Chapter Sixteen
KALLEN
Usually I can’t stand someone humming, but I’m a walking contradiction as I step out of the elevator and into the office on Friday morning. Might’ve been the blowjob from Hudson this morning, or that we’ve been having sleepovers most nights this week.
Though, as good as it has been, his words – this’ll do for now – have lingered since Tuesday night, like an intuition screaming to be heard.
‘Morning,’ I greet Blake as I enter the office, looking around to realise we’re the only ones here.
‘Good morning indeed, my dear Dycock,’ Blake choruses, holding a box out to me.
‘Mini almond croissant bite?’ She’s glowing, her eyes twinkling, hair in pigtails.
It’s either she had the best sex of her life this morning after a dry spell, or…
‘So, I think we’ve found a potential surrogate!
’ Blake crows after I ask why she’s so damn cheery.
‘Oh my God, that’s great!’ I bring her in for a hug and grab her by the shoulders. ‘So, who are they? Where are they from? Give me the lowdown.’
‘Well, her name is Hannah, and she’s a friend of a friend of Connor’s from Byron Bay. I spoke to her on the phone yesterday and her values seem aligned. She found out that Connor and I were going to look for a surrogate overseas, and said she’d love to have a baby for us here in Australia.’
‘Um, that’s so awesome!’ I cry out. ‘What happens now?’
Blake’s smile expands. ‘Well, the plan is to head down this weekend to meet her, and then Connor and I will make a decision from there.’
I just stand there smiling at her, before blurting out, ‘Ah, I’m so happy for you!’
Blake brings me in for our second hug from the past five minutes. ‘Thanks, Dycock. Man, I love you.’
I squirm from her embrace. ‘Okay, there’s the love word. I think that’s enough for today.’
Blake chuckles. ‘We should strive for wholesome things in our lives more often.’
Before I get a chance to respond, Dan and Christian come bounding through the office door, talking some shit about NRL, to which Blake and I give each other a muddled look.
Christian asks Dan if he wants to join them at a game in Brisbane sometime soon, as they regularly get free tickets.
And of course, Dan says, ‘Sounds good.’ Once he sits down, he turns in my direction.
‘Happy Friday, Kallen. You ready to be the spritz guinea pig today?’
A nervous flutter takes flight in my belly – I’d forgotten my lunch with Dan today. Been too wrapped up in work and Hudson. ‘Oh, ready as I’ll ever be,’ I say as my phone vibrates on the table. ‘Good thing it’s on a Friday and I don’t have to work tomorr ow.’
Looking down at my phone, a message from Hudson pops up: hope your Friday is going great, just like you ;) x
His compliment doesn’t hit as hard as it should, and I’m not sure why. All I can think about is my lunch with Dan.
My lips curl into the corner of my cheeks as I reply, smooth ;) but right back at you xx
*
‘Okay, so there have been some updates with new hiring,’ Lisa announces when the morning meeting begins.
‘We won’t be hiring a Content Creator after all.
Christian has decided to keep the position in-house and just bleed it into all of your jobs.
So, you might get video projects from brand partnerships now and again. ’
I look from Blake, whose lips are slightly parted, to Dan, who seems about as unfazed as I want to be.
Even though I wanted the Content Creator position for myself, it’s good to know it won’t be going to him.
Sure, he might get more projects than me, considering he’s the golden boy now, it seems. But he’ll still need to get through his regular workload, so I’m bound to receive an important project one way or another.
Christian orders us a rideshare at twelve-thirty.
Dan and I take the backseat, which is a little smaller than expected.
Dan spreads his legs apart like he’s got a huge package to accommodate.
Not that I should be thinking about my coworker’s package.
I should be thinking about Hudson’s because I’m dating him – unofficially .
Cut it out, Kallen, I think while looking at my message thread with Hudson .
We pull up at the bar, which boasts an alfresco-style patio on the street, a few diners already sitting for lunch. After thanking the driver, we saunter inside, to the industrial brick interiors and even more Pride flags than the ones hung outside.
‘Helloooo!’ A gorgeous drag queen emerges from behind the bar, serving up intergalactic alien vibes with her green hair, sparkly dress and larger-than-life eyelashes. Her bold gaze drifts from me to Dan as she squeals, ‘Dan Byers, you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!’
Dan goes red in the face. ‘Hi Hayden, how are you doing? It’s been a while.’
‘Yeah. You’re working for Untold now, I see,’ Hayden says. ‘I’m a big fan of Q Untold and Brisbane Untold. A massive help for businesses like us.’ Hayden reverts his eyes to me. ‘Alright, now go sit down and we’ll bring you out the most fabulous food and drinks we have.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ I say.
When we take our seats, I shoot Dan a look. ‘Didn’t think you’d know her.’
