Her Greatest Mistake

by Eve L Mitchell

  I nodded. I saw Aiden smirk. I’m sure the smirk and my nod weren’t related—there was no way he could hear me now—yet I rose to his smirky challenge. “Actually not so much,” I said. “What was the sauce? I didn’t like it.”

  “Lobster prosecco sauce,” Calvin answered as he looked at me. He seemed so disappointed.

  “Oh, well, at least I can say that I tried it.” I shrugged.

  “You’ll definitely like the next course.” He patted my hand. “You’ll like the scallops the next time you have them too.”

  Why would I order them again? I wondered. And was he telling me I would order them again? “What’s next?” I asked because I had no recollection of what he ordered.

  A thump from the table behind us made me jump. “Dammit, Aiden, could you stop being so difficult!”

  I looked over Calvin’s shoulder curiously at the words. Aiden was frowning at something to his left, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense. He picked up his drink, which seemed to be an old-fashioned, and downed it. He caught a passing waiter and handed him the glass, and I guessed he asked for another. His eyes met mine, and I hastily looked away.

  “Doesn’t that sound good?” Calvin asked.

  Oh no, what did he say? “With what sides?”

  “Tenderstem broccoli and crushed potatoes.” Calvin frowned. “I just told you,” he added sullenly.

  “I’m sorry, I just…” I paused. I smiled bashfully—well, I hoped it was bashfully. “I was trying to figure out where the restrooms were without having to ask.” Lie.

  “They’re over in the far corner; just walk down this aisle, turn left at the end and walk straight ahead.”

  “Excuse me,” I murmured as I stood and fixed my dress. I didn’t look at Aiden as I quickly passed his table and headed to the restrooms. They were tucked in the corner, and once again I marvelled as the white theme carried on into the bathrooms. White marble floors, walls and vanities. I wondered if the toilet bowls were marble too and was disappointed when they weren’t. After I was finished in the stall, I washed my hands slowly. This date wasn’t going well. Was it just because of Aiden being here? He had all of my attention really. Or was it because of the construction worker comment? Or the fact Calvin ordered for me? I ran my fingers through my hair as I had left my purse on the table with my hairbrush. My face was flushed, and I knew it wasn’t from the wine.

  The door to the bathroom opened, and my jaw dropped when Aiden walked in confidently. I gaped at him and then quickly turned to look at the stalls to see how many were occupied. Only one was closed.

  “What are you doing?” I hissed as I turned back towards him. His lips cut off any other words I had as he kissed me. His mouth was demanding on mine, and I gave into him. His hand slipped into my hair as his other hand tightened on my hip. All thoughts disappeared as I got lost in the sensation of being with Aiden. His tongue caressed mine as we kissed, and my hands curled around his neck as I arched into him when his hand slipped down to cup my ass.

  The flushing of the toilet brought me back to my senses. I pushed away from him as cold horror washed over me. How could I have done this again? My hand flew to my mouth as I looked at him and wished I hadn’t. The heat in his eyes made me take a further step back, but Aiden reached out and caught my arm, tugging me towards him.

  “Lose the accountant and come home with me,” he whispered into my ear.

  “With your wife?” I snapped. Truth be told, I was angry more at myself than him.

  “Don’t be an idiot, Jemma, it doesn’t suit you.”

  I heard the door get unlocked from the stall, and I half turned to the noise, watching as the door opened as if in slow motion. I turned back quickly to Aiden. “Aiden…”

  “One day you’ll listen to me,” he muttered before he grabbed me again and planted a scorching hot kiss on my mouth before he turned and left, leaving me staring stupidly at the door.

  “Are you okay, dear?” No, I’m a skanky bitch.

  I looked at the woman who spoke to me. My head was reeling from Aiden. Again. “Err…yeah. Um, had the scallops.”

  “It’s the sauce.” She gave me a knowing look as she washed her hands. “It can be quite rich on delicate stomachs.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. I washed my hands again, refusing to look at myself in the mirror. Eye contact was not what I needed right now as my inner voice was pissed. I dried my hands hastily on some paper towels and then, taking a deep breath, left the bathroom.

  Aiden wasn’t at his table when I went back to Calvin. I slid into my seat and noted the food had been served. Fish. I held back the groan as a dead fish eye stared back at me.

