9. Chrissy
9
CHRISSY
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
I felt so guilty knowing that I’m the reason Gabe and his girlfriend broke up three years ago that I convinced him to do this double date. I should have taken the time to think about it and I would have realized what a bad idea this truly is. I was not prepared for how I’d feel, sitting at a table with Gabe while he was on a date. And Bethany is my friend, she’s amazing, and she is pulling out all the stops. I suck in a breath. Oh my God, am I going to have to listen to her at work talk about how she had sex with Gabe? I won’t survive it.
Gabe shifts in his seat and is smiling at Bethany, but it’s not the same smile he gives me. I know that look, and it’s one he saves for people when he’s forced to be nice. That’s the only thing that gives me any peace of mind right now.
“How was work today, honey?”
It’s like a hit to the solar plexus when he calls Bethany honey. I stare down at the drink menu, acting like I’ve never seen it before when Gabe snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Chrissy.”
I lift my eyes up to him, and I’m sure they’re green with envy. “What?” I ask him, surly.
He just smiles patiently. “I asked you how work was today?”
I sit up a little straighter. “Oh, you were talking to me? It was better…” I gesture to Bethany. “Bethany and I were paired today, and we work well together.”
Bethany is smiling, but she’s giving me a curious look.
I have to force myself to give my date some attention. “So, Mark… how long have you been at the fire department?”
He looks to Gabe, and Gabe nods his head as if he’s giving him permission to speak or something. Before I can comment, Mark answers. “I’ve been with the department two years, ma’am.”
I sit back in my chair. Ma’am… did he just call me ma’am ?
Bethany stands up. “Come on, Gabe. Let’s dance.”
Gabe stands, albeit reluctantly, and gestures for Bethany to walk ahead of him. He practically glares at Mark, doesn’t even offer me a glance, and then walks off.
Well, there’s no way I can just sit here in awkward silence for the whole night. Mark is nice and seems to be a perfect gentleman, but he also seems to be lacking in the personality department. I stand up. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Mark doesn’t seem thrilled by my suggestion, but he gets up and follows me. I position us across the dance floor from Gabe and Bethany because I’m not trying to torture myself even more than I already am.
I put my hands on Mark’s shoulders, and he brings his hands up, but I can’t even feel them on my waist. I look down and his hands are there, but he’s not touching me. “What are you doing?”
He clears his throat. “Dancing, ma’am.”
“Okay, drop the ma’am. I’m pretty sure you’re older than me.”
He nods. “I am older than you. I’m thirty-four.”
I grit my teeth. What the heck is happening here? “Right, so uh, quit calling me ma’am, and when you dance, you put your hands on the girl’s waist.”
I release his shoulders long enough to push his hands onto my waist, and then I put my hands on his shoulders again. He’s completely tense, and I’m not sure what is happening because he acts like he’s being punished or something. I hear Bethany’s squeal of laughter from across the room, and I grit my teeth. I’m not even going to look over there.
Mark is looking over my head, holding himself tensely, and I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this. “Mark?”
“Yes, ma’am? I mean, yes, Christine?”
I clench my eyes shut and then peel them open. “Mark, did Gabe have to beg you to go on this date?”
He shakes his head. “No, ma’am.”
He’s about to apologize for calling me ma’am again, but I wave him off. “Okay, did he pay you?”
“No, ma—”
I hold my hand up. ‘Stop with the ma’am. Okay, what are you doing then? Because you sure don’t seem happy to be here.”
He’s still tense, standing like an oak tree. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I chance a look over at Gabe and Bethany, and Gabe has positioned them so he’s staring at me. He’s scowling, and I nod at him, but his gaze doesn’t falter. I look back at the man in front of me, and I know something is up. “Okay, so it’s obvious you don’t want to be here. What happened? How did Gabe talk you into doing this?”
He shakes his head. “He didn’t talk me into it.”
“Right.” I blow out a breath. “Okay, so what’s going on here? Did Gabe ask you to be my date?”
