Sidelined: A Wilde Players Dirty Romance (24 page)

LIVELY MUSIC AND MY
LIVELIER
coworkers, fill the lounge. But I see and hear none of it. I stare into the mirror on the back of the bar wondering whose reflection I see. I barely recognize the woman staring back at me with the vacant eyes. Drew…
Andy
is here in town. It’s been three days since I saw him and I can’t get him out of my head.

“Cate, you’re too quiet. This is a celebration. We’ve completed the Caine account. Maybe now we can sleep for more than four hours a night.” Daniel grins and puts a tumbler to his lips. “At least until our meeting next Monday to discuss our next project.”

He laughs at his own joke as Mandy strolls over with two drinks in her hand. She leans down to whisper in my ear. “I’m not sure what’s going on with you tonight, but you will celebrate.”

I take the proffered drink feeling like a daisy downer. She lifts up her glass and my team of coworkers all raise their glasses. Not wanting to be the odd man out, I do the same and plaster a smile on my face.

“To us and especially Cate. Without her last minute save we all might be in the office reworking the project,” Mandy announces.

“To Cate,” everyone toasts.

“To the team,” I counter. “There’s no I in team. We all put in the hours and we all will, hopefully, reap the rewards.”

“Here, here!” comes a chorus of cheers.

I have no idea if we will get bonuses for completing the job on time other than the day off we were given. Still, a girl can hope. I toss back the shot with no idea what kind of liquor it is.

The burn hits my throat and I feel the cinnamon taste not only in my mouth, but in the tears that form in my eyes. It’s a Fireball! When my eyes pop out of my head, Mandy thumps my back as if I were choking. I keep my mouth closed for fear I will breathe out fire like a dragon.

“It’ll put hair on your chest,” Mandy chirps. Her honey brown curls bounce as if she’s unable to contain all the energy she has inside her. “At least that’s what Dad told my brothers when they had their first taste of alcohol.”

“I’m pretty sure my esophagus will never be the same,” I croak.

“Here. Have another?”

My expression freezes as I give her a
you’re crazy
stare. “You’re kidding me, right? Or maybe you’re just trying to poison me.”

She tosses her head back and barks out a belly laugh. “Cate, I swear we love you. I know you’re worried because you’re the newest member of the team and you might feel as though we’re intimidated that you pulled this one out of the crapper. But honestly, everyone is happy you’re here. Happy clients mean we all have jobs. So take another for the team.”

She’s right. No one has ever made me feel unwanted at work. Worry has clouded my thoughts. What she doesn’t know is that it’s Drew, or rather
Andy
, that has me rattled. Seeing him after all this time brings to the surface so many regrets.

I pick up the shot and this time I’m ready for it. I clink her glass and chant, “To the team,” before I drink it down.

Mandy’s sly glance at me makes me suspicious. “There is one other thing you should know.”

“What’s that?” I dab at my eyes, hoping the moisture the Fireball caused doesn’t mess up my makeup.

“Daniel has a crush on you.”

While I almost choke, Mandy’s gaze remains steady on me.

“You like him?” I ask, confused.

“No.” She violently shakes her head. “It’s just—he’s sweet. But super cute,” she amends. “And I’ve known him forever and I feel sort of protective over him. So don’t break his heart.”

She taps my shoulder before she walks away and I blink rapidly, unsure of what just happened.

“Hey.” I glance up and Daniel stands before me. “Mind if I sit with you?”

“Sure.” I shrug, trying not to let Mandy’s comments make things weird between us. Still, I’m nervous about what he’s about to say. I take the last of the shooters and drink it. He smiles but sighs and I watch as he gears himself up to say something.

“Take another shot with me.” The words burst out of me because I don’t want to have to turn him down. Mandy’s right about one thing. He’s cute in that nerdy superhero way. With his dark hair and black-framed glasses, I have to wonder if he has on a blue and red leotard under his suit. Or maybe that’s the alcohol talking. Before he can answer though, I order another two rounds. The drinks start to go down easier, especially after the fifth one.

