Chapter Thirteen
The next several days were different. There had been a shift. Katie didn’t know exactly why, what had prompted it, if it had been the kiss—it must have been, right?—but they didn’t talk about it.
Probably not the best course of action, the not talking, and Katie knew it. So many times, it was on the tip of her tongue to say something, to ask about it, to see if Addison had any feelings on the subject whatsoever, but every time, she chickened out, and she knew exactly why.
Because she liked this version of Addison Fairchild. She liked her a lot.
While she hadn’t gone all the way over to the relaxed and friendly nature she’d had those two days last week in her loft, Addison had still moved much closer to that end of what Katie now referred to—only in her head—as the Addison Fairchild Attitude Spectrum. The only errands she sent Katie on were to pick up food, be it a late lunch or an early dinner, and it was almost always suggested by Katie. Whenever she agreed, Addison always ordered enough for Katie to share. Katie did her best to remain gentle and unobtrusive, but she also did her best to make sure Addison actually ate. It didn’t always happen, but Katie kept track. Other than those occasional food runs, Katie stayed in the office. She helped answer and make phone calls, and in a surprising stroke of trust, Addison gave Katie access to both her email account and her personal calendar. So not only did they construct email responses together, with Addison dictating her thoughts and Katie putting them into words and then sending them, but Katie completely revamped Addison’s calendar and then kept it neat and organized. She sent her an email at the end of each day to give her a rundown of what she had scheduled for the next day. It seemed to work fantastically well. Addison had a lot of meetings in a typical week and she’d started letting Katie tag along to them, asked her to take notes. More than once, they’d come back to the office to discuss what had transpired and Katie had picked something up that Addison had missed.
Turned out, they made kind of an amazing team.
Try as she might to forget it, to set it aside and chalk it up as a one-time thing, their kiss was never far from Katie’s mind. She wondered if Addison ever thought about it. Had she enjoyed it? Was it something she’d rather forget? Was it in a box on a high, high shelf in Addison’s mind? Because much as she’d tried to put it there in her own head, it kept working its way back down to front and center for Katie. It stayed in her thoughts. It even invaded her dreams, and she knew she needed to share it with somebody.
She’d texted with Samantha on and off all week, but they’d both been so crazy busy that the messages felt like quick little drive-bys, little “hey, how’re you doing, I’m crazed but wanted to say hi, catch you later” type blurbs. It wasn’t until Friday night they actually connected by phone.
“I can’t believe I’m actually talking to you,” Katie said, after having confirmed by text that Samantha was home. “Why are you in on a Friday night?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“That’s easy. I’m a loser and have no life. What’s your excuse?”
“Well, I’m certainly not as pathetic as you are,” Sam said with a laugh. “I have worked my butt off all week and I’m exhausted. I think I might be coming down with something.”
“Uh-oh.” Katie flopped back on her bed. She could hear her father’s TV broadcasting some sporting event through the wall. The day hadn’t been a bad one, but it also hadn’t been easy, her mother had reported. That seemed to be par for the course now.
“How’s your dad?” Sam asked, as if privy to Katie’s thoughts.
Katie sighed.
“That bad, huh?”
Katie gave Sam a quick rundown of how it had been going, the ups and downs—mostly downs—and that a home health aide would be coming for the first time tomorrow.
“That’ll be good for your mom, right?”
“It will. But…” Katie recalled the expression on her mother’s face as she spoke on the phone with the organization that would send help. It was a combination of relief, hope, and utter sadness. “I think it’s just a reminder for her that he’ll never get better. A reminder for both of us, really. But I’m at work and she’s here all day, so more so for her.” And as had become a seemingly regular occurrence lately, Katie was pretty sure she could feel her own heart crack a little bit in her chest.
Like she sensed that a subject change would be a good thing, Sam said, “Speaking of work, I got a little visit earlier in the week from your boss. Which was…odd.”
“My boss has an office in your building. Why would that be odd?”
Sam gave a small groan. “I keep forgetting you were hired by Mrs. Fairchild. I meant Addison.”
Katie furrowed her brow. “Addison came to see you? That does seem odd. How come?”
“To pump me for information about you. That’s why I texted you Monday, but then we both got busy and I forgot until tonight.”
“What does that mean, to pump you for information?” Katie sat up on her bed, feeling a mix of curiosity, happiness, and irritation.
“It wasn’t anything devious,” Sam said with a scoff. “In fact, she seemed kind of worried about you. Said you seemed stressed and asked me if you were okay. I told her about your dad. I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have, but she really did seem concerned.”
What the hell? “She could’ve just asked me.”
“Agreed.”
Katie didn’t mention that she’d unloaded on Addison more than once and that maybe she was afraid to ask Katie directly if she was okay. She had to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“I actually thought, after I got past the weirdness of it, that it was kind of sweet.”
“What else did she ask?” Katie found herself softening because she felt like she was slowly getting to know Addison better, and if she was genuinely worried—so worried that she sought out Katie’s best friend—well, that was kind of sweet. Still odd that she wouldn’t just ask Katie what she wanted to know, but kind of sweet just the same.