He scrunches up his nose. “Not exactly.”
Half out of patience, I demand, “What do you mean, not exactly? What did happen?”
He blows out a breath. “Gabe got us all together and said he wanted someone to go out with you.”
“Oh my God. And? What? Did you draw the shortest straw?”
“No, ma’am.”
I growl. “Okay, I’m over this. Tell me what happened. How did you end up here tonight?”
He doesn’t want to tell me, that much is obvious, and I’m having to drag it out of him. Slowly, he shakes his head. “The captain said he needed a date for you. Over half the squad volunteered. Even Jack Peters volunteered.”
I search my mind trying to recall who Jack Peters is. “Jack Peters? Isn’t he married to Raemi, who works at the grocery store?”
“Yes, he is.”
I nod. “Okay, and then what happened?”
He speaks slowly, like he’s not sure if he should tell me or not. “Well, Gabe automatically told some of them no. Like Rick and Keaton. I told them they messed up because they’re always coming into the station talking about their conquests from the weekend, and I knew there was no way Gabe was going to fix one of them up with you. A few of them were maybes.”
Still confused, I shake my head. “Maybes?”
He nods. “Yeah, he then brought us all in the room and went over the rules.”
I gasp. “The rules? He had rules? What are these rules?”
“Uh…” Mark looks around the dance floor. “Maybe you should ask Gabe.”
“Oh no, we’re this far into it now. Spill it. What are the rules?”
He shrugs. “They were pretty simple and straightforward.”
He’s looking over my head, and it’s obvious he’s searching for Gabe. I spin us around so he’ll have his back to his boss. “Give it up, Mark. What were the rules?”
He swallows hard. “Well, for starters no touching, and I’m already breaking that rule, so I’m probably going to be without a job by tomorrow.”
“No touching? We’re dancing.”
“He didn’t care. He said absolutely no touching.” He takes a deep breath and then starts to ramble. “I’m not allowed to be alone with you. I could ask you questions but nothing too personal. Don’t get attached to you. No kissing. No hugging. No asking for your number. Compliments are okay, but nothing sexual. And if I break a rule, if I touch you, I’m done.”
Aghast, my mouth drops. “I’m sorry. Do you have that memorized?”
He nods. “Yes, it was a requirement.”
“Oh my God, okay, you know he’s not going to fire you.”
“Ma’am, I’m not worried about him firing me. I’m worried about him killing me.”
I practically screech. “Kill you? That’s ridiculous. He wouldn’t…”
For the first time, his voice is firm and secure. “Actually, he would. I believe his exact words were ‘If you touch her, I will end you.’ ”
I peek around Mark and look at Gabe. He’s moved closer to Mark and me, and as soon as he sees me looking at him, he calls out to us, “Everything okay over there?”
I glare at him, and Mark drops his hands from my waist. “Everything’s good, sir.”
I continue glaring at Gabe while Bethany twirls away from Gabe and then rolls back into him, pressing her body against his. I roll my eyes. Is this really how this night is going to go? There’s no way I’m going to be able to watch this all night.
I turn my glare to my date. “Do you want to get out of here, Mark?”
He stutters. “Uh, no, that’s not a good idea.”
“Fine… maybe I should get out of here.” I release my hold on him, but before I turn away, Mark stops me.
“Please, please, please don’t leave. I’m not sure what I did. Look, I’m trying here, and I don’t want to lose my job… or die. And if Gabe thinks I’ve upset you, then I’ll do both before the night is over with.”
The pleading in his voice stops me. This is not his fault. Nope, this is my best friend's fault, and he’s going to hear about it. But first, I’m going to mess with him .
“Fine, then dance with me, Mark.” I press my body against his, resting my cheek against his chest. He’s trembling, and I know it’s not because I have that effect on him. No, he’s worried about how his boss is going to react to it. Well, I can handle his boss, and before the night is over, I’m going to have to set him straight.