  “I started. I hope you don’t mind, but I hate cold food.”

  “No, that’s fine,” I answered. I took a drink of wine to wash the taste of Aiden out. I looked at the fish. It looked at me. I put some crushed potatoes on my fork. I chewed. I couldn’t taste a thing. I had let him kiss me again. At the gala, I hadn’t known. I hadn’t known his situation. Now I knew, and I had let him kiss me. Twice. Well, the stairs didn’t count; I had pushed away from him pretty quickly. But tonight? Tonight, if the toilet hadn’t flushed, would I still be wrapped around him in the freaking restrooms of all places?

  “Are you okay, Jemma?” Calvin asked me.

  It was time to stop lying. “No,” I answered him. I raised my eyes to his and watched him put his fork down. “I really don’t like fish or seafood very much, especially when the one on my plate is eyeballing me.”

  “Oh.” Calvin looked concerned. “This is what I have every time I come here. It’s what I’ve always ordered.”

  I looked at him, and I suddenly realised. “For you and Poppy?” My hand gestured to the table. “This is what you always order for you both?”

  Calvin flushed as he sat back, and then he shook his head ruefully. “I didn’t even realise,” he admitted sheepishly. “Old habits…” Calvin trailed off uncertainly.

  Aiden’s seat was still empty, I noted.

  “It’s okay, I’m old enough to speak up and say I didn’t want what you were ordering.”

  “I’m sorry, Jemma,” Calvin said. “Do you want to go?”

  “No, but can I get my plate removed? This fish is really freaking me out.” I laughed, and after a moment, Calvin did too. He called over the waiter, who was aghast I didn’t want the fish but offered to rush through a pasta order for me that took a few minutes to prepare because of the freshness of the ingredients. I restrained myself from the eye roll but gratefully accepted.

  A few minutes later, he was back, and I suspected I just stole someone’s dinner. He went to Aiden’s table next and spoke in a low voice to the man still sitting there. The man shook his head, and then he stood. He handed the waiter some cash, and then he walked down the aisle to the restrooms. The waiter started clearing the table.

  Aiden had left? I frowned as I thought about it. Did he just walk out of the bathroom after kissing me and leave? Yes, Jemma—he leaves, that’s what he does!

  “Is that better?” Calvin asked me.

  “Yes, it’s delicious, would you like to try?” I asked him. Aiden was gone, and I had gotten over the hiccup of the food. Now I could give Calvin my whole attention. Calvin declined, and I ate more food before I took a sip of wine. “And just so you know, my dad and brother both work in construction. My dad works for OSHA, and Jeremy runs his own construction company. Because they work a labour job doesn’t make them stupid or uneducated.”

  Calvin’s eyes closed as he let out a sigh. “I’m sorry.” He opened his eyes and looked at me. “I know that. To be honest, I just didn’t like the way the guy looked at you.”

  “Looked at me?”

  “Yes, like you were his.” Calvin looked down as his plate. “It just rubbed me the wrong way. I’m sorry.”

  “Aiden is just an intense kinda guy.” I smiled weakly. Calvin was jealous?

  “Well, he almost broke my hand when he shook it.”

  Oh. “I’m sure
he didn’t mean anything by it.”

  Calvin sat back in his seat, his food finished. “I think I ruined our night.”

  Were you also kissing married people in the bathroom? “How?” I asked out loud instead.

  “Taking you here, ordering my set menu, being so nervous I would mess up that I actually messed up.”

  I’m going to burn in hell. “Not at all, maybe ordering me Poppy’s food was slightly weird, but I’m weird too. No one’s perfect.” I shrugged.

  “Should we leave?” Calvin asked.

  “Am I allowed to order my own dessert?” I teased him. I had to make an effort at least. Okay, he ordered me his wife’s meal, but I had just had a tongue duelling contest in the restroom.

  Calvin huffed out a laugh. “Yes, Jemma, you can order whatever you want.”

  I leaned forward conspiratorially. “Well then…I had my eye on that salted caramel chocolate cheesecake,” I confessed. Calvin laughed again, and the weird tension we had since Aiden walked into the restaurant dissipated.

