Roxy personally comes over to bring me a drink and sits down beside me.
“You sort out everything with the chick who said she was working for that TV show?”
“Yeah. That was a misunderstanding. I’m actually seeing her tomorrow night.”
Roxy wrinkles her brow. “Here?”
“No. It didn’t occur to me until I got here just now, but I’m going to Oktoberfest with my colleagues from work, so I’ll have to reschedule any appointments you made for me.”
“Ooh, look at you. Going somewhere with your fancy colleagues.”
“Are you jealous, Rox? You’re welcome to come along if you like.”
“Can you imagine me in a milkmaid dress? I don’t think so.”
She has a point. Roxy’s style consists of ripped black jeans, ripped black shorts, and ripped black shirts. She wouldn’t be caught dead in a dress. Well, not unless it was covered in skulls.
“You really are more than welcome to join us.”
“Thanks for the invite, but no. How are you finding the office job? Is it everything you imagined?”
“Mostly. I mean, there are a few speedbumps to iron out, but I’m sure that would be the same anywhere.”
“You’re not struggling with the corporate environment?”
“What are you implying, Roxanne? That I’m not smart enough to work in an office?”
“No, babe, of course not. It’s just…well…that chick who came here, she didn’t have your best interests at heart, did she?”
“All she wanted to know was whether I was genuine. Since I couldn’t predict her match, she needed to…”
Her eyes widen. “Wait up. You couldn’t predict her match? Like those totally damaged women who hate themselves so much, they’ll never find their one?”
“No, nothing like that. I literally could not predict anything. My magic doesn’t work on her.”
She fixes me with a gaze. “That should probably tell you something.”
“And what’s that?”
“You’re clearly from two completely different worlds. Focus on the people who love you for who you are and appreciate what you do.”
***
I’m distracted for the rest of the evening, thinking about what Roxy said. Is she right? Is it unreasonable for me to assume that Beatrix and I might eventually sort out our differences? Charlie and Elijah seem quite accepting of me, and they work in the same office. And while I don’t yet have an official science degree, that was the whole point of taking the job. To learn what I need to do to become a useful contributor to the company.
I run through the evening’s clients, barely aware of what I’m even saying. The strip club seems cheap and tacky tonight; not fun and sexy like it’s supposed to be. I head straight home after my last client and go right to bed.
Maybe spending some time with my workmates outside the office in a social situation will help me figure out whether I made the right decision to work there after all.
TWENTY-FIVE
Beatrix
Charlie texts me at 9.10am. The costumes are on hold. I’ll pick them up on my way to your place. I told Kellan I’ll collect him too, and then we can all head in together.
I can’t believe Charlie messaged Kellan before me, but I guess I should be grateful she’s offered to do all the running around.
I’m having second thoughts about Oktoberfest, though. I don’t know how to behave around Kellan right now, and I definitely don’t feel like a repeat of the evening with Elijah. I suppose there will be other work colleagues there too, and we will be drinking alcohol, so at least I’ll be able to drown any misgivings.
I go for a jog down by the river, and then go home to wash my hair and shave my legs. I also can’t help look around my place and wonder if it will live up to Kellan’s standards. He’s only seen it from the outside. Will he like how I’ve furnished it?
I make sure all the cushions are plumped on the couch and that both my kitchen and bathrooms are clean. I peek into my bedroom and smooth down the covers. Not that I can imagine Kellan in here.
Oh, who am I kidding? I can totally seem him in there, shirt unbuttoned, reclining on my pillows…
The doorbell rings, and I blush. I’m so glad no one can see in my brain right now.
Kellan’s face is smiling through the glass in my front door as he seems to be relaying some piece of entertaining information to Charlie.
I open the door, feeling stupidly nervous. “Hey, guys! Come in.”
They are both holding garment bags. Kellan ushers Charlie in, and they dump the bags over the back of my dining chairs.
I watch Kellan survey his surroundings. I think he’s impressed.
“Bea’s place is gorgeous, isn’t it?” Charlie says.
“It is. So bright and calm. Kind of what I expected from her,” Kellan agrees.
I smile shyly. “Would you like a drink?”
“Just a water for now,” Kellan says. “I don’t want to peak too early.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Charlie says. “I’ll have whatever alcohol’s in your fridge or cupboard, Bea.”
Kellan and I share a look, as if commiserating over the outrageous behaviour of our child.
Wait. Why am I pretending Kellan and I have kids together?
“Uh, help yourself,” I tell Charlie, flustered. I go to the cupboard and find a glass, filling it with ice and then water. I hand it to Kellan, and he sits down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
“Before you start drinking too heavily, Charlie, do we need a plan of attack for the rest of the day?” Kellan asks.
“You mean like rules or something?”
“Maybe. Like if we get separated, are we all going to check our phones regularly? And what happens if any of our colleagues start getting creepy with either of you?”
“It depends which colleague,” Charlie giggles. “Since I’ve discovered Elijah isn’t gay, I’d totally be onboard with that.”
