Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cassidy
M ary’s bachelorette party and wedding plans are enough to keep me mostly occupied, but not completely. I have a few more things to get done before tomorrow, but all are achievable. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m stressed, but I would also take a spiked coffee with a little Baileys if someone offered.
I planned the bachelorette party, if that’s what we want to call it, but it’s more like a girls’ weekend. I booked a nice getaway apartment close to our favorite spa and within walking distance of a few bars, one of which we have tickets for a drag show. Nothing says girls’ weekend like a facial followed by some good music and drinks with our fellow queens.
Mary is blowing up my phone for repeated details—even though she has been CC’d in all the emails—from the place we’re staying down to each and every reservation. I know my lovely control freak likes to have her hand in everything. It gives her enough peace of mind to enjoy herself.
Georgie was much easier than this. We all flew to Nashville that weekend and played the whole thing by ear, per her request. It was a weekend for the books. It was a pain in my wallet, but the memories were worth it.
Lynn’s party was planned by her sister, and it was more about relaxing and getting pampered than anything else. No fake penises or anything crude. A little lingerie and sex talk, but not like Georgie’s. Mary’s will be a good middle of the road between the two.
Being at work, I should be more focused on work things, but I have most of that squared away. My tasks for all my current accounts are caught up. Unless something new comes up, I may even be ahead of the game.
I pull out the notepad that details everything regarding Mary’s weekend and look over the list for tomorrow one more time.
The only thing I have left is to stop by the store on the way home today for fresh fruit, snacks, and pastries to have at the rental in case we need something to munch on. Oh, and to get the wine, but I shouldn’t even need to write that down.
A ping comes from my computer, and I see I have a new email. I cross my fingers, hoping something didn’t change with either of my accounts and I won’t be swamped the rest of my day.
To my surprise, I find an email from Monica Lewis, my old work colleague whom I ran into the other day while out with Hunter.
Subject: Job Opportunity.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I open it. I sip my coffee as I read the job description and the note from Monica. “Seems like something you might be interested in.” She adds a typed wink at the end. Interested in, maybe. The noted salary at the end, more than maybe. I don’t consider myself money-hungry but this position packs quite the financial punch.
It’s not in this city, but one about forty-five minutes north of here, so a little farther from the girls than I would like. Maybe a little farther away from someone else, too.
The fact that he even crosses my mind when thinking about where I am working adds an uneasy feeling.
The position is as a team lead, so I wouldn’t be handling accounts on my own anymore. I like handling my own accounts, so I don’t know how I feel about that. The position is four days a week in the office instead of five, and I like the sound of that. It also offers a small amount of travel, which was something that recently crossed my mind. I continue to read on and like everything it has to offer. I worry my thumbnail between my teeth for a few minutes.
I was just mulling over my career, wasn’t I? I was struggling with the idea of being a possible floater. Is this the change of pace I need? Do I need to move to find a new daily pattern to find a spark? I do like my job. I do like my life. But do I love either?
Before I know it, I’m sprucing up my CV and sending in the application. There is no harm in applying, right?
After sending it in, I get back to my actual job and make sure everything is in order for me to sign out for the weekend so I can focus on my girls.
Me: Tell me something good.
Country Charm: Image attached.
I about fall out of my chair looking at a picture of a cluster of puppies.
Me: OMG!! Are you getting one?
Country Charm: No. They are just visiting the farm today with one of the hands, a few of the guys will be taking one home, but none are staying here. Which one do you like?
They are adorable. I am not a dog breed expert, but I can tell these dogs are built for farm life. They look the part: medium-length hair, floppy ears, and curious, alert eyes. One catches my eye, its head tilted in that perfect puppy way. He, or she, has one ear perked up to the sky, and the other is flopped over. The coloring is patches of white, black, and brown. The one upturned ear is black and adorable. Its eyes look curious but astute.
Me: I like the one with the one black ear and green eyes.
Country Charm: That one looks like trouble.
Me: I like trouble.
Country Charm: Lord knows you do.
I laugh to myself. I’m glad Hunter is doing better today. The guy was a wreck the other day and I felt terrible for him. Being so far away means I can only offer a kind word and some verbal reassurance. I’m sure he would have preferred being able to go home to someone for some physical comfort, but that isn’t my place. Nor do I technically want it to be.
