Chapter 5
1838 Words
“Jennifer!” I hear Kelly calling me as I get out of my car. She runs over to me her stilettos clinking on the floor.
“Hi Kelly. What are you doing here?” I ask surprised to see her. I wonder if I should tell her I was remembering the first night I met her. She’s grown up as have I.
“I just came by to say hi. I haven’t seen you in a couple of months. Just got back from India.” She grins when she reaches me.
Kelly is big on charity work, she travels all over the world, helping wherever she can. It’s one of the things I love about her. s**t I should probably tell her I’m getting married. But how?
“It’s good to see you. How long will you be in town?”
“Only for a two days but I need to see you tonight, we have to go out and drink.” She squeals.
She’s the only person in this world I would go out with and subject myself to unwanted attention.
“Thing is.” I start.
“Oh no you don’t, you can back out of this. Please.”
“There is something I need to tell you.”
“What?” She asks nervously.
How do I say this? I’ll probably need to ask Michael’s permission first.
“Come on. You’re killing me here. What’s going on?”
“I’m living with someone.” I say starting slow.
“What? I leave you alone for a few months and you move in with someone!”
“He moved in with me.” I say. Don’t know why I had to clear that part up.
She yells in excitement and throws her arms around me. “Tell me everything!”
Dammit hadn’t thought this through. How can I tell her without telling her?
“Don’t hold back on me this is big. What’s his name?”
This I can tell her, “Michael.”
“Michael? Are you talking about Michael Wellington? OMG!” She stares at me her mouth hanging open.
“That’s the one.”
“You broke my mind. When did this happen?”
I can see she is not going to let this go, I need to talk to Michael first. “I’ll tell you later. Right now I have to go to work.”
“Okay. Fine, but I want to know everything.” She is smiling from ear to ear.
Crap. “Okay.” I manage as she strolls off in seventh heaven. She’s been on my case for years to find someone.
I make it up to my office. I don’t like lying to her but I have a good reason. I need to talk to Michael, find out what we’re going to tell people. I get busy and when I look up at the clock it’s 9 am. I check my phone Kelly has sent me texts about how she can’t wait for tonight. My nerves are sufficiently rattled. The women in the office alert me to Michael presence. I look up and he smiles at me. We have a secret.
“Hi.” He says reaching my desk.
“Hi” I reply momentarily stunned, he was in my bed last night. I pull my thoughts together keeping my voice low, “We need to talk.”
“Okay about what?” He asks lifting his eyebrow.
“Not here.” I say looking around the room, all eyes on us.
“Okay, come with me, we’ll go somewhere a little more private.”
I nod and stand up. I follow him down to the emergency stairs. Not ideal but it will work.
“We’re alone now. What’s going on?”
“So my friend Kelly has come back into town and she would like to go out tonight.”
“Kelly?”
“Yes. I met her a couple of years ago at a party.”
“Are you talking about Kelly Matthews?”
“That’s the one. Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I just never thought you two would be friends. That girl is wild.”
For the first time ever an unwelcome thought pops in my head. Did they sleep together? They ran in the same circles, were the same age. She is very attractive and so is Michael. Oh no, this is awkward.
Sensing my unease Michael says, “We were never together like that. She had a thing for Chris for a while but got over it pretty quickly.”
“She wants to go out tonight.” I say relieved that they were never intimate.
“You don’t need my permission.” Michael smiles.
“What are we telling people about us?” I ask frowning.
“Oh, the backstory. I don’t know. We probably need to figure that out.” He says thinking.
“Exactly why I wanted to talk to you.”
He smiles sheepishly and scratches his head. “I don’t know. It needs to seem real.”
“How about we use the fact that we’ve known each other for a while?” I suggest.
“Yeah, that will work. When and how did we start dating?”
“It would have to be after your breakup.” I say, regretting that instantly.
He keeps his cool. “I’ve been broken up for four months, now.”
I sigh, “No matter how we spin this I’m going to look like the rebound.”
“s**t. You’re right.” He frowns, “We just have to make them believe that it’s not true.”
“Okay. How long have we been dating then?”
“Two months or so. You’re not the rebound.” He says his eyes softening.
“How did it happen?” I need more details. Kelly is a pit bull when it comes to finding out information.
“How do you feel about late nights working together and it just happened?”
“I can handle that.” I sigh. This sort of thing happens all the time. People hook up at work.
“Honestly, you really don’t have to worry about what people will think.”
“Do you want to come with me tonight?” I ask changing the subject.
“I don’t have to; you should have time with your friend.”
“She will interrogate me. At least if you’re there she’ll go easier on me.” I hope.
“Then let me know the time and place and I’ll be there.” He nods.
“Thank you.”
He smiles, “We better go before the ladies in the office think we are up to something else.”
I flush. I don’t want them to think that I had s*x on the staircase.
“I do have a lot to do.” I say trying to get to the door as fast as I can. When I reach the office, the whispering stops, Michael is following me. I can see them trying to figure out what happened. Michael puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me tighter; he kisses my head and walks off. I’m stunned. Physical contact in front of all of them. Calm down Jennifer. It’s just for show.
I return to my work trying to focus. I check my phone there are a couple of texts from Kelly.
1. Where are we meeting?
2. I’m beyond excited!
3. Can’t wait.
4. Don’t bail on me. I’ve been waiting for this for so long.
An hour later a delivery man walks in carrying a bunch of red roses, he comes to my desk.
“Hi. Who are those for?”
“Jennifer Henderson.” He says reading from his clipboard, not a friendly sort.
“That’s me.” I answer surprised. I’ve never gotten flowers. I sign his clipboard and he hands me the bouquet. I pick up the card,
Between you and me, I’m looking forward to tonight. Michael.
He sent me flowers. I’m so confused. This is just for show. Stop overthinking it. He doesn’t like you in that way; this is just a business arrangement.
I text Michael.
*Thank you for the flowers. *
It doesn’t take long for Michael to respond.
*Hope that didn’t embarrass you too much. Thought we should make it at least look real.*
See just for show, Jennifer. Don’t get your hopes up.
*No, you didn’t, think the rest of woman in the office gets it. It was a good idea.*
Why do I want more? I never needed it. Old memories are to blame for this. I’m imagining something that will never be.
*What time are we meeting Kelly?*
I’m not sure so I text Kelly.
*Where and when are we meeting tonight?*
I sit tapping my fingers on my desk. I can’t work if I can’t focus. This is making me extremely nervous. I’m scared Kelly is going to see right through this.
*Forever. Straight after work…*
No wait that’s a club.
*You want us to go to a club?*
I can’t believe she wants us to go to a club, I don’t do clubs. Too many people looking for a hook-up.
*Loosen up. It will be fun.*
Not too happy about this, I text Michael in the hope that he will decline.
*That’s fine. You want to go together or meet each other there?*
I have to change first; I can’t go out in my business clothes.
*Up to you. I need to change first.*
I text Kelly.
*See you there.*
A text comes through from Michael.
*See you back at your house. We’ll go together.*
Now that those arrangements have been made I get back to work. I’ve been blocking my mind from any thoughts that refer to this thing being anything more than just a business arrangement.
The time goes by too fast before I know it the day is over. I’m glad Harry is not in today, it would just make me more anxious.
I head home, praying this night will go without any issues.
- Writer
