by Cary Hart
“No, well, yes, but first I need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay. Spit it out.”
“Aubrey, there is no easy way to tell you this, but apparently, Doug has been cheating on you with his assistant.”
Done. It wasn’t so bad.
“Cheryl? There is no way.”
Crap. She seriously has no clue.
“Not Cheryl, his junior accountant.” My words are not ringing any bells with her. My God, did he never tell her anything? Of course, he didn’t. Why would he when he is fucking his former high school sweetheart, his new junior accountant. And he wonders why we call him Dougy the Douche. Asshole.
“Niki, this isn’t funny. When would he have had time?”
I can see the realization creeping upon her face. She knows. She has to know now.
“Aubrey, his junior accountant is JoJo.”
“No…no-no-no-no-no…this can’t be happening. Not her. Not JoJo.” Aubrey’s voice cracks; her breathing becomes rapid. A panic attack is rearing its ugly head.
I have to get her out of here. “Just breathe. Aubrey, look at me, babe.” I reach for her hand across the table, reassuring her that I’m here. “In and out. Watch me. Just like this.”
“I-I-I can’t.”
He has given her more than six years of shit. I’m not about to let this situation bring her down in front of a room full of strangers. Jumping up, I gather our things, mumbling, “Jesus, girl, I didn’t think you would react like this. I should have waited. Aubrey, you fucking stay with me.” I lift her and let her body lean against mine.
“Miss is she okay? Do I need to call—” a voice begins.
“Mind your own business. She’s fine,” I snap as we head out the door to the nearest bench so Aubrey can sit down. Pushing her head between her legs, I gently rub her back, whispering comforting words in her ear. “Breathe, just breathe, baby girl. One, two, three…in and out. That’s good.”
“Nik?” Her voice is soft and broken.
“Aubrey, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have told you like this. I just figured with everything that has happened and the divorce that it wouldn’t have…hell, I don’t know what I thought.” I fall to my knees and hug her tight. Today is one of those days I hug. She needs me, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to be there for her.
“It’s fine. Seriously, I suspected he was cheating, I’m just shocked that it was with JoJo.” She pulls back. “How long?” She searches my eyes for the truth.
I wish she wouldn’t have asked that question. What good comes from this? They both have moved on and right now their focus should be Reece.
Shit!
“A little over a year.” I close my eyes, waiting for her attack, bracing myself for the lashing she wishes she could give the douche.
“I need to go.” The calm shocks me. She stands and grabs for her bag.
“Aubrey, don’t go. Not like this?” I reach for her arm to pull her back, but she’s too quick.
“It’s fine. I just need to process this.” She rounds the building to the back parking lot. “How about you come over, and we will have a little wine time?” She unlocks her car, turning to flash me a smile over her shoulder, showing me she is fine when she is everything but.
“I have a dinner date at seven, but it won’t last long.” I holler, shocked that I’m still contemplating going when just minutes ago, my friend had a breakdown.
“Anyone I know?” She wiggles her eyebrows, insinuating Gavin.
Gavin.
I wonder how he will feel about this. Why do I even care?
“The suit from the club, but don’t worry. He is nothing like the last guy and it’s not even serious. He flies out tonight,” I blurt out before she can give me another lecture on my type of men.
“Whoa, there, Nelly; slow down. I’m not judging.”
She doesn’t have to. I’ll do it for the both of us. Nothing good will come from having dinner with suit and tie.
Nothing.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to get back out there and have a little fun. Maybe nail some wood with the carpenter guy?” It’s my turn to wiggle my eyebrows.
“Aren’t you running late?” Aubrey asks, avoiding my question. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes, I am, but don’t think I don’t know what you just did there.” I flip her the bird as I make my way back to my car.
Climbing in, I watch Aubrey pull off and a feeling of unease settles in.
What am I going to tell Gavin?
Gavin
It’s been one hell of a day. Cindy called in sick, tonight’s band canceled, and our new hostess can’t keep her hands to herself. I have to take a step back every time she approaches me. A walking, talking, harassment lawsuit right there, and I don’t want any part of that.
“Hey boss?” Jake steps into my office.
“Jake, you can call me Gavin or Shaw, but boss has to go. Especially since you are training to be one yourself,” I remind him.
Jake has been a lifesaver. Starting out as a bartender, he worked his way up. Some days, he still bartends to train new staff, but mostly, he has been my right hand man. He’s training for the weekend manager position, a job I will gladly hand over at the end of summer.
“Got it. It’s still a little surreal right now.”
“Why is that? You have worked your ass off to get here.” I reach for my keys. “And that is why I’m trusting you tonight to hold down the fort.” I pat him on the back before I head for the door. “You got this, and if you have any problems at all, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, but do you want an update? That’s why I came in here.”
“I’m fully confident in your decisions, Jake. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t leave you here alone.” I wink, handing him his set of keys. “It’s all yours bud. Ohhhh, just don’t engage with Chloe. That girl is hornier than a nun at a ‘Magic Mike’ showing…get what I’m saying?”
“S-sure,” he stutters.