I’ve managed to stave off any dating topics and only traded smiles. I thwart any opportunity on his part to speak by shouting toasts to everyone, from our boss to the janitors in the building. But now I’ve run out of excuses.

“Cate, I was wondering—”

The music stops and Mandy’s voice booms out of the speakers.

“Cate! Where are you, girl?”

Feeling unsteady myself, I can still tell she’s been drinking much more than I have because her words are slurred.

“Wait, that’s me,” I say pointing to myself. I frown when I notice it’s harder for me to communicate than it should have been.

“Cate, Catieeee, come sing with me,” Mandy croons.

The crowd begins to chant my name and I glance up at Daniel. My eyes feel heavy. Yet, this is the escape I’ve been searching for.

“I gotta go. But I’ll see you later.”

I sway a little when I get to my feet and Daniel’s hands are there to steady me. In fact, he helps me navigate the crowd.

“You have nice hands and nice teeth. I like a man with good teeth,” I absently say.

Daniel shakes his head. “Be careful up there, Catie,” he teases as helps me up on stage and it feels like old times. I think of Jenna and I miss her terribly. She is planning a visit and what will I tell her about Drew… I mean
Andy
. That’s going to take a bit of getting used to.

Mandy is cracking up before the song even comes on. When the popular tune begins, I know the song automatically. I sling an arm over my friend as we begin to sing enthusiastically. Daniel is our only coworker who managed to snag a spot up front. With lights bearing down on us, I have no one I know to focus on and I end up serenading Daniel so my semi-embarrassment won’t cause me to puke. Unfortunately, the song Mandy picked isn’t quite the message I’d wanted to send. The crowd’s enthusiasm urges me on.

I know I just met you,

And this is crazy,

But here’s my number,

So call me maybe!

Sometime after karaoke and a few more rounds of shots, I’ve forgotten the mess I’m creating. Daniel is by my side the whole time encouraging me not to drink but not stopping me either. By the time we make it out of the bar, we’re hot and sweaty. Daniel is flagging us a cab while trying to keep Mandy and me on our feet. The frigid air should have been a balm, yet I can barely put one step in front of another.

“Catie, I’m so glad you moved here,” Mandy slurs. “The office was so dull until you showed up.” We finally stumble to a stop near the curb.

I place my arms on her shoulders needing her to focus on me as I tell her how I feel because feelings are important. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t met you. It’s a cruel, cruel world but you’re the happiest person I’ve ever met. And I need happy. You’re my bestest friend, but don’t tell my best friend I said that. Jenna’s not normally a jealous person, but don’t piss that girl off. She’s a scrapper.”

Mandy nods because she gets me. “I promise I won’t tell. We can be secret bosom buddies.”

We hug until Daniel breaks it up. I want to tell him that even though I’m not into him, I’m not into girls either. His voice interrupts my swirling thoughts. Now, I’m no longer sure what was so important for me to say.

Daniel and his four doppelgangers steady us. “Come on ladies, be careful of the snow and ice.”

I feel like I’m on a ship. “The boat is rocking. I think we might capsize. Where are our life vests?”

“Cate.”

That voice, I know it. I spin and the world tilts.

“It’s the Titanic all over again,” I call out as I fall forward.

I never reach bottom. “Thank god for the life vest,” I mutter. I feel it tight around me.

“Cate,” the voice says again.

“Drew.” I shake my head. “No, it’s An— Andy now,” I slur. “Not Drew, can’t call you that. It’s Andy.”

Daniel comes into view and I’m not sure if Andy is there or not or if I’m only hearing voices.

“It’s okay. I can take her off your hands. I’ll get her home,” Daniel says.

Somehow I regain my feet but my vision continues to swirl.
Damn four-inch heels aren’t doing me any favors
.

“I like those heels,” Mandy responds and I realize I’ve spoken out loud.

When I’m steady, I glance up into piercing blue eyes. I feel the arctic air they bring.
Andy
. I give myself a thumbs up for remembering his new name.

“You’re really here.”

