Page 94 of The Plus One Professional

I stared at her retreating back, not sure what had just happened. She seemed so different. So distant. She was back with Simon. She had to be.

As much as I didn’t want to leave, at least I wouldn’t have to spend the next few hours trying not to stare at her, and trying to stop myself from speaking to her, trying to stop myself from jumping off the high dive. It would be torture.

Now, I could go home and be miserable instead of having to put on a brave face. It was a small win, but I’d take it.

39

BAILEY

“Sharli Shames,”I slurred to Whiskey as I grabbed my bottle of wine from the fridge, only to discover it was empty. Had I drunk an entire bottle of wine already? No. Maybe. I shrugged as I grabbed another one. “He was withCharli James,” I said, enunciating her name.

There was no way she’d hired him as her plus one. Women like Charli James did not need to hire plus ones. She was a supermodel and a doctor.

“I had her Seventeen cover on my wall,” I explained to Duke as he rubbed up against my shin when I tossed the empty bottle in the recycling and grabbed another one from the fridge.

Cole was dating Dr. Charli James. It made sense. They made sense. They looked really good together. It did put into perspective the fact that I had never actually had a chance with him.

“They came together and left together.” I burped as I twisted the corkscrew into the top.

For some reason, Charli and Cole being a couple hit different than Lindsay and Cole getting back together. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because I felt like Lindsay had dibs on him or something. Or maybe it was because when I’d seen Lindsay and Cole kiss, it was so fresh from the time I’d just spent with him, and I hadn’t had four weeks to miss him and realize just how big my feelings for him were.

“Meow.” Duke stood beside the fridge, asking for another dinner. He wasn’t going to get it.

“I’m happy for them. They look sooooo good together.” I poured my third, or maybe fourth, glass of wine, filling it to the brim, and took a drink, draining nearly half. When I saw how empty it was, I filled it up to the brim once again. “Seriously, they will make beautiful babies. I mean, he said he didn’t want babies, but,come on, it would be a crime against nature if two of the most beautiful people in the world didn’t procreate.”

I hiccupped as I lifted the glass to my lips. In the back of my head, I told myself that this drinking was not a good idea. I only ever hiccupped when I was really, really drunk, which had only happened twice before in my life. The first time, I’d ended up streaking. The second, I ended up in a puddle of sick outside my front door.

But I didn’t listen to that voice. I felt fuzzy and warm, and not like someone ran over my dog. Which is how I’d felt since I saw Charli and Cole together. So another glass it was.

“Charli and Cole. Cole and Charli.” I took another swig, set the glass on the counter, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Even their names sound good together.”

There was a knock at the door, and for the first time in a month, I was certain it was not Cole Crawford. It was probably another delivery from Simon. At some point, he’d lose interest. He always did. I just hoped it would be sooner rather than later. He’d sent me dozens of floral arrangements.

My apartment was starting to look like a funeral home.

“Coming!” I called out as I grabbed my glass to take it with me.

When I opened the door, my head was tilted down, looking for the tablet to sign for the flowers, but all I saw was a man’s torso. I lifted my chin and saw that it was not a delivery man. It was the man I was sure it couldn’t be.

“Cole Crawford?” I whispered.

“Hi.” His brow furrowed. “Can I come in?”

“Nope.” I shook my head.

“No?” he questioned.

“No,” I repeated, making my voice deep so it sounded like his. In my head, I nailed the impression. But from the unimpressed look on his face, I wasn’t sure it landed.

“Can I ask why?”

“Can I ask where’sCharli?”

“Charli?” he repeated.

“Dr. Charli James, yourgirlfriend.” I heard myself emphasize the word, but I didn’t care. I’d be embarrassed tomorrow. Right now, it felt good to throw that word in his face. If he thought he could just show up here when he had a girlfriend, he had another thing coming.

I was not going to be Cole’s Helga. Not that he and Charli were getting married tomorrow. But they probably would. And with my luck, they’d hire me to plan the wedding.

---