Chapter 21 - Rhea
~
Rhea
“This is ridiculous,” her face was getting more red by the second, to the point where my more imaginative side was worried that she’d eventually simply spontaneously combust. “I called yesterday, I asked if these were in, your idiot assistant said that they were, and now you’re telling me I can’t get my shoes? ”
It was a repetition of what she’d been saying from the moment I started talking to her.
I’d already said the exact same thing all of the non-managerial employees had said, but that apparently wasn’t good enough.
There wasn’t anything else I could do but keep the same conversation going ad nauseum, though.
“I believe they clarified that the available sizes were limited,” I reiterated, breathing slowly to keep my cool. “Again, there are some options here, but I don’t have a pair in your size right at this moment. Would you like me to call the other branch in town to see if they can assist?”
“Are they going to send my shoes here?” Now, she crossed her arms, and tapped one foot impatiently on the tiles. “Because I don’t want to have to drive all the way over there just to have the same problem.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not something I can do.”
“Of course not. You just don’t want customers, do you?”
“Ma’am, I have the option of ordering them, or checking if they are available elsewhere.”
“No, I don’t care anymore. I’m going to contact Corporate, and I’m going to make sure you don’t have a job tomorrow.”
“Alright, Ma’am, that’s your right.” I shrugged. This was the third time that week that my job had been threatened, and I expected that nothing would come from it. Just like every other time.
“You know, I’m sure I saw a similar pair at the other store in the mall.” The new voice had my curiosity, and I glanced over the customer’s shoulder to see Jackie approaching with a box in her arms. “Pretty sure they have better customer service over there, too. Won’t waste your time like this.”
The woman looked from Jackie to me, and huffed. “I’m sure your bosses would love to hear your explanation about why you’re chasing people to the competition.”
I didn’t say anything, and she decided that was the most opportune time to storm off in a huff. I tried not to let the relief show on my face until she was completely out of sight. As soon as she was, I turned to Jackie, and smiled gratefully.
“Thanks,” I said with a sigh, giving my temples a quick rub. “It’s just not my day today. She’s the second one with a temper, and it’s only been an hour.”
“Well, that makes me happy that I usually don’t have to interact with random people,” Jackie laughed. “At least, not the ones that I don’t like. Anyway, I brought this for you.”
I glanced at the box she was carrying, and noticed my name and address on the label. That made me raise an eyebrow. “You came all the way here for the delivery? Wouldn’t it have been easier and more protocol-appropriate to drop it at my house?”
“I didn’t want to just leave it outside,” Jackie answered with a quick shrug. “I heard there’s been a porch pirate in the neighborhood, and I’m not letting people steal your packages on my watch.”
“Oh,” I said, smiling, before I gestured for her to follow me to the office. “Thank you, then. Should give you a review somewhere. Five stars, above and beyond. You know, something that could get you closer to a raise.”
Jackie waved that off with a giggle. “Ah, I’d rather you told me how things have been going… Love-life wise.”
I didn’t answer until we were in the office and the door was safely closed. Even then, I double-checked that there was no way anyone could be eavesdropping. Finally, I took the box from Jackie and put it next to the desk, before she and I both took a seat.
Jackie was leaning forward curiously, like she was waiting for an incredible revelation. To be fair, I did actually have one, and I had been burning to share it ever since it happened.
“Okay, so something happened,” I admitted, and watched Jackie’s eyes light up. “Ash came over the other day, and Calder caught us.”
Jackie gasped dramatically. “And then? Were you in the dog box? I mean, they do all know about each other, don’t they?”
“Actually,” I paused, taking a deep breath for the extra effect. “I didn’t get in any trouble at all. Calder kind of… Joined in.”
That revelation had Jackie leaning back in her chair and staring at me like I’d just won the Superbowl.
It was good to know that she didn’t judge me for it, or at least didn’t think that I was some kind of completely horrible person.
I’d been nervous about what her reaction would be like, but I was already feeling relieved.
“You’re kidding,” Jackie finally breathed, clapping her hands together. “Both? At the same time?”
“Mmhmm,” I answered conspiratorially, realizing that I was blushing; though not from embarrassment. It felt great to be telling someone. “You don’t think that’s too greedy, do you?”
Before answering, Jackie fervently shook her head. “Absolutely not. Frankly, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity if I was in your shoes. Let’s be honest; anyone would have. Whoever says they wouldn’t is lying. I mean, girl, two firefighters at once? It’s a dream come true.”
I had to agree with her on that one. I still couldn’t really believe that it had actually happened, and that it probably would again. And beyond that, it was possible that next time, Beck would be there too.
