“Are you going to the party tonight?” Colleen asks as we ready ourselves to leave for the day.
I’m standing in our small, intimate space, my chair pushed back behind me, while I thread my scarf around my neck and into a loop so it hangs shorter and I won’t trip on it on the way out.
“Party?” I didn’t know there was a party. I’d assumed since the holidays were over, all of the parties had already been done.
“Yeah, for New Years. Jocelyn was supposed to host it again this year but she got the flu, so we had to postpone it. But it’s back on now. There’s a masquerade theme.”
I glance back at her and Colleen’s face is glowing with excitement. “It’s short notice. I don’t have a mask.”
“Oh, you don’t need one,” she says, waving the notion away. “Jocelyn has thought of everything. There will be masks at the door. You just need to bring yourself. Dress is casual, you know, since the holidays are over, so no need to dress up or anything either. It’s going to be chill.”
One thing I’ve noticed about Colleen—well, one more thing—is that she thinks she’s younger than she is. Either that, or she thinks she’s still living in the 90s. I bet her kids want to hide under rocks.
“Oh, okay then. Sounds fun.”
“So you’ll be there?” I feel like I’m going to let her down big-time if I’m not. It’s almost creepy, because I don’t really consider Colleen a friend, but it’s obvious she thinks I am.
“Um…”
“Oh my God, come, please!” She lunges at me, grabbing my hands and pleading with her eyes and words. Friends or not, I feel a sense of obligation to say yes, like if I don’t, I’m going to ruin her night.
“I guess I could make an appearance—”
“Yes! I’m so glad. It’s just not a party without Ellenore there to spice things up. Swear you’ll be there?”
I cringe at the use of my full name. “As long as you never use my name like that again, I swear.”
She giggles and draws me in for a big but thankfully brief hug. “You got it, girl. I’ll text you the directions. See you tonight!”
I’m already regretting including my number in the office-public phone directory that was designed for people who needed a backup replacement in an emergency when in reality it’s used for anything and everything but. Please, someone, shoot me now.
15
Against my better judgment, I walk into the office after hours with my head held high—as if I’m not a topic of conversation. True to Colleen’s words, there is a basket off to the side as soon as I step off the elevator filled with sequined and feathered masks in various colors and sizes. I choose a large butterfly design in black that covers more than half of my face and slip the strap over my head, careful not to catch my hair on the wings.
At least half of the office that I know is attending tonight, and the other half are people that I don’t readily recognize. They’re probably from a different department. Possibly Niles’ department.
I find myself hoping that they are. It increases the odds that the man himself will be too, and I start scanning the room for his tall, slim form, but the sheer amount of people, coupled with the lights having been turned down to create a shroud of darkness to allow the fairy lights strung along the ceiling tiles to shine brighter make it difficult. As do the many decorations, including lighted topiaries, garland, and mountains of black, gold, and silver balloons floating above matching ribbons that keep them held in place above chair backs and table weights.
It’s impossible to find Niles in the throng of partygoers, with everyone wearing a mask. Discouraged, I set about walking around the room, keeping an eye out for the man in question.
Somehow, a familiar voice finds me first, but it’s not the one I seek.
“Hey! You made it!” I’m smashed into a giant side-hug that presses the breath from my lungs. “Drinks are over there and food over there.” Colleen, dressed in a glittery red number that clings to her ample curves and falls to just above her knees points to a distant corner of the office where a considerable amount of out coworkers linger about, eating and talking, some doing a slow sway to the thumping club music playing from a small stereo propped on the reception desk.
“Okay, thanks.”
“No problem. I love your mask!”
Automatically, my hand reaches up to touch the tips of the butterfly wings that hover just above my jawline. “Thanks. I like yours too.”
Colleen’s mask of choice is smaller than mine, covering only her eyes and the top halves of her cheekbones. It’s classic in design with rounded edges but comes to a point, like cat eyes at the corners, finishing with black feathers that blend into her curled brown hair. The sequins glitter in the fairy lights, and I have to admit, she doesn’t look like a mom. Tonight she’s a knockout.
“Is your husband here?” I ask, wondering how a man would allow his wife out of the house alone looking like she does.
“Mike? Ha! He’s at home watching the kids. I told him, tonight is my night.”
I nod as if I totally agree, but I can’t help wondering why she wouldn’t want to spend time with her husband away from the kids. I’m not married, but I know enough to know that finding time to have a little fun together is important for any well-rounded relationship. It doesn’t give me much confidence that they’ll make it for the long haul with that attitude.
That thought brings me back to the reason I’m here and a decision I’ve been struggling with. If I’m going to be deadset on being with Niles and his friends in a real relationship, what are the chances for us making it any length of time if someone like Colleen, who’s engaged in a traditional partnership complete with children already faces fifty-fifty odds?
Once again, my mood begins to plummet. Am I making a giant mistake being here?
“You’re at a party. Why aren’t you having any fun?”
