Chapter 7 #2
Chloe runs her finger across the top of her exposed breast, speaking huskily. “I think I might need legal representation in the near future. If I do, could I call on you for a consultation?”
Ava sets her glass on the table, looking at Chloe. “For what? Sexual harassment?” I am now calling on all my strength not to fall over in the floor laughing.
Nick clears his throat and smiles at Chloe while she glares at Ava. “Anytime you’re ready. Ava has my number, you can get it from her.”
“Yeah, sure, I’ll do that,” Ava drawls.
Ava’s not going to give Chloe anything except a piece of her mind. Nick’s phone rings, and he looks down at it. When he looks up, he’s smiling at me.
“What?” I snap, irritated with him. Everyone looks at me, and I feel the need to explain myself. “Both of you can stop looking at me, I’m not being rude. Nick and I have actually known each other for years. He likes to push my buttons.”
“Cat and I actually do go way back. So please excuse her rudeness,” he says smoothly.
Isabelle and Chloe look at each other. Ava takes a bite of her chicken salad and smiles at them. He does this to me every time. One minute all I want to do is stare into his eyes, the next minute I want to throw my drink at him for getting to me.
“The last time we talked, you said you had some job interviews lined up. How’s that going?”
I clear my throat, put my napkin on the table, and fold my hands in my lap to answer his question. I’m acutely aware that my friends, quiet as mice, are taking a keen interest in what Nick and I are saying to each other.
“Fine. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the position I interviewed for yesterday. It’s a Catholic school, and I’ll be taking over for the kindergarten teacher when she goes on maternity leave.”
“That’s great.” He looks down at his phone and taps the screen a few times.
Ava asks, “Is it the second teaching position you applied for?”
I nod my head. Nick’s phone rings, and he holds a finger up and answers it.
“What’s up? Yeah, I can make it tonight.
I’m at lunch with Ava and your sister. Your other sister.
You know those two wouldn’t be caught dead together.
Yeah, I’ll let her know.” He puts his phone down and turns to me.
“That was Chris. We’re going to meet up with some friends at a club in the city tonight, you should come. ”
“I don’t know.” I’m not sure I want to spend all night staring at him, and who said my brother wants me hanging with him and his friends while they pick up girls? There’s no doubt in my mind that’s what they’d be doing once the drinks kicked in.
“I would love to come!” Ava clasps her hands together on the table and beams at Nick.
The corner of his lip turns up when he looks at her. “I’m sure Chris would love that.”
“I’m sure he will,” Ava says primly. “I’m a delight.”
He turns to Chloe and Isabelle. “If you ladies don’t have plans tonight, you’re more than welcome to join us. There is nothing a man likes more than to be surrounded by beautiful women.”
They both smile at him like two school girls with their first crush.
“Thank you, but I can’t. I have to go home and make dinner for my husband and baby boy who I miss already,” Isabelle says.
Chloe pushes out her bottom lip in an attempt to make a sexy pout, which looks ridiculous. “Thank you, but I can’t either. I already have plans for tonight. Bummer, but I’ll take a rain check.”
“No problem. So, Cat, what about you? Chris told me to let you know.”
“Come on, Cat. I’ll be there with you. We’ll have a few drinks and dance the night away. Who knows, maybe we’ll pick up some fine-ass guys that look like Brad Pitt and Ian Somerhalder. Now that’s my idea of a good night, looking into those eyes while we do some rated R for raunchy things.”
I laugh at the way Nick’s eyebrows pull together, squinting at her. That’s his shut-the-hell-up look. She gets the picture and presses her lips together.
“What? I’m just saying. Can’t a girl think out loud?”
“Yeah, as long as she’s speaking for herself and about herself.”
“Well, excuse me.”
“Okay, you two, simmer down.” I feel like I’m scolding my students in the cafeteria at lunch time.
“I’ll come with you, Ava, and I will not be scoping out the place for hot guys tonight.
” Nick visibly relaxes, and Ava rolls her eyes and flips her long hair over her shoulder in Nick’s direction—the closest she could come to flipping him the bird in public.
“I have to get back to work.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tonight,” I say.
