Glass Ceilings

by A. m Madden

  Angela gawked at Eve, Jase smiled like a fucking fool, and my heart sped up in my chest. How perfect.

  One hot as fuck night with Angela?

  Brilliant.

  I stood quietly, not encouraging Eve’s idea but, more important, not discouraging it, either.

  “Are you crazy?” Angela asked her cousin, the look of panic clear as day on her beautiful face.

  “Why not? He’s exactly your type. He kind of reminds me of that other Nick you like, what’s his name, Bateman?” She tilted her head and widened her eyes before adding, “Although your Nick is cuter.”

  “Oh my God, shut it, Eve. You’re talking nonsense.” I couldn’t help but grin at the exchange between them, and Angela’s reaction to everything Eve said.

  “No, I’m not. It’s better than picking up a stranger who could easily kill you in your sleep. Nick, you aren’t a serial killer, right?”

  “Oh, like he would answer honestly if he were!”

  “Shush, you. This doesn’t pertain to you.”

  Angela’s mouth dropped open in a comical way. I had to stifle a laugh just from the look on her face.

  “I am not a serial killer. I promise,” I offered.

  Jase clapped his hands together once. “Perfect idea, Eve. Beauty and brains, my fiancée is the complete package.”

  Eve smiled victoriously, completely oblivious to Angela’s gawking. When Angela dragged her eyes away from Eve, panic was still evident on her face.

  “Look, we’ll make it official and professional,” Eve continued. “We can draw up a contract of dos and don’ts, to protect both parties involved.”

  Jase nodded his head manically. “Right. There will be rules and guidelines. No dildos, toys, or gadgets of any kind. Orgasm must be achieved naturally, or the other person is disqualified.”

  “This isn’t a game show, Jase.”

  “Eve, you’re so smart. This would make a great game show! My fiancée will be the hostess, and I’ll be the host. The One-Night Stand, where contestants will have one hot night to get the other off as many times as they can before they—”

  “Jase!” Angela cut his stupid rant off mid-sentence. “There will be no game show, no contract, no dildos, no one-night stand!”

  Jase leaned into Eve and said, “I thought it was a great idea.”

  I needed to take control of the situation, or Jase would end up with a dart between his eyes at Angela’s hand.

  “Okay, Mugs is going to start charging us rent soon. You guys ready to go?”

  Relief altered Angela’s frown and caused her shoulders to sag slightly. The entire topic of us having sex, whether discussed in jest or not, most definitely had made her uncomfortable. The change in her behavior was very interesting. She was no longer relaxed or natural. She fidgeted, her eyes kept darting my way, and she kept dragging her teeth over her bottom lip.

  As Eve and Jase exchanged numbers, and swapped spit, I walked over to Angela and smiled warmly. “You okay?”

  “Sure, why wouldn’t I be okay?” she snipped before quickly adding, “Um…I’m sorry, Nick. Thanks for offering to drive us home.”

  “Not a problem. Let me grab my coat.”

  —

  The streets of Chicago were deserted. The thick, heavy snow and the holiday had partyers sequestered in their warm, cozy homes, while the four of us clearly had nowhere better to be. Once we left The Dump, Jase suggested that we get something to eat. Because of Eve, he had pie on the mind and knew the perfect place to get it.

  “You think they’re open?” Eve asked from the backseat.

  “This place is always open.”

  Angela sat beside me in the front seat. She’d been very quiet since leaving the bar. Once we pulled into the snow-covered parking lot of the all-night diner, I reached for her arm to hold her back from exiting the truck. The touch of my hand on her arm caused her to jump in surprise.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes. I’m just exhausted. Her energy can run circles around mine. And—” She stopped abruptly, apprehensively looking up into my eyes.

  “And?”

  “I’m so embarrassed. I’m sure the last thing you wanted to do on Christmas Eve was to be forced to hang out with me and my certifiably crazy cousin.”

  “Hanging out with you is the highlight of my week.”

