"I don't get it. If they don't like you so much, why do they want you to party with them?"
She laughed. "So they can order me around to fetch them their food and drinks and stuff, I guess."
"Say no."
"Then they make my life miserable."
"You really need to quit that job."
"Easy for you to say, but you're not the one paying my bills, are you?"
"Look on the bright side. Brad's coffee shop caters your parties. Maybe you'll get some fancy coffee."
"You really do have a one-tracked mind, don't you?"
Cody shrugged, "Yes, I need to wean myself off of that stuff I think. Anyway, about the party, can I come?"
India frowned, "Why? Because of the coffee?"
"No, I just want to go. I want to see these people you keep talking about and protect you from them."
"Why do I think that's a really, really bad idea?"
"C'mon, please."
"Maybe. I guess you can come and see these people but no protecting. Last thing I need is for you to embarrass me at work."
"I'll be good," Cody promised.
India groaned. "I think I just made a big mistake."
Chapter 4
Cody hummed to himself as he waited for India to open her front door. She'd phoned him no less than five times over the past couple hours. The first time it was to find out what he was wearing to her office party and make some suggestions so he wouldn't wear something that would embarrass himself or, more importantly, her. He'd gone with jeans and a nice jade green shirt that matched the color of his eyes. Then she'd called to say he'd better come early as she didn't want to be running late. On the third call, she'd lectured him about all the things he could and couldn't say at the party and on the fourth one, she'd given him the option to change his mind. The last call had been barely fifteen minutes ago. She's told him she wasn't feeling the greatest and that maybe she wouldn't go after all. Cody knew she was just nervous, so he talked her back into it. It was the fact that he was coming with her that made her nervous though he wasn't completely sure why, other than maybe she really was afraid he'd do or say something that would get her into trouble.
When she opened her front door he smiled at her instantly. "See," he said pointedly, "I'm on time. And there are no stains on my shirt, I promise."
India nodded, but she didn't smile at his teasing. She actually looked a bit pale, and Cody wondered if she really was okay.
"C'mon," he said to her gently, placing a hand on her back to guide her down her front steps. "It'll be fine. You look beautiful, by the way." She did. She was wearing a mint green dress that was both casual and dressy at the same time and that was appropriate for both the office and the hot summer weather.
"Thanks," she said, climbing into his car.
Cody got into his side and drove to the party. She didn't speak, and he was coming to learn that when she was quiet she was scared or nervous. He parked the car outside her office but before getting out of the vehicle, he reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
"I'm not going to embarrass you or get you into trouble," he promised her.
She nodded, staring down at his hand on hers and biting her lip. "Sorry," she whispered. " I'm having trouble trusting you at the moment."
"It's alright. I'd forget the whole idea and let you go on your own, except I really want to prove myself." Cody grinned at her.
She smiled weakly. "Yeah, I figured as much." She then placed her other hand on top of his and absentmindedly began fiddling with his fingers as she stared at them. She knew what he was thinking, but there was another reason she was nervous, too. She'd been so relaxed around him, but she wasn't normally like that, and she didn't want to scare him away if he witnessed her letting her temper get the best of her, as often happened at work. She knew he'd already seen her temper a few times, but that didn't stop her from worrying about it. What if he hadn't known how often she was like that? Suddenly, she realized that he'd been watching her silently for quite some time, and she lifted her eyes to meet his.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
"I just don't know if I want to do this" she admitted. "You know, I've learned it's better to hold my temper and just do whatever it is these people order me to do, unfair or not. Those are the days when I take out my frustration later at innocent coffee shop workers instead. A lot of the times, though, I forget and I lose my temper at work anyway, and it always just ends up being worse for me when I do. They give me so much extra work, and they yell and they suspend me, and I get even more stressed and angry and… well, I still take that out on innocent coffee shop workers."
"But are you like this before every office party or just because I'm here?"
"Oh, I always dread them, but I'm more nervous because you came along," She admitted.
"Because you think that I'll make it worse for you, but it sounds to me as though it couldn't get worse. I still think you should quit."
"Well I can't. And that's not the reason anyway, at least not all of it." Suddenly she finally noticed that she'd been playing with his hand, and she quickly let go and blushed. "Sorry, I shouldn't be doing that."
Cody looked at her, clearly puzzled. "Shouldn't be doing what?"
"Touching you like I've got a right to."
Cody chuckled, "Okay, listen, I know I wasn't strong enough to carry you ten minutes on the uneven terrain but how weak do you think I am? I'm sure if I'd wanted you to stop, I could've gotten my hand away from you."
She smiled at his teasing and relaxed a bit, letting her fingers curl tightly around his, "Oh yeah? You'll have to prove that. I'm strong, too; I can hold on if I want to."
Cody raised an eyebrow. "Why on earth would I ever try? I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but I like touching you. Had we not established that?"
"We're gonna have to let go of each other to get out of the car."
"True," Cody replied, but he still made no effort to extract his hand from hers.
India hesitated, then sighed and let go. "Fine, you win again but only because if we're going to go to this stupid party, it's better that I'm not late."
As they both climbed out of the car, Cody asked, "How exactly are you figuring I won?"