“I’ll text you and my overheated little cousin the address,” he says, looking in Ava’s direction.
“Whateva.”
“Yeah, whateva.” He leans over Ava as he gets up from his chair and gives her a peck on the cheek with a little smile. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Ava smiles back at him. “No, you’re lucky I love you. See you later.”
“Ladies, it was nice meeting you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“I will and I’ll be getting that number from Cat. I doubt I’ll be getting it from Ava anytime soon,” Chloe says, smiling at him.
He catches me and everyone else off guard when he leans down and gives me a quick peck on the cheek too. Without a backward glance, he strolls out the door with a smile on his face.
“Oh my, Cat, you naughty girl; is there something going on between you and who I thought was going to be my future baby daddy?”
“No, Chloe. We’re just friends. We’ve been friends for years, nothing more.”
Twirling a lock of her curly hair around her finger Isabelle says, “I’m not so sure. Chloe was trying, but I think he was more into you.”
“Hey, he gave me a look or two,” Chloe says defensively.
“We’re just friends, and he’s involved with someone already.”
“There was no ring on his finger, and if he doesn’t have a ring, in my book he’s fair game. If he was happy with what he had at home, he wouldn’t be looking at you like he wanted to strip you naked and have his way with you. Trust me, I know that look. I get it all the time in the store.”
“It’s not like that with us, Chloe!”
“Okay, but I’m just letting you know what the rest of us saw.”
Isabelle’s phone rings and the tune is “Rock-a-bye Baby.” We all stare at her.
“What? It’s my babysitter. Shoot, I’m late.
” She jumps up, grabs her purse, and puts twenty dollars on the table.
“Guys, I’ll see you later. Call me and let me know how tonight goes.
I have to live the night life through you guys for a while.
I’m happy with my little man and my big man, but once in a while you need to get away from your own life. ”
“Later.” Chloe waves.
“Bye,” Ava and I say.
“I would love to keep talking men with you two skanks, but I also have to go.” Chloe grabs her purse and throws some money on the table.
“It takes one to know one. Where the hell you off to?” Ava says to her.
“I have to classy myself up for tonight and act like I’m a refined young lady. Don’t forget to send me your cousin’s number, because if Cat doesn’t want him, I’ll definitely pick him up. I know exactly what to do with his fine ass.”
Ava stabs a cherry tomato with her fork and points it at Chloe before looking up at her.
“You keep waiting for that.”
After she leaves, Ava leans forward in her chair, staring at me.
“What?”
“See, I’m not the only one that can see Nick has a thing for you.”
“Stop it. I should tip over your chair and knock you on your ass for telling him to come down here.”
“I did no such thing. He asked me what I was doing today, and I told him. I swear to you I did not invite him. He said he was hungry and he liked the food here. I didn’t even know he was going to show up.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
“I didn’t, but I’m glad he did. Now I get to spend the night with Chris.”
“And his friends. It’s not a date.”
“I will take him any way I can get him. You never know what a night of drinking can lead to; hopefully it’ll lead to his lips on mine.”
This is going to be like watching an episode of Tom and Jerry. “Do me a favor? Don’t try to push things with Nick and me tonight. I want to hang out and have fun.”
“If you promise me that you will have a few drinks—and I mean real drinks, none of that fruity girly stuff you usually drink—and find yourself a hot guy to bump and grind on the dance floor with. Okay?”
“I can’t make any promises with my brother there, when it comes to the drinking, but I wouldn’t mind bumping and grinding with a hot guy. That’s one thing I’m seriously in need of.”
“Hell, yeah, you are, and don’t worry, if you can’t find one. I’ll find one for you. I mean, really, what else are friends for?”
“Come on, skank, let’s get out of here. I have to get ready for tonight. I don’t even know if I have anything to wear. I might have to go shopping.”
“Honey, please, whether you have something or not, we’re going shopping. Don’t say anything, it’s on me.”
“I can’t let you do that.” She grabs my hand and drags me toward the door.
“Hush up and let’s go, my treat. Besides, I have my own boutique; it’s a business write-off. You have to spend money to make money, and I can afford it.”