My mouth hit the floor. I looked back and forth among Yolanda, Mr. Little, and Michael.
Michael jumped from his seat. “You can’t do this to me! I make more money than half your other authors combined! Yolanda, tell him!”
“I have nothing to say.” She closed her mouth in a thin line of nude lipstick.
Mr. Little stuffed his Jets hat on his head and pulled on his gloves. “My word is final. You will no longer come into this office. The rest of the work that is completed on your manuscript will be communicated via e-mail, telephone, or post. I’ve sat back and watched your shenanigans and have had to spend more money on public relations because of you. You make us money? Not after we spend it fixing your shenanigans! It’s just not worth it anymore.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some grandkids to visit. Yolanda, as we discussed.”
“Thank you, Oscar. Caroline, I expect to see you bright and early tomorrow. We have some things to discuss. Michael, I need one more word with you.”
Rooted to my seat, I knew I should get up and leave but I was still in shock with what had gone down.
“Caroline? Tomorrow?”
“Yes, Yolanda. Thank you.”
Back in the lobby, I saw Brian rubbing his sister’s back. It was such a nice thing to see. I knew the anger he’d displayed earlier was only because of his concern for her. It was endearing and made me feel more than happy with my decision to see where he and I would go.
“Ahem.”
Brian looked up and smiled. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Caroline, I am so sorry I got you fired. He just seemed so nice. I didn’t think I was hurting anyone.”
“I didn’t get fired. He did.”
“What?”
“They are not renewing his contract. I get to stay on. As a matter of fact, I am to report bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“That’s great news.” Brian hugged me tight. I never wanted him to let go.
“I know! Crazy. I thought for sure I was getting the boot.”
I pulled away from the embrace in time to see Michael stalk toward the elevators, muttering under his breath. Our eyes met.
“You! This is your fault. But you know what? Screw you. Screw this fucking place. I have more talent in my fucking pinky than anyone else you could bring in here. You’ll see.”
I saw him notice Siobhan. “Oh, here.” He threw something at her that landed at her feet. “You can have your fucking panties back. I don’t need them anyway.”
Siobhan cried out in embarrassment. Brian sent a right hook across Michael’s cheek as the elevator door slid open.
“I’m sorry,” Brian whispered.
“Don’t be.” I tiptoed up and kissed him.
The last time I ever saw Michael Mortimer he was holding his cheek with a shocked look on his face as the elevator doors closed.
“Come on,” Brian said. “Let’s take the stairs.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
When I finally made it home, Sarah and Melody were in the kitchen poring over take-out menus. It looked as though we’d be having sushi tonight.
“You’re back!” Melody ran over and hugged me, lifting me off the ground. “Now spill! I want to hear all the dirty details about you and Brian. I went with Sarah to drop off your bag at the bar. His brother is cute.”
“Easy. He’s married.”
Melody pouted. “He’s still cute.”
I hadn’t had time to take off my coat or drop my bag, and both of my best friends in the world were sitting side by side on the couch waiting to hear about all of my drama. I’m not ashamed to say it felt good. I’d spent too long living vicariously through them and it was pretty freaking awesome that I finally had dirt to dish.
“Let me take off my coat, get a drink, and order some food. We have a lot to talk about.”
The three of us sat cross-legged around the coffee table sharing pints of noodles, spring rolls, and three rolls of sushi. And, of course, wine. We were working on our second bottle when I got to the part where I slept at Brian’s apartment.
“Holy shit, girl! He’s hot and sexy!” Melody had obviously had more than her share of the two bottles of wine.
“I know, right?” I giggled, downed my glass, and opened a third bottle.
“So I take it you didn’t need an ice pack this morning?” Sarah asked.
“No, I didn’t.” I threw a pillow at her. “It wasn’t like that, though. I mean it was. It was hot and sensual and amazing but mostly, it was—”
“Perfect?”
“Yes. Perfect. It’s like I woke up and realized where I am supposed to be and it’s with him. And then in the next thought I asked myself why it took me so long to figure it out, you know? Like somehow I knew all along it was supposed to be Brian but I didn’t let myself go there because he wasn’t ‘the target’ or some stupid shit.”
“Well, I for one am very happy you opened your eyes. I mean Ryan, what can I say? He was definitely fuck-me-stupid hot but he wasn’t for you. You need more, what’s the word?”
“Structure? Stability?” Melody piped in after a loud hiccup.
“Maybe. But you know what I mean.”
“I do.” And I really did. “Is it weird that I miss him already?”
“Nope. Not at all!”
“It’s like you want to write ‘I miss you’ on a rock and throw it at his face so he knows how much it hurts to miss him.”
I shook my head. Only Melody would come up with shit like that.
“Sure, I guess. But that’s not even the best part! I have to tell you what happened when I was called into the office.”
“Pantygate.”
I looked at Melody. “What?”
“That’s what they called it on some blog. Pantygate.”
“Great. Ugh.” I told them all about how I told off Michael. I was pretty proud of myself.