I blink at the distinctly male voice that flips my libido switch to the on position. It’s then that I realize Colleen has left, and I don’t even remember when that happened, leaving me to question how long I’ve been standing in the middle of the room starting into space.
I turn my head to see the man in question who is standing behind me, smiling from behind a satin black mask that is simple and straightforward in design. The effect reminds me of Batman and how sexy I’ve always found a man in disguise. There’s something about obscuring the facial features and, in turn, highlighting one of the best parts of the face: the lips. And Niles’ lips are as sexy as they come, now that I know how they feel against my own.
I lick my lips, thinking about some of the passionate kisses we’ve shared in the short time that we’ve known one another. I think he reads my expression, or perhaps body language, because Niles smirks in response and leans closer, until I can smell the clean, fresh scent of his cologne that stands out against the vanilla scented candles burning around the room.
Again, my thoughts stray to Dean and Shane, thinking about their discussion over Shane’s cologne with vanilla notes. I smile to myself. Standing here now, being reminded of how good we all were together, even if our time together was a drop in the bucket, nothing more than a one-night stand in the grand scheme of things, I can almost forget why I was mad at them in the first place. I can already feel myself solidifying my original decision, reinforcing why I’m here tonight.
“Niles…” I pause, unsure of how to voice my thoughts without sounding like an immature child. Plus, we’re in a public space with people everywhere who are watching—not overtly but definitely gathering data to take back to their little group chat. I am keenly aware that Niles himself has a neon blinking light flashing over his head wherever he goes, drawing unwanted attention to us here and now.
“I’ve missed you,” he blurts out, his hand reaching up to touch the side of my face so softly that I shiver visibly.
“Niles—” I try again, but he stops me with only a look.
“I’m sorry. On behalf of all of us, I’m sorry. I
didn’t know that Shane was going to pull a stunt like that, but when I realized what was going on, I did nothing to stop it, and I can’t express how sorry I am for that. You missed being with your family and it’s our fault. It never should have happened, and if I can do anything to make it up to you, tell me and I’ll do it. Anything.”
I press my lips together, fighting a smile. His earnest plea touches me deep inside, and while I want to fold like a deck of cards and throw my arms around him and confess that it doesn’t matter anymore and I’ve decided I want him—them—in my life, I show restraint by continuing to stand there and stare into his eyes.
“What about Dean and Shane?” Does he really speak for all of them? I would be more impressed if they were all here, too, to express their apologies personally. But I also recognize that this is an office party and they’re not on the payroll. The likelihood of them attending is slim.
“Why don’t you ask them yourself?” Niles lifts his gaze to some distant spot behind me, and I turn to see two tall, sexy bodies that are distinctly male and ones that I’d know anywhere approaching.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask as soon as they’re within range.
Dean and Shane take turns giving me a hug and then step back a respectable distance. I can’t help but wonder if they do it for my sake or for the company surrounding us.
“It’s a party,” Dean says as if it should have been obvious. “Who misses a party?”
“Not us,” Shane backs him up.
“I don’t recall ever seeing you at office parties before,” I point out.
“That’s because we didn’t know you’d be there.”
Dean’s response floors me and touches my heart, making me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I’m so glad that my walking out on them didn’t change the way they feel about me. I wasn’t sure if our connection had been strong enough to last even a few days let alone a week.
My eyes burn and my nose tingles and I have to cast my gaze to the floor to chase away the tear that threatens. I refuse to be a sorry sap in front of them or anyone.
“Did you tell her?” Shane asks Niles, and we all look to him as if to confirm.
He nods. “Of course.”
“What did she say?” Dean asks, and now all eyes are on me.
“She wanted to hear it from your mouths.”
I feel Niles’ hand on the small of my back, giving me the courage to say what I need to say.
Before I speak, though, I look around. “We should do this somewhere else.”
“Why? The music is loud enough. No one can hear.”
Dean makes sense, in normal circumstances. “Actually, we have a small audience,” I point out, witnessing a few lingering eyes from behind concealing masks.
“They might be curious about why you’re talking to three men,” Niles says, “but they can’t hear anything we say unless they get closer. Don’t worry about it.”
“I have to,” I argue. “I have it on good authority that there’s a group online where everything that goes down in this office is talked about. Apparently, Niles and his ‘mystery woman’ are a major topic of conversation lately. This”—I wave a hand between our small group—“is bound to help them make some key connections, and I don’t think any of us want that kind of attention, do we?”
They consider this, glancing around at everyone and then back to one another, communicating silently about how to move forward.
Niles presses the base of my spine more firmly and I start walking, following behind Shane and Dean toward the office space beyond the main lobby where we can have a quiet conversation without worrying about prying eyes and ears.
When we reach our destination—a large conference room just off the adjoining hallway where the music, laughter, and general chatter of the partygoers was dampened—we step inside and close the door, leaving only a small crack so we can hear anyone who may be coming.
Instantly, I feel vastly less exposed and much more relaxed.
Dean props his butt on the edge of the conference table, while Shane sits in one of the many chairs. I stand between them, with Niles at my back nearest the door. They watch me, as if waiting for me to go first.
