Thanks to taking off more time for my dates with Abby, I had more work to catch up on, plus Zac kept coming late, meaning I had to clean my own office today. I had files all over my desk, several empty dishes plus two half drunk sodas. To make room for a new monitor, I’d moved a Christmas cactus I didn’t know what to do with, behind my computer, and now I was wondering why my new keyboard didn’t quite fit. As I slid it a few more inches to the right, the damn cactus fell on the floor scattering dirt everywhere.
“Shit! Shit, shit, shit. Zac! Zac, can you get in her please?” I opened the door, looking out. Lord knows why I didn’t use the intercom. Probably because he was seldom at his desk.
Like now.
“As usual. I have to do everything myself,” I muttered. “Now where the fuck is the broom closet?” Stomping down the hall and angry that this would make me even more behind in my work, I yanked open the door of what I assumed was a closet, but it actually contained everything but brooms or broom-like items. I was just about to give up when I saw some words on a door, about fifty feet down the hall. I squinted. “B something, something. Bingo! I bet that’s where they hide domestic stuff.”
Marching down the hall and muttering that I didn’t even clean my own house, let alone my office—I yanked open the door.
“Christ!”
And there he was with his pants around his ankles, face flushed, poking some gorgeous brunette up against a file cabinet.
I stood there for longer than I should have staring at the woman’s face. Didn’t she work nights? I think she was a friend of Abby’s.
“Zac! Shit. I was just...I mean... Aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?”
“Shit man!” Zac replied, struggling to pull up his pants.
I was thankful he didn’t turn around. I had no desire to see his dong hanging out.
“Close the door. Close the fucking door, asshole!”
I slammed the door shut. Then I stalked down the hall to my office, forgetting all about the broom. Now I felt sick.
Chapter Seventeen
Abby
I’d tried to go home and get some sleep after wriggling out of those kinky sex ropes, but I’d finally given up. After crying half the day, I didn’t know what to do. After my date with Steve—or should I say with Chase the Snake—there were decisions to be made.
When I showed up at Charlotte’s apartment around six o’clock the next day, my bestie knew something was wrong the minute she saw my face. Probably because of the bags under my eyes. I hadn’t slept a wink the night before.
Charlotte was just sitting there in her pajamas watching old movies with a bowl of popcorn. “Come in, come in,” she said, looking all worried and confused. “And tell me that asshole didn’t say or do something to you to get you going again.”
“Who? You mean Chase? It’s not what he said. It’s what he didn’t say.”
“Awe. Let me get you some wine. Have a seat.”
I moved over the ratty, afghan that looked about a hundred years old and tried to find a spot on the couch. Deciding it was not comfortable, I chose the chair instead. It was the only piece of good furniture she owned. I’d given her this chair as a gift, the morning after she’d taken her real estate license exam. Why she’d never pursued that instead of cleaning offices for a living, I had no idea. I guess there were more than few things I didn’t know about Charlotte, but what I did know was she loved me like a sister.
She place the bottle on the glass table top, handed me a jelly jar with wine in it, and then sat on the ratty afghan herself, staring at me while she bit her lip.
Weird. I got the same feeling when I figured out Chase was Steve. Or Steve was Chase. Or whatever. I took a deep breath.
“Sooo,” Charlotte began. “What’s up? Your mother send you anything good for Christmas?”
“You know something,” I said, putting down my wine. “Out with it.”
“What?” She feigned surprise, crossing her arms and then tapping her chin with all five fingers of her left hand.
“You knew didn’t you?”
“Knew what?”
“About Chase. You knew he was Steve. Or Steve was him. Or whatever.”
“He is?”
“Don’t play dumb, Charlotte.”
She shrugged. “I need some more wine.” This time she picked up the bottle instead of her glass and took a big swig.
“How long, Charlotte? How long have you known?”
She ignored my accusation. Wiping her mouth on the back of her sleeve, she walked over to the bookcase and picked up a photograph.
My photography.
Chase and my wedding.
“Remember this day? Remember how you told me no matter what happened, no matter where you went, no matter what you did with your life, you knew you would be happy because you found him?”
“You did know!”
Her eyes went large when she realized I’d actually not known her involvement in all this, until this very moment. She took another drink from the bottle.
“And you didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because...”
“What?”
“I...” She slid down in my chair.
shoulders caving. “I sorta...orchestrated the whole thing?”
“Oh my God. Charlotte. Why? Why would you do that to me? You’re my friend.”
She sat up straighter. “Because I was sick of seeing the two of you tiptoeing around each other like you weren’t still in love. You never should have been divorced, Abby. Besides, you said you were in love with Steve. Now you know he’s really Chase, so I don’t see why you’re so upset. I mean... except for the lying part. Sorry about that by the way.”
“Charlotte, I... Give me that.” I reached for the bottle and took a long drink. There just wasn’t enough wine in the world for what I was feeling right now. I glared at my friend but then I softened when I saw the tears in her eyes.
“Can you forgive me? I mean for lying to you.”
“You’re supposed to be my best friend. Best friends don’t lie to each other. Okay?”
“I’m sorry!”
