirks.
“I knew that was you laughing at me in the bar line!”
Adam and I both bust out laughing at his indignation.
“I swear, Mrs. Chesterfield has more tentacles than an octopus. I’d stop one wandering hand only to feel another one somewhere else.”
“Matthew! That’s harassment. Just because she’s older doesn’t mean she can get away with that kind of behavior.”
“In any other circumstance, I would agree with you. I’ve known Mrs. Chesterfield for years now, and she doesn’t have any intention of following through on her flirtation. She’s a lonely woman whose husband died twenty years ago. If she can have a little fun torturing me, I don’t particularly mind. Although, I would prefer her hands not be quite so wandering.” Matthew smiles at me. “I appreciate you being ready to defend me, though.”
“I just didn’t want you to feel like you were being ignored if you were genuinely in distress.”
Matthew softens, wrapping me up in a hug. His cologne fills my nostrils, smelling like sandalwood. It makes me wonder what Adam’s cologne smells like. “You’re a good friend, Ellie.”
“All right, hands off my date,” Adam rumbles, making Matthew laugh as he lets me go.
“As conceited as it sounds, we’d be under the table if we drank every time I am flirted with tonight. I have had no less than ten come-hither smiles just sitting at this table.”
“We could limit it to only blatant flirting when they’re standing next to you,” Adam suggests.
“What about any time a woman flirts with him when their husband is standing right next to them?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Ohhhh, that’s a good one, Ell.” Adam laughs. I smile at him, my insides feeling warm from both his praise and the nickname.
“You two are bad influences on each other.” Matthew chuckles.
“I am not a bad influence. You guys would’ve been bored to tears without me here.” My indignant reply makes them both laugh at me.
“She has a point. This is usually about the time I’m ready to leave. I’m suddenly excited to see how the rest of the night goes,” Adam says.
“At my expense, of course,” Matthew grumbles.
“Of course.” Adam holds his hand out to me. “Would you care to dance with me?”
My heart starts to beat faster. “Sure.” I grab Adam’s hand, and he helps me out of my chair. Several other couples have already started to dance to the band’s instrumental cover music. It’s been fun to hear popular songs played with orchestra instruments.
Adam goes to spin me toward him when we get out to the floor, causing my feet to get tangled up with each other. I land against his chest with anoofas my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Well, that was graceful.”
Adam throws his head back, laughing, and I can’t help the giggle that comes out. His whole body lights up when he laughs. It’s hard not to laugh with him, even though it’s at my own expense.
“I had no idea you were a tripping hazard.”
“I’m a walking caution cone. I keep extra shirts in my desk for when I spill stuff, as well as Tide pens by the bucketload.”
Adam starts to sway to the beat of the music. All I can do is follow his lead, letting him pull me around the floor.
“I’ve wondered why you’re sometimes wearing a different shirt than the one you started with. I never felt it was appropriate to ask.”
“Normally, it’s because I dropped my lunch down my shirt.”
Adam smirks at me. “Good to know. I may ask you if I can use your Tide pen at some point. There have been several occasions where I have had to wear my jacket the rest of the day because I spilled coffee on my button-down.”
“You do not.” I scoff.
“I really do. Have you never noticed the afternoons where I’m sweating profusely but I still don’t take off my jacket?”
