Club Abbott: Yours (Club Abbott Series, #5)

by Hazel Kelly

  “Wow,” she said. “And personally?”

  “Personally, I want to do a better job of appreciating a good thing when I have it.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “That’s probably something I should work on, too.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Hey! You don’t get to tell me what I should work on! What the hell?!”

  “Oh calm down,” I said. “It was only a suggestion.”

  “Still.”

  “And I’ve got loads more of them for you if you’re interested.”

  She scoffed. “I’m not.”

  I squinted. “Really? You’re not at all curious what I think you could do better in the new year?”

  “No,” she said. “But I certainly have a few ideas for you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “You shouldn’t be such a know it all for one thing.”

  I nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  “And you’re too smug. Sometimes you should let someone else pick up the tab instead of being so shamelessly spoiled rich.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think you’d feel that way if you knew what that Capulet’s steak cost.”

  “There you go doing it again!”

  “What else?” I asked, thrilled at the fact that I’d got her heart racing- even if the way I’d done it wasn’t exactly my first choice.

  “Oh I know- here’s an idea for you. How about you stop lying to your family about who you’re dating in the new year and learn to tell them the disappointing truth like everybody else.”

  “Mmm.”

  “And if a woman tells you she doesn’t want to be with you two seconds after you’ve just screwed her brains out on her desk, maybe don’t believe her because sometimes women say things they don’t mean, and a real man doesn’t punish them for it by being cruel and cold and not giving them a take back.”

  “Are you asking for a take back?”

  “No.”

  I smiled.

  “I just meant hypothetically,” she said. “Like if that ever happens in the future.”

  I held my jaw in one hand. “I see. Well, that’s all been very enlightening.”

  “Good.”

  “But since we’re both adults here, I think it’s only fair that if you’re going to dish it out like that, you be prepared to take it.”

  “Fine. Do your worst.”

  “Really?” I asked. “Are you sure you want me to tell you how I think you should behave differently in the future? Cause once I’m honest, I won’t be able to take any of it back and-”

  “Just spit it out. I can handle it.”

  “First of all, I think you should give yourself some credit for how good you are at your job,” I said. “I don’t think you should worry or second guess yourself because your taste is immaculate. And once you have a few clients under your belt, you’re going to have more work than you ever dreamed of and you’ll never have to worry.”

  “Thank you,” she said, her voice softening.

  “Second of all, I don’t think you should change a damn thing when it comes to the way you kiss or the way you fuck because the way you move your body puts other women to shame.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “But I do think you need to consider how you’re going to stay open to love in the future in light of what you’ve been through this year.”

  “I know.”

  “Because my gut tells me there’s a perfect guy out there for you- a guy who would never hurt you and who would make it his business to make all your dreams come true. And I hate to think you’d push him away just because you’re scared of getting hurt again.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Especially when all he wants to do is rip your panties off and see to it that your dimples are always on display.”

  “You think a guy like that might exist, huh?”

  I nodded. “I’m pretty confident he’s out there somewhere.”

  “And how would you suggest I go about finding this perfect guy?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure when the time comes, he’ll find you.”

  “Ben?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry about those things I just said about your resolutions. I-”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “You’re right about everything.”

  “No. I was unfair-”

  “No you weren’t. In fact, next time I go out with a woman, I’m going to let her pick up the bill.”

  “You don’t have to-”

  “And if I’m ever in a situation again where a woman I want more than anything tells me she wants to pretend there’s nothing between us, I won’t believe a word she says.”

  “I’m sorry I hurt you, Ben. I never meant to-”

  “You don’t owe me an apology, Carrie. I called to thank you, remember?”

  “Right. Well, you’re very welcome. And thank you for the flowers.”

  “No problem,” I said. “It’s the least a cad like me could do.”

  Chapter 13: Carrie

  “Are you ready?” I asked, speaking towards the crack in my bedroom door.

  “I was ready fifteen minutes ago,” Brook said. “Let’s see the damn dress already. If you hype it up any more-”

  I stepped in the room.

  She gasped and brought a hand to her mouth.

  I raised my eyebrows and did a little spin. “Do you like it?”

  “Like it?!” she said, lowering the mascara in her hand and taking a step away from the mirror. “It’s probably the most fabulous party dress I’ve ever seen in real life.”

  I smiled. “Thanks.”

  “People might actually think we’re loaded with you looking that dazzling.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “And if Ben doesn’t want you back the second he sees you in that-” She leaned back towards the mirror and continued applying her mascara.

  “What?”

  “We’ll have to get his eyes checked.”

  It was exactly what I wanted to hear, though I wasn’t keen to let on that I’d gone to so much trouble for him. I wanted to pretend I’d done it for me- so I’d look the part of someone capable of designing such a fabulous space.

  But I knew I was kidding myself.

