by Dale, Lindy
Joel zips up his fly, assuming his look of carefree playboy-about-town. God, I hate him.
“I’m counting the minutes.”
Oh fuck.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next couple of days are busy. I’m in and out of the office with Jill, travelling to jobs, digging in the dirt. I don’t get time to see Nicholas or Joel and that’s good. It means they can’t say anything, do anything. I’m an office lackey when they’re not here — photocopying, filing, getting coffee, sitting in on meetings, Googling shit for Jill. I’m learning heaps. It’s fun, the way a placement should be.
By Friday, I’ve come to the conclusion I’m going to make it through. I can handle the subtle one-liners and looks. Hell, I’ve even thrown a few in the boys’ direction myself, to let them know that I’m aware of what they’re up to. It’s been a tough slog though and most of the time I feel like I’ve alternately been wading through quicksand or totally away with the fairies. On more than one occasion Jill has had to bring me back to reality because sometimes when I’m meant to be working, I find myself daydreaming about Nicholas’ eyes, the hair that sweeps across his brow, his large hands. I think about those hands touching me again and about Joel’s lips on mine making me burn. The worst is when we’re in the same room. My tactic then is to not meet their eyes for fear I’ll find myself staring a bit too often and a bit too long. It’s quite disgusting, that I can be so turned on when one of them swears at the photocopier or shakes the milk carton in frustration because it’s been put in the fridge with half a centimetre of milk remaining in the bottom. Disgusting.
As I’m getting my backpack from my locker that afternoon, Nicholas comes in.
“I’m glad I caught you,” he says.
“Why?” I hope he’s not going to ask me to stay late. He’s done it twice this week and though we’ve only worked and I’ve learnt a lot from him, it’s been torture not being able to touch him or kiss him. Besides, I’m tanked. I need to sit on my sofa and drink wine with my best friend. All this thinking and being on my best behaviour has done me in.
“I scored tickets to Grease tonight. You like musicals, right?”
How on earth did he remember that? I mentioned it maybe once in passing that day on the yacht.
“I love musicals.” And Grease is the mother of all musicals. It was Mum’s favourite. The first time she took me to see it I was six or maybe seven.
“I thought you might like to go if you’re not doing anything.”
“With you?” I try not to splutter out the words but seriously, is Nicholas asking me on a date?
“No, with the tooth fairy. Of course, with me. And Joel.”
I stare at him, appalled. He knows I have a boyfriend. Surely, he’s not trying to get to me through my obsession with watching people break into song and dance at inappropriate moments?
“It’s not a date, Sadie,” he continues. “You can go with that guy of yours if you like. I’m not fussed. I’ve seen the T-Birds race the Scorpions before. I thought you might like to go.”
Okay, so he knows the names of the two gangs in the musical. Either he’s been researching to impress me or he’s seen the movie. I watch as he pulls two tickets out of his pocket and holds them out. “Here. It’s one of the perks of the job. People give you stuff.”
“But they’re yours. You must have someone else you can ask.”
Nicholas shrugs. “Nobody who’d appreciate the intricacies of the chorus line the way you probably do. We can go as friends. I don’t care.”
I know he does. He’s being very nice about this.
“You won’t try anything?” Why I’m even asking this is beyond me. We both know I’ll probably be the one to make a move.
My conscience gets the better of me and I sigh. “I can’t. I don’t think it would be right to go with you when Mason is my boyfriend. It would feel like I was cheating, even if we’re ‘friends’.”
“Not if you ask him first.”
Can you do that? Is it okay to do that?
“You don’t know if you don’t ask,” Nicholas says. It’s like he can read my mind.
Before I know it, I’ve rang Mason and — him being the loving guy that he is — he’s agreed to let me go. I stipulate that it’s a work thing though, because no matter how Nicholas is trying to dress it up, I feel the teensiest bit guilty.
“It’s fine, babe. I have stuff to do anyway,” Mason says.
I wonder if he’d say the same if he knew my history with Nicholas?
