AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Surely, I could wait a few more days for the first man who made me believe we were on the verge of something special.
But one day turned to two, then three. Friday morning at The Coffee Spot was particularly uncomfortable. Every time the door opened and that little bell rang, I looked up from my work to see who walked in. I had so much trouble concentrating, I ordered another mocha latte and a chocolate croissant to go, then I went back to my apartment to work.
My window to go to Sebastian’s estate with Elizabeth was closing while my irritation grew. I had spent all week acting like a fifteen-year-old waiting for a call to go to prom. That girl was so anxious she wanted me to text Gabriel and ask him if we were still on for the weekend.
But there was the other girl, the pragmatic introvert, who agreed with Elizabeth. I wasn’t desperate. I liked Gabriel and wanted to see where this could lead, but I wasn’t going to chase him, either. He was the one who said he’d call, and we’d make plans. The ball was squarely in his court, exactly where he wanted it.
Maybe it was my turn to play hardball. Maybe I should go to Western New York, send him a text, and let him sit around until next weekend wondering if I was interested in him. Or maybe it wouldn’t bother him at all. Maybe he wasn’t as interested as I was.
Or maybe I needed to grow up, put my big girl panties on, and get a life.
This was the modern world. I didn’t have to sit home alone. Cell phones are portable, and it was Friday night. I could call Ginger to see if she was working at The Right Stuff tonight. I could get out of my increasingly claustrophobic apartment for a few hours and do something that would take my mind off basically being stood up.
Ginger answered on the third ring.
“Hey. I was calling to see what you were up to tonight. Do you have to work?”
“Not tonight. Since I worked through grand opening, I have the miracle of a Friday night off. How about you? Got plans with that hottie you were with last weekend?”
“Uh, no, not tonight. I’ve been working all day and wanted to get out of this stuffy apartment. Are you up for a night out?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m always up for a night out, as long as we don’t go to my work. I was there for seven days in a row. I’m done with the 80’s for now. Where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere that has a killer cocktail.”
“I know the perfect place. Great atmosphere and even better alcohol. There are a few hot guys hanging around as well. Not that you need any help with that lately.”
“Well, I don’t need help with that tonight. It’s a girl’s night out. No guy talk.” I needed to keep my mind off Gabriel, not spend all night talking about him.
“Wait. We’re not gonna talk about hot guys? What’s the point of girl’s night if we’re not allowed to talk about the fellas?”
“To get away from them. Where are we meeting?”
––––––––
THE PIANO BAR WAS CROWDED. Our booth in the corner gave me a good view of writhing backsides and very little else.
“There are a ton of good-looking guys here. Just take your pick. Though, I have to admit. None of them are as hot as that feast on feet you were with last weekend.”
I had no idea how Ginger could see through the crowd of bodies to know if anyone was handsome or not, but my lack of interest made the point irrelevant.
“I told you. I’m not here to pick up a guy.” I turned my attention back to the pink, frothy deliciousness in front of me.
She waved her hand in the air as if we were walking through a shopping mall. “Oh, come on. You’re cute enough. You can have anyone here you want. Shop around!”
That was it, wasn’t it? I was “cute enough” and Gabriel was drop dead gorgeous. He was probably in the arms of a female version of himself, even as Ginger and I talked about him. I hoped his ears burned right off and fell in her lap.
Ginger put her arm around my shoulders. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
“What?”
“That you’re not enough for him?”
“Ginger...”
“Because look, Hon, you’re beautiful. And your smile lights up a room. You just don’t know it. But I tell you what I know.”
She stopped talking, and I wiggled my eyebrows at her to get her to finish her sentence.
