Chapter 6
Chapter Six
CARA
It had been a week since I had first run into Vera again, and to say I was avoiding her was an understatement.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still a little hurt. I know the basic protocol for a one-night-stand was to leave the next morning and never see them again, but not even a goodbye? Not even a, “Hey, so this was fun?”
When I came into the office, I’d breathe a sigh of relief when I didn’t see the construction team outside the building yet.
Eloise would try to pry and ask if I’ve talked to her, and my answer was always the same.
“No, El. Don’t you have work to get back to?
” She’d roll her eyes but leave it alone until the next day.
“Hey, doll! I wasn’t expecting a call from you today. Is everything okay?”
Blair’s laugh filtered through on the other end, and I smiled at the sound.
She’d been doing that a lot in the recent years.
I still patted myself on the back for making her and Drea work together again.
I knew if I forced them together they’d hit it off.
I just hadn’t anticipated they’d get along well enough to be getting married.
“Yes, babe. Everything’s fine. I just wanted to check in. How’s it going?”
I blew out a breath. “It’s going about as well as can be expected.
Work is kicking my ass like it does this time of year.
So many releases and marketing for those releases.
But I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
They’ve also started construction outside the building, so that’s been fun.
Anyway, how’s my best friend? How’s the wedding planning going? ”
She hummed sweetly, like she did anytime we talked about her relationship with Drea. “It’s amazing, but stressful. Drea’s not being any help.”
“That is a load of horsehit, love!” Drea’s British, foul language came through the phone and I had to stifle a laugh. She may have been posh and filthy rich, but she had the mouth of a sailor. I adored her so much.
“I told you to choose whatever you like. I just want to marry you, darling. I don’t care what color the tables are, or who’s there. As long as it’s me and you, and no clothes aftward—ouch!”
I laughed, knowing Blair had gotten embarrassed and playfully swatted at Dre. “You two are ridiculous.”
Blair’s irritated voice came back in my ear. “She is the ridiculous one. I can’t make all the decisions myself!”
“You’re not, B. You have me, and Drea.”
“That’s right, love. You do have me, and you will for the rest of our lives. I love you and I want to marry you, whether our flowers all match or not. I will be happy with whatever you want. As long as I get to see you walk down the aisle to me, I will be the happiest woman in the world.”
There was a sniffle and a short pause. The sniffle being from me. “Damn, Dre. Almost dying made the sentimental part of your brain turn on, huh?” I joked to cover my sadness.
While I was eternally happy for both of my friends, I was jealous, too. I wanted a love like that. I wanted someone to look at me the way Drea looked at Blair. I wanted to come home to someone and have them love me in the way they loved each other.
Blair came back and shook me from my sad spiral.
“That is not funny, Cara Brianne! I really wish you two would stop making jokes about it. I still don’t find them funny.
Can we move on, please? Cara, do you have a date for the wedding yet?
It’s in a few months, and I need to know who you’re bringing.
We need to start telling the caterers and everyone else how many to expect. ”
I groaned. She had been asking me about my date—which I didn’t have—any chance she got.
I didn’t know why I couldn’t go alone, but anytime I tried that, she’d mention someone she knew who she could ask to go as my date, like I was a pathetic loser who needed a pity date.
I didn’t want to think about how close I was to agreeing.
“You know, Drea knows a few people from the store. Farrah’s a little young, but she’s cute. Or what about Cecily, Alexis’ older sister? She’s single, and I heard—”
“I have a date!” I blurted out. I didn’t, but I was tired of her trying to set me up with someone.
She gasped and I groaned. Shit. “You do? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?
That’s amazing! Who is she? Where did you meet her?
Are you dating? Keeping it casual? Are you paying her?
Because, sweetie, while I love you and I’m not here to judge, we can find you a real date so you don’t have to pay a hooker. Shut up, Dre!”
I rolled my eyes, only imagining what Drea was about to say.
“Oh my god. I’m not bringing a hooker to your wedding, will you relax?
But thank you for your support on that front.
It’s… new. I met her a while ago. Listen, sweetie, I’m sorry to cut this short, I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes.
We’ll talk later, okay? I love you, doll.
” I hung up without giving her time to respond.
That whole conversation was a mistake. I had a date?
It was new? That’s an understatement. It was so new, it didn’t exist. And now I had to avoid my best friend until I could come up with something to say when she inevitably asked me about it.
Luckily I actually had a meeting, so I didn't lie to her on that part. I’d use this meeting to get my mind off the wedding and my lack of a date.
I had just locked my computer a few hours later, getting ready to head out for the night when a soft knock sounded on my door. “Come in!” I shouted, expecting it to be Eloise.
I stood up with a smile, walking to the door when it opened all the way and Vera came into view. I froze and dropped my smile so fast. It wasn’t that I was unhappy to see her, but I was shocked, to say the least. How did she even get past security, and how did she know where my office was?