"I let go first, didn't I?"
"I thought I won if I proved I could get away on my own? Now I neither proved I was strong nor got to keep holding your hand. If that's winning, it's a pretty crappy prize."
India laughed as she came around the car close to him and slipped her hand back into his offered one. "Better?"
"Much. Now, it's your place of work so lead the way."
India nodded and tugged his hand, pulling him towards the front door. They entered a lobby area, and India stepped into the elevator with Cody at her side. She hit the button to the eighth floor.
"So does this whole building belong to your company?"
India shook her head. "No, there are few companies working out of here. There's a magazine published on the tenth floor that we actually have close ties with since we print our ads in their magazine. The building itself is owned by some rich dude named Garrett, but we never see him. We just pay the lease on the part we use."
"Which is the eighth floor."
"And the sixth and seventh actually. My office is on the sixth floor, but the parties are all on the eighth."
"You have your own office even though you're an assistant?"
India blushed a bit. "Well, I like to call it that, but it's more a cubicle you know. If I call it an office, I feel a little more special."
Cody laughed and hit the sixth floor button, too. "Show me before we go up?"
India shrugged. "Yeah, why not? We've got time. It's pretty boring though."
"I still want to see it."
The elevator stopped, and they stepped out. India led him through the currently empty office building to a cubicle in the corner. "There ya have it," she said. "As I said: boring."
Cody stared at the empty space. The
other cubicles they had walked by had family photos and little ornaments and plants and even pet fish placed nearby to decorate them, but India's was somewhat bare. There were some sheets of blank paper and a candy dish on the desk (Cody noted to himself that she seemed to like peppermints) but that was about it. Even the desktop background on her computer was plain blue with the Windows logo.
"Why don't you have any pictures or plants or anything?" He asked her.
India shrugged, "I dunno. I just don't."
"Maybe it'd make it more cheerful."
"I don't really have many pictures to put up."
"What about of your nieces or nephews? You said your siblings had kids."
She smiled, "Yeah, maybe. I've only met them twice you know. It's hard with the distance, but they are pretty adorable. My brother's girl Anabelle is the oldest at four and a half. Then he's got a son who is three named Andrew so they kind of have matching names. My sister's baby is only thirteen months. His name is Gus and now my brother's wife is pregnant again. I think it'll be another girl."
"See," Cody said to her, "You're happier just thinking about them already. Put some photos of them up and get a plant. No, you know what, never mind the plant. I'll buy you one. I'll find you something pretty with flowers on it."
She smiled at him, "Thanks."
"No problem. I'm full of good ideas. Your computer, for instance. That's gotta be the most boring desktop background ever."
She laughed and gestured toward it. "Okay, find something better for me then."
"My pleasure," Cody said, letting go of her hand and sitting down at her computer. It took him only a few minutes, and he had replaced the Windows logo with a beautiful picture of a starry night sky.
"Much better," he said, admiring his own work.
"It is better," she agreed. "I guess I couldn't be bothered to change it. But now we really will be late for the party if we don't hurry."
"Right," he nodded, "C'mon then." He stood up and took her hand again and followed her back to the elevator.
Cody would have to be been blind to not see all the curious looks he was getting when he walked in holding India's hand, but he ignored them. They didn't bother him. As a people watcher, he was naturally curious about others himself at times. The looks that did bother him were the ones of pity geared toward him. He wanted to say something to those people who seemed to feel instantly sorry for him because he was with India, but he didn't know what to say, and he knew he had to keep his mouth shut so as not to embarrass her.
India didn't seem to be in a huge rush to introduce him to people, but she did whisper into his ear a few of their names, and she pointed out her boss to him, an older gray-haired man named Frank.
"He's the one with the granddaughter he favored?"
India nodded. "Yeah, she's not here anymore though. I think she's living in Switzerland."
"Wow! That's a big move."
"Yeah."
"And this Frank guy is the one who gives you extra work?"
India shrugged. "Not always. Most people here are above me so to say. Frank's just the top geezer."
"Got it. You answer to everyone, and everyone answers to Frank."
India opened her mouth to reply but suddenly she was interrupted by a dynamic looking woman in her thirties.
"India, just because you brought a friend doesn't mean you don't have to lend a hand here. These parties are a lot of work you know. They need help pouring drinks in the kitchen."
Cody frowned as it appeared that no one else was helping out, either. It wasn't the request itself that got to him, but the woman's tone. She sounded condescending, and it was obviously an order rather than a request, despite the fact that India was there out of her own free will and not being paid at the moment. He rather hoped that India would punch her one or at least throw some coffee at her. He watched her and saw her purse her lips together as if trying to get a hold of her temper and then she simply nodded and started tugging at Cody's hand to get him to follow her.
"Wait!" The woman stopped her. "Not so fast. Aren't you going to introduce me first?"
India sighed and spoke quickly. "Cody, Leann. Leann, Cody."
"Pleased to meet you, Cody," Leann extended her hand. Her friendliness felt forced. Cody decided that maybe that's what he liked about India. She might have a temper, but she seemed genuine and honest about it. He felt like ignoring Leann's extended hand but causing a confrontation had been on India's ban list of things he wasn't allowed to do, so he shook it quickly.
