Chapter 13
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
SOPHIE
It’s Friday and we’re all frantically trying to get everything done before we all head out to celebrate Madison’s birthday.
A few of us have gotten together and bought her an afternoon at a beauty salon – where she is right now being pampered and getting ready – so I’m trying to do her work and mine.
It doesn’t stop me from getting distracted when I see an email pop up on my screen though.
From: LiamSalinger@
Subject: Thoughts on Meredith and Derek…
Sophie,
I’m sitting in a boardroom listening to the most boring presentation, so I thought I’d give you my verdict on the series so far. (By the way, how did we manage to get through six episodes in two nights. Are you as tired as I am? Thank God it’s Friday.)
THE GOOD
- The opening scene. Après-sofa sex. I approve.
- Stolen elevator kisses with somebody you shouldn’t be kissing. I also approve.
- Car sex. Yup.
- McDreamy (that’s Derek’s nickname, right? Not a brand of ice cream.) – the man has game despite the hair. Good for him.
THE BAD
- Severed penises. Well one of them. In a stomach. Should I say more?
- The way Meredith and Izzy treat George when they walk in on him in the shower. It’s emasculating (see severed penises).
- The gore factor. (See severed penises).
- The fact that I never want to go into a hospital again because I might get seen by an intern the day after they’ve drunk until they’ve vomited their stomach up.
Okay, I need to go. Apparently, they want me to make a decision on something. Did you still want to meet up this weekend? I propose we watch more then.
Liam
From: [email protected]
To: LiamSalinger@
Subject: Sex isn’t everything…
Liam,
Seriously, the only things you like about Grey’s Anatomy is the sex? What about the emotions, the relationships, the sheer agony of losing a patient you’ve bonded with?
And also, you may not like McDreamy so much after episode nine. Just saying.
Sophie
P.S – Yes to this weekend. Does tomorrow night work? You’re very welcome to come to my place.
I send it and sigh because tomorrow night I’m going to have to tell him everything. And I don’t really want to because I’m actually enjoying spending time with him. I like being his friend. He makes me laugh and says nice things and makes me feel pretty.
I hate the idea of spoiling that.
But what else can I do? I only have myself to blame. If I’d told him the truth earlier I wouldn’t be feeling sick at the thought of it now.
From: LiamSalinger@
SUBJECT: NO SPOILERS!!
You’re seriously going to leave me hanging there? You’re a cruel woman. And also I think I might have just spent an obscene amount of money on a company I didn’t want.
See you on Saturday. Message me with a time.
Liam
From: [email protected]
To: LiamSalinger@
SUBJECT: Stop emailing me jackass!
Before you go broke.
Sophie
I’m smiling goofily at my phone when Michael sweeps into the office. “I need you to work tomorrow,” he says.
I look up from my phone. “You’re supposed to be taking this weekend. You sent the roster around last week.”
“Well now I have to be elsewhere tomorrow,” he says, talking slowly as though I’m not able to hear him. “So you need to do it.”
“I can’t. I already have plans.” I look him straight in the eye. His jaw is tight, his gaze narrow. He’s wearing a white shirt and gray pants, and if it wasn’t for his personality he’d probably be considered attractive.
Okay, he is attractive. But not to me. That wore off along with my teenage bad skin and the urge to wear Livestrong bracelets.
“Why are you being difficult?” he asks. “If you want to be part of the team you have to sacrifice sometimes.”
“Because I’m doing something with a friend and I don’t like letting friends down.” I shrug. “I’m sorry but you’re going to need to rearrange your plans.”
He doesn’t walk away. Instead, he shuffles his feet and looks at his hands. “My mom’s in the hospital,” he says quietly. “I need to visit.”
All the fight goes out of me. “Oh God, I’m sorry.”
He nods but says nothing.
“Of course I can do it,” I tell him. “I just need to rearrange a couple of things.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“I hope she feels better soon. Is there anything you need?” I ask him. The memories of my own mom’s sickness hits me right in the gut. I even find myself putting my hand on top of his.
He shakes his head quickly. “Just doing the forecasts will be good.”
“All day?”
“I’m afraid so. Last one is at nine.”
“Okay. I’ll be here.”
He walks out and I grab my phone, quickly tapping out a message to Liam.
I’ve just been told I need to work tomorrow until late, so I’ll need to take a raincheck. I’m sorry. – Sophie
It’s weird how disappointed I feel. I barely have time to think about that before a reply flashes up on my screen. I guess he still isn’t paying attention to his meeting.
What time will you be finished? – Liam
Not until after the nighttime news. At around ten. Way too late. – Sophie
You’ll still need to eat, right? I’ll pick you up from the station. I’ll cook for you. – Liam
A little thrill washes through me.