“Have a great night,” he adds. “And no singing along to Hopelessly Devoted. It’s embarrassing.”
As if.
I hang up the phone, grinning from ear to ear. “Shall I meet you at the theatre?”
“I’m not sure we should go after what I heard. You don’t sing along do you?”
“Yep. And I sound like rubbish so get over it.”
Nicholas grins. “We’ll pick you up in an hour. Is that enough time? Show starts at eight.”
“I’ll be ready.”
I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Grease is one show that’s been on my bucket list since forever. I’ve seen the movie so many times I could be Sandy. Except I have red hair.
*****
When I get home, Emily is in the kitchen, drinking white wine with Alex. She’s wearing a pair of tight black pants and a black faux fur jacket. She has her blonde hair pulled back with a black Alice band and thick sweeps of eyeliner along the lids of her eyes. She looks adorable.
“Off out?” I ask, as I dump my bag and head for the shower.
“We’ve got tickets to see Grease.”
Oh. My. God.
I blink. “Wow. Fab.”
“What are you up to? Seeing Mason?”
I can feel my face going red and I can’t lie. I can’t. “I’m going to see Grease too.”
Emily claps her hands. “Why didn’t you tell me? Hashtag exciting.”
Hashtag gulp more like.
“I found out half an hour ago.”
“Do you want to share a cab? I haven’t ordered one yet. We can meet in the foyer after the show and go for supper. That’ll be fun. I’ve never done that whole theatre thing before. Do you think Mason can get us a table at that restaurant down from the theatre? He knows the owners, yeah?”
“Um.” Okay, this part of the admission is not as easy. “I’m not going with Mason.”
Emily’s eyes widen. The recognition is written all over her face. “You’re going with Nicholas?”
“Yes, but Mason knows. And Joel is coming, too.”
Emily rounds the breakfast bar faster than I’ve ever seen a girl walk in ten centimetre heels. She grabs me by the arm and pulls me toward the bathroom, excusing us to Alex before slamming the door.
“What the hell are you playing at?”
“Nothing. It’s a friend thing, not a date. Mason gets it. He knows how much I love musicals.”
“You can’t date two men at the same time. It’s wrong. Even if I don’t like Mason that much, it’s not fair to him.”
“I’m not dating Nicholas. I told you. It’s a friend thing with the three of us. And it’s Grease! You know how much I’ve wanted to see it.”
Emily’s lips twist. “Yeah, right.”
“It’s true!”
“Maybe but I still think it’s wrong. How did Mason even agree?”
“He thinks it’s a work thing.”
Which it, sort of, is. In a very loose connotation.
“You’re playing with fire, Sadie.”
And that’s when I break. “I lust after Nicholas every minute of the day but what can I do? He’s my boss and I won’t be accused of sleeping with him to get a good grade on my prac. I have to earn it on my own merit. Plus, I like Mason. He’s kind and gentle and caring.”
“And boring as all hell. You should break up with him. You’re not being fair.”
She’s right.
“I don’t want to hurt him. Nothing is going to happen. Joe
l will be there.”
“I guess so. I mean, gay men love musicals, yeah? You’d totally expect him to go. But you make sure you sit him between you and Nicholas.”
Like that would make any difference.
“Yes, Mum.”
“And I’ll be watching. I’ll scope you out no matter where you are in the theatre. Friends only.”
Talk about put a damper on my evening. I’m too afraid to scratch now for fear she’ll think I’m feeling Nicholas up. “Friends. Now let me get ready. Nicholas will be here in half an hour.”
The thought of that is enough to send butterflies whizzing around in my belly.
*****
An hour later, Nicholas, Joel and I are seated in the best seats in the house. I’m pumped. I’m also feeling an incredible case of green-eyed monster because Joel has brought a date and she’s gorgeous with a massive capital G. I know he’s done this on purpose to show we’re nothing but friends but how am I going to explain it to Emily if we happen to bump into her and Alex during intermission. Joel’s meant to be gay. It might be safer to stay in our seats because this lie is getting bigger by the second. I should never have agreed to this lunacy. I should have stayed at home in my nice, safe flat with my nice, safe boyfriend.
