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15
Against my better judgment, I walk into the office after hours with my head held high—as if I’m not a topic of conversation. True to Colleen’s words, there is a basket off to the side as soon as I step off the elevator filled with sequined and feathered masks in various colors and sizes. I choose a large butterfly design in black that covers more than half of my face and slip the strap over my head, careful not to catch my hair on the wings.
At least half of the office that I know is attending tonight, and the other half are people that I don’t readily recognize. They’re probably from a different department. Possibly Niles’ department.
I find myself hoping that they are. It increases the odds that the man himself will be too, and I start scanning the room for his tall, slim form, but the sheer amount of people, coupled with the lights having been turned down to create a shroud of darkness to allow the fairy lights strung along the ceiling tiles to shine brighter make it difficult. As do the many decorations, including lighted topiaries, garland, and mountains of black, gold, and silver balloons floating above matching ribbons that keep them held in place above chair backs and table weights.
It’s impossible to find Niles in the throng of partygoers, with everyone wearing a mask. Discouraged, I set about walking around the room, keeping an eye out for the man in question.
Somehow, a familiar voice finds me first, but it’s not the one I seek.
“Hey! You made it!” I’m smashed into a giant side-hug that presses the breath from my lungs. “Drinks are over there and food over there.” Colleen, dressed in a glittery red number that clings to her ample curves and falls to just above her knees points to a distant corner of the office where a considerable amount of out coworkers linger about, eating and talking, some doing a slow sway to the thumping club music playing from a small stereo propped on the reception desk.
“Okay, thanks.”
“No problem. I love your mask!”
Automatically, my hand reaches up to touch the tips of the butterfly wings that hover just above my jawline. “Thanks. I like yours too.”
Colleen’s mask of choice is smaller than mine, covering only her eyes and the top halves of her cheekbones. It’s classic in design with rounded edges but comes to a point, like cat eyes at the corners, finishing with black feathers that blend into her curled brown hair. The sequins glitter in the fairy lights, and I have to admit, she doesn’t look like a mom. Tonight she’s a knockout.
“Is your husband here?” I ask, wondering how a man would allow his wife out of the house alone looking like she does.
“Mike? Ha! He’s at home watching the kids. I told him, tonight is my night.”
I nod as if I totally agree, but I can’t help wondering why she wouldn’t want to spend time with her husband away from the kids. I’m not married, but I know enough to know that finding time to have a little fun together is important for any well-rounded relationship. It doesn’t give me much confidence that they’ll make it for the long haul with that attitude.
That thought brings me back to the reason I’m here and a decision I’ve been struggling with. If I’m going to be deadset on being with Niles and his friends in a real relationship, what are the chances for us making it any length of time if someone like Colleen, who’s engaged in a traditional partnership complete with children already faces fifty-fifty odds?
Once again, my mood begins to plummet. Am I making a giant mistake being here?
“You’re at a party. Why aren’t you having any fun?”
I blink at the distinctly male voice that flips my libido switch to the on position. It’s then that I realize Colleen has left, and I don’t even remember when that happened, leaving me to question how long I’ve been standing in the middle of the room starting into space.
I turn my head to see the man in question who is standing behind me, smiling from behind a satin black mask that is simple and straightforward in design. The effect reminds me of Batman and how sexy I’ve always found a man in disguise. There’s something about obscuring the facial features and, in turn, highlighting one of the best parts of the face: the lips. And Niles’ lips are as sexy as they come, now that I know how they feel against my own.
I lick my lips, thinking about some of the passionate kisses we’ve shared in the short time that we’ve known one another. I think he reads my expression, or perhaps body language, because Niles smirks in response and leans closer, until I can smell the clean, fresh scent of his cologne that stands out against the vanilla scented candles burning around the room.
Again, my thoughts stray to Dean and Shane, thinking about their discussion over Shane’s cologne with vanilla notes. I smile to myself. Standing here now, being reminded of how good we all were together, even if our time together was a drop in the bucket, nothing more than a one-night stand in the grand scheme of things, I can almost forget why I was mad at them in the first place. I can already feel myself solidifying my original decision, reinforcing why I’m here tonight.
“Niles…” I pause, unsure of how to voice my thoughts without sounding like an immature child. Plus, we’re in a public space with people everywhere who are watching—not overtly but definitely gathering data to take back to their little group chat. I am keenly aware that Niles himself has a neon blinking light flashing over his head wherever he goes, drawing unwanted attention to us here and now.
“I’ve missed you,” he blurts out, his hand reaching up to touch the side of my face so softly that I shiver visibly.
“Niles—” I try again, but he stops me with only a look.
“I’m sorry. On behalf of all of us, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that Shane was going to pull a stunt like that, but when I realized what was going on, I did nothing to stop it, and I can’t express how sorry I am for that. You missed being with your family and it’s our fault. It never should have happened, and if I can do anything to make it up to you, tell me and I’ll do it. Anything.”
I press my lips together, fighting a smile. His earnest plea touches me deep inside, and while I want to fold like a deck of cards and throw my arms around him and confess that it doesn’t matter anymore and I’ve decided I want him—them—in my life, I show restraint by continuing to stand there and stare into his eyes.
“What about Dean and Shane?” Does he really speak for all of them? I would be more impressed if they were all here, too, to express their apologies personally. But I also recognize that this is an office party and they’re not on the payroll. The likelihood of them attending is slim.
“Why don’t you ask them yourself?” Niles lifts his gaze to some distant spot behind me, and I turn to see two tall, sexy bodies that are distinctly male and ones that I’d know anywhere approaching.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask as soon as they’re within range.
Dean and Shane take turns giving me a hug and then step back a respectable distance. I can’t help but wonder if they do it for my sake or for the company surrounding us.
