10. Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Charlotte
‘So, how do I say no without it coming across like I’m reneging on my IOU?’ I replaced the tin of soup on the shelf and ambled over towards the next aisle. It’d been two days since Aiden had dropped by to cash in his favour and, despite several pro-cons lists, I still hadn’t figured out what to do about it. Deciding to cut my losses and seek advice from someone far better equipped to deal with the situation, I’d called Becky. It was an impulsive move, one borne from sheer desperation and one that left me aimlessly wandering the aisles with nothing in my basket but a box of tampons and a head of broccoli I’d probably never eat. But I was focused on what Becky was saying to come up with a grocery list.
‘Well, technically, you are reneging on your IOU.’
‘Becky.’
‘Charlotte,’ she countered, ignoring my obvious distress and exasperation, choosing instead to be rational. ‘Did you not say you’d do anything to make it up to him?’
‘Yeah, but I said it like a normal person, not like a porn star.’ I objected, nose crinkled at the husky, breathy way she’d echoed my words back to me.
‘Well.’ She laughed. ‘I hate to break it to you, but being his date to a wedding would fall under the category of “anything.”’
‘Fake date.’
‘Poh-tay-toh poh-tah-toh.’ She dismissed. ‘And besides, why not do it?’
‘Why not?’ I huffed out a laugh. This had not been what I’d expected when I called. Becky knew me. She knew all of my little idiosyncrasies. She knew I couldn’t do this. ‘Maybe because it’s ridiculous and because I don’t want to make an ass of myself in front of a roomful of strangers?’
‘Why would you make an ass of yourself?’
‘Because I’m me!’ I threw up my hands in exasperation. My little outburst catching the eye of an elderly woman who hastily put the bottle of oil she’d been examining back on the shelf and hightailing it to the next aisle. Great.
‘Okay, disagree, but we’ll circle back to your self-esteem issues later,’ Becky’s chiding tone echoed in my ear. ‘Technically, you don’t have to be yourself.’
‘What?’ I meandered over to the abandoned bottle of oil, picked it up and pretended to read the label.
‘Well, this is all fake, right?’
‘Right,’ I nodded, setting the oil down in my basket and circling back to the fresh produce. What went well with oil?
‘And you don’t know anyone?’
‘Nope.’ My lips popped on the ‘p’ as I crouched down in front of one of the refrigerators.
‘Well then, you, my dear, could be anyone.’ I snorted, and she pressed on. ‘I’m serious. There’s freedom in not knowing anyone. You’re free from any expectations.’
I paused, thinking it over. It sounded believable enough. ‘I guess.’
‘Trust me,’ she continued. ‘Think of your outfit as your armour or your disguise. You put that on and you’re no longer Charlotte Hall, lawyer. You’re Charlotte Hall, mystery woman.’
‘Mystery woman?’ I scoffed. ‘Me?’
‘You could be.’ No, she could be. Becky was fearless. She was always up to something different or off on a new adventure. Me? I’d been using the same foundation since I was sixteen. I had my routine. That was where I thrived. ‘Come on, babe,’ she pressed when I failed to reply. ‘When was the last time that you went out with someone? Someone who wasn’t me or Isla.’
‘I’ve been busy.’
‘I know you have.’ She did know, if anyone in my life knew the demands of being a lawyer, it was Becky. ‘But this is the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone.’
‘Why would I want to do that?’
‘Because babe, you’ve been there so long your muscles are atrophying and you’re starting to smell.’
‘Rude!’
‘You love me.’
‘Can’t imagine why,’ I mumbled, looking down at my basket and debating just how much I needed groceries. I mean, they developed take out for a reason, right?
‘This could be great for you,’ Becky continued as I placed the broccoli back amongst its kind, retracing my path through the store. ‘It’s just one night. And Aiden will be there.’
‘He’s practically a stranger too.’ I pointed out. ‘Not going in the pros list.’
‘He’s hot,’ Becky said simply. ‘Pro.’
‘You’ve never even seen him!’
‘But I’ve heard you talk about him enough to know you find him attractive.’
‘I haven’t … I don’t,’ I sputtered.