“Oh shit. Dude, tell me you didn’t. I mean, I know we don’t have a non-fraternizing policy here, but you are in management now.”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal. She seems like a pretty nice girl, and I saw you with Niki the other night. I thought if you guys were dating that maybe it wasn’t totally off limits.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.
Looking everywhere but at him, I reply, “We aren’t dating. Just friends.”
“Really? Cause you guys seem awfully—”
“Just watch your back, and think with your head, not your dick,” I interrupt, and turn to go, not leaving myself open for the interrogation. I wasn’t about to tell him my reason for leaving…Niki.
Niki
Me: What should I wear?
AA: Nothing.
Me: Seriously, Aiden. It’s weird typing out your name.
AA: I was being serious, but if nothing is a no go, casual works.
AA: Why is it weird? My name?
Me: I just didn’t peg you as an Aiden. Edward? Maybe.
AA: Middle name.
Me: Marie.
AA: I knew that already. Edward is MY middle name.
Me: blushes my bad.
Me: See you soon.
AA: 45 min.
“Forty-five minutes?” I glance at the time. “Crap.”
Forgoing the routine, I throw my hair up in a ponytail, slap on some mascara and lip gloss, and pinch my cheeks for a little color.
Perfect!
“Now, what to wear?” I whisper to myself, reaching for the remote, cranking up the music.
Loving the beat, I wiggle, twerk, and do every weird dance you can think of around the room, shaking the nerves from my system.
“Get a grip, Sanders. Dance Party USA has to wait another day,” I shout above the music.
“Did the party start without me?” The rumble of his voice startles me.
“Gav?! What the hell?” I yell, smacking his arm. “You scared the beejeezus out of me!�
�
“What exactly is a beejeezus anyways?” He struts over to my bed, eyes lingering over my barely covered frame before plopping down on my bed.
Countless nights over the past couple summers, working together at Spotlight, we just bonded. He understood a version of myself Aubrey just didn’t get. She’s my girl, but married life and family troubles consumed her, and I wasn’t about to burden her with my problems. Lord knows she would have dropped everything to be there for me. I just didn’t want her to pay the price later.
“It’s a phrase.” I throw my towel at him. “I’m trying to cut back on the swearing.”
He chuckles. “How’s that going for you?”
I glare at him. “How in the hell do you think??”
“I’m thinking pretty damn good since you are throwing…” He makes air quotation marks, “beejeezus around.” He falls back on the pillows. “Just wear jeans and a tank.”
“You think?” I reach in my closet, pulling out a couple pairs of jeans. “Ripped or dark denim?”
“Ripped.”
I pull them off the hanger, giving him the look. “Cover your eyes.”
“Nik! I’ve seen you half naked before.” He sits up on the bed. “I walked in here with you wearing just your bra and underwear and now you are telling me to cover my eyes?” He crosses his arms, enhancing his perfectly sculpted chest. “Come on now.”
“It’s not about this.” I point to my nearly naked body. “Sometimes when girls want to fit into jeans that look like this?” I wave the holey pieces of denim in the air. “We have to suck and pull…”
“Oh, Nik…please, say that again?”
“Gavin Shaw! Get your head out of the gutter.” I put my hands on my hips.
“You standing like that isn’t helping matters.” His wicked smile causes me to forget what I was even doing.
Sometimes, in moments like this, I wonder why I didn’t just cross the line. Gavin is everything a girl could ever want, but to me, he is more. He is everything I’ve ever needed, and I’m not willing to gamble that away by breaking the boundaries I’ve set. Protecting this friendship means everything to me.
“Just close your eyes,” I plead. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Fine.” He turns his head as I slide those suckers on.
“You can look now.”
“That was pretty entertaining.”
“YOU LOOKED?” I reach for a pillow, smacking him over the head.
“I didn’t mean to, but you see that mirror there? It had other plans.” He yanks the pillow from my hands, causing me to fall on top of him.
“Stop playing around. I have to get dressed.” I slide down his body until my feet touch the floor.
God, he feels so good.
Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I hold up a solid black tank, questioning his judgment. “Really? Just a tank for a casual dinner?”
“You look amazing in anything you wear. Besides, it’s just pizza.” He looks confused.
Damnit!
I realize I never told him about tonight. He thinks we are still on for pizza and a movie.
“Well…”
“Well, what?”
“I forgot to tell you I made plans with Aubrey tonight. We are going to have a little wine time.” I leave out the part about suit and tie guy, hoping he doesn’t catch on. Chances are it’s nothing, and why go into detail about something that won’t end up being anything?
“That’s right. You told her about her ex.” He seems concerned, which is exactly what I love about him. He listens to everything I have to say. My worries are his and vice versa. “She okay?”
“Yeah, she had a slight panic attack but managed to pull it together pretty quickly. Honestly, I think deep down, she knew something was going on but wasn’t quite sure…”
“Wait!” he interrupts.
“If you are going over there for wine time, why didn’t you just throw on your yoga pants?”
“Well, because I’m meeting someone first,” I admit. I toss the tank aside, opting for a black cami and a see-through blouse.
“Are you going on a date?”
“Well, it’s not really a date. We are just having a casual dinner.”