“Not a lot. If you had siblings.” Sam paused, and Katie could picture her looking up at the ceiling the way she always did when she tried to recall something. “Actually, I think that was it.” Another pause. “Her worry seemed pretty real, Kate, like she cares about you.”
Katie took a deep, full breath and let it out slowly.
“What?” Sam asked, as if she could read that exhalation. “Tell me.”
And Katie spilled it. All of it. Everything. The attitude shifts of Addison’s that gave Katie whiplash. Working at her loft. The unexpected kiss in the office. The current pleasantness. All of it. When she finished, Sam was quiet for so long, Katie wondered if the call had dropped.
“Wow,” Sam said finally, and Katie could almost hear the gears whirring in her BFF’s brain. “She actually kissed you? Right there in her office?”
“Yeah, that was a surprise,” Kate said with a chuckle.
“A good surprise?”
A happy little moan escaped Katie’s lips before she could catch it. “Oh, God, yes.”
“Well, she’s fucking hot for an ice queen. Which makes no sense, I just realized.” She laughed, then added, “I didn’t know she played on your team.”
“Me neither.”
“That must’ve been a happy little discovery.”
“Mm.”
They were quiet for a moment before Sam asked softly, “What now?”
Katie half shrugged even though Sam couldn’t see it. “No idea. I mean, we haven’t talked about it. Haven’t even mentioned it. I think she might just want to forget about it. I don’t know.”
“Maybe you should bring it up.”
Katie made a noncommittal sound. “I don’t want to jeopardize my job. We really need the money right now, and until something full-time comes along for me, I’d like to hold on to this paycheck.”
“You know, I just thought of something. Mrs. Fairchild would have a meltdown if she knew her daughter was making out with
her personal assistant. She’s nuts about that fraternizing rule. Remember when that guy in sales asked me out?”
“Oh, right! A couple years ago.”
“Yep. She hauled him into her office so fast…”
“No wonder Addison wants to forget it.” How could Katie have not remembered that? It certainly put a bit of a new spin on things for her. No, she didn’t want to lose her job. And she didn’t want to put Addison’s in danger either. Was that even a worry when you worked for your mom? She gave her head a good shake. “I think…I’m just going to leave it.”
Sam seemed to agree. “I think that’s probably the way to go. Sadly.”
“Yeah.”
They talked a bit more, and when they finally hung up, Katie lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling and absorbing the new information she had.
Addison had been worried about her.
That didn’t seem to fit very well with the woman she’d first met when she began this job. It fit better with the woman she was working with now—and the reality of it made her wrinkle her nose and give her head a slight shake. Addison Fairchild almost did seem to be two different people: Cool Businesswoman Addison and Addison the Person. And while it was true that Cool Businesswoman Addison had her place and was definitely interesting to observe, she was not the version that was taking up space in Katie’s head. No, Addison the Person was far more intriguing.
How do I get her to come out and play?
* * *
The past two weeks had gone so well, Addison often found herself smiling for no reason. It was early December. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and there was a light, fresh dusting of snow on the ground that gave the world a clean-slate look. Three of her five rental complexes were filled to capacity with renters—the first time that had ever happened. And her schedule felt somehow…smoother. Easier. More streamlined. She gave the credit for that to Katie. Her calendar girl, as Sophie had labeled her.
It was almost noon on Friday when her phone rang, and she snatched it up just as Katie walked through the doorway looking like she hadn’t slept in days. Addison furrowed her brow as she put the phone to her ear and said her name.
The entire time she talked to the office manager of one of her complexes, she followed Katie’s movements with her eyes. She was wearing black dress pants and a gray sweater today, her hair up, and she looked neat and put together, as always, but there were occasions when Addison realized how much she missed casual, jean-clad Katie, the one in her loft, the one in sock feet and a messy bun. Half listening to the caller, she continued to watch Katie set up for her afternoon. Watched as she pulled her laptop from her bag, set it down, opened it. Watched as she draped her coat over one of the other chairs at the table, like she did every day. Watched as she took a deep breath and then stared at her workstation, like she wondered if something was missing. That was unlike Katie. She was generally sure, determined, confident in her day. Today, she looked a little bit…lost.
Katie glanced up and met Addison’s eyes, and Addison gave her a little wave hello. Katie tossed back a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, then pointed to the door and held up a finger. Addison took it to mean she’d be right back, so she nodded her assent as she half listened to the caller. She watched Katie leave and tried not to think about how much it bothered her to see her so off her game.
Just as Addison was wrapping up the call, Katie returned, two cups of steaming coffee in her hand. She set one down on Addison’s desk and returned to her own space.
Addison finished her call. “My God, that woman can talk,” she said. “I’ve had to fake reasons to hang up.”
Katie smiled and sat in front of her laptop as Addison squinted at the coffee she’d brought. As if reading her mind, Katie said, “Yes, I know you prefer your coffee black unless you order a latte, and yes, I know I put cream in that one.”
“A lot of cream.”
“If you’re going to continue to drink too much coffee—which we both know is hard on your stomach—then maybe the extra cream will take some of the edge off it once it’s in there and poking at your stomach lining.”
Addison looked up at her and their gazes met warmly.
