Chapter 11
Cici
I'm scrambling to get out of work on time. I have to finish this report and get it sent to Uncle Parker and Uncle Luke before I leave work for the week. I promised them they’d have this before six o’clock and I'm not going to let them down.
My fingers fly across the keyboard as I try to get all of my thoughts out on this project and when I finally hit save on the document, I realize I have exactly ten minutes to get to the Mexican restaurant to meet Covey for dinner.
I hurry into the bathroom in my office and glance in the mirror. I look insane. My hair is a wild mess and there’s a coffee stain on my blouse. I don’t even know when that happened. I frown at myself before quickly grabbing a brush and trying my hardest to fix my hair.
Dad always told me to keep a spare set of clothes in my office and everything else I need to get cleaned up for a meeting.
Him, Uncle Parker, and Uncle Luke put showers in their office bathrooms so if they needed to clean up, they had the freedom to.
It seems crazy, but I’ve utilized it more than I care to admit.
Right now, I don’t have time to shower, but I can at least fix my hair and change my clothes.
I slip into the dress I have and smile when it looks better than I thought it would. It doesn’t scream ‘I came straight from the office’ and that makes me feel a little bit better. After touching up my makeup, I grab my purse and hurry out of the building. I'm going to be late, but not by much.
I tug my phone out and fire off a text to Covey. I don’t want him thinking I stood him up and I don’t want him to worry.
Cici: I'm running late, but I'm on my way. I got stuck in the office longer than I expected.
It takes me about ten minutes to get to the restaurant and when I do, I scan the area and don’t see him. I check my texts and it shows as delivered, but not read.
“Can I help you?” The hostess smiles sweetly at me.
“Hi, I'm meeting someone here. The reservations should be under Ron Covey. Is he here yet?”
“Let me see…” She scrolls on the tablet, searching for his name. “I see Mr. Covey had a reservation for ten minutes ago, but he hasn’t arrived yet. Do you want me to seat you and you can wait for him?”
I glance around at the packed restaurant and frown. Covey should’ve been here by now and if not, he should’ve texted me.
“Um… No. I’ll give him a call and see how much longer he’s going to be. I don’t want to take up a table.” I smile like my heart isn’t breaking and hurry over to the bar and take a seat on an empty stool.
Cici: Are you still coming?
“What can I get for you, beautiful?” The bartender grins at me.
He’s handsome with dark hair and an olive complexion. His hair is slicked back and there’s a thick layer of stubble on his jaw. Instead of making him look messy and unkempt, he somehow looks more attractive with it.
“Can I have a whiskey neat?”
“Of course.” His smile widens and his honey eyes sparkle under the dim lighting. “You know, I don’t get many women asking for whiskey.”
“Well, I'm not most women.” I smile back. I know he’s only flirting to get better tips, but right now I'm feeling pretty crappy and I’ll accept his pathetic flirting because it will make me feel slightly better about myself.
“You must be special. Who are you meeting here tonight?”
“Who says I'm meeting anyone?” I glance down at my texts again, confirming he still hasn’t read my message.
“Well, people tend not to check their phones that often unless they’re waiting for someone.” He slides my drink across the dark wood and watches me carefully. “A boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“A husband, then?”
“Nope. Single as can be.” I hold up my left hand to show my empty ring finger.
“Dang. How are men so stupid?” He winks at me.
Someone waves to get his attention. He lifts a hand, silently telling them he’ll be one second. He leans down and rests his forearms on the bar so he’s eyelevel with me.
“Don’t leave before I get to talk to you again, ok?”
“Ok,” I whisper.
He watches me for one more moment before he hurries to the other side of the bar to serve another customer. I let out a sigh and turn my attention to my phone.
I dial Covey’s number and it goes straight to voicemail. I try again, but no such luck. After checking my text again and seeing he still hasn’t read it, I debate on calling Cord to see if everything is ok, but I decide against it.
If Covey can’t show up for our dinner, I'm done giving him chances. He’s made it clear I don’t come first in his life and I'm over it. I don’t want a man who’s constantly going to let me down.
I want someone who will step up and show me I mean something to him.
I really hoped that man could be Covey, but clearly I was wrong.