  When I dressed for me, I wore pajamas. So the fact that I was in a backless mini dress that sparkled like a disco ball was a pretty solid indication that I was out to impress.

  “You know what would look fab with that?”

  “What?” I asked, kicking my heels off. No sense in my feet hurting before I even left my apartment.

  “The diamonds he gave you.”

  I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

  “Why?” She leaned back and screwed the mascara shut.

  “Cause I can’t afford to lose them for one thing.”

  She turned and cocked her head at me. “From what you’ve said, this is going to be a pretty classy affair. And it’s not like you’re going to take them off.”

  I pursed my lips.

  “They’d probably be the perfect way to fit in.”

  I walked to my dresser and pulled the top drawer open. Unlike my other jewelry, which lived in my jewelry box on top of the dresser, I’d been keeping the necklace and earrings Ben gave me in my underwear drawer.

  “Let’s see,” Brook said, crossing the room in her bare feet.

  I opened the earring box and laid the necklace in the clear bag beside it.

  “First of all,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re keeping a diamond like that in a snack bag.”

  I shrugged. “It was supposed to be temporary.”

  “Second of all, would you zip me?” She turned around.

  My eyes followed the gold zipper down the back of her black dress. “Sure.” I pulled it up and checked to see if there was a little hook thing, but there wasn’t. “You’re good to go.”

  She scrunched her nose. “I think I need some more hairspray,” she said. “But I’ll wait until right before we go ca
use I’m carrying one of those stupid small clutches tonight that barely fits my goddamn phone.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Put the jewelry on for a sec,” she said, leaning a hip against my dresser. “Just so we can see how it looks.”

  I sighed and pulled the first earring out of the box.

  “Do you have some bronzer I can use?” she asked. “I forgot mine, and I don’t want to glow in the dark.”

  “It’s in the bathroom,” I said, securing the first earring.

  She nodded once and left.

  “Should be on the counter,” I called after her, sliding the second earring in. “Otherwise check my makeup bag on the shelf over the toilet.” I removed the necklace from the bag, secured the clasp, and slid the diamond charm around to the front.

  Brook was right. Having the sparkling diamonds up by my face really tied the whole look together.

  “Wow.”

  I turned to see her leaning in the doorframe with the bronzer and my chubby makeup brush in her hand.

  “You look gorgeous, Carrie.”

  I looked back in the mirror and touched the diamond around my neck. “Won’t I look stupid, though, if he doesn’t want me back and I’m wearing these?”

  “No.” She walked up beside me and spoke to me through the mirror. “Stupid would be wearing your engagement ring.”

  I let my hand fall to the dresser.

  “Because that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “No shit.”

  “But the jewelry Ben bought you does. So you should wear it.”

  My eyes bounced between the earrings and the necklace.

  “Plus, it will hint at the fact that you still have feelings for him without you even having to open your mouth.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  She turned towards me. “Carrie.”

  I looked at her. “Yeah?”

  She put her hands on my shoulders. “There are times when you should be afraid of letting someone know how you feel about them.”

  I nodded.

  “But this isn’t one of them.” She lowered her head to catch my eyes. “Tonight you should be afraid of not telling him, of starting the new year without him knowing how you feel.”

  “I know.”

  “Cause everyone gets to start over tonight. Everyone gets to put their best foot forward. And this is your chance to step into the new year with him on your arm.”

  I swallowed.

  “Where he belongs.”

  “And what if that isn’t where he wants to be?”

  She dropped her arms and cocked her head. “Then at least you’ll know you tried and that you didn’t go into the new year being a pussy.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “And if that happens, I’ll take the diamonds off your hands because it will probably be too painful for you to be anywhere near them.”

  I laughed. “You’re a real saint.”

  “Seriously, though. I’m sure you’ll get to keep them.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, me too.” After all, there was only one person that had a right to ask for them back and up until now, he wasn’t interested.

  “He’s gonna want you back.”

  “You think?” I asked, scrunching my face and turning back towards the mirror.

  “Yeah,” she said, popping my bronzer open and sweeping some of the brown powder over her cheeks. “Otherwise, it will be awkward for him to introduce me to all his most eligible friends.”

  “True.”

  “So be fearless for both of us.”

  I nodded, my eyes dropping as my phone lit up on the dresser. “That’s our Uber.”

  “Oh fuck,” Brook said, sweeping the bronzer across her jawline and snapping it closed. “Okay, one last hair spray, and I’m good to go. I’ll put my lips on in the car.”

  When we pulled up outside, the Club Abbott sign was glowing over the door.

  “Do you want dropped off here?” our driver asked. “Or at the end of the line?”

  I leaned my head against the glass, letting my eyes follow the line to where it curved around the city block.

  “The door is fine,” Brook said, popping her door open.

  I opened my mouth to protest, but she’d already gotten out of the car so I thanked the driver and followed her towards the entrance.

  “We can’t just walk up to the front,” I said when I caught up with her.