“But there’s a third one, too, isn’t it?” Jackie pointed out, as if she’d been reading my mind. “You think he’s going to come to the party, or is he going to cause drama?”
I honestly didn’t believe that Beck would be the kind of guy to start something like that. Plus, if Calder and Ash were game for sharing, I was almost sure that he would be, too. Then again, this whole situation had been unpredictable, and I wouldn’t know until it happened.
“I think he’ll be willing to try,” I shrugged with a sly smile, and that made Jackie clap her hands together again. The light in her eyes was encouraging, but at the same time, I was feeling slightly bad for her.
The way she was talking had me convinced that she was living vicariously through me, and all of her opinions and advice would be affected by that.
I didn’t blame her. From what she’d told me, she was trapped in the world’s most boring marriage.
But there had to have been a reason that she’d fallen for her husband in the first place.
If she was wild when she was young, how had he actually tamed her? What was it about him that had drawn her in? Had their love life been far more exciting before the children came along, or was there some other reason that things had started feeling so stale?
Maybe there was something I could do or say to help. After all, I’d learned a lot about being spicy recently, even if it wasn’t with a husband of twenty years.
“Have you ever thought of trying something new?” I asked, testing the waters. “You know, with your husband?”
Jackie waved me off with a chuckle. “Not since our early thirties. At our age, there’s a routine. You don’t really deviate.”
“Maybe it’s time for something to change,” I answered, leaning forward over my desk. “You know, try a toy, phone a friend, maybe just get a new set of sexy lingerie? Pretty sure even something small could help bring the spark back.”
This time, Jackie laughed loudly enough that I was sure she could be heard throughout the store. She sounded entertained, but there was a bitter tone beneath it all that she was failing to hide. I wondered if she’d tried new things before, and her husband was less than receptive.
“Don’t you worry about my old ass,” she eventually said. “I can figure out how to get my kicks. But you know what, you’ve inspired me to go for what I want in life. I’m done with boredom.”
“That’s funny.” I sat back and drummed on the desk with my fingers for a moment. “Because you’ve been inspiring me to get what I want.”
“Ah good, then I haven’t lost my edge,” Jackie winked at me before she crossed one leg over the other. “Good to know I can still make a difference for someone. I was starting to feel like I was just an extra in a terrible movie.”
I lifted the corner of my mouth. “No way. You’re closer to the main character than you think.”
“You know.” She seemed to want to change the topic, and I wasn’t going to push the emotional things too far, so I let her. “I’ve heard so much about these guys of yours, but I haven’t had the chance to really, officially meet them.”
“You’ve met Calder,” I pointed out, remembering that day in the park with the pretzels.
“During a date,” Jackie said, biting at the inside of her cheek. “And I haven’t met the others. I’ve only seen them in passing. Fair, I do pass by the station a lot, sometimes more than I should, just to look. But I’d like to actually talk to them, you know? See what all the hubbub’s about.”
It didn’t seem like a completely terrible idea. There was no reason that Jackie shouldn’t meet them, actually. “Alright, then. Any suggestions? You want to go for a steakhouse dinner? Go bowling? Maybe a museum tour?”
Jackie peered off into the distance for a moment, rubbing at her chin like she was thinking deeply. Then, she lifted one finger, clearly getting a brilliant idea. I waited in tense anticipation of what it could be.
“The festival!” She exclaimed, her eyes as bright as they had been when I made my revelation.
“I don’t get to go every year, and when I do, I have to do it alone.
At least since the kids have left the house.
I’m the only one who actually enjoys it.
Would be nice to have company. We could all go together and have a bit of fun. ”
“Oh, yeah, that could be lovely,” I agreed. It was an opportunity for all three of them to be on a date with me, without the serious pressure of making the whole thing too romantic. With Jackie there, it could be a casual hangout where we could just test the waters.
Unfortunately, that was the point at which my thoughts decided to remind me that my parents were also coming to town for that same festival.
“Then it’s a date,” Jackie said, putting her hands on her knees before stretching herself out of her seat. “I should be off. Talk to you later?”
“Sure,” I answered, though my head was already somewhere else.
I had no idea how I was going to balance Jackie, the men, and my parents at the same time.
There were limited days that I could actually take them all to the festival thanks to the existence of my work schedule.
Plus, my parents would probably want to stay at my house, and I couldn’t just bring the guys over while they were there.
And if my parents did run into one of the men, or all of them, I had no idea what would happen.
It was while I was thinking about all of this that my phone vibrated on top of the desk, and I noticed Beck’s name on the notification. I picked it up, and checked the message.
Come to the station after work?