15. Chapter 15
Iknew it!
Ceth felt a grin tickle the corners of her mouth as she watched Krystal talk through her slides.
She spoke with her trademark enthusiasm, referencing the graphics on the large screen with broad gestures, but never merely reading them.
She filled in the gaps with relevant anecdotes and a few little quips that made the crowd chuckle.
Briefly, Ceth scanned the faces of the other attendees.
She hadn’t lied to Krystal earlier this morning when she’d said they normally had short attention spans.
But right now, all eyes were on Krystal, expressions mirroring her smiles and laughs.
They couldn’t get enough of her energy. And neither could Ceth.
Even though Ceth was confident Krystal would do well with her presentation, she was a little surprised by her liveliness.
They had stayed up pretty late exploring each other’s bodies—her skin prickled from head to core at the memory of how impressively Krystal’s energy had shown up in bed—but even after that, Krystal had stayed up fretting over this presentation.
Ceth released a sigh as she thought back on the conversation.
Part of her had been hoping Krystal’s wakefulness would lead to them having an open discussion about what they’d done together.
Did Krystal have any regrets? Did she really only want it to be a one-time thing?
Because damn it had been hot. But it had been more than that too.
Ceth had never felt with anyone else the things she’d felt with Krystal last night.
Had it been that special to Krystal too?
It didn’t seem so. She’d shown no interest at all in discussing it. Probably because the night had been exactly what Krystal had said she’d wanted: casual.
Ceth tried not to dwell on the way that realization settled into her stomach like a lead sandwich. She shouldn’t let it bother her. Couldn’t let it. She and Krystal both knew Ceth wasn’t cut out to be anything more than someone’s casual fun.
The rumble of enthused applause roused Ceth from her rumination, and she looked up to see Krystal beam at the crowd, her rounded cheeks an impossibly cute tint of pink from embarrassment.
As the session broke up and people started leaving their seats, Ceth stood too and shouldered her way through the crowd to the front of the room, where Krystal stood at the foot of the steps leading to the raised speaking platform.
FunDaze people were shaking her hand and chatting her up right and left.
Once there was a pause, Ceth slid in from the side, stomach fluttering when Krystal flashed her a more open, accepting version of the smile she’d been giving the others.
“You did great!” Ceth said. She reached over and squeezed Krystal’s arm. A long-ago memory suddenly dropped into Ceth’s head. Would Krystal remember too?
Ceth leaned in and pressed a light kiss to Krystal’s cheek. She murmured, “And I didn’t hear any fire trucks.”
Krystal froze for a second then slowly pulled back and looked in Ceth’s eyes. Her smile became pure sunshine then, and Ceth nearly melted into a puddle on the floor from the impact.
Damn. That smile could really get them both in trouble if Ceth let it.
The moment shattered as Denise Farrington materialized beside them. She patted Krystal’s shoulder warmly. “That was an excellent review of your team’s year, Krystal. I really liked how you emphasized the collective impact while still highlighting each team member’s contribution.”
Krystal’s face went pink again, and Ceth was drawn in by the sight once more. So much so that the conversation continued without her following it. When her brain checked back in, Denise Farrington was looking at her as if awaiting a response.
Ceth cringed but tried not to show it. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
A ghost of a smirk played across Ms. Farrington’s lips as she said, “Krystal mentioned you might be interested in transferring to a headquarters role for FunDaze or Farrington Parks. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right!” Ceth answered, shooting Krystal a grateful grin. “I’ve been here six years now and really enjoy the company and culture, but I think I’d like to move away from sales.”
Ms. Farrington tilted her head in a gracious gesture. “Well, it makes me happy to hear you want to stay with us even when you want to explore new opportunities.”
She reached in her pocket and produced a business card. “Here’s my contact info. Send me an email to remind me about our chat today, and I’ll see about setting up an interview or two once the conference is over.”
With a shaky hand, Ceth took the card. “Thank you, Ms. Farrington!”
“You’re most welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to have a word with someone before the next session.”
With that, Ms. Farrington strode away, leaving Ceth and Krystal looking after her. After a moment, Krystal leaned into Ceth and bumped their shoulders. “Well, well, well. Looks like I’m standing next to a future Farrington Parks executive.”