‘Okay. You don’t find him attractive,’ she said, her tone exaggerated enough to convey her disbelief. ‘But even if he were a troll, it’d be a fun trip out to wherever the venue is, you’d get to dress up, get to eat some good food, there’d be cake, and all of the other mushy things people love about weddings.’
It could be nice. Maybe? And it’s not like I had anything planned for October… or November… or December.
‘I don’t have a dress.’
‘Cinderella,’ Becky crooned, ‘leave the dress to me. For you shall go to the ball! ‘
Lifting the last item out of the basket, I dropped the basket into the stack at the end of the aisle. I made my way down the aisle, my eyes scanning the rows of products beside me as Becky made plans. I was so absorbed in my task that I failed to notice the person stood frozen in the middle of the aisle. And it was only when I almost bumped into him that my head jerked up and I found a pair of russet brown eyes staring down at me.
‘Aiden!’ I squeaked, clutching the box of tampons to my chest. His gaze dropped from my face to the pale yellow box in my hands. ‘I don’t have my period!’ I blurted, hastily shoving the box back onto the shelf. ‘I just like to be prepared.’ Aiden’s eyes travelled from the box on the shelf and back to my face, studying me.
‘Have you thought about it?’ he asked.
I nodded. And then I ran.
Was I proud of it? No, I was not. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, would I do things differently? The answer I’d like to give is ‘yes, absolutely,’ but the realistic answer is probably ‘no.’
I spent the entire night tossing and turning, reliving each second of the interaction. The memory of Becky’s cackling guffaw providing the soundtrack to my misery. Needless to say, I arrived at work sleep deprived and irritable and not even the double espresso I’d bought on my way in was enough to perk up my mood.
It was after lunch, while I was busy discussing the changes I’d made to a redline with Jessica, that Ben decided to make an appearance.
‘Ladies,’ he crooned as he sauntered over towards us, coming to stand directly behind my monitor and within our line of sight. ‘Did you see the invites?’
I kept my eyes focused on the redline in front of me, praying that if we ignored him, he’d go away. I could feel the burn of his gaze on my face as I affected one of the changes suggested by the client.
‘Invites?’ Jessica asked, her head quirked to the side. My shoulders sagged, and I looked up in time to see the casual smile spread into a wolfish grin. Goddamnit Jessica.
‘For the Christmas party, you are going, aren’t you?’
‘Are trainees invited?’ Jessica turned to look at me, eyes wide and owlish. I smiled at the excitement in her voice and gave her a small nod. ‘Oh my goodness. Then heck yes! I wouldn’t miss it.’
‘What about you, Charlie?’ Ben asked, leaning forward and lowering my monitor with a stubby finger.
‘Yes, I’m going.’ Not that I had much of a choice.
‘Oh!’ Jessica turned her chair to face mine, her hands going to the arm of my chair. ‘Are you bringing anyone? Maybe we could sit together!’ It would be nice to sit together, although I’m not sure how much choice we had in the matter. I’d never been before, but I’d imagined it was all pre-arranged seating. I’d just opened my mouth to say as much when I was cut off—
‘Charlie is probably bringing her boyfriend,’ Ben smirked. ‘But you can sit next to me…’ he trailed off, turning his attention to Jessica as he wiggled his brows suggestively.
I jerked in my seat and, turning to Jessica, I expounded: ‘I’m pretty sure the seating is all pre-determined. So you’ll probably be sat with other trainees and juniors. But I’ll come find you and we can hang out anyway.’ Jessica seemed to sag in relief and offered me a grateful smile, while Ben let out a small huff of frustration and turned on his heel and walked away.
‘Thanks,’ she whispered under her breath. ‘He’s a bit creepy, isn’t he?’ I nodded, keeping an eye trailed on his back as he made his way over to the coffee station.
‘So, you’re bringing your boyfriend?’ She continued, her voice brightening with interest. ‘That’s nice.’
‘Yeah,’ I mumbled. ‘I guess it is.’
My mind was still reeling as I tried to work my way out of the hole I’d dug for myself when a text alert drew my attention to my phone.
Unknown
You forgot your tampons.