Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Drea
“How are you, love? I feel like it's been ages.”
Penelope and I were sitting at Reids, a local bar a few blocks down from the bookstore. I needed to get out and find a distraction. Since I was banned from my typical method of stress-relieving fun, I invited my friends out for a girls night.
Fallon, of course, declined. She had something to do for the wedding with Mackenzie. At least, that was what she told me. Truthfully, I think they just wanted to watch Stuart Little and fuck on the couch.
Penelope was busy with work and her husband most of the time, so we didn’t spend as much time together as I would like, and I was looking forward to spending some time with her.
“I know! I’ve been busy with work… and Greg.” She chuckled, a slight blush creeping over her cheeks.
“From the look on your face, I can tell that Greg is taking up most of your spare time.” I grinned, and Penelope’s cheeks continued to turn a brighter shade of pink.
“Dre! Keep your voice down, and yes, my husband has been showing me a great time. That hasn’t changed in the twelve years we’ve been married,” she said with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
“I didn’t want to say anything because I don’t want to take away from Fallon’s big moment… but Greg and I are trying to get pregnant.”
“What? That's amazing, congrats!” I hugged my friend and smiled. “I cannot believe you two are going to be parents. I’m so happy for you, babe.”
“I’m nervous but excited. Like I said, I don’t want to overshadow Fallon getting married and I don’t want to jinx anything, but we felt like it was the right time, you know?” she said as she took a sip of her cherry coke. Now I understood why she didn’t order alcohol.
“Of course! I’m sure everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.” My best friend was going to make an amazing mother, and I was going to spoil that kid shitless.
“I’m sure it will. So, what’s been going on with you?” Penelope asked with curiosity in her voice.
I groaned. “I have to go out of town next weekend. There’s a book festival that Blair is attending, and Cara thinks it would be a good idea for me to go, so I’m being dragged along with them.”
“Oh, come on, I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Won’t Cara be there, too? You can ignore Blair the whole time, if you want.”
“Yeah, she’ll be there, but I mean honestly, a whole weekend with Blair?
That sounds awful. Cara definitely won’t let me ignore Blair the whole time.
She’s been trying to get us to get along since day one.
I keep telling her it’s never going to happen, but she doesn’t give up once she sets her mind to something.
” I took a long drink of my whiskey, hoping the burn would cure my irritation.
I was three whiskeys in and so far having no such luck.
Penelope laughed. “Then why did you agree to it? Just don’t go. It’s not like you’re contractually obligated.”
I rolled my eyes. “Because, as always, Cara was right. It’ll be a good place to do some networking for the store. But that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to bitch about it the entire time.”
I was going to make Cara think twice about ever inviting me anywhere with her and Blair again.
“That’s true. How did your first meeting alone go? I see you’re not injured or dead, but I can’t say the same for the other party.” She laughed as I glared at her.
“We survived. I was nice, if you can believe it. I used my big girl manners and even complimented her.”
“How nice of you… Wait, you complimented her? What did you say?”
Why did I admit that out loud? I looked down at my half-empty whiskey glass. No more for me.
“I was just trying to be nice. I promised Cara I would at least try, and her dress was a nice color. So what?” I shrugged.
Thankfully, I wasn’t drunk enough to tell her that the body clothed in the dress looked even better.
Penelope gave me a look that said, what the fuck? and I wanted to shrink into my chair.
“What? Am I not allowed to be nice? We have to work together, you know.”
“Drea, in the almost twenty years I have known you, you have never been nice to someone you didn’t like. You make it a known fact that you don’t like them. And Blair is not someone you tolerate at all. So I’m sorry if I’m just a little confused here.”
I sighed. “Look, I made a promise to Cara to at least try and be civil, so I complimented her dress. It’s not a big deal.
It’s not like I took her over my desk and tore the dress off her or anything.
” I let out a nervous chuckle, hoping Penelope didn’t see how red my cheeks were getting.
It was definitely the whiskey talking, fantasizing about Blair like that was crazy.
She arched her brow. “Drea, that sounded very specific. Is that something you’ve thought about?”
I definitely have not thought about Blair in any way or position. Definitely not. “What? No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous, Pen. It was just an example. Let’s get the check. I think I’ve hit my limit for the night.” I motioned for the waitress and ignored eye contact with Penelope.
“Drea?”
I risked a quick glance, and my shoulders sagged at her soft expression. She wasn’t judging. She was just concerned, and so was I. Thinking about Blair with anything other than irritation was downright ludicrous. “I’m fine. Too much whiskey.”
Thankfully she didn’t press anymore and we paid our tab and left.
When I walked into the bookstore on the following Monday morning, Kaia was already there opening up.
“Good morning, Drea,” Kaia cheerfully announced as I walked toward the counter.
Her personality was always sunshine and rainbows, but in the morning, it was on a whole other level. I loved Kaia, but I needed at least two cups of coffee before I could handle those sprinkles of positivity.
“Hello, Kaia.”
“Are you ready for another great day?!” She beamed and I wanted to throw my coffee at her, but I refrained—for now.
“Oh yeah. I can’t wait,” I answered in a sarcastic tone.
“Well, everything is already done for the morning, and we are ready to open.”
I smiled as I headed to my office. “Good. I’ll be out in a bit. Call me if you need anything. I have a few things to finalize before the end of the day.”
“Sounds good! Oh, are you excited for your weekend off? I know you’ll technically be working, but you’ll be in a nice hotel with Cara and Blair. It’ll be so much fun!”
I had told her about the festival yesterday, and she seemed a little too excited for me to be gone for two days. She insisted that she would have it all taken care of and I had nothing to worry about. I knew I could trust Kaia, but I was still nervous.
I glared at her, suppressing an eye roll. No part of that weekend was going to be fun, except maybe the end of it. “Thrilled.”
A few hours later, I left my solitude to check on the store. A few customers milled about, but Kaia seemed to have a hold on it.
“How’s it going, Kaia?” I asked.
She turned to me after her last customer left. “It’s been pretty steady so far, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Good. Do you want me to take over? You look like you could use a break.” She was starting to look a little flushed.
“Well, I guess I could go… check up on some customers. You know, make sure nobody needs anything.” She smiled and headed toward the center of the store.
I chuckled. “Have fun.” I knew exactly who she was going to “check up” on.