The bartender comes back over to me as soon as he’s filled everyone’s drink orders. He eyes my half empty glass and arches a brow, asking me if I want a refill.
“I think I'm just sticking to this one.” I tap the edge of the glass with my fingernail.
“Man, I was hoping I’d get to chat with you for longer than one drink.”
“Do you flirt with every woman who walks through that door?” I arch a brow, daring him to lie to me. He chuckles and shakes his head.
“I can see why you’d think that, but no. I barely flirt at all. Steve, the other bartender, has been razing me since you walked in here because I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of you.” He motions to the other bartender. The guy waves and chuckles, knowing that we’re talking about him.
“And what makes me so special? Why have I gained your attention over every other woman?”
He leans his forearms on the bar, bringing us closer together. I love how he’s giving me his full attention.
“I don’t really know. You have this confidence about you…
but it’s not because you think you’re better than everyone else.
I think you just know your worth and you don’t care what other people think.
It’s kind of addicting.” He smiles as he peeks up at me through his lashes.
“You’re not here to find someone to take you home tonight.
You’re not really even flirting back with me.
It makes me want to know more about you.
To understand what makes you tick. Man, I'm practically obsessed with you and I don’t even know your name. ”
“It’s Cici.” I nibble on my bottom lip to keep from smiling at him as I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
“That’s a beautiful name. I'm Adam.”
He holds his hand out to me and I shake it. I'm pleasantly surprised when he gives me a firm shake. So many men will give women a weak handshake and it’s annoying.
“You’re not staying for another drink, are you?” He eyes me.
“No, I think I'm calling it a night.”
“Give me a second…” He grabs something from under the bar and comes back over to me. He’s scribbling something out on a piece of paper before he hands it over to me. “Call me, Cici. I’d love to take you out for dinner. Soon.”
I take the paper and tuck it into my purse. Adam’s eyes light up with amusement.
“What?” I chuckle.
“Well, I gave you my number… Shouldn’t you be nice enough to return the favor?”
I grab the pen he used and pull his arm closer to me. I carefully write my number on the inside of his forearm, near his elbow so other people don’t notice it. Placing the pen back on the bar, I glance up at him.
“Better be careful it doesn’t wipe off before the end of your shift.” I smile as I climb off the stool and down the rest of my drink. I spin so my back is to him and head towards the door.
“Jokes on you! I’m taking my break and making Steve cover this place by himself so I can go put your number in my phone right away,” he calls.
I chuckle and can’t help the smile that’s spreading across my face. I doubt any sort of relationship will develop between us, but he helped me forget about the man who stood me up today and I’ll forever be grateful for that.
After picking up something for dinner, I head home. As I drive through my gated development, I can’t help myself and I turn down Covey’s street. His car is sitting in the driveway and there’s a light on in his bedroom.
My heart aches at the thought of him sitting at home while I was waiting for him at the restaurant. I'm glad I didn’t take the hostess up on her offer to seat me while I waited for Covey. I would’ve felt like such an idiot.
Plus, it was really nice to meet Adam. He definitely boosted my confidence when I was so let down.
After I realized Covey wasn’t coming, I really thought the tears would begin to fall, but Adam had me laughing and smiling before I even left the restaurant.
Now, I can’t stop smiling every time I think about him.
Pulling into my driveway, I grab my dinner and head inside. Before I even take a bite of food, I'm changing into my bathing suit and taking my meal out to the hot tub.
I slip under the hot water and let out a long sigh. Between work and Covey, my muscles are so tight. I really need to schedule a massage and get this tension under control. I know if I don’t, my migraines will start up again and that’s the last thing I need.
Once I'm finished with my dinner, I place the container on the deck and sink down lower in the water. I close my eyes and try not to think about anything.
My phone pings with a text. I groan, but don’t hesitate to pick up the device to see who’s bothering me.
Covey: I'm so sorry! I can explain. Are you home?
I nibble on my bottom lip as I debate on how to handle this situation. On one hand, maybe there’s an explanation for what happened. A good reason for him standing me up. On the other hand, how many times am I going to keep putting myself out there only to realize Covey doesn’t want me.
Before I can decide on how I want to respond, another text comes through, but from a different number.
Unknown: Hey, beautiful. I almost lost your number thanks to a customer spilling wine all over me. I almost cried.