I glanced around the room. It really was a dump. The wallpaper was peeling. There were stains in the cheap linoleum flooring, and the lighting was almost nonexistent with only one outlet. Charlotte really did struggle but she was a romantic through and through. She didn’t need her best friend giving her grief when she was barely surviving.
“Okay,” I said, wondering if I really meant it.
“Chase too?”
“What!”
“It was worth a try.”
“Well that remains to be seen.”
We spent the next hour polishing off another bottle.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive him,” I finally said, after wrapping the ratty afghan around my legs. Damn, it was cold in here, but the wine certainly helped warm me. “Besides, I’m through with men.”
“Yeah, me too.”
I stared at her. “Oh really?”
“Yup. Only good for one thing, right?” She leaned back on the couch arms outstretched.
“Oh but that one thing is really, really good,” I said while the buzz hummed inside my ears. I did feel pleasantly woozy.
“Yup. I’m going back to batteries,” said Charlotte.
“Oh, I have to tell you about this vib... Never mind.”
“Lots and lots of batteries,” Charlotte continued.
“I’ll buy you a case for Valentine’s Day.”
She hiccupped. “And I’ll get you a case too. Who needs the real thing, right?”
“Damn straight. You owe me, girlfriend. Hey, maybe we could have one of those um...toy parties. I’ve heard they’re a blast.” I moved over to a rocker near the window, taking the woolen throw off the back of it and draping it over me..”
“I think I know someone,” Charlotte said drowsily. “More wine?”
“Nah. I’ve had enough.”
“Okay.”
/>
“Whatever made you think of such a crazy idea in the first place?”
“Temporary insanity,” she said. “Brought on by multiple orgasms with a certain hottie.”
“Huh. Do I know this hottie?”
“Chase’s secretary.”
I burst out laughing. “No way.”
“Way.”
“I’d stay away from that one, Charlotte. He’s got a bit of a reputation.”
“Now you tell me.”
We both laughed.
“So, you forgive me now?”
“I guess.”
“No more men,” Charlotte said. “At least not ones we actually like.”
That was fine by me. I had no intention of giving up sex, but I didn’t want my heart getting into the picture ever again. That smooth muscle was too fragile and too easily influenced.
“We’ll just get hookups like everyone else these days.”
I giggled. “That could work. Got any more wine?” It wasn’t the greatest wine I’d ever had, about four ninety-nine a bottle, it was as far away from champagne as mud was to gold. Tonight, I didn’t care, however.
“I’ll check.” Charlotte stumbled into the kitchen, grabbing onto doorjambs along the way.
Several minutes went by and then the sound of doors opening and closing, the squelch of the refrigerator shutting, a lot of swearing on Charlotte’s part, and something that sounded like a box being dumped on the floor. Unfortunately, I was too drunk to get up and check.
“Know what really pisses me off,” I shouted.
I stood up, but then flopped back down on the couch, my head spinning like one of those tiny toy dogs on the dash of an old beat-up Chevy.
“What’s that?” Charlotte asked, handing me a beer. “Sorry, all out of wine.”
“Eh, whatever.” I threw back the beer. It was cold and refreshing and went down like ice water.
“What really pisses me off is he was sooo....”
Hiccup.
“Dishonest. I mean what kind of man has to trick a woman just to sleep with her. Them. Him. You know what I mean. Why couldn’t he just woo me like a normal guy?”
“Woo you?” asked Charlotte with an amused look.
“Yeah. I’m worth it, aren’t I?”
I scratched the spot below my breasts where my wire bra was digging into my skin. “Ah, fuck it.” Hastily, I yanked my shirt over my head and took off said bra, balled it up, and shoved it in my purse.
“We were being creative, Ab. If I recall, you did divorce the sucker.”
“Didn’t stop him trapping me in my own Goddammed office.”
Charlotte bottom lip puffed out. “I really am sorry it didn’t work out.”
“I’ll survive,” I said, telling myself I was not crying under any circumstances.
“So what now?”
I pulled the woolen blanket to my chin. “What now? You mean after we get rip-roaring drunk?” I laughed. “Oh yeah, we already did that? I know! Let’s go on holiday! I can forget all about my Ex and you can forget all about how you stuck it to your best friend.”
“I said I’m sorry,” Charlotte cried.
“I know.”
“Okay, maybe I deserved that but I didn’t try to stick it to you. Can you at least give me that much credit?”
“Only if you go on holiday with me.”
“I...I don’t know if I can.”
“Why not?”
“Abby, I’ve only been at this job six months. I don’t even have vacation time yet. Plus, there’s the whole plane ticket thing. I have nothing to wear and who would take care of my cat?”
“Oh please. Cats take care of themselves. You leave a little water. A little food. Easy peasy.”
“Easy for you. I don’t make the kind of money you do.”
“So I’ll pay your way.”
“Have to admit, it is tempting but...”
“But nothing, Charlotte. Just think about this. We’ll go somewhere warm. You’re always complaining how cold you are. We can lie on a beach somewhere. Drink pina coladas with those little umbrellas in them. Watch the hotties on the beach.”
“I don’t know.”