Ceth scoffed. “I wouldn’t hold my breath, but thank you for mentioning me to Ms. Farrington. Even if nothing comes of it, I appreciate it.”
Krystal grinned and tossed her golden hair back over her shoulder. “I think something will come of it, and I have enough confidence for the both of us. In fact, I’m so optimistic that I think you should pay for dinner tonight…as a future executive and all.”
Bright but disruptive bells went off in Ceth’s head at Krystal’s words.
Was she wanting Ceth to ask her out? No, no.
Of course not. She was only asking in a friendly, former roommates-turned-current-suitemates kind of way.
Ceth would only cause one or both of them harm if she tried to think it was something more.
“As a future executive, I guess I have no choice,” Ceth answered dryly.
Per a recommendation from the all-knowing Maddox, Ceth had chosen a restaurant called Murray’s for dinner with Krystal, and it seemed like a solid choice.
Its combination of white linen tablecloths and crystal glassware with warm candlelight wall sconces and cheery jazz music gave the place an upscale feel while still being cozy rather than bougie.
Once they were seated, Ceth found the atmosphere relaxing, and Krystal seemed to as well.
Although Krystal hadn’t taken time to change like she had the night before, that didn’t mean she was any less distracting.
She’d dispensed with the blazer she’d worn earlier and was only wearing a flowy sleeveless dress with a neckline that dipped into a V-shape that Ceth absolutely shouldn’t have been observing as closely as she was.
But even more than the alluring show of skin, Ceth was struck by how light and vibrant Krystal looked.
Maybe it was the result of relief now that the stress of her presentation was over, but whatever it was, Ceth was thoroughly enjoying it.
The most honest, open part of herself wanted to lean in and tell Krystal how lovely she looked, but she held back, worried it would be too romantic sounding.
Krystal hadn’t said a word about wanting to continue or repeat what they’d done the night before, and that silence was a boundary Ceth had no intention of crossing.
Was it disappointing? Yes, Ceth could admit it to herself, at least. But it didn’t sting all that much.
It was hard to be upset while sitting across a table from Krystal Stevenson again, listening to her laugh, talk enthusiastically, and make commentary on the menu.
Murray’s had two specials that night, so they each decided to get one and try each other’s too.
They’d just finished ordering when an upbeat, middle-aged black man sporting a porkpie hat approached their table.
“Evening ladies! I’m Casey, and my band will be entertaining all of you fine folks tonight.
Do you have any requests? Are we celebrating anything? ”
He looked between the two of them and wiggled his eyebrows. “An anniversary, maybe?”
Krystal choked on her water, and her face turned red.
Even though Ceth found that reaction amusing, and she was trying not to dwell on the absurd little glow that had sparked inside her chest at Casey’s assumption, Ceth took pity on Krystal and diverted the conversation.
“My friend here had an important presentation today, and she nailed it, so maybe something upbeat to celebrate that, hm?”
“You got it!” Casey winked and turned to move on to the next table of guests.
Krystal’s cheeks still held a hint of rose color, but she’d recovered enough to send Ceth a small smile. “Thanks for that.”
“Don’t mention it.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence until Casey’s band started playing.
Although Ceth didn’t have Krystal’s ear and deep love for music, she enjoyed the cheery jazz.
She enjoyed watching Krystal enjoy it even more.
She was tapping her foot to the soft beat and bobbing her head in time, eyes closed in pleasure.
In some ways, it was a softer version of the expression she’d worn last night when Ceth had been—
“Here we are!” The server appeared with their food, startling Ceth from a reverie she had no business pursuing anyway.
Straightening in her chair, she focused on examining the plates: salmon with fresh local vegetables for her and braised steak tips and mushrooms in wine sauce for Krystal. It all looked delicious.
Once the waiter was gone, they dug into their meals with gusto, sharing bites with each other and admiring the various flavors. The conversation stayed light and comfortable throughout the meal, but once they were finished, Krystal’s expression grew serious and her voice quieter.
Yet again, Ceth found herself wondering if Krystal was about to address their activities the night before when, instead, she hit Ceth with, “So…how are things with your family?”