“Love it. It’s like I told my principal, I might be a lady but when I get mad I become an evil demon bitch who will make assholes wish they were never born.” Sarah always did have a way with the visual.
I continued with the story of how I found out and Brian’s reaction. I walked them through the meeting and ended with Brian punching Michael.
“I wish I could have seen your face when Brian hit him. Must’ve been awesome.”
“It kind of was.” I spoke through a mouth full of food. “He totally stood up for his sister, you know? She was a bit of a mess. Especially when Michael threw her underwear. I felt bad for her.”
“Yeah, she seems like a nice girl. Mel, you’d like her.”
Melody cringed. “I’d rather that than the cold shoulder I’m getting from Danny. I swear, I’m off alcohol.”
We stared at her as she lifted the wineglass to her lips.
“Well, not now but in the future. Alcohol is bad for my legs.”
“They swell?” I asked, suddenly concerned.
“No, they fucking spread like soft butter. I haven’t heard from Danny since the night at the bar. Whatever. I think my guardian angel drinks enough for the both of us.”
“Danny’s out of town.” I remembered a conversation Brian and I had earlier.
“Well, isn’t that great. Doesn’t mean he can’t call me. Fuck him.”
“Sweetie,” Sarah began, “did you give him your number?”
The blank stare on Melody’s face told us the answer.
“You dipshit! How is he supposed to call if he doesn’t know your number?” Sarah threw half a spring roll at Melody.
Melody picked up a noodle and flung it at her.
“Maybe I should stop drinking. When I’m not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.”
“So, what’s up with Brian’s black eye?”
Sarah changed the subject. Not that we didn’t want to hear Melody’s woes but sometimes there were so many. Maybe we were terrible friends.
“You didn’t tell me he had a black eye.” And Me
lody was back from her twenty-second trip to her personal black hole of sex partners.
“He didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Do you think it was about you? I mean, Ryan hit him, right?”
“Wow. How the hell did you go from living in Steven’s shadow to having two men fight over you?” Melody stretched out on the floor.
“I don’t know. I just know he doesn’t want to talk about it.” My phone rang and I looked at the screen. “Speak of the devil.”
“Brian?” Melody sat up as straight as an arrow.
“Nope. Ryan.” I held out my finger. “Hello?”
“Care! How are you? Sorry I didn’t call. I’m in Cali meeting with my agent.”
“That’s okay. So, what’s up?”
“I just thought it would be cool if you and I had dinner when I got back. Just to catch up.”
“Dinner when you get back?”
Both girls looked like they would pop blood vessels.
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea.”
“Oh, right. Brian. Well, I mean, we can have dinner as friends. We are friends, right?”
“Yeah, we’re friends.”
“So dinner on Saturday?”
I didn’t know what to say so I blurted out, “Make it lunch.”
I shrugged and made a face at the girls. I wasn’t sure if dinner was a good idea. Lunch sounded safer.
I heard Ryan laugh on the other end of the phone. “Lunch it is. See you then.”
I clicked off and dropped my phone like it was tainted with bubonic plague.
“You really think that’s a good idea?” Sarah pulled out her teacher voice again.
“What was I supposed to say?”
“You were supposed to say no. You were supposed to say that you’re giving it a go with Brian and that you appreciate the offer and thanks but no thanks.”
Sarah stood abruptly and walked to the kitchen.
“It’s not like she’s going to fuck him at lunch.” Melody intervened.
“Of course not. I’ll tell Brian. Plus, if I am going to find out how Brian got the black eye, I’m going to have to ask Ryan. And it will give me a chance to make it clear that there will be no more hanky-panky between us. We’ll just be friends without the ‘who fuck’ part of the equation.”
“I guess,” Sarah said as she put leftovers in the fridge.
She was clearly not happy with my decision. I was a bit put off, truth be told. Wasn’t she the one who’d lectured me on taking charge of things and not hiding and running away?
“What’s your deal, Sarah?”
“I don’t have a deal.”
“You have an attitude.”
“Uh-oh.” Melody curled up on the couch to watch the interaction.
“No, Care. I don’t. I just don’t want you falling back into your old habits.”
“Nothing about this screams ‘old habits.’ Since when is it a habit of mine to pluck a guy from the bar and bring him home? Bang a complete stranger on vacation? Finally find a guy who likes me for who I am and not what he can mold me into?”
“I’m just saying. I’m your friend. I want you to be careful.”
“Well, thanks for the concern but I think I and my lady balls got this one. Maybe you should start paying more attention to your old habits and let me do what’s best for me.”
“That wasn’t called for,” Melody piped in.
“Oh, shut up! You two bitch because I’m not happy then you question my motives when I am.”
“I didn’t bitch.” Melody looked sad. I shouldn’t have dragged her into the argument.
“Care—”
I didn’t give Sarah time to finish her thought. “Don’t ‘Care’ me. I think you like it when I’m a weepy mess. When my life is as pathetic as yours.”
“Fuck you!” Sarah yelled.
“Fuck you twice!” I screamed back at her.
