15. Thea
THEA
“And we’re clear!” the cameraman shouts.
I heave a sigh of relief.
I’m done. I got through this.
Thank God I thought ahead and had a change of clothes here at the station. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise. By the time I woke up, it was too late to call in a backup forecaster. Would one of the anchors just have read the weather report off their phone?
Luckily, I woke up with just enough time to get to the station. Even fifteen more minutes and the broadcast would have been delayed, putting my career at risk.
All because I decided to go out last night.
Never again. I’m going to adopt ten more cats and become a permanent shut-in.
What the hell got into my head last night? Why did I go home with Wick?
The more I think about it, the more the idea upsets me.
Not that Wick is too hard on the eyes, but he’s not my type at all.
I guess being stood up by Bobby affected me more than it should have, and a hunger for validation led me to his home.
That drink Kin made didn’t help. I felt like I was flying over the clouds for a little while.
At least we didn’t sleep together. He looks like the type of guy who doesn’t exactly keep things tidy down there.
I’m kicking myself for not getting home last night, too. Sure, my phone was dead, but I could have charged it for ten minutes and then headed out. No, instead I decided to sleep in a strange man’s bed.
Insane.
But I made it. And now I can go home, take my midday nap, and ease back into my routine. I’ll think twice before I open the Twistr app again, and I certainly won’t—
Wait a minute.
Is it possible Kin put something in my drink? Or that he overserved me?
I didn’t feel super drunk, but I certainly wasn’t sober.
All I know is I wanted Wick right then and there. That was the only thing I could focus on. And the euphoria I felt was next to nothing. Seriously, I had this perpetual grin on my face.
Was there something besides booze in my drink?
No. That can’t be.
I’m smarter than that.
I saw Kin make the drink. He didn’t put anything weird in it.
But Wick said to make it “Blackwood style.”
Was I not focused enough? Did I let my guard down?
Maybe the gin they make in house is stronger than the stuff you get at a liquor store. It certainly wasn’t cheap. I was all too happy to let Wick pay for it.
I shake the thought from my head. If Wick wanted to force himself on me, he would have. I turned him down and then stayed in his bed. The door was locked, but he could have easily gotten inside. It was a cheap doorknob lock, the kind you undo with a pin.
He wasn’t thrilled when I rejected him, but he didn’t force himself on me either. So he’s at least halfway decent. And decent guys don’t drug girls.
I just placed myself in a vulnerable situation. That’s all.
It doesn’t matter. I’ll never see Wick Blackwood or the Jade Sanctum again.
Except…
Aus.
I’d like to see him again.
But there’s no way I can step foot inside his club after what I did last night. It would be too awkward if Wick were there. Which he would be. He’s a full-time bartender.
Fuck it all.
Plenty of fish in the sea. That’s what my mother might tell me if she weren’t in the ground.
All I need now is to get home and take a long steamy shower. Wash the entirety of the Jade Sanctum off me, including Wick’s smelly—
“Thea!”
I stop in my tracks. So close.
Micaela Fields, the head anchorwoman for O2 news, is right behind me.
Micaela is the fakest woman I’ve ever met, and I work in television.
She’ll greet you with a smile and then tell your darkest secrets—or straight-up lies—to a complete stranger.
She makes triple my salary and is always bragging about her first-class trips to Europe or her new car.
She’s dangling a new Rolex or Cartier off her wrist every month.
And of course she has the perfect family.
The well-to-do real estate mogul of a husband, Michael—yes, Michael and Micaela, like their whole life was written to be a Sunday comic strip—and two sweet little twin daughters, Misty and Misha.
Thank God she had her tubes tied after two kids. She was running out of M names.
I paste on a smile and turn around. “Yes, Micaela?”
Micaela is wearing a khaki skirt and a crimson blazer with gigantic shoulder pads. Her lips—which she’s definitely had done a few times since I met her—are pouty, and her makeup is so perfect she looks almost ethereal.
She narrows her eyes. “Darling, I just wanted to confirm we’ll see you tonight.”
“Tonight?” I ask.
I don’t work the evening news. I’ve never worked the evening news. Was I supposed to sub for someone? Have I fucked up even more than I initially thought?
