Chapter 5
699 Words
Gina
I got to the House of Blues and waited for Kelly, Sara, and Jenna to arrive. We all worked in different departments, so this was the perfect way to vent about the workplace.
“Gina! Thank God you came!” Kelly ran up to me.
“We need girls’ night,” I laughed.
“Come on, Sara and Jenna are inside already—they have a table,” Kelly said, pulling me inside.
We reached the table and exchanged hellos.
“Which band is playing tonight?” I asked.
“An ’80s cover band called M-80s. They’re actually pretty good,” Jenna replied.
“I need a drink! Boss man had me deal with his high-maintenance girlfriend. No idea what he sees in her—she’s just a royal nightmare!” Sara laughed.
“That’s a first for you—talking about the boss,” Kelly said.
Sara was usually tight-lipped about work secrets. She’d signed an NDA as his secretary and took it very seriously.
“Yeah, well, he owes me. That girl has to be amazing in bed, because she’s a nightmare otherwise,” Sara said, rolling her eyes.
We ordered drinks and a few appetizers, gossiping like high school girls.
“I swear, if he comes into my office one more time demanding the dress code policy, I’m stapling it to his shirt,” Kelly laughed.
“Hey, isn’t that the lingerie model all the guys fantasize about—Natalie Jones?” Jenna asked, pointing toward a nearby table.
I glanced over, but it wasn’t the model that caught my attention—it was Zander.
“Hey, I know that guy,” I said to the girls.
“You do?” Sara asked, surprised.
“Yeah, his dad is Mario—the little Greek guy who owns the coffee shop next to work,” I explained.
“He’s cute! No wonder he’s with a model,” Kelly said.
“She doesn’t look happy to be here with him,” Jenna added.
I flagged down our waitress. “Send him a Hurricane. It’s one of House of Blues’ signature cocktails.”
“Gina, what are you doing?” Sara asked.
“He looks like he needs a drink,” I said. “I’m just being nice.”
⸻
Zane
The waitress approached my table with a cocktail.
“Compliments of Gina,” she said.
I looked over at her table and smiled.
“Why would she buy you a drink and not me?” Natalie whined.
“Maybe because you’re sitting there with a scowl? Lighten up and enjoy the band,” I told her.
“This isn’t my scene, and you know it. There aren’t even any photographers here,” she complained.
“Baby, you know I hate that. Can’t we just be normal for one night?”
“You mean poor. We’re not like them,” she said, nodding toward Gina’s table.
“No, but at least they know how to be nice,” I said, standing up.
“Where are you going?” Natalie asked.
“None of your business. I just need to step away—you’re not my favorite person right now,” I replied.
I walked to the men’s room, trying to calm down. Why am I even here with her?
When I came out, I nearly ran right into Gina.
“Hi Zander. I hope I didn’t cause any trouble with your date by sending the drink,” she said.
“No, you didn’t. Natalie’s just high-maintenance,” I replied.
“I saw you get up looking upset, so I thought I’d apologize. I only sent the drink because you didn’t look happy,” she explained.
“I did appreciate it. Not many people would do that,” I said.
Gina shrugged. “I’m not like most people. Ask your father,” she laughed.
I liked the sound of her laughter. “I’m seeing that. There’s more to you than meets the eye, huh, Gina?” I asked.
“I’m nothing special. Just a girl with dreams who knows what she wants,” she said.
“And what do you want, Gina Lombardi?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
- Writer