“I mean…” Katie lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Based on my abundance of medical expertise and all.”
Addison grinned, relieved by the attempted humor, which was much more like Katie. Still, she seemed off, but before Addison could open her mouth to ask about it, her phone rang again. “Damn it,” she muttered and snatched it up.
“Are you ready for the gala next weekend?” It was her mother. No greeting, no preamble usually meant she was buried in work and had no time for trivial discussions. “I need you to be ready, Addison. This is important.”
“Yes, Mother, I know.” Katie shot a glance her way and Addison made a show of rolling her eyes. “You’ve called me three times this week.”
“Well, you have a habit of waiting until the last minute.”
“Have I ever not shown up for something like this?”
“No, you haven’t.” There was reluctance in her mother’s voice, and that gave Addison the tiniest bit of satisfaction.
“Then stop worrying. I’ll be there.”
“Do you have a date yet?”
Addison’s irritated sigh was apparently all Meredith needed to use her “I give up” tone.
“Fine. Bring Sophie, then. I don’t care.”
That quality in her voice, the one that said this was exactly what she’d expected of Addison, even though Addison didn’t quite understand why her having or not having a date was an issue at all, got under Addison’s skin like a tiny burr inside her collar, pricking at her, poking, niggling, and Addison was suddenly hit with a little shot of rebellion. Which happened from time to time when it came to her hard-ass of a mother.
They finished the call, Addison’s snark evidently obvious, as Katie looked up with a look of surprise. Addison groaned.
“Moms, huh?” Katie asked.
“Moms.” Addison shook her head, kept her eyes on Katie. “Are you okay today?” Addison fought the urge to cross the room and put a hand on Katie’s shoulder, on the back of her head, to pull her into a hug. It was a strong urge, but she managed to stay in her seat.
Katie nodded. “I am. Long night is all.”
“And twin four-year-olds this morning.”
“Exactly.”
They stayed that way for a beat or two, Katie smiling at Addison from across the room, Addison smiling back, and Addison marveled at how dorky they must have looked in that moment.
“Hey, are you busy next Saturday night?” The words were out and floating in the room between them before Addison even realized she was about to say them.
Katie’s eyebrows went up. “Me?” At Addison’s nod, she wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so. Why?”
Can’t really back out now. Addison threw caution to the wind and tried hard not to think about what she was doing. “How would you feel about coming to the Christmas gala my sister is throwing to benefit the hospital?”
Addison scratched at her neck as she waited for Katie’s response. She didn’t stop to think about the blowback, the consequences of bringing a subordinate as her date. In that moment, she didn’t give a crap what her mother thought. What anybody thought. Katie’s face had lit up a bit at the question, and that was enough for Addison.
“A gala, huh? Sounds fancy.”
“It’s pretty fancy,” Addison agreed. “Katrina goes all out. Lots of big names there, investors, important people.” She could see that her words were not making Katie feel any more comfortable, and she snapped her mouth shut.
“Why me?” The question was just above a whisper, and it didn’t surprise Addison. They’d never talked about the kiss from a couple weeks ago, and that was on her. She was pretty sure if she’d brought it up, Katie would have a conversation with her about it. But Addison had chosen the “if we don’t talk about it, we can pretend it never happened” route
and that hadn’t really helped her at all. She took a deep breath and decided to be as truthful as she could.
“Because I’d like to, for once in my life, attend one of those things and feel like I can be myself. Like I don’t have to put on a show. Like I don’t have to play a role. Like I can just be me.” She paused, cleared her throat. “I feel like I can do that with you.”
Her words surprised Katie. It was glaringly apparent from her widened eyes and the slight parting of her lips.
“It’s okay,” Addison said, waving a dismissive hand when a moment went by without a response. “It was silly of me to ask. No big deal.” Hiding her disappointment was something she’d become pretty good at, so she put that skill into practice right then.
“No,” Katie said, her voice quiet. Gentle. “No, I’d love to go.”
“Yeah?” They shared a look across the room, one that was charged with…something Addison didn’t want to analyze. No, that was a lie. She wanted to analyze it in a very big way. She shouldn’t analyze it. So she didn’t.
Katie nodded and her expression softened. “Yeah.”
“Good.”
They smiled like a couple of idiots for another moment before Addison shifted the subject back to work. Katie seemed relieved by the move and, just like that, they fell into what had become their easy, daily routine, and their remaining hours together consisted of work.
As Katie was packing up to go home, she said, “Don’t forget the shelter next week. Friday at two.”
“You’re coming, too.” As soon as she heard the words, Addison grimaced and scratched at the side of her neck. “Sorry. I mean, I’d like you to come, too.”
Katie narrowed her eyes at her, but her expression was light. Soft. “Spend a couple hours playing with dogs and cats and goats and horses? Yes, please.”
Addison’s relief surprised her. “Good.”
“And stop scratching your neck. You’re going to leave ruts.”
Addison grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” She watched as Katie slid into her coat, a black pea coat that seemed a bit on the large side. It was super cute, though, especially once she donned a red knit hat and matching mittens and scarf. “I like that coat.”
Calendar Girl Page 15