“How’d you get past security, and how did you know where my office was?” I asked, apparently letting my thoughts have free rein of my vocal chords.
She still had the same free-spirited smile she did from that night and I had to shake away all of the memories. “Hello to you, too. If you must know, my team and I are starting the renovations on this floor in a few weeks. That’s how I got past security. I wanted to scope it out.”
“Team?” I asked, confusion creasing my features.
“Yeah, my team. I own a construction company.”
I raised my brows in surprise. She owned the company? That was the last thing I expected her to say.
“And as for where to find you… your assistant is very helpful.”
“Don’t tell me you hit on her to get information.” I scoffed. “Why?”
She frowned and closed the door behind her. Why did she close the door? She didn’t think she was staying, did she?
“No, Princesa. I did not hit on your assistant. I wouldn’t do that, just so you know. I just asked her where to find you, and she pointed to your office. She warned me against coming in here, by the way. Any idea why?”
I shook my head. “None. Now, if there wasn’t anything specific you needed, I need to get going.” I turned around and headed back to my desk to get my bag and prepare to leave, clearly indicating I didn’t want to talk.
“Why would your assistant warn me against coming to talk to you? Are you upset with me or something?”
I groaned. She wasn’t going to leave, was she? “Because she knows about how we met. She knows I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Interesting. And, just out of curiosity, why don’t you want to talk about it?”
“Because you left!” The words tumbled out of my mouth in irritation before I could stop them.
I didn’t know why I was so upset about it. That’s what you were supposed to do after hooking up with a stranger at a hotel. You were supposed to leave and never see them again. So knowing that, why did it upset me? Why did I care so much?
Her shoulders dropped and she frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. I’ve got to go. Can you see yourself out?”
“No. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.” She took a step closer, and I instinctively took one back.
I didn’t want to have this conversation in my office. Frankly, I didn’t want to have it at all. But with the way she was standing, with her arms crossed and that sexy commanding look on her face, it had me opening my mouth to tell her the truth.
I sighed. “I woke up the next morning, and you were just gone. You left. And I know that’s typically how it goes with a one-night hook-up, but to not even say goodbye? It stung, that’s all.”
I shrugged like it was no big deal because it shouldn’t have been. She wasn’t even my type. I mean, we had already slept together, so did that even matter anymore? I was getting all twisted in my head and I needed her to leave!
She took another step closer and looked like she wanted to reach out, but thought better of it. “Cara, I didn’t leave. I wasn’t just going to leave without a word. I went to get us breakfast. I’m not a one-night stand type of person.”
I covered my mouth at the scoff that escaped it. She narrowed her brows. “I’m sorry, that was rude, but you can’t honestly expect me to believe that you,” I gestured to her entire body, “aren’t the type to prefer hook-ups over relationships.”
“I know I may look like someone who just goes out and finds women to fuck and then move on, but I’m not that type of person.
You were my first one, and that’s only because you were the one who left without so much as a goodbye.
And just because you were there, I didn’t judge you and assume you only wanted an easy night.
Everyone has their own stories and reasons for doing something, Cara. ”
Well, shit. I felt about three inches tall. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the weight of her words. I took one look at her and thought I knew all about her. The truth was, I didn’t know anything at all. What a shitty thing to do.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have assumed. That was a shitty thing to do. That’s not my thing either.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s not the first time I’ve been accused of being a player, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But I promise, I’m not.
I had fully planned to ask for your number, and I intended to use it, too.
I really enjoyed our time together. Before and after the end of the night.
Can I buy you a coffee sometime, so we can start over? ”
I bit my lip, not sure if that was a good idea. We had our fun at the ball, and should just leave it at that. As stunning as she was, and as much of my breath she seemed to steal whenever she spoke to me, she still wasn’t my type, and it would only end in heartbreak for both of us.
“I don’t know, Vera.”
“We can talk about construction plans if it’ll help you say yes.”
I rolled my eyes. “What a riveting persuasion point. I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. It’s best if we leave that night behind us.”
It was the right thing to do, even as she looked like a defeated puppy. I needed to focus on my career and I didn’t have time for dating that wouldn’t go anywhere.
Thankfully, she took the hint and shook her head. “I can respect that. Can’t say I didn’t try. I guess I’ll see you around.”
I breathed a sigh of relief when she turned and headed for the door, but it was a short one when her hand stopped on the door knob. She froze and turned around.
“Oh, by the way, I think these belong to you.” She pulled something from her back pocket. Small. Black. Lace.
I blushed so hard and stammered out my reply. “Do you just go around carrying thongs on you?”
She laughed. “No. I ran home to get these on my break, hoping you’d still be here working. Figuring, actually, you’d still be working. You should really go home and get some rest. It’s late, princesa. Do you need a ride? I’m more than happy to give you a lift.” She winked.
I blushed, thinking about the last lift she gave me and shook my head. “Goodnight, Vera.”
“Goodnight, and just so you know, I’m not giving up on you just yet.”
I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”