by Lara Swann
I frown, flipping through the information in front of me. They look fine, I guess, but Katy doesn’t usually go looking for contractors - if anything, that’s my job, and I’ve never gone with the first thing I’ve found.
“You think we need to hire contractors?”
“You said it yourself - it’s not our specialty. Keeping costs down and working on it ourselves made sense before, but when we’ve got an opportunity like this? Let’s get it right, Damien. Let’s go into that meeting with potential designs to answer the first objections that are going to be thrown at us. It’ll be so much smoother.”
I can’t deny that she’s right about all of that. It’s not something I’ve considered before - I’ve always been proud of building our app up from the ground ourselves - but really…having people who actually know what they’re doing take a look at our design? That would be a relief.
“And.” She adds. “Let’s do it with the agency right here on our doorstep - who happen to be Prestige’s favorite marketing group on the West Coast.”
I look up at her. “What?”
“Yep. Andrew was even kind enough to give me that little detail. He wants this to work, Damien, as much as we do.”
“Since when do you know people at Prestige?” I finally ask, the question playing on my mind this whole time.
She laughs. “That’s what we do, people like Andrew and I, when we see a deal with real benefit at risk - get together and figure out a way to knock our CEOs’ heads together so that it works.”
I look at her for a moment, then join in the laughter.
“Oh really, that’s what you’re doing, is it?” I shake my head. “I didn’t know I caused you so much difficulty.”
“Just sometimes. Just when you feel like taking a paddle boat out for a joyride at midnight.”
“I’m already getting the feeling that I’m not going to live that one down.” I say, my voice deliberately resigned.
She shakes her head. “I don’t think you even want to.”
“Are you sure you’re not running this place after all, Katy?”
“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to notice.” She grins back, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder and finally standing up, the usual cue for the end of our impromptu meetings.
“Hey, thank you.” I say, genuinely. “I’ll call them. However you get your information, it’s invaluable.”
“I know.” She says with a smile. “Now I’ll get back to my job instead of spending all my time on yours, if you don’t mind.”
I nod, but she catches a glimpse of my screen as she does, her expression changing in an instant.
“Hey - does Emily have a new post up?” The serious, business-like tone disappears, replaced by the warmth and enthusiasm she’s always shown my sister.
I nod. “Yeah, look at this. She’s on her last stop in Africa now and the pictures are just stunning.”
She comes around behind me, one hand on my shoulder as she grins while I scroll through the images.
“My god…it makes you want to go, huh?”
I laugh. “Yeah. Leave everything behind and just do something so totally different…”
“She’s a lucky girl, Damien.” Katy says softly, and I know what she’s trying to say.
I ignore it, uncomfortable. She’s my little sister. Everything I’ve done is the same as anyone else would’ve done in my position.
“We’ve both been lucky.” I shrug. “Unlucky too, I guess.”
Katy gives me a sidelong look, but she doesn’t say anything more about it. We were dealt a shit hand, sure, but this business has saved us in more ways than one.
“When does she get back?”
“In a month or so.”
“I think I’m barely going to recognize her.” Katy says with a fond smile, her eyes on the pictures. “She’s so skinny now - and tanned, too.”
She gives me an amused glance. “Nothing like your pale ass - you could do with taking a few lessons from her, I think.”
“Like not working twelve-to-fourteen hour days inside?” I raise an eyebrow.
“After this deal, yes.” She says pointedly and I laugh.
“It’s a good thing my pale skin does so well at setting off the darkly handsome look I have going on, then.”
She just rolls her eyes at me, poking my shoulder. “Yeah, did no one tell you vampires are out now? I think Twilight got replaced with Fifty Shades of Gray a while ago.”
“So you’re saying I should carry a whip around with me instead?” I say, considering.
“No!” She slaps me lightly on the shoulder before moving away from my chair, gathering up the newspaper as she does - but leaving me the folder. “You promised - no more scandals until after we sign this deal.”
I grin. “Okay. I’ll wait until then.”
“Idiot.” She mutters and I give her a smirk, grateful as always that she’s right here in my life.
I love my job, but if she wasn’t a part of it, I think some of the appeal would have dried up a long time ago.
She hesitates before stepping around my desk, looking back at me, and I see her expression change from exasperated-amusement to something more serious.
“I did mean it, you know.” She says, more quietly. “If, after all this is over, you want to take some time out…go back to college or something…you can. You covered for me for years while I was having babies - I can always do the same for you.”
I pause, some of my good mood sliding from me.
“Why would I want that, Katy?” I’m shaking my head, denying it, even before her words can register. “You said it yourself - college kids are idiots. I’m beyond all that now.”
She looks at me for a long moment. “Maybe. But these last few years…okay, this is the first time you’ve crashed a boat, but you have been spending a lot more time at all the bars and clubs. You invite me often enough and I just wonder…well, what it is that you’re looking for.”
I let out a long breath. “I’m not looking for anything, Katy - I’m just having a good time. Since Emily went off to college, I’ve been able to, that’s all - I’m just making up for what I missed out on for a while.”
