Between You & I

by Susan Cairns

  Once I have my hair up in a messy bun and I’ve freshened up my face, I head downstairs, yelling, “Case, you done yet?”

  “Five more minutes!” she yells louder than she needs to considering I’m standing outside the bathroom door.

  “Seriously?” I head over to the decorative mirror hanging behind the couch. “It’s Fran’s and Josh saw you in and out of your work clothes last week. I don’t think he’s really going to care what you have on.”

  “Speak for yourself, hottie!” Casey appraises my look as she walks out of the bathroom. “Who are you all dolled up for? And don’t tell me you’re not. You only drag out those tight-ass jeans when you’re trying to catch someone’s eye.”

  “Would you believe me if I told you all the rest of my pants are dirty?” I rub excess lip gloss off the side of my mouth.

  “Fuck no. You’re dressed like this for Reid, aren’t you?” She stuffs her work clothes into the book bag she tossed on my couch. “Admit it, Tay, I’m going to win this bet and you want me to.”

  “No, and no. The whole point of this outfit is to come across as confident and sexy. I need to show Reid I’m not the wishy-washy person he sees at work. It doesn’t mean I want him to peel these off of me later. But if Adam shows up, I might take him up on the offer.”

  “Adam’s not coming, I made sure of that.”

  “What?” I whip around to see if she’s being serious, and from the look on her face, I can tell she is. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because all is fair in love and war. Besides why would I fuck up my own chances at one hundred dollars?” Case asks as she tucks her lip gloss into the small cross body purse she uses for bar nights. “Anyway, Adam said he has some work thing he’s staying after for. I guess he was promoted and they have some big meeting on Tuesday that he needs to get ready for. So it’s just you and boss man tonight.”

  “Gah, he’s not my boss!” I yell, shaking my open palms in front of me for emphasis.

  “Thank you for admitting that finally. And he might not be, but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind calling him ‘Sir’ later,” Casey says doing a quick turn and kicking her heeled foot up behind her.

  Crossing the room, I make it look like I’m heading over to smack her. “You’re such an ass!” I bump my hip into hers as I head to the kitchen table where my bar purse is.

  Casey spins, following my every move. “Okay, I promise I’ll be good if you just admit you’re attracted to him?”

  Purse in hand, I head back to the couch where I tossed my everyday bag when I came into the house. “You’re goading me and I’m not going to bite,” I respond while switching my wallet and keys to my small bag.

  “Come on, the dude is fucking hot!” Casey’s voice gets louder. “I know you’ve checked him out. Hell, all of us have checked him out, including Miranda.”

  “What?” I ask, snapping my head back and scrunching my face. Gross! “How the hell do you know if Miranda has checked him out?”

  “Please, the woman’s line of sight is always focused on that tight ass. But you wouldn’t notice since your eyes are always focused on his ass too.”

  Rolling my eyes, I drop my hand, purse included, against my leg. “Please, I do not stare at his ass.”

  “Maybe not all the time, but you’ve checked it out. And don’t think I haven’t seen you drooling over his biceps.”

  Blowing out a huff, I give in to her prying. “Well if his shirts weren’t so fitted, then I wouldn’t have a problem, but they’re tight and he’s ripped, so I look. Sue me!”

  “Ha! I knew it!”

  “Please, you already said everyone checks him out, probably Brian included.”

  “Oh, and I know you do. I just wanted you to say it out loud.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” I glare at her. “ Are you ready to go?”

  “In a hurry to see boss man?”

  “Keep it up and I’ll leave you here.”

  “It’s, like, a half mile walk. I’d be fine.”

  “Care to test that statement?” I run through the front door, trying to get it closed before Casey has a chance to stop me.

  “Don’t be a bitch, Taylor! I’m wearing heels!”

  “You said it didn’t matter,” I argue as I attempt to pull the door out of her hands. She’s stronger than I thought.