Me: I have some possible good news too. What time will you be free tonight?
Country Charm: For you, I could be free in a few hours.
Me: No hurry, just give me a ring after dinner. I have errands to run after work for this weekend.
Country Charm: Anything I can do to help?
Leave it to Hunter to offer more help. Even though he’s far away, he’d make something happen for me in an instant.
Me: Interested in doing a strip tease for a few horny gals?
Country Charm: You looking for a dancer?
Me: I could be.
Country Charm: …
Me: I’m kidding. No, I don’t need anything but thank you.
Country Charm: I feel like I’m not going to want to know what you’re going to be up to this weekend.
Me: Only trouble.
I smile down at my phone for another moment and attach a copy of our busy itinerary to Hunter before closing out my office. Grabbing my things, I shut everything down and lock up for the weekend. As I turn the key in my lock, I see a newly familiar face come up to me.
“Any good weekend plans?” Dom, the man who can’t take a hint, leans against my locked door.
“Bachelorette party. You?” Quick and to the point. I have to run out of here so I can get all my errands done and pack for the weekend before I slink into bed and spend the evening talking with Hunter.
I’m suddenly excited to tell him about the job opportunity because he might be excited for me to get passionate about something.
“I was thinking about checking out the local bar scene since I’m still kind of new to the area, any tips?” He looks me up and down quickly. He can see I have a large bag on my shoulder and another at my feet. I’m clearly not in a position to stand and chat, but it doesn’t stop him.
“You actually went to my best local spot last weekend. The bars close to that one aren’t bad, but that one is the best.” I grab the bag I have set by my feet in my free hand and give him a quick smile. “Let me know if you find somewhere cool on Monday.” It’s the nicest way I can get out of the conversation because I don’t want to stand and force a conversation any longer.
“Will do.” He gives me a kind smile and looks at the obviously heavy bag in my hand before stepping around me and heading down to his desk.
I’m in bed wearing a cami and panties. I’m freshly showered, lotioned, and oiled. I have a cup of tea in my hands, yet I still feel anxious. I can’t place it.
Everything for this weekend is ready and set up on my couch. My overnight bag is packed, and the bag with our goodies, wine, and snacks is all ready to go. The notebook with all the details, confirmations, and reservations is set inside my purse with plenty of cash already pulled. Nothing is out of place. My speech is even finished for next weekend.
I can’t put my finger on it. Stretching my legs out, I take a long drink of my sleepy tea and look around my room. The stack of books next to my bed looks a little less inviting than usual. I could pick up any of them and read for an hour knowing I would have to just have to reread it later.
I look at my toes and imagine different colors for my pedicure tomorrow to help kill my time while I wait for Hunter. I could go with the classic ballet slipper pink—I know it would go well with anything—or I could be bold and get something brighter to accent my dress next weekend.
I’m imagining what goes best with that wine red and gold comes to mind. Gold would look very nice, but my strappy sandals that go with my dress are already gold, so they might end up clashing. While I stew over paint colors, I’m saved by the vibration of my phone.
Country Charm lights up my screen and I couldn’t be happier to see his smiling face come up.
“Howdy partner,” I say cheekily.
“Howdy yourself. How was running errands?” His voice is just what I didn’t know I needed. I relax deeper into my pillows.
“Everything went well. I worry I don’t have enough wine, but we will be going out for drinks, so I’m probably just overthinking.”
“I’m sure Georgie will be bringing extra just in case.” I giggle, actually fucking giggle, at his truth. Georgie will most definitely bring extra wine.
“You’re right. She will. Other than wine, everything is ready to go. I think Mary and the girls are going to love everything.”
“And you? ”
“I am looking forward to it all. Facials, pampering, dinner, drinks, and entertainment.”
“Entertainment? So, you did get a dancer?”
“Not a personal dancer, but there will be dancers.” I beam. I know he thinks we’re going to have male strippers, and I enjoy any chance I can get to tease him.
“Dancers, as in multiple?” His deep tone is flat.
“I think there are four scheduled for tomorrow night.”
“Four?!”
“I believe so.”
“I don’t know why people insist on seeing other people’s bodies right before tying the knot. What is the damn draw to it?” He’s practically growling.
Honestly, I agree. I don’t know why a lot of people are drawn to the idea of sexualized entertainment right before committing themselves to another person for the rest of their lives. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. Nothing says I love one person solely less than let me look at others without consequence for one more night.