I stare at her. “Really? Even though he ditched me at the casino?”
“I’m sure that was just a misunderstanding.”
I still haven’t told her about his strange dinner offer after I admonished him, but it’s not like I’m going to take him up on it, so it doesn’t really matter.
“Well, just be aware of office policy, and remember he’s your boss,” I warn. “It’s never the lowest-paid person who keeps their job when things go wrong.”
“I promise I’ll be careful.”
“And what about leaving at the end of the night?” Kellan asks. “Are we splitting cabs or Ubers? I want to make sure you’re both safe.”
“Aw, aren’t you a sweetie?” Charlie gushes as if she’s already downed half a bottle of champagne. “Bea and I always stick together, so if you find some lucky lady you want to pursue tonight, go for it.”
He glances at me, a trace of amusement in his eyes.
“I suppose we should get ready,” I say hurriedly. “Which of these is mine?”
“The one with the hem down to the knees. I knew you would freak if I made you wear the mini-dress with tulle,” Charlie says.
“Okay. Thanks.” I find the outfit with the longer hem and go to my room to change. The dress is black with white trim around the cleavage and sleeves, and it comes with a red velvet apron. A ribbon criss-crosses over the bodice and ties in a bow. It’s as tasteful as you can get for a milkmaid costume.
I figure we’ll be walking a lot, so I slip into some comfortable white flats. I tidy up my hair, put on some mascara and red lipstick, and nervously go back out into the living room.
Charlie is nowhere to be found, but Kellan is there.
He looks me up and down. “You look…beautiful.”
My skin tingles in appreciation. “Thank you. You look pretty good yourself.”
Kellan is wearing a blue-and-white checked shirt with brown suede lederhosen. He’s even already wearing the matching cap, which I have to admit is weirdly hot.
Charlie explodes from the spare room. “Ta-da!”
She is definitely going to make an impression on everyone tonight. The bottom half of her dress is red and barely covers her butt, and her boobs are almost spilling out the top of her bodice.
“You look great!” I laugh.
“Thanks, babe. You look cute too.” She turns to Kellan. “And I think you should have to wear that to work every day. It is amazing.”
He grins. “I suppose we should go. We don’t want to keep the boss waiting.”
“I’ll order an Uber,” I say.
***
Kellan
Oh my God.
Beatrix looks phenomenal in that costume. It makes her seem softer, more approachable. I also think she’s starting to thaw around me. Today, I definitely sense a lot less defensiveness.
Maybe she’ll finally accept who I am and…
And then what?
No, I don’t want to go too far down that road right now. It’s been so weird with us, and especially after what Roxy said the other night, I need to take a step back and make sure I don’t leave myself open for heartache.
We arrive at the showgrounds where Oktoberfest is held and enter the main hall. Thousands of people are seated at long tables, and nearly everyone is dressed the same as us. I spot at least three other guys in the first few minutes wearing my exact outfit. I’m used to standing out in a crowd, so this is new for me.
“Elijah said he’s at a table near the back in the middle of the hall,” Charlie tells us, looking at her phone.
“He might have to be a bit more specific than that,” Beatrix says. I note that she looks wary, as if she’s way out of her comfort zone. I suddenly feel quite protective and have to refrain from wrapping my arm around her shoulder.
“There he is!” Charlie shrieks, pointing to a nearby table. We head over and see Elijah drinking a beer next to a couple of the guys from the office’s IT department.
Charlie sits down beside Elijah and starts drinking his beer. There’s a space opposite them on the other side of the table, so I gently guide Beatrix to it, sitting beside her.
“How are you doing?” I say softly in her ear.
“Okay. It’s pretty intense in here, huh?”
I look around. “Yeah.” A band is playing some sort of drinking song, and everyone is swinging their beer steins around. “Maybe we need to start drinking, so we don’t feel out of place.”
“Yes!”
Beatrix taps her hand on the table to get Charlie’s attention. “What kind of beer would you like? We’re going to order some.”
She glances up momentarily. “Anything is fine. Thanks.” She then turns back to Elijah, who is emitting a strangely intense energy for such a casual outing. I can understand why Beatrix might feel uneasy around him. After the vibe I’ve gotten from him, and how he abandoned Beatrix to play roulette, I’m not a fan either.
We go over to the bar and order three glasses of lager. Beatrix guzzles half of hers before we’ve even finished paying.
“Maybe I should get a few extras, so we don’t have to come back right away,” I say, pointedly looking at her glass.
“Oh, yeah, that might be a good idea.”
I quickly order another three and we return to the table, where Charlie and Elijah barely even notice that we’re back.
It’s going to be an interesting evening.
TWENTY-SIX
Beatrix
Oops.
I think I’m drunk.
I’m sure there’s a rule about never drinking too much around your work colleagues, because it’s hard to be taken seriously once you return to the office. But I didn’t realise how much I’d had until it was too late.
I stopped counting the number of beers I’d downed after four, because Charlie kept shoving them in my face. And after every glass, I felt more and more floaty and happy, so it was hard to stop.