A clock bonged out the time, but I had no idea if it was nine, ten or half past midnight, not that it mattered.
“Charlotte, don’t you want to see me heal from my divorce?” I stuck out my bottom lip, trying to look pathetic. I was feeling no pain and thought nothing of drawing the sympathy card. “And by the way this little shtick you pulled made it worse. I don’t know how you live with that on your conscience.” I didn’t mean a word of what I’d said and I think she knew that.
“Let’s go to Jamaica,” I said lifting up and down on the couch. “I haven’t been there in years.”
“I’ve never been.”
“Awe.” I put an arm around her shoulder. She smelled like sweet strawberries and lots and lots of wine.
I could see the wheels rolling in her head. She was trying to figure out if she could get the guy across the hall to watch her cat, and maybe her mom to come and feed the goldfish. Then she’d need someone to pick up the mountains of bills that would be stuffed in her mailbox over the next week or two.
“Five days,” Charlotte said.
“Five!”
“That’s all I can afford, and you are not paying my lost wages. I’ll let you pay my plane ticket and my food, but that’s all. I have the weekend off and, if I grovel enough, I think I can sweet talk PR into giving me a few more days.”
“Yay!” I clapped my hands like a child. “We’re going to Jamaica. We’re going to Jamaica. We’re going to Jamaica,” I sang.
Chapter Eighteen
Chase
I sat outside Abby’s apartment all night, but she never showed up. I had a sneaky suspicion that closet girl might know where Abby was and maybe, just maybe, someone else did too. I set out to find Zac. I found him at the coffee machine holding the cup under streaming coffee.
“Where is she?”
“What? Oww! Don’t you know not to sneak up on a guy when he’s pouring hot coffee?” He shook out his hand and drops off coffee littered the linoleum floor. “Now, what do you want, boss?”
“First, you set me up with my ex-wife, and then you start shagging her friend. I’m sure one of you knows where she is right now.”
Placing his coffee on a nearby table, he popped the tiny cap off a creamer, poured it in his coffee, and then stirred it with a small stick. “If I tell you that, I may as well say goodbye to my balls. Of course you could fire my ass.” He paused. “I really shouldn’t tell you but...”
“I want answers, Zac. Now!”
He glanced left and then right. “Let’s take this somewhere private, shall we?”
“Fine,” I groaned.
Without any regard for the hot cup of coffee in his hand, I yanked him by the lapels, shoved him in the nearest office supply room and he fell into a stack of old newspapers which tumbled to the floor. Then I slammed the door shut behind us. “Private enough for you?”
He held up his hands in front of his face, palms out. “You look a little wild, boss. You okay? Maybe you need a drink or something. I think I have some cognac in my desk drawer. Why don’t we just...” He cracked the door open, intending to leave, but I slammed it shut fast.
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me where she is, Zac!” I had my hand around his throat, backed up against the wall.
“Okay, okay. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. All I know is she stayed with Charlotte all night drinking it up at her place. Man, what a dump. I’ve only been there the once. I’ve seen better places in a dog kennel I swear, which brings me to the subject of how the hell much are you paying that girl because it sure looks like it ain’t nearly enough.”
“Don’t change the subject, Zac.” I squeezed a little harder.
“Right,” he squealed. “Will ya let go of my wind pipe please?”
As I loosened my hold on his neck, he grabbed it with hi
s other hand, gasping. “Shit, remind me not to ever get on your bad side again.”
“Losing patience here, Zac.” I groaned. “She didn’t go back to her apartment, I checked. And no one answered the door either.”
“Because they aren’t there. They’re at the airport.”
“Airport!”
“Yeah. They’re going on a trip. In exactly...” He glanced at his watch. “Fifty-five minutes, I guess. They’re getting on a plane to Jamaica.”
“Jamaica! She didn’t notify me. She didn’t notify personnel. No one. And I specifically remember telling her there was a mandatory staff meeting the beginning of the year, which is in three days. This is so not like her. Not like her at all.”
Zac was still rubbing his neck. “Yeah well, women do funny things when they’re upset.”
“You think she’s upset?”
“Isn’t it obvious by the way she’s treating you like you have rabies?”
“Is that what her friend told you, because if she’s just upset with the other guy maybe I’m off the hook. Maybe I’m...”
“She knows, Chase.”
“Is that what her friend told you?”
“Yeah.”
“How long?”
“Almost from the beginning.”
“So, she’s okay with me lying to her?”
“No. She’s furious actually.”
“But she kept seeing me and...” The light in the room flickered, and the whole room went suddenly dark. It made the next words out of Zac’s mouth slash right into my gut.
“She said at first it was fun, but when you didn’t tell her the truth on her birthday,...”
“Tell me exactly what she said, word for word.”
“She said... You’re not going to grab me again, right?”
“Just get to the point.”
He took a deep breath. “Okay, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t so easily influenced by a pretty face. Charlotte told me, and I quote, that Abby said, ‘ you’re a hot-headed egotistical conman who cares nothing for anyone or anything, and if hell freezes over before she sees you again it would be too soon.”
I was speechless.
“But hey, you still have me.”
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