  “I was joking!” Casey yells, and I let the handle go, so the door flies open. “Now be a good friend and drive my ass to the bar!”

  “As you wish,” I say and curtsy as Casey walks by me toward my car.

  The familiar smell of stale alcohol and bleach hit my nose as soon as I pull open the door to Fran’s. It smells like Friday night. Just as I did when we were leaving my house, I wait for Casey—whose nose has been glued to her phone—to pass me before I head into the bar. Stopping after a couple steps, I look around for our coworkers, but for some reason, my vision stops at the corner of the bar where Fran is standing right in front of Reid. It looks as though she might be flirting with him, or attempting to, but from where I’m standing, Reid just looks uncomfortable.

  “Let's get a drink and maybe save boss man. The look in Fran’s eyes is kind of scaring me, so I’m sure it’s making him a little uneasy.”

  “Right, Fran flirting.” I shake my body. “Ugh, so gross.”

  “Ha! You can say that again.” Casey leads the way, her heels clicking against the aged tile floor.

  “Speak of the devils!” Fran yells way louder than necessary. “We were just talking about you two.”

  “I’m sure you were,” Casey responds, stealing the words right from my mouth. “Fran, are you scaring boss man? Because he’s already been subjected to Taylor’s bitchy mood all week.”

  “Hey!” I furrow my brow and swat Casey’s arm. “I was not bitchy.”

  “Maybe we should get Reid’s opinion on that, because by the end of the day today, he definitely looked like he needed a drink.”

  “Okay, don’t drag me into this.” Reid holds up his hands defensively. “I’m just sitting here enjoying my beer and unwinding from the work week.”

  “See, he has to unwind.”

  “Casey,” Reid warns. “I wasn’t implying what you said was the reason.”

  “All right, drama queens, what’ll it be?” Fran asks, putting an end to our squabbling.

  “I’ll take one of those dark beers that I had last week.”

  “A porter, sure. Taylor?”

  “I’ll have a vodka tonic with a lime, please and thank you.” Fran turns to go make our drinks, and I slide onto the bar stool one away from Reid.

  “Please and thank you,” Casey mocks, leaning against the back of the stool between Reid and me. “Really, I’m pretty sure she forgot about your shit attitude from last week.”

  “What’s your problem all of a sudden?” I ask, swinging my stool so I can face her. “Is Josh not coming?”

  “No, he’s coming. He’ll be here in a half hour or so.” She looks down at her chipping manicure.

  “So why are you being bitchy?”

  “I’m not. Just having a little fun.” She blows a piece of nail polish off her fingertip then looks at me.

  “I’m not finding it very fun.”

  “That’s because it’s at your expense. So, Reid,” Casey changes the subject, looking at Reid, “where’s the rest of the crew?”

  “They went to play pool or darts.” He nods toward the area with the dart boards and pool tables.

  “Don’t you know how to play?”

  “I do, but I wanted to relax and drink my beer for a while.”

  “Fair enough, who’s all here?”

  “Uh, Travis, Jodi, Kevin, and Tevon, I think.”

  “Tevon, my girl, she came,” Casey says, bouncing with a little too much excitement.

  “This one’s on the suit, but are you two starting a tab?” Fran asks as she slides our drinks in front of us.

  “Yeah.” I dig my debit card out of my purse then flick it across the bar to Fran
.

  “Thanks, bestie!” Casey squeals then hugs me around the neck.

  “You’re giving me money, so don’t think you’re getting drunk on my dime tonight.”

  “Party pooper,” Casey pouts, pulling away from me. “I’m going to see my people. You two have fun.” She pushes back from the bar stool, making it scrape across the floor, before she takes off toward the pool tables.

  There’s an awkward silence after she leaves, so I pick up my drink and take a couple sips. Being outside of work with him is weird, something I have to get used to considering we’re going to be out with clients starting Tuesday night. Setting my glass on the bar with a thud, I laugh when I see Reid do the same.

  “So is this a little weird?” I ask, not knowing how to start a conversation with him that doesn’t involve work.

