Wallbanger (Cocktail #1)(24)
Author: Alice Clayton

“It’s good, yes. I’m actually going out with them next week. You should come along,” I tossed out casually. It’s all for the truce, just the truce…

“Oh, wow. I’d love to, but I’m heading overseas. Leaving tomorrow, actually,” he said.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say he almost looked disappointed.

“Really? On a shoot?” I said, and realized my mistake. That knowing smirk came back with a vengeance.

“A shoot? Checking up on me?”

I felt my face go from pink to a lovely tomato red. “Jillian mentioned what you do for a living, yes. And I noticed the pictures in your apartment. When my pu**y was chasing your Russian? Ring any bells?”

He seemed to shift his weight a little at my choice of words. Hmmm, weak spot?

“You noticed my pictures?” he asked.

“I did. You’ve got a great set of sconces.” I smiled sweetly and looked directly at his crotch.

“Sconces?” he mumbled, clearing his throat.

“Occupational hazard. So where are you headed, anyway? Overseas, I mean.” I dragged my eyes deliberately back up to his, and noticed his were nowhere near my face. Heh, heh, heh…

“What? Oh, um, Ireland. Shooting a bunch of coastal spots for Condé Nast, and then going into some of the smaller towns,” he answered, bringing his gaze back to mine.

It was nice to see him a bit flustered. “Ireland, nice. Well, bring me back a sweater.”

“Sweater, got it. Anything else?”

“A pot of gold? And a shamrock?”

“Great. I won’t have to leave the airport gift shop,” he muttered.

“And then when you come home, I’ll do a little Irish dance for you!” I cried and started laughing at the lunacy of this conversation.

“Aw, Nightie Girl, did you just offer to dance for me?” he said in a low voice, stepping a little closer.

And just like that, the balance of power shifted.

“Simon, Simon, Simon,” I exhaled, shaking my head. Mainly to clear it from the effect of him being so near. “We’ve been over this. I have no desire to join the harem.”

“What makes you think I’d ask you?”

“What makes you think you wouldn’t? Besides, I think that would mess with the truce, don’t you?” I laughed.

“Mmm, the truce,” he said.

Just then I heard steps on the stairs below. “Simon? Is that you?” a voice called up.

At that he leaned back, away from me. I looked down and realized we’d been inching toward each other on the landing throughout our exchange.

“Hey, Katie, up here!” he called down.

“A haremette? I’ll watch my walls tonight,” I said softly.

“Stop it. She had a hard day at work, and we’re heading out to a movie. That’s it.”

He smiled sheepishly at me, and I laughed. If we were going to be friends, I might as well meet the harem, by God.

A moment later we were joined by Katie, who I, of course, knew as Spanx. I muffled a laugh as I smiled at her.

“Katie, this is my neighbor, Caroline,” Simon said. “Caroline, this is Katie.”

I offered my hand, and she looked curiously between Simon and me.

“Hi, Katie. Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Caroline. You the one with the cat?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye. I looked at Simon, and he shrugged.

“Guilty, although Clive would argue that, in fact, he is an actual person.”

“Oh, I know. My dog used to watch TV and bark until I put on something she liked. What a pain in the ass she was.” She smiled.

We all stood for a moment, and it was beginning to get a little awkward.

“Okay, kids, I’m off to yoga. Simon, have a safe trip, and I’ll fill you in on the gossip from the new couples when you get back.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be gone a while, but hopefully they won’t get in too much trouble while I’m away.” He chuckled as they started up the stairs.

“I’ll keep my eyes on them. Nice to meet you, Katie,” I said, headed down.

“You too, Caroline. ’Night!” she called back to me.

As I walked down the stairs, more slowly than necessary, I heard her say, “Pink Nightie Girl’s pretty.”

“Shut it, Katie,” he fired back, and I swear he swatted her on the butt.

Her yelp a second later confirmed it.

I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door open and headed out to the street. When I got to the gym, I switched my class from yoga to kickboxing.

“I’ll have a vodka martini, straight up with three olives, please.” The bartender got to work as I looked around the crowded restaurant, taking a break from the Fantastic Four. After two weeks of hearing about all these fabulous double dates, I’d agreed to go out with them and turn them into a Fantastic Five. It was fun, and I was having a great time, but after being with two new couples all night I needed a break. People-watching at the bar was a great way to get some time off. To my left was an interesting couple: silver-haired gentleman with a woman younger than I was who had newly purchased tits. Good girl! You get yours. I mean, if I had to look at flabby, old-man buns I’d want bigger boobs too.

I never thought I’d enjoy being alone, but lately I was finding I did pretty well without a man in my life. I was alone, but I wasn’t lonely. Orgasms aside, I did occasionally miss the companionship of a boyfriend, but I liked going places solo. I could travel alone, so why not? Nevertheless, the first time I took myself out to a movie I thought it was going to be weird—the likelihood of running into someone I knew while out and about in the jungles of Costa Rica was slim to none, but running into someone at the movies in the jungles of San Francisco? Odds were greater—but it was great! And a restaurant alone was also just fine. Turns out I’m a great date all by myself.

Still, dinner tonight with my friends had been quite entertaining. The way these two new couples circled each other was fun to watch. Mimi and Sophia had both snagged themselves the men they’d cultivated in their heads as the perfect match. Just then I spotted Sophia in the crowd, her height and gorgeous red hair setting her apart even among hundreds. Hot restaurant, and even hotter bar, this place was packed with people and pretention.

I could see her chatting with someone, and off to the side I found Mimi and Ryan. What was odd? Neil, not Ryan, seemed to be Sophia’s conversation partner. Ryan appeared completely captivated by Mimi, her hands moving through the air and punctuating statements with her toothpicked olive as he listened, fascinated. From where I stood, the distance afforded me perfect clarity. I couldn’t help but smile. They’d found the boys they always thought they wanted, but now they each seemed fascinated by the other one…ah well, the grass was always cuter, right?