I notice his steadying hand at the small of my back. I start to melt into him and lean up to press my lips to his when I catch sight of two guys behind him. I wave because it’s only polite. As wasted as I am, I don’t want to embarrass Andy in front of his friends or colleagues.

“Catie, you can stop waving now.” Mandy is by my side and conspiratorially whispers only to me. By the smirks on the guys’ faces, they must have super human hearing abilities. “Who are these handsome guys? Have you been holding out on me?”

“Cate, Mandy, I have a cab. We should go now.” Daniel sounds way too sober. Mandy and I turn to face him.

“Don’t be such a Clark Kent,” I say to him over my shoulder.

When I glance to Andy, his back is turned to me. I can’t hear what he’s saying. When he turns around, I’m struck by just how goddamn good looking he is.

I hear Mandy introduce herself and the guys speak but my gaze is locked with Andy’s.

“Cate.” I blink a few times, only now putting it together that Andy was talking to me.

The two good looking guys wave a quick goodbye and walk away.

I chance speaking. “You didn’t have to let them go. Superman man here,” I hook a thumb in Daniel’s direction, “is going to save the day and take us home.”

As Andy blurs into one instead of two, I see his brows arch. “Superman, huh?”

A glance at Daniel confirms that three of him agree as their smiles beam like the girl in the toothpaste commercials.

I pat Andy’s chest and when I feel the solid muscle under my palm I pat it a few more times. “No need to be jealous. You’re totally Batman and everyone knows Batman is the sexiest of them all.”

“Not everyone,” Mandy declares. She’s sounds drunk and I’m almost embarrassed for her. “No offense Batman, but I’m really into Thor. So if you are truly the Dark Knight, will you hook me up with that Chris Hemsworth look alike that just left? What was his name?” Her words sputter but somehow it all comes out coherently.

“Guys, the cab is waiting.”

“Daniel, hold your horses,” Mandy drawls as she shifts her focus to our coworker. “Wait…you do look like Clark Kent.”

We high five it but miss. That’s weird. We try again, and totally fail. I start to crack up because it’s so damn funny. She shakes her head and decides to take a step in Daniel’s direction. I try to follow because his face is so sour, you’d think he’s swallowed a lime. However, Andy doesn’t let me go.

“I’ll make sure she ends up home safe,” Andy declares.

Daniel straightens, his super power allowing him to morph from three into five. I can’t help but comment. “You are so outnumbered,” I say to Andy or no one. I’m not sure.

Andy glances down at me but there isn’t humor in his eyes. When his face does that horror movie blur deal, I murmur, “You aren’t Batman are you? You’re something else?”

“I am something,” he mumbles back. Then his voice takes on bass and strengthens. “I’ve got her. You can take her friend home.”

The ocean starts to roll again and I lean on Andy, pressing my cheek on his chest. His wool coat is rough on my frozen cheek but I move in closer wanting to hear his heartbeat. I need to know he’s alive and I’m not in some crazy dream.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We’re coworkers and I don’t know who you are,” Daniel says.

Andy’s voice sounds muffled though one ear and clear out the other. “Cate and I…, we have history. I guarantee she’s safe with me. I’ll get her home.”

Information I need to share gives me the strength to stand on my own once again. “Yeah, we’re going to have dinner and catch up on old times. I mean new times. And we’re planning to have breakfast.” I laugh before I become thoughtful. “I haven’t had breakfast in a while,” I say absently. And in an even softer voice because I have to share this secret only with Mandy, I add, “You know what breakfast is code word for.” I giggle and I can’t stop it even though I hate to giggle.

“Breakfast,” Mandy gives a thumbs up. Something must be in her eye because she has one closed with a weird look on her face. “Call and tell me all about it in the morning. I haven’t had breakfast either and I love sausage.”

She giggles the whole time as Daniel hustles her into the cab and I feel the world tilt. Andy steadies me. Then Daniel calls out, “Are you sure you’re going to be alright, Cate?”

I want to nod but I’m starting to feel nauseous. “You’re leaving me in good hands. He’s a doctor, you know.”