  “Is it?” He sits forward, straightening his back.

  “A little.”

  “Listen, I know things were tense at times this week, but they don’t have to be. That’s why I wanted to get to know you,” Reid says.

  I blow out a sigh, trying to think of how to respond. “I know, I’m sorry about earlier.”

  “About earlier… what was up? Did I do something to piss you off?”

  “Yeah, kind of. You undermine me all the time, and it makes me feel inadequate,” I say, being as truthful as I’m willing to be.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I’m serious! You always make comments that make me feel inadequate and stupid, like I’m not doing my job right. I’ve never had to train someone to take over my clients for me. It’s usually the other way around.”

  “Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

  “It’s not just that. You know I wanted your job, and of course I didn’t get it. Now that I’m working with you, I get why Miranda chose you over me and it makes me question my worth.” I cut him off when it looks as though he’s going to say something. “And before you tell me what you’ve heard about me, put yourself in my shoes and think about how I’m feeling. I get that everyone thinks I’m going to be this awesome account executive with a little more learning, but it’s something I was planning on being now.”

  “Instant gratification,” he says.

  “Excuse me, it’s not instant gratification. I worked my ass off for this job and to prepare for the interview. I studied those files inside and out.”

  He leans a little closer to me, putting his elbow on the bar. “That’s the problem. You walked into that office with only the things you knew about the businesses. You could have made suggestions, offered new ideas to Miranda. Things that would have impressed her. But you didn’t, and Miranda was looking for someone who could offer her more.” He puts up his hand, halting me as I’m getting ready to speak. “You need to look at this as an opportunity. I want to teach you, I want to help you grow as an employee, and I’m not sure someone else would feel the same.”

  “It’s just disappointing.”

  “It is, but you’ll get over it and you’ll grow. You just have to let it go and work with me. Don’t be that person who tries to pull shit to make themselves look better, because in the end, you’re going to look like an ass.”

  “Well, geez, way to put it out there.”

  “I’m starting to find that’s the only way to get you to listen,” Reid says, looking down the bar.

  “Are you saying I’m difficult?” I ask, hearing the flirty tone in my voice.

  “I wouldn’t say you’re difficult, but you’re driven, and sometimes that isn’t the best thing.”

  I huff. “Fine, I’ll be more agreeable, if you think it will help me in the long run.”

  “Really, it’s that easy?”

  “Well, yeah, I can clearly see that you’re not going anywhere because you’re Miranda’s golden boy. So if I can’t beat them, I might as well join them.”

  “I’m not Mirada’s golden boy. I’ve just brought her something that she needs. Listen, I’ve been there. I’ve been passed over for positions and I’ve gotten them over people who thought they should have been the top choice. It’s part of life. In this job market, we’re lucky to have the job we do, so be thankful Miranda sees potential in you.”

  “You’re probably right…”

  “Wait, hold the phone, did you just say I was right?”

  “Did you just say ‘hold the phone’? God, can you date yourself any more?”

  “And the smartass is back.” Reid grabs my shoulder and shakes me. “Aww, Taylor, I’ve missed you!”

  “Now who’s the smartass.”

  “This”—he points back and forth between us—“this right here is what I want our working relationship to be. I want to be able to have fun, joke around, but also get things done. And we’ve more than proved that we can do that.”

  “Gah, why do you have to be right?”

  “Was it easier when you were trying to be closed off, professional Taylor?”

  “God, no! You make it impossible.”

  “It’s because we’re super compatible, so just go with it.”

  “Aww, look at you two playing nice over here,” Casey barges into our conversation—neither of us saw her coming. “So now that you’ve kissed and made up, how about you come play some pool with us? This is supposed to be your happy hour, Reid.”

  “You want to go?” Reid asks me, pretty much ignoring Casey.

  “Sure, but I’m going to kick your ass.”