I’d managed to avoid talking to Elijah, since Charlie had been monopolising him—and when she wasn’t, he seemed eager to hang out with the IT guys. He’d even spent a few minutes talking to Kellan, although I don’t think either of them particularly enjoyed that conversation. I’m not sure whether I was imagining it, but it felt like Kellan was in a hurry to get back to me.
I don’t know when I decided to forget everything that bothered me about him, but at some point, we find ourselves on the dance floor, and I’m having the best time of my life. The live band has been rotating a set of ten or fifteen songs, but the crowd seems to approve. Sweet Caroline has already played twice, but by 7pm, the entire hall goes wild as the chorus booms through the speakers again. Kellan and I bounce around in time with the beat, and without thinking, I grab his hands and spin under one of his arms. His face lights up and he takes the lead, twisting me around in a pirouette and pulling me close.
I can smell his cologne, and his chest is warm and firm.
He suddenly dips me backwards like they do in the movies, and I squeal. He helps me regain my balance, and somehow our faces are inches away from each other.
Our eyes lock for what seems an eternity. And then he sighs, pulling me against him and wrapping his arms around me, resting his chin on my head. From this angle, I can no longer see his face.
I have no idea what’s going on, so I pull back and shoot him an accusing look.
“Don’t you want to kiss me?” I demand.
He chuckles. “My gorgeous Queen Bea, I have thought about nothing else but kissing you all day, only I’m not sure this is the time or place. If you still want to kiss me tomorrow when you haven’t had so much to drink, I’ll be waiting.”
I pout. “I don’t like that at all. Maybe I should go find someone else to kiss instead.”
He laughs. “That’s an even worse idea. How about we get you home? We’ll see what Charlie is up to, and she can either leave with us, or we’ll make sure she’s okay to go home with someone else.”
“We can’t leave her alone with Elijah. There’s something weird about that guy.” I grab Kellan’s arm to get his attention. “You know I had a crush on him when he first started at the office? But that idea makes me feel sick now. Ugh.”
Kellan chuckles. “You had a crush on him?”
I squeeze my thumb and index finger together. “Only a teensy one. Not as big as the one I have on…” Oh my God. What am I saying? I feel my face heat up.
Kellan looks at me intently. “The one you have on…?”
“You know what I was going to say! And you shouldn’t listen to me. I’m drunk, Kellan!”
“Which is exactly why I think we should leave. Don’t worry. We’ll make sure Charlie isn’t left alone with Elijah.”
“What do you think of him?”
“I don’t think it’s acceptable what he did to you at the casino.”
“Thank you!”
Kellan gently guides me back to our table, where Charlie has her tongue stuck down Gavin from IT’s throat. I laugh. It seems that when she suggested a double date the other week, she might actually have been asking about Gavin for herself. Either that, or she’s completely hammered and will regret it in the morning.
Elijah is nowhere to be found. Good.
I tap Charlie on the shoulder. She looks up, annoyed. “What? Can’t you see I’m busy here?”
“Kellan’s going to take me home,” I say. “You want a lift?”
She turns to Gavin. “You want to split an Uber later?”
His eyes widen, as if all his Christmases have come at once. He nods vigorously.
Charlie looks back at me. “I’m cool. See you on Monday.” She then lurches at Gavin again.
Kellan laughs. “I think it’s safe to say Charlie is set for the evening.”
“Okay. We can go now.”
When we get out onto the street, Kellan calls an Uber for us. The fresh air clears my head a little. “I’m sorry for all the times I was mean to you,” I say.
“It’s all right. I understand. You had your reasons for feeling t
he way you do.”
“Soulmates are bullshit, though!” I declare, probably a little louder than I intended.
“They’re not. I’ve seen firsthand many couples who have lived long and happy lives together. But maybe your interpretation of the word soulmate is different from mine.”
“Tell me yours, then.”
“To me, a soulmate is someone you want to live your life alongside. Someone who loves you unconditionally and accepts you for who you are. Someone you want to grow with and enjoy adventures with. Someone who won’t leave when things get tough.” He says that last part softly.
“But how do you know when it’s real? I mean, the last guy I dated was amazing at first. But then he turned out to be a narcissist. I thought he was my soulmate at one point.”
“I guess most people don’t truly know until enough time has passed. It can take years before it becomes clear. And you know what? It’s just a label. All I do is predict the next person who will have the most impact on someone else’s life, and that’s almost always a romantic partner.”
In my drunken state, it totally makes sense.
“Do you wonder if one day you’ll see yourself in someone’s vision?”
“Of course.” His expression turns serious. “I’ve never told anyone this, but I wonder if maybe because of what I do, I might not get a turn.”
My heart breaks, seeing him there in front of me, his eyes full of uncertainty.
I reach out and stroke his face. “You will definitely get your turn.”
The Uber arrives, interrupting our moment.
We get in the car, and I lean my face against the cool glass.
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