I stormed into my room and slammed the door. I barely spoke to her the rest of the week.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The week flew by and I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t have Michael texting, calling, or e-mailing every five minutes wondering where his edits were. Yolanda was on fire, probably fueled by the fact that without Michael bringing in the revenue, we were going to have to stack up a shitload of fantastic manuscripts. The slush pile was about to become a skyscraper.
Brian took the news of my lunch with Ryan well. Not that I thought he would be mad. Well, maybe just a little, but his reaction was anything but. I let him know about the phone call and the fact that I’d changed it from dinner to lunch. I told him that I’d let Ryan know there would be no more hide the pickle. He didn’t need to hear any of that. He understood why I needed to say what I had to say in person. He got it.
Siobhan stopped by during the week to apologize for the millionth time. She and Melody finally had the chance to meet and they hit it off. Apparently they made plans to hang out.
Sarah and I were on polite terms but certainly not like we were. It made me sad that I thought I would lose one of my best friends over something so trivial. Melody swore she knew we would work it out but I knew there had to be some sort of come to Jesus before either of us would budge. I was looking forward to that conversation about as much as I was looking forward to lunch with Ryan later that day. The only silver lining was that I would meet up with Brian at the bar and hang out there with friends until he closed.
For the most part, everything in my life was coming together. I felt more like myself than I ever had. I had a job I loved, a boyfriend who actually cared more about me than what others thought about me. A small part of me was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But since I was more of a glass half full girl anymore, I dismissed the notion and headed out. I figured I’d get a little shopping done before lunch. I needed to update my work wardrobe.
I was in the store trying on blouses when I heard the nasally voice. Betsy was in the next dressing room. I wasn’t sure if I should hightail it out of there, hide, or face the music. I chose the latter. After all, what the hell did she have on me? If she was still with Steven, then kudos to her. If leftovers were her thing, then she was more than welcome to sample from the buffet.
I handed the saleswoman a few items I wasn’t interested in and started riffling through the racks again. I didn’t need much but I was in a great mood and new clothes were always an added perk. Unfortunately, I turned the corner to check out the sales rack and ran right into Steven. The shock on his face was quickly replaced by a condescending smirk as he put his phone in his pocket.
“Well, look who’s out and about. You’re looking well, Caroline.”
“Steven.” I nodded and tried to step around him but he blocked my path.
“I mean it. You look good.”
“Happiness and self-awareness do that to a person. Excuse me.”
He stepped in front of me again. “I miss you.”
“Isn’t your girlfriend in the dressing room?”
“She isn’t my girlfriend. She isn’t you.”
“Last I checked I wasn’t your girlfriend.”
“Not anymore.”
“Thank God for that. Seriously, Steven. Leave me alone. I don’t have anything to say to you.”
He gripped my arm. “We never had closure. I think we should talk about what happened.”
I pulled away from him. “There is nothing to talk about. I’ve said all I needed to say.”
“What happened to you? You always used to be so accommodating. Look, I was stupid—” He raked his hands through his hair. I used to think that was sexy. Used to.
“Too bad you can’t fix stupid.” I hung up the clothes I was carrying on a random rack.
“That isn’t fair. You’re going to throw away five good years because of a mistake? Because that’s what Betsy was, a mistake.”
I pointed to the purse he was holding. “Looks like your mistake is still hanging around. Look, Steven. I’m not
mad. I’m really not. I’m happy that your mistake gave me the opportunity to move on, find myself. I’ve never felt better.”
“Well, I’m miserable.”
“And I’m not. Look, you didn’t fight for me when I was around so don’t cry now that I’m gone.”
“Caroline. We were engaged. Engaged! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
I looked at him a moment. “It does, actually. But not in the way it once did.”
I turned and headed for the door.
“Care, we were in love. You can’t walk away from love.”
I looked over my shoulder as I opened the door to the shop. “Steven, love is a blind whore filled with bat-shit crazy and a shitty sense of humor.”
I headed toward the restaurant, window-shopping along the way. I still needed clothes but I had to get the hell out of the store before I lost my mind. Not that I wanted Steven back or anything, but I just couldn’t continue the conversation. Hopefully he’d gotten the hint. Sometimes people are like clouds. It’s a brighter day when they disappear.
My phone rang. As soon as I checked out the display, an insta-smile the size of North Dakota spread across my face.
“Well, hello.”
“What are you wearing?” Brian teased.
“Oh nothing. Just the smile you left me with.”
“Good. Keep that outfit on later when I see you. What time are you meeting Ryan?”
“Thirty minutes or so.”
“Just so you know, he moved out.”
“What the hell happened between you two? I would never want to get in the middle of your friendship.”
“You didn’t.”
“Then why do I feel responsible?”
“Because you worry too much. Because you’re amazing. Don’t worry about it. He and I will patch things up. This isn’t the first time we’ve acted like bitchy schoolgirls and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But it is for the better that he moved out. Now we can have sex anywhere we want.”
Operation One Night Stand Page 20