The doors hold my attention as they slowly stop swinging. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes with my pointer and thumb and my hand across my face, I think again about how she’s right. Just before I toss the pen down on the desk, I see the notification on my phone. Someone messaged me.
My brows pinch as I look at the number. I don’t know it, and it’s not programmed into my phone.
What should I wear to the wedding?
A smile curls my lips up. Grace. That’s right. Now I remember.
Last night before my sweetheart left, I put my number in her phone. I wasn’t sure if she’d use it or not, but I told her to.
I huff a small laugh at the text, remembering the night before. She was sweet after a couple more drinks, leaning on me a little more than usual. Asking if I was just messing with her.
If it was a few years ago, I may have thought of her as the clingy type.
Intending on grabbing my keys from my office to get the hell out of here, I lean against my desk and then decide to just fall into the chair as I look at her message again.
Two nights ago, I didn’t have a single problem with her clinging onto me while the guys in the back shooting pool were looking at her. She didn’t even notice them, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to point them out to her. If I’m honest with myself, I would have rather spent last night with her the same as the night before, rather than working.
I’m too tired to think, but I text her back with the first thoughts on my mind.
It’s a small wedding. Nothing too fancy or formal is fine.
It’s been nearly an hour since she messaged me. I sit the phone down, thinking she won’t get back to me for a while, but the phone goes off rapid fire.
Okay, so not a ballgown, got it.
I’ll do something simple...
But classy.
What are you wearing?
The laugh comes up easy, vibrating in my chest. I lean back, and get comfortable in the chair. I’m so damn tired I could lay my head down right here on this hardwood or stack of paper and take a nap.
I text her back: I’m in the wedding, so I have a suit. The groom is the only one in a tux.
Her response makes me laugh even harder.
And you told me I could wear jeans!
With a wide smile on my lips, I respond: Wear whatever you want, sweetheart. I stare at my message for a second, playing with a small tear in my jeans before adding, I’ll be in gray with a dark blue tie.
I can practically hear her voice when she answers: Okay, now I’ve got something to work with.
I grin at her message, debating on what to say back.
Probably nothing, I think as another yawn takes over. I’m too damn tired to keep going at this point. I stretch out and grab my keys, nearly pocketing my phone before it beeps again.
And you're sure you wanna take me?
I knew it. I knew she’d second guess it or think I was just fucking with her.
You backing out of our deal? I hope she can feel my smile when she reads it. I add: We shook on this. That’s as good as a legal notarized document when a handshake happens in my bar.
I don’t even notice Maggie come in until I hear her voice.
“Now, whatever’s got you smiling like that,” she says with her hands on her hips, “that’s what you should be spending your time on.”
I lift my head to look at her, but the second I do, my phone goes off.
I’ll pick out something to match.
Grace
“Oooh, let’s go in here!” Diane says, tugging at my arm and pointing to a shop. “I’ll bet they have exactly what we need.” Ann is back and she decided the three amigos, as she refers to us, should go shopping. She didn’t like the tension between Diane and me.
“Okay,” I say easily, allowing her to pull me inside. I rub my inner elbow where I’ve just been poked and prodded. I had to have lab work done quickly before coming here. I’m hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst. At least shopping can take my mind off of this mess. Even if it’s with Diane. Since Ann had to bail to pick up her son.
Seriously, Ann is killing me.
Diane came into work all chipper, like the fight we had Tuesday never happened. I’m sure that’s Ann’s doing and all, but if Diane doesn’t like me, she doesn’t have to hang out with me for Ann’s sake.
Other than my small hesitation, I was happy to let it go and move on, because I had so much on my mind. Namely, dress shopping and filling Ann in on the details.
Now that she’s gone, I’m just going to make the best of it. And honestly, Diane has been the version of herself that I actually do get along with. So… nothing but good vibes and positivity.
So after listening to Diane dish about all of her dating shenanigans, I admitted to her that I had agreed to go to a wedding with Charlie as a favor.
Diane actually squealed, which made me smile, then gushed about
