Page 36 of Fun Together
I guess the giant banners I just walked past don’t communicate that loud and clear.
Richard is Alexis’s manager, and he’s the only person that I’ve ever seen Alexis show any signs of insecurity around. She probably jumped at the chance to tell him that her assistant would be happy to help in this emergency just so she could feel like she’s saving the day.
“Okay, yeah. No problem.”
“Great, you can set up at Tina’s desk in reception.”
I try to see the silver lining: at least in the reception area, my pounding headache and queasy stomach I’m battling won’t be made worse by coworkers having loud conversations in our open office space. Maybe I can get some work done.
Three hours later, I’m sending a friendly reminder to the marketing team to let me know their lunch order for this week’s lunch and learn, “Making EQ Work for You,” when an Eli-shaped shadow appears in front of me.
We didn’t text any more yesterday, but I have found myself thinking about Friday night too often. The tequila shots. Our pool game. The edge of Eli’s mouth tickling the edge of my ear. Our pretend kissing. Wanting the kissing to be real?
I feel flustered, seeing him standing there. He looks the opposite of hungover, all bright-eyed and brimming with his usual charm.
He takes a bite of the cookie I just watched him sweet-talk from the blood drive volunteer.
“I see you’ve been doing some more pretend flirting this morning.” I nod to the cookie table. I shake my head and tsk. “Just for more snickerdoodles.”
It was hard not to watch him talking and laughing with the volunteers, seeing them respond to his playful flirtations with sweet smiles and batting eyelashes. How does he always know what to say? It’s almost like the act of breathing is harder for him than talking.
He snaps the cookie in half and hands part of it to me before tossing the other half into his mouth with a self-satisfied grin. “You mean Edith? Who said that was pretend?”
I force the bite down, wondering if cinnamon and sugar will help or hurt right now. As the morning has gone on, I’ve somehow managed to get much worse. How long should a hangover last? I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I remember Alexis mentioning a flu going around, and I wonder if what I’m battling right now is more than just Jose Cuervo-related.
He leans in, conspiratorial. “Don’t worry, though. You’re the only woman I’ve ever pretended to kiss.”
I look up at him and our bodies are positioned in much the same way they were the other night, and I’m reminded of the fact that I know what it feels like to have his full attention on me. That, much like the women handing out cookies, I’m not immune to his charms. My stomach bounces and lurches in a weird dance between nervous giddiness and nausea.
I shiver, suddenly very cold, and tighten my sweater around me. “I’m honored, but can we forget about that, too?”
Eli’s face turns serious, and he holds his water bottle out to me. It’s gigantic and navy blue with stickers all over it. “You okay? Do you want some of my water?”
I wave the water away. “No, I’m good.”
He nods outside to the blood drive van. “Have you ever given blood before?”
“I didn’t even give blood today. I think I’m still just feeling off from drinking.” If I tell myself that enough, it might make it true. Because I can’t be sick. I have way too much work to get done. I need to call Conrad to book the massage sessions. I need to get weekly metrics to Alexis. I need to . . . do a lot of other things I’m having a hard time remembering at the moment.
“Maybe you should go home.”
“Can’t. I’m supposed to sit here for another hour and make sure everyone is able to read that sign.” I point to the banner with a drawing of a drop of blood with vampire teeth and a speech bubble that says, “I want to take your blood!”
“Says who?”
As if on cue, Alexis emerges from the elevator. “Looks like it’s thinned out. Faye, you can head back upstairs.”
I stand up way too fast, and have to brace myself on the desk. “Okay, sounds great!”
Alexis turns to me and gives me a suspicious look. “Are you feeling well? If you don’t feel well, you shouldn’t be here spreading germs. I have a gala this weekend that I cannot miss.”
How bad do I look? They’re both acting like I’m about to drop dead in the lobby.
“I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well last night.”
She doesn’t look so sure, but doesn’t say anything else before floating out with the same confident ease she moves through every area of her life.
“Faye,” Eli says.