She still doesn’t look convinced, so I give her a slow smile. “Fifteen years’ time, when your boys are both gone too, maybe you’ll see what I mean - you’d be surprised by all the things you suddenly want to do.”
That makes her laugh. “Like sleep?”
I roll my eyes. “Just hope I’m still having a good time when you’re old, Katy, or you’ll have no one to enjoy the freedom with.”
“Uhuh.” She says. “Well, okay then. Enjoy that freedom, Damien - I’d be the last person to deny you deserve it. Just bear it in mind, in case you ever do want to do something different.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to respond, turning for the door instead. I watch her disappear for a few moments, still a little conflicted by all those assumptions, before my eyes drift back to the computer screen.
The sight of my beaming little sister goes a long way to easing some of the sudden tension within me.
At least you’ve done one thing right in your life, Damien. Whatever regrets you might have, you’ll always know that. You did right by Emily, all those years.
I meant what I said to Katy - I’m not interested in college. I can tolerate that crowd for a fun night out, maybe - but three years with them?
No. It’s not even a little bit tempting.
I tap my fingers against the desk, wondering if maybe I am feeling a little bit restless at the moment.
I shouldn’t be, with this deal to work on and all the potential changes that could bring to our business. It’s a new project - and I love new projects. They’re enough to bring all the initial energy and enthusiasm right back again, just like Ava said.
Ava.
I’m still thinking about her. Unbidden, Saturday night comes back into my mind again. The crazy night that still doesn’t seem entirely real. I didn’t go to that
bar looking for that - that’s not really what I do. I might like a good time but in general, that doesn’t tend to involve girls. There was just something about her…and then hours later, I found out a hell of a lot more about what that something might be.
My god, Ava…
I shake my head, still disappointed that she didn’t stick around for the morning. I woke up definitely ready for another round, craving more of what we’d had just before I’d fallen asleep…and for a long moment, I couldn’t believe she wasn’t there next to me. I even thought briefly that I might have imagined the whole thing - but I didn’t have nearly enough to drink for that, and waking up in a strange hotel room with such vivid memories was more than enough to convince me.
I briefly think about going back to that bar, as I thought of doing yesterday. Looking for her.
But for what, I’m not sure.
It’s obvious she just wanted the one night stand. That’s why she left.
I should respect that - and I do.
It just doesn’t stop me thinking about Saturday night. Somehow, I have a feeling Ava is going to be a hard girl to forget about, or consign to a spectacular, one-off memory.
It takes me a while to shake off the idle daydreams and I wonder what’s wrong with my focus today, but eventually I let the reminder of Saturday night fade and reach for my desk phone.
As I do, I glance down at the information about Two-Bit Designs that Katy left me with.
There are more important things to think about.
And right now, I have a call to make.
Chapter Six
Ava
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me all this yesterday!”
Vicki gushes from where she’s sitting cross-legged next to me on the couch, bumping me every time she leans forward with her enthusiasm to hear about every aspect of Saturday night.
“Weren’t you busy yesterday? I thought Sunday was your ‘do-not-disturb study day’ for that exam you’re always complaining about.”
After I woke up at hers slightly later in the day, she still wasn’t home and I guessed she’d taken my text as encouragement of her own. I’d dragged myself back to my parents and unashamedly enjoyed the comfort of some home-cooked sustenance before going straight back to bed. Yeah, it had been one of those morning-afters.
“Yeah, busy frantically texting you for updates, girl. There are some things more important than exams, you know.”
When it comes to Vicki, I could easily believe that some things might just be everything.
Don’t get me wrong, she works hard - and I can only respect anyone who voluntarily chooses a career that involves endless exams and jumping through hoops after college - but she’s totally determined not to let these exams stop her from having a life.
I respect it - but I don’t deny I shudder at the idea. I’m done with exams and I hope I never have to go back.
“I was hungover as fuck yesterday.” I say instead, still feeling the ache of it behind my forehead. Though maybe by now I’m just imagining it. “I don’t know what you put in those cocktails, but it’s enough to convince me I don’t ever want to drink again.”
“Aw, c’mon.” She almost pouts, taking another sip of wine in obvious testament to the fact she’s fine. Of course, she drinks a lot more than me on a weekly basis, so that’s probably why. “You liked them this time!”
I laugh. “Yeah, I did.”
“Plus, it was probably all those drinks Hot-Sex-Guy bought you—”
“Damien.” I say, with another laugh. “His name is Damien.”
“I think Hot-Sex-Guy works better—”
“And he only bought me one drink, Vicki. I wasn’t even drunk when I left with him, you know - maybe a little tipsy, just enough to stop thinking so damn much, but—”
“That, if anything, is an argument for drinking every day of the week.”
“Is that why you do?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, and she grins.
“’Course not. I don’t think all that much to start with.”
I roll my eyes. “And here I thought you accountants were always thinking about crazy complicated math things.”