The show starts and as soon as I hear the reprise, I’m up in my seat, my annoyance at Joel forgotten. Nicholas, who is on my left, leans toward my shoulder. “No singing.”
I grin back. “Thank you, thank you for asking me. This is literally mega awesome.”
“Doesn’t mean you can sing. I have a reputation.”
I give him a comical salute.
We reach the scene where Sandy is on the sleep over and about to sing Hopelessly Devoted and I’m lost, I’ve completely forgotten the boys are with me, that Joel has a date, that Emily has eyes like a hawk. I’m waiting on the edge of my seat feeling Sandy’s pain of unrequited love. She’s sitting there in her little nightgown with her fluffy slippers and I want to sing. I want to. Then, I feel a hand creep into mine. It gives a small squeeze.
“I’m not going to sing,” I whisper.
“I’m not holding your hand for that reason.”
“Then why?”
Nicholas gazes into my eyes. “I want to.”
I remove his hand from mine but he takes it back. He tickles my palm and I feel like I’m fifteen and at the movies with Sean Maloney. My heart is pounding in my chest.
“You said friends,” I lean into him, whispering so as not to disturb the people around us.
His lips graze my cheek. So, not something a friend would do. I glare at him before returning my concentration to the stage. I can’t do this if he wants more. Not now.
“Sorry. I won’t do it again.” Nicholas removes his hand. It’s weird but I feel bereft and empty without his palm touching mine and I never realised until now. He shrugs and looks to the stage where Sandy has left Danny stranded at the drive-in. That’s how I feel without him touching me. Alone. Lost.
“We could have fun at a drive-in,” he whispers. “The three of us. A wagon.”
Oh, this is so not fair. He’s making me want him; want them. I look to Joel but of course, he’s too wrapped up in his ultra-sexy, model date to notice the predicament I’m in. I can feel him tapping his foot to the music because his knee is rubbing against mine. What would be the point anyway? He’s as serious as a clown in a circus.
“I’m going home,” I say. I don’t care if this is the best musical ever. I can watch the freakin’ movie without this.
Nicholas grabs my hand again. He doesn’t say anything but it feels like it’s where we belong. It’s how we belong. “Please don’t go, Sadie. I’ll behave.”
Maybe for now but what about later?
CHAPTER EIGHT
The weekend brings relief from the agony that is Nicholas and Joel. I’m alone at home with my thoughts and a mountain of unwashed overalls. Emily has gone on a mini-break with Alex to a little love nest by the sea. I’m pleased for her. This time she seems to have found the man she’s yearned for, the one who fulfils her dreams.
My day is spent doing mundane things. I do the washing; spend some more time on my assignment for prac. I research some stuff for Jill. I read a book and listen to the soundtrack of Grease while I vacuum the tiny space Emily and I call home. There’s no sign of Mason but I don’t expect to see him. He’s gone to a comic book convention on the other side of town and is probably rubbing shoulders with Thor or someone as we speak. I’ve never understood the allure of comics. Sure, I liked them when I was eight but why would anyone want to collect them? Or be ecstatic about seeing some person in a costume of their favourite character? Worse still, dressing up as their favourite. I guess it’s each to their own. It’s Mason’s thing and if it makes him happy then I’m fine with it.
I spend a lot of time thinking while I’m pottering around the house — as Mum liked to call it. I ponder the odd relationship I have with Nicholas and Joel. I know they still want me, they’ve made it fairly clear but I think I’m handling them well. I didn’t give in to Nicholas’ attempt at trickery and I didn’t thump Joel over the head, not even when he kissed that girl right in front of me. The kiss was obviously good, it made her moan, and I wanted him to kiss me like that but there’s a difference between wanting and doing. It’s what makes us intelligent beings. I may want but I will not do.
No.
