The Date

Chapter 4

Rachel's gasped.

“Ariel, , no.”

Ariel sighed

''I knew that was too much to hope for. The precisionist side of my friend strikes again.''

Rachel’s hand tightened around her purse. Now she was a perfectionist for not dating all the guys that met her?

“I’m not a Precisionist, but thanks for that.”

This always had to happen, didn’t it? Whenever they got together, her hopes were high, but within the first five minutes, she would manage to say something dumb, to either make her feel uncomfortable or angry.

Ariel nudged her once and again when Rachel didn't look up the first time.

''It’s not an insult, Mandy. You know you’ve always been the careful one.''

Ariel hadn't called her Mandy in a long time. She forced herself to smile.

“Anyway,” Rachel. “We should leave immediately'' I don't want you to blame this one on me now.''

“I bet I could make all those guys stare at me without even blinking.” Ariel winked at her.

She's always like that, she does something to get her angry, then she will try and woo her not to get angry.

“To make a long story short: I’m going to be his date to the wedding this weekend.”

“WHAT??”

Ariel froze in place with lipstick only on her bottom lip.

“Well,” Rachel smiled. ''I am the one with the surprises now. That’s the first surprise you are gonna get today.''

Jack just sips the whiskey on his table, before losing interest. He pulled out his phone and texted his buddy in New York, Carlos, who hadn't heard anything about the saga of this wedding and the date.

Going to a wedding.

Thirty seconds later, his phone buzzed.

Which wedding? Like, specifically, because I know that you don't have any wedding to attend this weekend that I know of, or do you wanna use this to prank me?

Oh right, he had done that, hadn’t he?

OK. Yes, but this is an exception.

He investigated the glass in his hand. He poured himself a shot of whiskey and sat comfortably on the lounge.

Uh-huh. Where’d you find this one, at a club or your hotel? Nothing about you should surprise me. And yet. You still manage to surprise me.

He knew Carlos would act like that.

At the restaurant, if you can believe me. Where I was....drinking.

Drew took the last shot of whiskey, and he went home bound towards his hotel.

Let me guess, tall, blond, big fake boobs.

Well, this would definitely surprise Carlos.

Short, black, real boobs

.

Drew stripped and jumped in the shower, taking with him a bottle of beer. This morning he had cursed his bad week. Now he thanked God for making it happen as it did, and how he met Rachel, but not to be too selfish. He feels for his friend.

Even though he was paranoid about running into unfamiliar faces at the wedding, he still wanted to talk to her. He went straight towards the balcony to free his mind.

Rachel was woken by josh

“Hi Rachael, do you mind coming earlier today? Maybe we will go out to grab a cup of coffee, you me and Ariel. We’re a bit crazy about wedding stuff, but I know we’d both love to catch up with you, and maybe you might help!''

“Oh, I wish I could.” Rachel was so nice and cheerful that lying to him was like lying to a puppy. Easy and mean all at the same time. ''I have to run. I’m heading out to have breakfast with Dr. James. He’s at Children’s Hospital, you know.''

''Wow, that’s great! I’d love to hear more about what you’re—''

''Sorry, Josh, I don’t want to be late. I’ll catch up with you later?''

“Yeah, yeah, definitely. See you tonight at the rehearsal. Oh, Ariel said you RSVP’d with a plus-one? New boyfriend, or. . .?"

“Yeah, new boyfriend. He’ll be there tonight."

“Awesome! I can’t wait to meet him. Do me a favor and text me how to spell his name? For the place cards, you know.” Rachel smiled.

''Oh right, of course, of course. I’ll let you know. Gotta run. See you tonight!"

It's not like she doesn't like talking with Josh. It's just that she doesn't really like him, even during med school. But if he's the one that makes her friend happy, then she has to accept her choice.

Rachel was halfway towards the garage before it hit her. New boyfriend. s**t. What has that girl been telling her fiancé?

Jack stumbled onto the couch, hungover from the bottles of whiskey and beer he took.

Alexa stumbled into the hospital at 7:25am on Friday morning, hungover from the bottle of champagne and all the cocktails she had with Jack and what she had with Ariel had at dinner. As she pushed open her office door, her work phone and cell phone rang simultaneously.

She dropped her bag on the floor, set her full cup of coffee down on her desk, and shook her head. ''Not today, Satan. I’m not falling for your tricks today. My coffee hasn’t even had time to cool.''

“Talking to your coffee again?”

Alexa looked up to see Matt, her partner and one of her best friends, standing in her doorway.

''I cannot expect to talk to anyone except my coffee this early in the morning. I blame you for this.'' She blew on her coffee in the futile hope that it would cool faster.

''I know you do. Sorry for the early-morning meeting, but the boss wants us to get over this as soon as possible, and we’ve got to. . .''

She waved her hand, stopping him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You did bring me doughnuts, didn’t you?''

He grinned.

“I did not bring you doughnuts; I brought doughnuts for your Editor, for who should not eat doughnuts but loves them almost as much as you.”

She pulled a few files out of her bag and grabbed her laptop and the coffee, and they walked toward the conference room.

“Yes, yes, but did you—”

''Yes, I saved a glazed with rainbow sprinkles for you. What are you, a six-year-old girl? You should be eating a chocolate croissant or fresh fruit and granola or something.''

''Six was a wonderful time in my life. I will try to keep it alive at all costs, thank you very much,'' she said. “Have I ever told you that you look just like a black Clark Kent?”

Matt adjusted his glasses.

''Yes, every time you’re trying to sweet-talk me into being your cheerleader. I’ve got your back during this meeting; no need to butter me up.'' He frowned at her. “Today, that is.”

She grinned at him and snagged her doughnut, just as the Editor and his secretary walked into the room.

“Why, exactly, are we here this early, Matthew?” The Editor boomed out, before investigating the pink doughnut box.

“You have a trip to Haddonfield, scheduled for the climate change conference this afternoon, and so—”

''Yes, yes, I know, let’s get on with it. Alexa, what’s this thing about delinquent teenagers?''

She locked eyes with Theo, took a long sip of her coffee, and flipped open her laptop.

“Well, sir . . .”

An hour later, she finally managed the second bite of her doughnut as the Editor walked out the door on the way to catch his flight.

''Mabel, you know how he is. It’ll take a little time.'' Theo handed her the now-lukewarm coffee as they got up to walk to their offices.

She shrugged and tried to smile.

“I know. Thanks for the support in there.''