“That bottle of water, you chug.” He elbowed me, cackling. “Not quite water, is it?” He winked.
Lost, I said, “I honestly do not know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. I suspect Dave in Fashion Merch does the same thing as you.” He took a swig of his beer. “I mean, how else would the chap be able to walk around looking so chipper all the time? I think he spikes his tea. Whiskey perhaps.”
“Wait.” I laughed. “You think Idrinkat work?”
“Well, you just told me you’re pissed every day, right?”
I laughed again. “Pissed to me means that I’m angry or upset. Pissed to you means…?”
“Drunk. Three sheets to the fucking wind.” He released a guffaw. “Shit’s hilarious. Here I thought you’d been knocking back vodka hidden in bottled water at work.” Dark brown eyes assessed me again. “What’s got you feeling pissed, or sorry,angryevery day?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure I know the difference between sad and angry anymore. They are starting to feel the same.”
“Guy trouble?”
I nodded, taking a sip from my wineglass.
“Been there. Done that, mate. In fact, the last guy who broke my heart is a bloke from New York City. I met and fell in love with him when I worked there. Tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome.”
I giggled. “Sounds like my Lucas. Well, he used to bemyLucas.”
“What happened?”
“Wanna know the long version or short version?”
He ordered me another glass of wine and then another beer for himself. “I’ll take the long version, please.”
An hour later, I’d spilled mostly all details about Lucas, from our first playdate to our last, tear-filled sobs in between. I even told him about how I’d lost the opportunity atHot Shotand that I only took the job atCosmobecause it provided me an immediate escape from the hurt.
Oliver took a few minutes to process all I’d shared.
He patted my shoulder. “While I sure is shit am not an expert in happily-ever-afters, it sounds like your story has not quite come to its end, not from how you explained your relationship over the years.” He finished off his beer, the bottle hitting the counter with a thud. “And regardingHot Shot,remember how I said I used to live in New York?”
I gulped my wine and bobbed my head in acknowledgment.
“Well, mate, Kat Agassi was my boss back then.Hot Shotwas my first ever magazine job. She’s super sweet and easy to talk to. We’re still friends today.”
“Why did you leave New York? LeaveHot Shot?”
“That guy that broke my heart is supermodel Jake Agassi, Kat’s brother.”
My mouth practically fell into my lap.
“I had to get away, so I fled back here, landing a job atCosmo, thanks to Kat who put in a good word.Hot ShotandCosmoare operated under the same corporate umbrella.”
“Big world. Small world,” I said finishing off the last sip of my wine.
“Indeed it is, my friend.”
Oliver became my ally after that night, and miraculously, Poppy Wright got off my back, too, even though I managed to get her stupid salad order wrong no matter what I did.
But I still hatedCosmo.Still missed my friends back home. Still ached for Lucas.
Weeks rolled by, and shit got crazy as the magazine prepared for its most anticipated issue.
Editors in Chief from other magazines were expected for the annual Fall Issue Townhall Meeting, and the last person I’d expected to bump into caught me off guard in the ladies restroom.