  My dessert was delicious, and I’m so glad I didn’t eat what Calvin ordered, which was panna cotta. I hated panna cotta—it reminded me of blancmange. Desserts that wobbled when you tried to eat them were not top of my list to eat. Chocolate on the other hand? Chocolate was edible in any format. Unless it was panna cotta. Or blancmange.

  As we left the restaurant, Calvin slipped his hand onto the small of my back. I tensed slightly at the unexpectedness of his touch, and he quickly withdrew it. I felt a bit guilty, but having kissed Aiden earlier, I felt that I was lying to him…and myself.

  We caught a cab, and when we got to my apartment building, I told Calvin to stay in the car. I saw his disappointment that I didn’t want him to walk me to my door, but I told him I would call him in the morning, and he seemed brighter. After he gave me a chaste kiss on my cheek, I headed inside.

  It was nine thirty. Wow. I felt exhausted. As I undressed, I ran a bath, then headed to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine. I ate some grapes as I opened a bottle. Table Four Six was nice, but I didn’t think I would be heading back anytime soon. Was it wrong to order pizza? Laughing to myself, I carried my wine and my Kindle back to the bathroom. As I set things down, I noticed I had a message.

  Unknown: Are you home?

  I frowned. This wasn’t Calvin—I had Calvin’s number. I put the phone down as it must have been a wrong number.

  Unknown number: Jemma! Are you home?

  I turned the hot water tap off as I considered the message.

  Me: Who is this?

  Unknown number: Who the fuck would it be if not me?

  Aiden. I glared at the phone. Ignore him.

  Unknown number: ARE YOU HOME?

  “Jesus, take a chill pill,” I muttered as I took off my bathrobe. I picked up the phone as I stepped into my bath.

  Me: Yes

  Me: Not that it’s any of your business

  Unknown number: Alone?

  I let out a string of swear words.

  Me: It’s not your business, go away

  I hesitated over the option to add his contact information to my phone, and then on a whim, I added Aiden’s number.

  Aiden: What are you doing?

  I sighed as I sank into the bubbles. Trying to forget you.

  Aiden: Is the accountant with you?

  Me: It’s none of your business. Go away.

  Me: And lose this number!

  I put the phone down and reached for my wine. The audacity of him. I took a long drink of my chilled Chardonnay. Yes, that’s better. My phone vibrated again. I ignored it. It vibrated again. I gritted my teeth. It vibrated again. “Oh my God, Aiden!” I yelled out in my bathroom. Putting my wine down on the corner of the bath, I snatched up my phone.

  Aiden: Are you thinking of me?

  “Only because you’re texting me,” I growled as I read.

  Aiden: You better be alone

  “Or what?” I rolled my eyes in frustration.

  Aiden: Don’t make me come over there Jemma

  He wouldn’t dare. How does he know where I live? My breath caught in my throat as the next message came through.

  Aiden: I won’t leave

  Aiden: I’ll fuck you so hard you won’t remember the accountants name

  I felt the rush of heat to my core and my face.

  Me: I’m alone. Why not sleep with your wife instead?

  Aiden: Wouldn’t touch that bitch if you paid me

  What does that mean? I stared at the phone in confusion. Did I ask him? “He’s a liar, Jemma, don’t listen to him,” I reminded myself.

  Me: Goodnight Aiden, please leave me alone

  I stared at the phone, and after a few minutes of no reply, I put the phone down. Lying back in the bath, I picked up my no longer chilled wine. He ruins everything, I lamented as I grimaced while I drank my warm wine.

  What does he mean he wouldn’t touch her? Were they estranged? Getting a divorce? Is that why he had sex with me? Does he consider himself single? I felt hope surge within me and, angry at my reaction, I shoved it down.

  “Leave it, Jemma,” I told the empty bathroom. “The man is trouble. You’ve had your share of heartbreak, you don’t need Aiden.”

  I nodded firmly to myself. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. You may not need Aiden—but you want Aiden. “Shut up, inner voice, I’m not listening to anything more you have to say tonight,” I muttered under my breath before I sank under the water.

  On Monday I told Nadine the brief details of my date. I omitted telling her about Aiden, and I didn’t see the man in question. Richard told me the boys had gotten sick from “my” bug, and he was taking Thursday and Friday off as he and the family were going to head to Aspen on Wednesday after work. I didn’t mention my bug was over a month ago, because I had never had a bug to start with.