  Her warm smile lit up her face. I stared at her for a few seconds before returning my own smile. She opened her door and joined our friends out in the frigid temperatures of that inclement night.

  Jase and Eve walked arm in arm into the diner, as Angela and I followed. I’d never seen him act this way…especially before he even banged a girl.

  The diner was empty, except for the poor girl who clearly got stuck working Christmas Eve. Based on her age, she was probably low man on the totem pole. She leaned against the worn Formica counter while staring into her phone.

  Jase led us to a booth for four. We all pulled off our coats, hanging them on the hooks that were positioned at the end of each booth. Of course Jase dragged Eve by her arm to sit beside him, leaving Angela and me to once again squeeze in across from them.

  When five minutes went by and the waitress had yet to acknowledge us, Jase said, “Hey, how about some service.”

  She looked up unapologetically and sauntered over to our table. “There’s a limited menu,” she said with pure contempt.

  “We want pie,” Jase responded like a kid asking for ice cream.

  “Cherry or apple?”

  “Two of each.”

  “Whipped cream?”

  “Yes,” Eve said at the same time as Jase said, “No.”

  “Of course whipped cream.”

  “You’ll ruin it, woman. A pie needs to be tasted in its pure form.”

  The waitress watched their exchange expressionless.

  As they argued, I jumped in and said, “Two with, two without.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Yes.”

  “Milk for me,” Jase corrected.

  “What are you, five?”

  “I like milk with my pie.”

  The waitress pulled in a huge breath and rolled her eyes.

  “Um…Candy?” Eve read her nametag and smiled warmly. “I detect some hostility from you, sweetheart. Lose it, or your only chance for a tip during this long boring night will walk out that door along with our asses.”

  Candy balked, her face turning red from either embarrassment or anger, and stormed off but not before muttering a disingenuous apology.

  “Now she’s going to spit in our pie,” Jase whined.

  “I regret agreeing to this pie-eating outing,” Angela said more to herself, but her cousin heard her loud and clear.

  “You could use some pie and to get laid.”

  “I agree with Eve. I may have just met you, but sexual tension is radiating off you like steam coming from a mug of hot cocoa.” Jase lifted a finger and pointed to me. “You too, Dart-man.”

  “Ignore him,” I said into Angela’s ear. “He wouldn’t know sexual tension if it ran his ass over while he lay naked.”

  Angela giggled at my retort, and pushed into my shoulder in a show of solidarity.

  “Would, too!” he argued.

  “You are five,” Eve said with a shake of her head.

  Our pie arrived, and Candy suddenly had a saccharine smile plastered on her face. She served us without a word before retreating back to her corner. Once she was out of earshot, Jase nodded and said, “Oh yeah. She definitely spit on them.”

  Angela and I stared at the plates on the table, neither one of us making a move to sample the baked goods that had Jase dragging us there in the middle of the night. Undeterred by whether they were spit on or not, Jase dug right in. After a few huge mouthfuls, he said something unintelligible while nodding.

  Eve dived into a slice of cherry loaded up with whipped cream. She moaned loudly and effectively stopped Jase in his tracks with his mouth hanging open and his fork suspended mid
air.

  “Fuck, Eve. Don’t do that.”

  “What?” she asked before moaning again. “Eat my pie, or lick the delicious whipped cream on top?”

  Jase narrowed his eyes on her, his face looked like he was in physical pain.

  “You want to taste my cream?”

  “That’s what she said.” Angela and I both blurted it out at the same time, turned toward each other, and burst into laughter.

  When we finally calmed ourselves down, Eve was grinning and Jase was eating her cream-laden pie. “You’re so cute. I may blog about this human experiment,” she said. “This is going to be so much fun.”

  Chapter 4

  Nick

  Even after spending so many hours together, I barely got to know her. The few facts I had came from her cousin, or when Angela occasionally admitted something without thought. Once she realized that she’d done it, she quickly turned the conversation back to me. I’m not sure if she realized that I was playing the same game.