  “Ha, no, she’s not. She sucks at pool and darts,” Casey says before I have the chance to fall on my face.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Case! Maybe Reid sucks more than I do. Did you think about that? Maybe I could have hustled some money out of him.”

  “Please, you can’t hustle a hustler, am I right, Reid?” Casey moves as though she’s going to elbow him.

  “I’m not a hustler, but I’m pretty good at pool and darts.”

  “All that time hanging out in Chicago bars trolling for chicks?” Casey asks, winking at Reid.

  “Casey, seriously? Are you drunk already?”

  “Maybe just a little,” she says, holding her thumb and pointer finger about an inch apart.

  “We should probably get another drink before we go over there.” I nod toward our half-empty glasses on the bar.

  “I’ll get them. You go get things ready with Casey.”

  “Oh hell no, I’m not playing you two. There’ll be no competition.”

  “She’s right, I really suck that bad.”

  Reid leans into my space. “Don’t worry, I’m not that bad. I should be able to keep our heads above water.”

  “Josh is here!” Casey screams, and we watch her run over to the door to jump into his arms.

  “Christ, this is going to be a fucking long night,” I say under my breath, but clearly loud enough for Reid to hear because he laughs.

  While Reid waits for Fran to make her way back to our end of the bar, I grab our half-empty glasses and head over to the pool tables where our coworkers are hanging out. I snag a high-top table by setting down our glasses and tossing my purse in the middle. Jodi, Travis, Tevon, and Kevin are set up at the dart board, which leaves the pool table open for Reid, Josh, Casey, and me. This should be good. I really wasn’t lying when I said I sucked.

  Speaking of sucking, I look toward the door to see if Casey and Josh have moved, only to catch them with their lips glued together. I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. I’m happy Casey seems to be taken by Josh. It’s been a long time since one of us was happy with someone.

  “What has you smiling?” Reid asks as he walks up holding our fresh drinks.

  I nod toward where Casey and Josh are making out by the door. “That, seeing her with someone. It’s been a long time.”

  “Is he her boyfriend?”

  “I don’t know if they’ve made it official yet, but it looks like they’re heading in that direction.”

  “What about you?” Reid sneaks the quest
ion in while I’m in my “Happy for Case” bubble.

  “Nice try, Mariano. I told you when you divulge, I will too.”

  “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He smiles and shrugs. “Let’s get this game set up so when Casey comes up for air, we’ll be ready.”

  “Did someone say my name?” Casey yells as she and Josh make their way across the bar.

  “Does she have bat hearing?” Reid asks with a smirk as he pulls the triangle from below the pool table.

  “Something like that.” I laugh and put some quarters in the slot. “So nice of you to finally join us.”

  “Whatever, you’re not even ready yet,” Casey shoots back at me.

  “What’s up, Taylor?” Josh asks over the music.

  “Hey, Josh, not much, how’ve you been?”

  “You know, livin’ the dream.”

  “Same.”

  “You ready to get your asses kicked?” Casey says.

  “You wish!” I throw back for good measure, even though I know they’re going to kill us.

  “Reid, you’re the new guy, so you can break.”

  “How thoughtful, Case, he’s the one setting the table up.”

  “I try,” she adds with a laugh.

  As requested, Reid finishes racking the balls then takes his place at the other end of the table to break. He sinks two balls, a solid first then a stripe, making us solids, but hands the stick to Casey before coming to stand by me at the high-top table. In true Casey fashion, she sinks three stripes before sending the cue ball flying off the table.

  I can’t help but laugh at the power behind the shot. “Geez, Case, getting a little out of control, aren’t you?”

  “I had to scratch in order for you to have turn. Now go miss so Josh can have a shot.”

  “Ass,” I say taking the stick and cue ball from her.

  Since I’m able to line up my shot, I make sure I have a good chance at getting a ball in the hole, which I do on the reset, but then I sink the cue ball. I step back next to Reid and watch Josh line up his shot. Just like Casey, he’s able to clear a good portion of the table before coming up empty.