Though I’d also thought they were totally boring, too, before Vicki decided to become one. Of course, she says they are - that’s why she insists on having so much fun outside of work.
“It’s mostly just systems and repetition—and, wait, did you really just change the subject from your hot sex to accounting?! How are we even friends?!”
I laugh again, but I can’t help the heat behind my smile as I think back to that night. The much-talked-about hot sex. I lean back on the couch with a sigh.
“I’m not sure there’s much more to tell you, but…damn, Vicki. It was perfect. I didn’t even know sex could be like that.”
“Well, yeah. That was obvious. Or we would’ve been talking about it years before now.”
That’s true. Sex is never really something we’ve talked about before now - and not because Vicki wasn’t curious. It’s just that I never had much to say. It always seemed to me to be an intimate, private thing…and that there simply wasn’t all that much to say about it. Just a nice thing between a couple that happened occasionally and didn’t really require any special comment.
The idea of these sort of conversations always struck me as a bit crude and unnecessary.
But now…now I actually get them. It’s like there’s a fluttery-excited butterfly feeling in my stomach that just wants to come out - a giddy excitement I want to share with my best friend because it’s too much to contain myself.
“I never knew.” I admit. “I never knew that all those times you were telling me about this guy or that guy or you’d start trying to talk about it…I didn’t realize it felt like this.”
Vicki lets out an excited squeal, clutching at my arm.
“Ohh, Ava, this is perfect. I tell you, breaking up with Jackson is the best thing that ever happened to you—and to me. Now you’re done with all that boring, tame long-term-relationship sex we can finally do this! Go out together, have a good time, swap stories, crush on guys…”
I laugh, but I’m smiling and I can’t deny I like the idea of some of that. Suddenly, post-Jackson life seems like it might actually be a good thing - and filled with the kind of excitement I missed out on for years.
“You know, I think you’re right, Vicki.”
“Of course I’m right. When am I not right?”
I roll my eyes, then give her a nudge. “You still haven’t told me about what happened to you that night. At least I made it back by the end!”
“Yeah, what was up with that?” She asks, completely missing my point. “I can’t believe you snuck out of there in the middle of the night!”
I laugh, feeling a small flush of remembered embarrassment.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, Vicki!” I say, almost relieved to have someone to confess it all to. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that - I had no idea what people do after…well…all of that. I almost text you to ask, you know, at probably four in the morning.”
“You so should have.” She grins. “That way, you would’ve stayed with him and had awesome morning sex, too.”
I laugh. “I think you were probably a little busy yourself to be answering four am texts.”
“Nah.” Her expression scrunches up. “Sounds like you had more fun than I did. He fell asleep after the first round - boring.”
I grin at the way Vicki sounds about that. Before last night, I’m not sure I even realized that some people expect more than falling asleep after the ‘first round’.
“And I’m not sure it would’ve been awesome morning sex, you know. It might just have been awkwardness and confusion, with a damn headache too.”
“Oh Ava, you always do this. So focused on the worst that could happen…have a little optimism, you know. Start thinking about all the good things that could happen if you take the risk.” Vicki shakes her head. “Poor guy, waking up
alone like that…poor you, if he did half of what you say he did…”
I laugh at her mournful tone.
“I still think it was for the best. Now I just have a great memory, with none of the possible unpleasantness.”
She takes another sip of wine, then perks up.
“Ah well, maybe next time.” She grins.
“Uhuh. Let’s just wait a few weeks for ‘next time’, okay? I’m going to need a while to recover from those margaritas.”
But even as I try to moderate my overly-enthusiastic friend, I get a little tingle of excitement at the idea of doing all that again. Of going out, having fun, coming back to tell Vicki all about the amazing guy I met…
Maybe you’ll see Damien again…
Wait, no, Ava. That’s not what a one-night-stand is. That’s not a simple night of fun.
Seeing him again might make it complicated, remember?
So I just have to find someone as hot as Damien, with that ability to set my blood on fire and drive me to crazy heights…who isn’t Damien.
That should be easy, right? I mean, it worked when I wasn’t even trying…
“And you know.” I add, as that hesitation catches up to me. “Just because Saturday worked out that way…well, I might not always want to—”
I’m cut off by my cell phone ringing and I hold up a hand to interrupt automatically, even though it was me talking, not Vicki, as I pull it out.
Then stare at it as it rings in my hand, the contact flashing up on the screen.
Two-Bit Designs.
My eyes dart to Vicki’s, wide and suddenly excited.
After all this time, do I actually have a real job coming in?
She shoves me. “Answer it, damn it!”
That’s enough to break my paralysis and I go from disbelief to hurriedly swiping at the phone so I don’t miss the call.
“Hello?” I ask as it connects, uncurling from the couch and standing up.
Standing and walking across to the other side of the room is, of course, far more professional than taking this call on the couch where I was just discussing the hot sex I had over the weekend.
“Is this Ava Lockley?” The female voice on the other end of the line asks.