  Jase and I dropped the girls off at Eve’s apartment. “Apartment” wasn’t a proper description; it was more like a fortress, or a big-ass townhouse in one of the ritziest sections of Chicago. That would be a better description. Jase couldn’t believe he’d found a fiancée with looks and money…his words. Angela thanked me as our friends made out, and sprinted for the front door. I’d never been jealous of Jase…like fucking ever…until that moment.

  After a sleepless night filled with thoughts of Angela that caused the need to relieve the ache in my cock, I spent Christmas Day working on the two-inch-thick case file of information I’d accumulated while working at The Dump.

  This assignment was marking my last in my current job. Once I got to New York, I’d be assuming a promotion as a special agent of criminal investigations. Undercover assignments would be in my past, and I wouldn’t miss them. It was exhausting playing these roles. Nick the bartender had been my most challenging.

  I also spent a good part of my day looking into who Angela Cavello really was. When nothing turned up on either her or her family, I sighed in relief. That would really suck if I had to put her on my FBI radar. I spent way too much time flipping through her Facebook page pictures. The girl was absolutely stunning, even more so when she smiled.

  While sitting alone in my apartment, I wondered what she was doing and who with. I actually considered getting Eve’s number from Jase just to get to her cousin. I had to tread lightly with her. My time here was limited, but if I pushed too hard she’d think I had an agenda. I’d met plenty of beautiful girls, and she was just another. Except, she wasn’t. There was something about her that had my mind thinking of no one else.

  How was I going to maneuver this one?

  The day after Christmas, being back at The Dump hadn’t lessened her hold on every thought in my mind. Every time the front door opened, my eyes darted to see if she’d decided to come in. Anxiously waiting made my day drag by, and also made me extremely irritable. Jase walking in with Eve did nothing to help my mood.

  Where was Angela? Did she have a date? Was she home alone? The more I thought about her the more insane it all felt. I was a pro at reading people’s behaviors, yet my own was so atypical for me that I didn’t begin to know how to process it.

  The next day she put me out of my misery. Seeing her sitting at the bar with both Eve and Jase flooded my insides with so much excitement and relief that I almost dropped the case of vodka I was carrying from the stockroom.

  “It’s about fucking time,” Jase barked when he saw me. “Thank God, Marcy already took care of us,” he said holding up his beer.

  “Hey, guys.” Angela’s eyes found mine and the bottle of vodka I was lifting out of the box slipped from my hand, landing with a loud clank. “How was your Christmas?” I tried for nonchalance.

  “It was nice.” Angela smiled warmly. “Did you have a good day?”

  “It was fine.” I shrugged.

  “So, Nick,” Eve singsonged with a huge smile. “We’re so glad to see you. Isn’t it nice to see him, Ang? And looking so handsome, right, Ang? Blue is a great color on you, it complements your skin tone, doesn’t it, Ang?”

  Angela’s embarrassment over her cousin’s questions predictably colored her cheeks. While still staring at me, Angela shook her head, rolled her eyes, and mouthed an apology. I couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable look on her face.

  “Show them.” Jase nodded at Eve.

  Eve reached into her bag and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. With much ceremony, she smoothed it down with both palms while maintaining the grin she’d flashed when I arrived.

  “We’ve been busy,” Jase offered. “Ask us with what.” Angela and I exchanged a glance ignoring his request. “Fine, then we’ll tell you anyway,” he mumbled.

  At the top of the paper read, “Terms and Conditions.”

  Their scheme dawned on Angela just as I said, “No way.”

  “Hear us out. We’ve been discussing this at great length.” Eve looked at her stupid sidekick who was bobbing his head up and down like an idiot.

  “It’s not funny anymore, Eve. It’s becoming embarrassing,” Angela said through gritted teeth.

  “For who?” she challenged. “We both can see you are attracted to each other. There’s nothing embarrassing about liking someone. Besides, you can’t move forward in your life until you get this over with.” Eve raised a finger just as Angela was about to speak. “And I’m not talking about the stupid bucket list. Now that you’ve met Nick, you’ll always wonder.”