  With the snow falling heavily outside, he suggested I work from home Thursday and Friday. I agreed readily. I was already planning jammie days under cosy blankets as I watched Netflix on the couch. I wasn’t a slacker, but Richard couldn’t very well tell me to take the time off without upsetting the office. He knew I would be logged on and near the phone, and I would do some work. However, my boss also wasn’t an idiot and knew I would binge watch a TV show while at home, because I kept on top of my work, and if he wasn’t in the office working, I had little to do too.

  Calvin and I had spoken on the phone on Saturday afternoon, and I had marvelled at how much easier the conversation was when we weren’t in the same room. Or when Aiden wasn’t in the same room. I ignored my inner commentary. It was something I was getting good at. He was spending Sunday with his sister and her family, and he told me about his upcoming week. My mind drifted when he had started talking about accounts, and when he asked me if my own taxes were in order, I’d almost dropped the phone in surprise.

  “So there’s no sparks at all?” Nadine asked me with sympathy.

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe?”

  “Oh hun, if you have to think about it, it’s a no,” Nadine told me sadly.

  “Maybe the next date will be better?” I asked her.

  “Sure, maybe.”

  Ben came down as he always did for his break, but Nadine was called into Mr Adams’s office. If looks could kill, poor Mr Adams would be dead. When Nadine was gone, I turned to Ben.

  “Did you give Aiden my number?”

  Ben was looking at his phone as he drank his coffee, but he shook his head. “Nah, boss gave me your number months ago.”

  He did? “How did he get my number?”

  Ben looked up at me and shrugged. “I dunno, you give it to him?”

  “Ben, if I gave it to him, why would I be asking you if you gave it to him?” I tried to bite back my exasperation, but it was difficult.

  “Oh yeah.” Ben grinned. “I dunno, maybe your bossman did. Why? He call you?” Ben seemed to focus halfway through as he spoke to me. A sly grin appeared on his face as he nudged me. “He se
xt you?”

  “Really?” I looked at him with what I hoped was a straight face and not a burning-with-embarrassment face.

  Ben laughed as he returned his attention to his phone. “You can’t deny the heat between you two,” he told me. “This is my third job with him; ain’t ever seen him pay attention to any skirt.”

  “Skirt, Ben? Seriously?” I snapped. “What about his wife?”

  Ben looked up at me and then leaned back in his seat as he appraised me. “Did you just go fishing?”

  “What?”

  “I can’t believe you went fishing.” Ben shook his head at me as he grinned. “He ain’t married, Jem. Thought the dude was gay when I first worked with him—he didn’t even look at a woman. But he isn’t.” Ben took a gulp of coffee and then stood. “He’s into you, you should talk to him—instead of fishing with me.” Ben looked down at me, and then with a smirk, he went back to work.

  Ben didn’t know Aiden was married? Did anyone know Aiden was married? His wife sure hadn’t been shy in telling me. I wasn’t getting any answers anywhere. This was so frustrating. I needed to talk to him. We couldn’t go on like this. Aiden played with my emotions and messed with my head. I needed answers. I looked at my phone. Did I call him? Text? I could imagine his smug grin as he read a message from me. Nope, not giving him the satisfaction. I put my phone back in my bag. Next time I saw him, we would talk, I promised myself.

  On Wednesday night, I gathered everything I would need for working from home and picked up my laptop carrier and satchel. As I waited for the elevator, I looked at my bags and realised the chances of a Netflix binger was slim. Richard had left mid-afternoon with a sly wink and a “don’t work too hard.” If he could see what I was taking home, he wouldn’t still be smiling. I was the last to leave the office, and I was on the ground floor when I remembered I had forgotten to pick up the file about the single dad. Heartbreaking story, the guy was scary as hell to look at, and the one time he had been in the office, I had avoided him completely. However, he was a good dad, and I was reminded that you can’t judge someone on looks alone.

  At the sixth floor, I got out of the elevator and headed over to my desk again. I’d locked my desk, and I had to retrieve the key from the key safe. I was so intent on making sure I had everything and that the office was locked up I almost fainted with fright when Aiden appeared out from the back stairs.