“Who’s we, and where are you going? Do I know him?” He’s now standing in front of me.
“Whoa…back down papa bear.” I pat his chest. “I got this all under control.”
“Who is he?” Gavin doesn’t back down.
“Remember the suit from the club?”
“Oh, hell.” He starts to pace the room. “How many times do I have to tell you? Guys like that are only here for a short time.”
“Oh, my God! I’m not marrying the guy. Just dinner.” I sit down on the bed to slide on my booties.
“It’s never ‘just dinner’ with those guys, Nik.”
“Gavin! You’re starting to piss me off. You don’t own me.” I stand up, ready for the battle, but my phone buzzes on the nightstand.
“You better get that. It’s probably your new toy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I lean down, swiping the screen to check the messages.
Aubrey: Have fun tonight. Do something I probably dream about doing. LOL winky face
“It’s Aubrey.” I type out a message to her.
Me: A lady never tells.
Aubrey: Since when did you become a lady?
Me: Shut it whore. See you later.
Aubrey: C-ya. Have fun!
Me: xoxo
“Yeah, great friend,” Gavin mumbles, digging his keys out of his pocket.
“Seriously, Gavin! Is that how you are going to play this? I let my emotions show for a second.
“Nik, I’m sorry.” He walks over, pulling me in for one of his bear hugs. “I’m an ass. I had a really bad day at work, and the thought of hanging out with you was what got me through.” He kisses my forehead. “Go, have fun.” He lets me go with a little swat on my ass.
“Hey!” I giggle.
“Just be careful.” He sighs.
“I will. A car service will be here any second.” I slide my purse over my shoulder, reaching into my nightstand to pull out my Taser. Just in case.
Gavin smiles. “That’s my girl.”
“Seriously, I’ll be fine, but this way you can stop worrying.” I walk past him, and he follows. “Plus I’m going over to Aubrey’s later. So, when I say it’s just dinner, it’s just dinner.”
“Fine. At least, let me walk you down.” He reaches around me for the door, not really giving me a choice in the matter.
“Sounds fair.” I walk past him, and he shuts the door behind us.
“Niki, you can call me if you need me. No questions asked. I’ll always be there.” He stands at the end of the sidewalk, watching me walk away.
“I know.” I run back up to him as the car pulls up and wrap my arms around his tall frame. “Thank you.”
“Miss Sanders? You need to get in or we will be late.” The driver rounds the car and opens the door.
“Guess I need to go.” I give him one more squeeze before I pull away.
“Guess you do.”
“Call you later?”
“Sure.”
Niki
I really should have thought this through better. Alone, in a car with a total stranger, heading into Chicago to meet another total stranger.
Real smart, Nik.
“So, where we going?”
Nothing.
“We going downtown?”
Still nothing.
“Do you like your job? It seems to me that you wish you were somewhere else.”
Finally. He stares me down through the rearview mirror.
“It’s okay if you don’t. I mean, I get it. Driving around all day, picking up total strangers. Hey, do you remember that show ‘Taxi Cab Confessions’?”
Nothing.
“No? That’s a shame. That was pure entertainment right there. The things some people did in the back of those cabs…” I turn t
oward the window, watching the city lights pass us by. “I’m sure your typical day isn’t exactly like that since you drive this baby, but I’m thinking you see your share of crazy adventures.”
Finally locking eyes with me once again, he speaks. “I’m missing my daughter’s dance recital tonight.”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry. What time was her recital?”
“Seven-thirty,” he grumbles.
“Well, then…let’s go.” There was no way I was going to let this man miss his daughter’s recital.
I have seen plenty of disappointed faces since working for the school district. Children who just want to see their mom or dad show up for their talent show or a classroom party, but work keeps them away.
“Ma’am, I wish I could, but I have strict orders to bring you straight to the restaurant.”
“Well, just pull over, tell me where I need to go, and I’ll call for an Uber.” I lean forward, trying to talk some sense into my nameless driver.
“Not possible.”
“Well, that’s crazy. Your boss apparently didn’t know who he was dealing with. Just wait until I get ahold of him tonight,” I say as I type out a new text to Aiden before deleting it.
We will be there soon enough. That man is going to get an earful.
“Sir?”
“Yes, Miss Sanders?”
“What’s your name?”
“Tony.”
“Tony?” I repeat wondering if I heard him right.
“Yes, Miss Sanders, but you may call me Mr. Stewart if you wish.”
“No way! You’re telling me that you are a car driver and your name is Tony Stewart?”
He sighs, rolling his eyes. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard that before, but yes, my name is Tony Stewart. Not the race car driver who makes millions of dollars but the Tony Stewart who drives for a car service to make ends meet while I put my oldest daughter through art school.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“I’m going to call you Stewie,” I joke, flashing him a mega-watt smile. “You know, so I don’t get confused.”
“Tony is fine, Miss Sanders.”
“Call me Niki.”
“I’m sorry, but I have strict orders to address you as Miss Sanders.”
“We will see about that. Are you my driver after dinner?”
“I’m on stand-by.”
“What does that even mean? I have to get home right after dinner.”