  “Sure we can,” she said. “You’re VIP.”

  “But we have to wait for Nora and-”

  “Isn’t that Nora by the door?”

  I looked up. “Yeah.” How late were we running?

  We greeted Nora, exchanging rapid fire compliments about how fabulous we looked despite the fact that it was freezing and none of us were appropriately dressed. Then we walked up to the door on the side where there wasn’t a line.

  “Hi,” I said when Brook pushed me to the front.

  A large man turned around and held his hand out towards the line as if we hadn’t seen it.

  I feigned the most hopeful expression I could muster. “If you’ll just check the list, I think you’ll find that we’re-”

  The large man tapped someone behind him whose back was turned towards us.

  When the other guy turned around, my jaw dropped.

  “Carrie!” he said.

  I furrowed my brow. “Woody?”

  He spread his arms out so I could admire him.

  “You look so different without your beard,” I said. “So handsome.”

  “Thanks,” he said, tucking his clipboard under his arm and turning to the large bouncer. “Message Ben and tell him Carrie and her guests are here, please.”

  The guy nodded and stepped into the shadows.

  “Are you working here?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Ben hooked me up. I can get my own library card now and everything. I’ll tell you all about it later, though. I gotta keep on top of things. ”

  “Hi.” Nora stuck her hand between us. “I’m Nora, Carrie’s assistant.”

  Woody shook her hand and made eye contact with her that lasted so long I had time to look over my shoulder at Brook, who seemed equally convinced that we were watching sparks fly in real time.

  “We should let you get back to what you were doing,” I said. “Just tell us what we owe you for cover and-”

  “Cover doesn’t apply to you.” He reached in his pocket. “And Ben gave me strict instructions that you’re all to get gold wristbands.” He put the roll of silver ones back in his pocket and ripped three from the gold spool.

  “What are they good for?” I asked, expecting him to say free champagne at midnight.

  “Your drinks are free all night.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive,” he said, lifting a velvet rope. “Have a Jamo and Ginger for me.”

  “Will do,” I said, stepping past him and checking to make sure the girls got in okay behind me.

  When I turned back around, Ben was standing in the doorway.

  Chapter 14: Ben

  I could barely keep my mouth from dropping open.

  She looked amazing.

  “Hi,” she said, stepping up to me.

  I lifted the diamond around her neck and smiled. Then I leaned down to press my cheek to hers. “You look absolutely stunning.”

  “Thanks,” she said, turning to the women behind her. “Ben, you know Nora.”

  I nodded. “Lovely to see you again.”

  “And this is my friend, Brook.”

  “It’s so great to finally meet you,” Brook said, as if she knew a lot more about me than I did her.

  “Likewise.” I shook her hand. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Of course,” she said.

  “Let’s get you all something to drink,” I said, realizing I was jamming up my own doorway. I slipped a hand around to Carrie’s lower back, finding nothing but bare skin, and led her inside.

  The othe
r girls fell in line behind us, and I could feel the pounding of the bass in my chest again as we approached the main room. “I was starting to worry you’d changed your mind,” I said, leaning down to speak in her ear while keeping my eyes forward.

  “I have,” she said.

  I looked at her. Her eyes sparkled beside the diamond earrings I got her, further bringing out the shine of her dress, which was a man sized fishing lure as far as I was concerned. “What?”

  “I have changed my mind,” she said. “Just not about coming tonight.”

  I furrowed my brow. I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but the music was loud, and if she was going to tell me what was on her mind, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it.

  “I’ll explain later,” she said, as if she were reading my mind.

  I nodded and wove through the crowd towards the smaller bar at the edge of the main floor. When I reached the bar, I turned and put my elbow on it, creating a space in front of me where Carrie could stand while I raised my hand towards Brook and Nora who’d fallen a little behind.

  “You gave Woody a job?” Carrie asked.

  I nodded. “I saw him break up a fight at The Nest a few weeks ago. The guy’s a natural peacemaker.”

  She was leaning in so close to me I could smell her floral scent.

  It almost made me want to turn the music up even louder just to see what would happen. “And I asked him if he wanted to give it a try.”

  She looked up at me. Her eyes dropping to my lips for a second.

  “He seemed sold once I explained he’d be working nights so it wouldn’t interfere with his poetry readings.”

  “But where is he staying?”

  “I converted that useless closet at The Nest into a room for him.”

  Her dark eyes bounced back and forth between mine.

  “It’s not great, but it’s only temporary,” I said. “I offered to get him a permanent place right away, give him some paychecks in advance, ya know-”

  She nodded.

  “But he gave me a big speech about how he didn’t want to take something for nothing, and eventually I realized baby steps was a better way to go.”

  “That’s so kind of you.”

  “Not at all,” I said. “I needed someone to do the job at the door, and Barb- Ella’s mom- told me she was hurting for more regular volunteers. So everybody wins.”