‘Yeah, Hayden is good friends with my sister,’ he’s quick to tell me. ‘Personally never been to one of her shows, but my sister used to a lot. Hayden did a show at her twenty-first birthday.’
I smile with comfort. Dan starts scrolling on his phone while I look around at all the Pride memorabilia hung on the walls, which includes old Mardi Gras photos.
Dan’s eyes wander over my shoulder. ‘Oh, look, it’s the Queen Spritz.’
Hayden, holding a rainbow-coloured tray, strides over to our table.
‘Alright, so here, as you’ve probably already seen online, is our Queen Spritz, and the most expensive spritz cocktail in all of Brisbane,’ Hayden tells us proudly. ‘And beside it is our bestseller this month: the Pride Martini, which is made with colours of the rainbow. So, who’s having which?’
‘Oh, I can’t have carbonated drinks, so Kallen will have both.’
‘Honey, why didn’t you say something?’ Hayden says, carefully placing the drinks on our table in front of me. ‘Even though we have a big spritz menu, we also have non-carbonated drinks. How about a rosé, or a negroni?’
A flush creeps across Dan’s cheeks. ‘Sure. A rosé would be great. Thanks, Hayden.’
‘No worries, and if you need anything else, just ask.’
‘Well, actually, with the food, I can’t have onion, garlic, or spicy stuff.’
‘You got it.’ Hayden walks off to greet more diners entering the bar.
‘Goddamn reflux,’ Dan mentions.
I am, however, more preoccupied with our cocktails on the table, my phone hovering over them with the video on. The Queen Spritz looks just as good as the photos we’ve seen, and the Pride Martini is layered with red, yellow, green, purple, and blue.
‘Gosh, they look good,’ Dan says. ‘Hey, want me to get a vide o of you taking a sip? Since you don’t mind getting in front of the camera.’
I narrow my eyes on him. ‘Is that meant to be an insult?’
He chuckles. ‘No. The truth isn’t always an insult.’
With nothing to say in return, I hand Dan my phone and pose for a video, stirring the gold flakes through this extremely over the top beverage, then lifting it to my mouth to take a sip.
‘Oh God, that’s good,’ I say, truly meaning it.
‘Worth two hundred and sixty-nine dollars?’ Dan asks.
I furrow my brow and lean in with a soft voice. ‘Absolutely not. But that’s coming from someone who isn’t rich.’
‘Right, so if you can afford it, it’d be worth buying?’
‘Precisely.’
I sit there sipping away like I’m royalty, not sure what to say to Dan next, so I kind of just keep studying the bar and its quirks, from the giant toy cat sitting on a mantlepiece to the bookshelf across from the lounges.
‘Some big updates at work this week, huh?’ I break the silence. ‘First the whole Freddie drama, then all our workloads being increased.’
‘Freddie drama? I thought he just got moved to work from home?’
‘Oh. I thought Christian would’ve told you all about it.’
‘Nah. He didn’t.’
‘Oh…well. Do you wanna know?’
Dan shrugs. ‘Yeah. Sure.’
I tell him all about Lisa and Freddie and how their flirting got them moved from each other.
Dan’s face falters as I go on about how the two of them will likely only see each other now at the work Christmas party.
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m boring him or if he’s disappointed for Lisa and Freddie.
Maybe he’s disappointed, or at least wary now, of flirting with any of the women in the office.
‘So, how’s the new dating life going?’ Dan asks.
I swallow the lump in my throat and say, ‘A success, I think.’
Hayden drops off Dan’s glass of rosé. Dan raises his glass, and I meet his now soulful gaze. ‘Well then,’ he says. ‘To love.’
We clang our classes together.
I roll my eyes. ‘To love.’
My phone starts vibrating on the table. At first, I think it’s maybe Blake calling to save the day or Hudson ringing me for some reason. But it’s the complete other end of the spectrum. It’s my mother.
I squint at my screen, mumbling, ‘Sorry, I gotta take this,’ and power walk outside.
‘Hello?’
‘Bonjour, darling. You sounded hesitant when you picked up, like you didn’t know who this was. Surely you’ve got my number saved.’
I sigh. ‘I do have your number saved. It’s just on reflex I answer the phone thinking it’s a random calling me sometimes.’
‘Well, darling, I am far from a random. I’m your mother.’
‘So it appears. What’s up? I’m working at the moment.’
‘Well, if you take a leaf out of my book, you’ll get to fifty and have a whole team working under you while you reap the benefits.’
Whenever I speak to my mother, she always likes to gloat that she owns her own business, stressing I ought to be just like her. Except I’d rather be literally anyone else.
‘Mhhhm. Is there a reason why you’re calling? I’m pretty busy, so.’
‘Hey, that’s no way to talk to the person who raised you.’