"You're a guest," Leann told him. "We don't expect you to help out. You can wait here while India pours the drinks."
"Uh, it's fine," Cody said. "I'm actually just here because I wanted to spend time with her, so, you know, I think I'll help her."
Leann frowned a bit and then tried again. "The thing is the kitchen is staff only. We don't generally allow other people inside."
Cody looked at India, and he saw instantly that she upset. He didn't think that Leann's statement was necessarily true, but he knew that India knew better than to protest against it, so she avoided his eyes and nodded.
"I'm fine, Cody. It won't take me long. It's just a few glasses of wine. You can hang out by the other refreshments if you like," she pointed to a table across the room. "Brad's catered so maybe there'll be some fancy coffee for you."
Cody frowned, feeling a bit disappointed that she was giving in so easily. He knew she thought it was a good thing when she could control her temper, and he knew she was actually doing a good job of it at the moment because she was so obviously angry and scowling at Leann even though her words suggested otherwise, but he also didn't like that she was letting herself be pushed around so easily. He wished she'd stick up for herself or request that she got paid or that Leann help too or… or something instead of just giving in.
Suddenly India looked even more upset, if that were possible, and Cody wondered if she'd seen someone else she really didn't like, but she pulled her hand from his quickly and snapped at him.
"Let go! I've gotta get this done!"
She stormed off toward, what Cody suspected, must be the kitchen. He sighed and made his way over to the table of food. He was willing to be India's punching bag, figuratively speaking, if she wanted to get out her anger by snapping at him instead of her coworkers, but it still seemed wrong to him that she was in there pouring drinks for everyone else. He decided that he would stick to drinking the fancy coffee (which he was pleased to see was indeed being served) because he wasn't about to let her serve him.
"So, you and India, huh?" Leann's voice asked in fake friendliness. Cody turned to find that she had followed close behind him.
He shrugged, not wanting to say anything that India didn't want him to. He knew how it looked seeing as they'd been holding hands when they walked in, but they'd not known each other long, and they'd never discussed their relationship yet. ‘That'll have to change soon’ Cody thought to himself but in the meantime, he wasn't about to discuss it with others.
"This coffee is amazing," he said to Leann, hoping to change the subject.
She glanced at it, uninterested, and then back at him. "Why haven’t you ever come to any of our parties before this?"
"I haven't known her long," Cody answered honestly, hoping that was at least a safe reply.
"Really?" Leann's face lit up. "Well, let me tell you something. This is for your own good, as you seem to be a pretty decent guy. Run away now. India has a bad temper. You'll see it soon enough. She blames everyone else when things go wrong and she just snaps at times, quite often actually." She turned and gestured to a woman that had just walked in. "That girl over there, in the pink skirt, white top? Her name's Alice, and she's as pleasant as can be. She's also single. Why don't you ask her to dance while India's serving drinks?"
Cody gave her a look of disbelief. "Really?! I thought you said I seemed like a decent guy? What sort of decent person attends a party with one girl and dances with another the first chance he g
ets?"
Leann smiled sheepishly. "Okay, so maybe that wasn't the best idea, but still, I think you and Alice would be a great match. She’s tall, you’re tall. She’s a blond, you’re a blond plus she's a good friend of mine and I tell you, she's wonderful. You'd really like her and what's one moment of indecency for perhaps the love of your life and a lifetime of happiness? You won't get it with India; I promise you that. But if you really don't feel you can do that to India, though I daresay she deserves it, at least let me give you Alice's number, and you can ask her out tomorrow."
"Not interested," Cody said flatly, wondering what the hell kind of game Leann was playing.
"Why not? I promise you'll like her."
"I like India."
"Fine," Leann muttered.
To Cody's relief, she turned away and headed across the room. His relief was short lived, though, when he saw her talking to this Alice girl and nodding in his direction. The next thing he knew, Alice was sidling up to him at the refreshment table.
"Hey," she said with a friendly smile.
Cody glanced at her. She didn't seem fake like Leann did, and he wondered what exactly Leann had told her to get her to approach him because he doubted it was the truth.
"Hi," he replied back, unable to be rude to someone who was probably an innocent victim in some sort of scheme that he hadn't quite worked out yet. Anyway, he wasn't supposed to snap at anyone for any reason; it was against India's rules.
"Why are you here?" Alice asked curiously. "I mean, it's not uncommon for guests to come to our parties, half these people aren't staff, but they don't just come alone. It's for staff members and their family or friends."
"I'm here with India, but she's pouring drinks or something."
Alice looked surprised. "Oh, Leann said you didn't seem to be with anyone."
Cody bit his tongue to avoid calling one of India's coworkers a liar. "Well, I am."
Alice shrugged and smiled. "You must be bored waiting for her. Would she mind if we danced?"
Cody shrugged. "Sorry, Alice. She might not, but I'd really prefer to wait for her. I don't want to be all danced out before she gets back. Do you know how long she's gonna be?" He was hoping she'd be back really soon.
Spicy Coffee, Sweet Love (A Contemporary Young Adult Romance) Page 4