At about six, my phone buzzes. It’s Mason, reminding me about the engagement party we’re going to this evening. His older brother has finally popped the question and the family is over the moon. I’ve never met Mason’s family so I’m amped to be seeing them tonight. I hope they like me because, despite the fact that Mason wants to be more serious and I’m not ready, I like him. A lot. Even if he is a bit like lettuce without dressing at times.
I reply to his text and head to the shower.
*****
Mason’s parents live in a mansion.
I repeat. A mansion.
I have no idea how I never knew this. I thought he was a normal guy living in a share house with a bunch of stinky gamer students, not part of the ‘it’ crowd. I mean, this house is literally bigger than the museum. It has its own car park that’s currently being filled with the type of cars I know I’d never be able to afford unless I became a diamond smuggler.
I mean, seriously.
Mason swings the car into the driveway, stopping under a portico that leads to huge double front doors. A guy I’m sure I’ve seen around Uni opens the car door to let me out. He’s wearing a red valet suit and looking like he’s not that keen on opening doors for twenty bucks an hour, especially since I look nothing like a celebrity. I stand on the gravel drive for a second taking it in. I’ve never seen anything like this house.
“You grew up here?” I ask Mason, as we go up the marble steps into the entry foyer. I mean, who even has an entry foyer with a hall table in the centre and a humongous bouquet on it? That’s like living in a hotel.
“Yep. I’ll show you round later if you like.”
“Do I need to bring snacks? Do you have one of those golf carts to get you from one end to the other?”
Mason chuckles. He seems more at ease here somehow, like he’s dropped the façade of how I thought he was to how he is when I’m not around. “Something like that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What? That my family own most of the city? I don’t like people to think I’m about the money. I want them to like me for me.”
“I like you for you. You know that, right?”
“You’re the one girl I’ve gone out with who didn’t burst out laughing when I said I was into comics, so, yeah.”
Now I know how he affords those comics he has in the plastic packets in his room, the ones he never looks at because they’re too precious. Even when he told me they were worth a lot of money I didn’t register. I thought he’d saved up for them, like I do when I want something I can’t afford.
Mason puts h
is hand in the small of my back and leads me through the house to a terrace and pool area. The trees are decorated with fairy lights and what must be a million candles are dotted around tables and seating areas. There’s a full bar set up near the doors and a gauzy gazebo. There are swans in the pool. Real swans. Everything is white and I feel rather out of place in the red cocktail dress Emily insisted I buy to wear.
“It’s a white party?” I feel like I’m in a scene from the book of Gossip Girl or something. In a minute Blair is going to appear holding hands with Chuck and look disdainfully down her nose at me because I’m wearing the wrong coloured dress. Someone is going to ask me to leave because I’m clearly a nobody who has no idea.
“Sorry. I forgot.”
“But I look like a cherry in a bowl of vanilla ice cream.”
“A very cute cherry.” Mason kisses the tip of my nose. He doesn’t seem to get the magnitude of my faux pas. “Come on. We better go and present ourselves to the olds otherwise Mum will think I’m not here. I’m not up for one of her lectures tonight.”
What? No ‘I can’t wait for them to meet you’? Am I not good enough? Is that why Mason has never introduced me to his family before?
We walk around the side of the pool to where Mason has spotted his parents, brother and future sister-in-law chatting to guests. I take a deep breath. I’m seriously out of my depth here. I have no idea how to behave in high society.
“Mason, darling!” Mason’s mother has a high-pitched voice that sounds a bit like a fire engine siren. Her hair is piled on top of her head accentuating her bird-like features. She looks rather good for a lady of her age though. Not natural but good. She holds her arms open for a hug and presents her left cheek. No kissing on the lips at this party. “At last,” she says. “We’ve been waiting on you for the family photos.”
Mason pushes me forward. “Mum, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Sadie Cooper. Sadie’s doing a degree in horticulture and landscape architecture.”
Mason’s mother gives me the very slow once over, stopping somewhere in the direction of my forehead. She’s smiling but her eyes are not meeting mine. “How nice. Are you of the Coopers from the Bay? Mason’s father plays golf with Archie regularly.”