“It’s true. What is that all about? All the more reason I think marriage is a gimmick.” I make my voice sound a little witchy to be funny, but Hunter will have none of it.
“Strippers have nothing to do with marriage, but nice try. People can have perfectly decent marriages without any strippers involved.”
“We’re getting off topic. We’re not having strippers, we’re going to a show that will have dancers.”
“ Magic Mike dancers,” he grumbles.
“More like Magic Mary, stud. They’re drag queens.” I roll my eyes. A silence hangs on the line for a few moments.
“Well, that sounds a hell of a lot more suitable for you ladies.”
“You bore me. ”
“Do not.”
“Do too.”
“I’ll give you a personal show the next time we’re alone and I’ll ask you again if I bore you.”
“Deal.” I smile lightly and drink a little more of my tea. “Want to tell me more about your day? Did you end up getting a puppy?”
He laughs. “No puppies here. Nothing out of the ordinary either. Just a regular day on the farm. What’s your good news?”
I sit myself up a little more and set my mug down on my bedside table, suddenly nervous to talk about it.
“Well, I don’t know if it’s good news yet. Or even news at all. I applied for a job today.”
“Within your current company?” He’s genuinely interested, and this is why this guy is trouble. He cares about everything I tell him. He even cares about where I work.
“No. Do you remember that woman we ran into last weekend? Her name is Monica, she works at a larger firm than mine, and they are looking for a team lead in their analytics department.”
“And this is something you want?”
“I wasn’t technically looking, she just shot me the posting for the job. The more I read, the more I like it. It pays nice, the responsibilities aren’t too heavy, I would have an extra day off during the week, and I would get to do some traveling.”
“Travel? To where?”
“San Francisco, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, Portland, Ft. Lauderdale, Savannah, and a few others I can’t think of offhand.”
“Shit. That’s all over the damn country. You’d be based in the city most of the time? ”
“Well, kind of. Their firm is about an hour north of my place right now, so I would probably need a new apartment if I got it. They offer relocation assistance though. I could commute until I find something suitable. I have a set of wheels.”
“An hour north?” He sounds strained.
“Yeah.”
“I’m missing the part where this is good news, Cassidy. Is it because you want this job? Is it because you want to travel? Is it because it pays better?” I hear his tone becoming firmer.
“I told you I didn’t know if it was good news.” My back stiffens and my shoulders roll back.
“It sounds like a clusterfuck to me.” I’m a little shocked at his words. I know that my being a little farther away doesn’t seem ideal, but we have known each other for about a month. He doesn’t get to be mad about a possible change in my life.
“A clusterfuck? Why? Because the girl you fucked a few times is a little farther away?” Harsh. I know. He sucks in a deep breath that I can hear over the phone.
“A girl I fucked a few times, Cass. You have to be fucking kidding me. How long do I have to walk on eggshells talking about any kind of future with you before you go running in the other direction? Then you bring this shit to the table, and I’m supposed to be happy for you. You get to talk about possible future plans, and I’m supposed to be okay with it all? What a fucking joke.”
“You’re a fucking joke,” I say quickly. I want to take the words back as soon they leave my mouth.
“What was that?”
“I don’t mean that. I just mean this conversation is a fucking joke. Hunter, I’m not your girlfriend, you don’t have to worry about my future. I was just telling you because we talk so damn much, and I might have found some goddamn direction in my career, which you knew I wanted.”
“I know what you wanted, and it wasn’t a career change.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” I know what he’s going to say before he says it, but I let him anyway.
“You wanted some piss poor excuse to make sure things can’t go anywhere between us and a new job that happens to be farther from my town is just what you needed. Congrats.”
“Screw you, Hunter Hill,” I say sharply as I end the call. I throw my phone at the end of the bed and see it immediately light back up and vibrate.
Screw him and his judgment. Screw him thinking he knows me and what I want. Screw it all.
This is why I don’t do repeaters. I don’t owe an explanation to anyone. The girls are going to be so excited for me when I tell them tomorrow, and they’re the people that matter. They know this could be the change I need to get me out of my stagnant state. They know me.
I drop my face into my hands and let out a long groan. I don’t know why I’m so upset. I don’t know why Hunter and I fought. I don’t get any of it.