Micaela offers a sugary smile. “The gala, sweetie? Remember?”
Oh, shit. Right. O2 News is a sponsor for several non-profits in the area, and I have to attend four or five events each year. They always buy a table and fill it with their most famous faces, which now includes mine.
I blink several times. “Right. What’s the cause again?”
Micaela purses her lips. “You don’t remember? LTB International. They’re an animal preservation group. O2 News has always been one of their staunchest supporters.”
“Of course. I’ll be there.” I turn toward the door.
“Honey?”
I draw in a slow breath and turn to face Micaela once more. “Yes?”
She smirks. “I need to know if you’ll need a plus-one for the evening.
I of course will be bringing Michael. He’s been so busy with work and it was hell to move his schedule around, but he did it for me.
” She flutters her eyelids. “Of course, it was an absolute chore to find a sitter for the girls. Their calendars are so full between music lessons and athletics—you know Misty made varsity—that I had to find someone who could drive, and of course after that I had to run a background check…”
Why does Micaela think I give a fraction of a flying fuck about this?
Ah, of course. Micaela believes she is the Queen of the Universe. All of us paupers are dying to hear the minute details of her daily life.
“…but of course it’s all worth it for a good cause. And LTB is one and away the greatest animal advocacy group in existence. They’re the reason why the white rhino is coming back, you know.”
Yes, thank God. Then we’d only have regular-colored rhinos.
Actually, I’m thrilled about this cause. I love animals, and this charity is worthwhile. I just wish Micaela would shut her mouth.
“I’ll be coming to the event alone,” I say.
Micaela frowns. “Couldn’t scare up a date?”
I suppress an eye roll. “Scare would be the operative word there, Micaela.”
She takes a few steps toward me, pinches my cheek like I’m a fucking five-year-old. “Don’t worry, sugar. You’ll find someone soon. A woman as gorgeous as you, and with a build like yours. I’m surprised the men aren’t knocking your door down.”
“I have a particularly sturdy door.”
Micaela blinks a few times and then bursts into a fake laugh. “Oh, Thea! You’re too much. Such a card. That sense of humor plus your good looks, not to mention a successful career as a local celebrity? You’ll find a man in no time, have no fear.”
“I have no fear.”
Another sickly sweet smile. “Of course, babe. Girl power!” She pumps a fist into the air. “And I know one day you’ll be able to have it all. Family and career. It’s not impossible anymore for girls like you.”
Girls like me? What the fuck does that mean?
Whatever. Micaela is a flake.
I bite my tongue and give her a wave. “Well, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Of course. And if you find a date at the last minute, let me know.”
I turn.
“Oh, and Thea?”
I grit my teeth as I turn around for a third time. “Yes?”
She narrows her eyes, looks down at my feet. “It’s silly, but I feel I should remind you of our dress code. You’re expected to wear more formal footwear for broadcasts. I realize your shoes are not always on camera, but you never know if the picture might…slip down.”
“Of course. I… I broke a heel off last night. These were all I had on me at the last minute.”
She cocks her head. “You don’t own another pair of shoes besides those ratty silver things and your broken heel?”
I blink. “Correct. Guess I’d better go shopping before the gala tonight.”
She crosses her arms. “Guess you should.”
“Will that be all?” I turn toward the door.
“Of course. I’m not your keeper. See you tonight.”
I throw one more half-hearted nod over my shoulder as I exit.
Fucking Micaela. All this “you’ll meet the right man someday, work-life balance” bullshit.
Of course, behind her fake encouragement, a tiny grain of truth grates at me.
Why haven’t I met someone yet?
By all metrics, I’m a freaking catch.
But I got stood up last night, and the only guy who showed me any interest was a creep wrapped in a shroud of darkness.
Not entirely true.
Aus was interested. And he seemed like a genuinely good guy.
Too bad I’ll never see him again.
Ugh. I wish I hadn’t been so dumb and gone home with Wick. Even if I did muster up the courage to return to the Jade Sanctum, I’m sure Aus saw me go home with him. He’ll want nothing to do with me. Bro code and all.
“Thea?”
A husky, masculine voice is calling from behind me. One that’s slightly familiar.
I turn around to see who’s calling me.
And I drop my jaw.