I spread my hands before me in a helpless gesture. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Let me.” Shane sighs. “I’m sorry for what I did. It was my idea, not theirs, so if there is anyone you should be mad at, it’s me, not them. In fact, if you decide you never want to see me again… I mean, I’d hate that. I really would. But I would understand. And I would step out of the way for you three to be together, if that’s what you want.”
I see the pain and regret in his eyes, and I think I believe him. He seems genuine.
“Now wait,” Dean speaks up. “I could let you go down with the ship all by yourself…and I’m tempted to do just that, but…well, I could have spoken up and I didn’t. This whole thing is just as much my fault as it is his.” He addresses me now, his eyes fixed and filled with the same regret I see in Shane’s eyes. “I hope you can forgive me too. None of us meant to hurt you in any way.”
“We were being selfish,” Niles adds. “And greedy and insensitive.” Dean and Shane are in agreement, nodding along. Niles continues, “And pigheaded, stubborn mules—”
“Hey!” Dean protests.
“Well? We were. None of us went after her, did we? We just watched her walk out the door without a peep.”
Well…when he put it that way, Niles is right. No one ran after me. A girl loves to be chased, after all. It makes her feel kinda special. “He has a point.” I brush my hair back over my shoulder, lips pursed and eyes downcast.
I don’t fool them for a second.
“You’re a wise guy now, eh?” Dean asks, standing and stepping up to me. He crooks a finger under my chin and lifts my face up so I’m forced to meet his eyes. “I’m truly sorry, and I don’t say that often. I should have gone after you and fixed everything then and there. I regret not doing that, but I promise you, if you can forgive me, I promise to never let you walk out of a door again without chasing after you.”
It’s a sweet gesture, and one I want to accept, but I can’t resist teasing him. “Even if I were going to the grocery store?”
“Especially if you’re going to the grocery store.” He’s adamant, and it makes me laugh.
Shane stands, and he and Niles move closer. “In that case, I swear I will too. Grocery stores are the single biggest attraction for single men looking to hook up.”
“Oh come on,” I laugh. “I’ve never met a guy in the cereal aisle. That’s an urban myth.”
“Nope,” Niles insists. “They hang out in the candy aisle.”
“Waiting for all the single women in need of a chocolate fix,” Dean confirms.
I slap his chest playfully. “You guys! The scary thing is that I believe you.”
“We may be many things, toots, but liars we are not.” Dean’s hands find my waist and his thumbs caress my hips through my clothes. “Are we forgiven? Or do I have to do something totally outlandish to earn you back? Because I’ll do it.”
“Don’t test him. He’s certifiable.”
I don’t doubt Shane’s words. Something about Dean and his over-the-top humor and playfulness tells me that he’s the type to do some crazy things to make a point—or just to have fun.
“I won’t push it,” I claim, putting my hands up. I don’t step away from his touch to say what I need to say next. “To be honest, I was really hurt. Beyond hurt. What you did crossed boundaries for me and it was really insensitive and selfish, like Niles said.” Each man’s face becomes a mask of contrition, and I continue. “But then I went home and I talked to my grams about it.”
“Your grandma knows about us?” Dean seems far too pleased to hear this, while Shane and Niles appear on edge, unsure of where this might be going.
“She does.” I press on. “And something she said rang true for me.” I take a deep, fortifying breath. “Long story short: you’
re a bunch of doofuses who are at best reactionary and if I care about you at all, I need to learn to live with that. And… I need to stop worrying so much about what others think of me or my life and follow my heart.”
There’s a long, drawn-out moment of silence before I hear Niles whisper behind me, “And what is it saying?”
I turn sideways so I can see him better without cutting off my line of sight from Dean and Shane. I want all three of them viewable when I say this, because I have a feeling I know how they’re going to react, and I don’t want to miss a thing.
“That it wants you. All of you, for as long as I can keep you.”
Their expressions are a mix of elation and jubilation, and it fills me with profound happiness that I put it there.
“Toots,” Dean says, pulling me in so that our bodies touch from top to bottom and not a whisper of air can come between us, “you got us for as long as you want to keep us.”
“I second that,” Shane says, coming to stand beside Dean. His blue eyes bore into mine. “You’re the single best thing that’s happened to us all year. Hell, in a long, long time, and we’re not ready to let you go.”
“Ever,” Dean adds.
“And,” Niles says, closing in from behind and dropping a warm kiss to the back of my neck, “we’ve already decided that there’s never been a better fit for us than you. So…”
He lifts his head and looks to his friends, and as one they ask, “Will you keep us?”
A smile blooms on my face, spreading so wide my cheeks burn. I’ve never been happier when I reply, “Forever and ever.”
I know it’s only been a short time, but it feels like forever that we’ve known each other, and I’m ready to explore this thing between us to the very ends of the earth, if that’s what it takes, because a connection like ours only comes once in a lifetime. Or, in my case, three times all at once.
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