  Just as Eve finished her statement, my thoughts filled with what could happen between us. I would love to feel the weight of her breasts in my hands. I could only imagine what her lips tasted like. My cock grew from picturing her naked, beneath me as I thrust deep inside her. I’d have to agree with Eve, I’d most definitely always wonder.

  Ignoring Angela’s pleas to shut the fuck up, Eve proceeded to read the contract she and Jase concocted.

  “Clause number one, the one-night stand will take place in a neutral location that will be disclosed after this contract has been signed by both parties. Clause two, the one-night stand will begin at eight p.m. and conclude at ten a.m. the next morning. Clause three, a condom must be used each and every time intercourse is performed. Clause number four, both parties must approve all sexual acts. Clause number five—”

  “Nick, please tell them to knock it off.”

  I snatched the paper away from Eve. My eyes scanned the rest before I smirked. “You guys can’t be serious.”

  “Why do they think this is a joke?” Eve asked Jase, as if he were the key keeper to our fuck-fest.

  “Maybe it’s our approach. We should have booked a conference room in a hotel, to make it more professional.”

  “Yeah, that’s the reason we think it’s stupid, jackass.” I crumpled the contract into a ball and threw it at his head.

  Eve’s mouth gaped in shock. “Well, it’s a good thing I made a few copies.” She pulled two more out of her bag, sliding one toward Angela and one toward me. Eve picked up just where she left off, with each clause getting more and more graphic. With each clause, I clearly visualized Angela and me enacting that specification. This entire conversation was torture for me, complete and utter torture.

  “Okay, that covers everything. We’ll leave you two to discuss. Once you decide, just sign on the line and leave the rest to us. Oh, and don’t worry about losing those, I have plenty of copies at home.” She scooted off the barstool and added, “Come on, Jase.”

  “Where are you going?” Angela asked, unable to hide the annoyance she most definitely felt.

  “I told you we had a date.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  Eve’s brows puckered in confusion. “I didn’t? Huh, my bad. Sorry, I have a date. I’m sure Nick won’t mind driving you home, right, Nick?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Great, see? Problem solved.” Eve smiled sweetly, before adding, “Also, The Dump
is sold out for their New Year’s Eve bash. Can you get us in, Nick?”

  “Of course.”

  “Yay.” Eve pointed to me while looking at Angela. “He’s a keeper, cuz. Bye, kiddies.”

  I was pulled away for a few minutes to fill some drink orders, leaving Angela alone at the other end of the bar. When I finally had a break in customers, I slowly walked back to stand before her. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No, I’m fine. Do you have the number for a local taxi service?”

  “Angela, if you don’t mind waiting a few hours I can drive you home.”

  Mugs arguing with two guys in a corner of the bar caught my attention. I watched the exchange, taking in every expression crossing their faces.

  “Everything okay?” Angela asked, following my gaze to where the altercation still continued.

  “Yeah, just Mugs being Mugs.”

  I laughed at the enchanting way she scrunched up her nose. “He scares me,” she admitted with a shrug.

  I leaned in closer and whispered, “He scares me, too.”

  After a small giggle she became serious again. “Nick, you don’t have to babysit me just because Eve bullied you into it.”

  I made sure my facial expression held nothing but sincerity when I said, “No one can ever bully me into doing something I don’t want to do, Angela.”

  She scanned my face before meeting my stare, failing to hide the skepticism that she felt. Without a word, I moved away, fixed her a rum and Diet Coke, and slid it over on a bar napkin. “It’d really be my pleasure. Okay?”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Throughout the night I bounced around from Angela to anyone who needed a drink. In between, I kept an eye on the activity that occurred between Mugs and random characters in the stockroom. I even managed a brief conversation here and there with Angela…mostly centered around Eve and her family. I learned that Eve’s and Angela’s dads were brothers, the girls had spent the holiday with Eve’s family who lived in the suburbs, and Angela had one brother, as did Eve.