You don’t need to do that. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than feed me. – Sophie
I don’t actually. And I want to feed you. I’ll see you tomorrow. – Liam
The typing icon disappears and I assume he’s in another meeting. Or the same one that he emailed me from. Either way, I don’t want to cost him any more money so I put my phone away and turn to my laptop. I have work to do before I need to head to the bar.
And now I’ll need to work tomorrow, too. But the sting of it lessens knowing I’ll see Liam tomorrow night.
I don’t want to think about why it lessens. Or why seeing him sends a thrill through my body like I’ve just touched an electrified fence.
And I really don’t want to think about the fact that I’d decided tomorrow was the night I’d tell him the truth. Because this lovely détente we have between us could implode once he knows everything.
I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
Madison is loving being the center of attention. Her dark hair is flowing down her back, her nails painted a yellow color that looks great against her skin, and her eyes can’t quite focus because she’s had way too much to drink.
I’m going to put her in a cab in a minute. She’ll thank me for it tomorrow. It’s almost eleven anyway, and I have to go home myself. Neither Madison or Michael will be in tomorrow and it’s going to be a long day.
And a long evening, because I’ll be seeing Liam. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
In the corner I see Michael, who’s just walked in after the evening news. He’s with Dan and a few others who must have finished for the night. I guess he’s leaving tomorrow to see his mom.
“One more round,” Madison says. “On me. Let’s make it shots.”
This is my cue to get her home.
It takes me almost twenty minutes but I manage to get her outside and hail a cab.
I lean in through the passenger door and give the driver directions on how to get to her place.
Luckily, he’s one of our regular taxi drivers at the station and he promises to look after her.
She lives with her parents in a gorgeous ranch house in the mountains just outside the city.
I slip him a fifty because I’m not sure she’ll be able to open her purse when they get there, let alone find her wallet.
“Call me when you’re in the house,” I tell her.
“Sure.” She pats my face. “You’re such a great boss, Sophie.” She leans back and closes her eyes. I turn to Rob, the driver. “Can you make sure she gets inside safely?”
“Always.” He nods. He has two daughters in college. He gets it.
“Thank you.” I close the door and watch him drive off, then I turn to walk back into the bar, but I see Dan and Michael walking out, although they don’t see me. I guess they really only stayed for one quick drink.
“Okay then,” Dan says, his voice full of alcohol-fueled jollity. “I’ll see you at the golf course tomorrow. Eight o’clock tee-off. Don’t be late.”
“I’ll be there,” Michael tells him.
I freeze. So he’s not rushing to Baltimore to see his mom tomorrow.
He’s playing golf, the rat bastard.
“Michael?” I call out.
He turns slowly, blinking when he sees me standing there. His face blanches and then he marches over to me and grabs my elbow, steering me down the sidewalk toward the alley at the side of the bar. “Please don’t make a scene,” he mutters.
“How’s your mom?” I ask him.
He lets out a heavy sigh. “Actually, she’s not well. She has a cold.”
“You let me think she was really sick.” I’m so pissed with him it isn’t funny.
“I didn’t say that,” he points out.
I frown, because I can’t remember exactly what he said. I do remember some things though. “You lied,” I tell him. “You said you were going to the hospital to visit her.”
“No I didn’t,” he says, his voice almost patient. “I said she was sick and I needed to visit her. Both are true. I’m just not doing it.”
My mouth drops open. “You knew that’s what I’d think. You knew it was the only way I’d agree to work tomorrow. I can’t believe you’d do that.”
“This golf meeting is important,” he tells me. “It’ll benefit you, too.”
“How exactly?” I ask, my voice scathing.
“Because someone from the Network is coming down. A friend of Dan’s. He said they might have some plans for the weather desk. I want to find out what they are, and maybe you should, too.”
He means somebody from NTV – the national television network that WVFY is part of.
They provide the national shows that everybody loves and talks about.
We kind of fill in the blanks with news, weather and sport.
Most local television stations are affiliated to or directly owned by a national network.
We have a friendly rivalry with WVAT over in Huntingdon who are affiliated to BTV – Broadcast Television.
“Why would they be interfering with the weather desk?” I frown.
There’s a look of sympathy on his face that I don’t like at all.
“You understand the station is losing money, right? They’re looking at every department for savings, including us.
They don’t have to have a weather team, they could just buy in the forecasts.
” He lifts a brow. “Everybody is expendable.”
“I haven’t heard that,” I tell him, shocked that we’re losing so much money.
“Because you don’t go to management meetings. Everything is on the line, Sophie, including your job.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. “But don’t worry, I’m on your side.”
I shake my head because I know that’s not true. Michael is only ever on one side – his own. But I believe him about the rest. It makes sense.
“I need to go,” I tell him, because I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. As though I’ve already lost my job and can’t pay my rent.
“Sophie…”
“It’s fine.” I pull away from his touch. And I turn my head because I don’t want him to see my expression. “I have to be in work early tomorrow. Have a good time at the golf club.”