Page 49 of One Hotlanta Night
“Okay, it’s my turn to be the cool chick tonight. I don’t have it in me for shots, do you?” Her raised eyebrows give me ahell no. “It’s late. How about I treat you to Checkers’ milkshakes on the way home as payment for your therapy session, Dr. Claire?”
“Deal.” She grins. “Besides, I can’t wait to hear more about your boyyyfriend,” she singsongs like a middle schooler.
I let out an exasperated sigh. “He’s not my boyfriend; don’t call him that.”
“Oh, now he’s not boyfriend material?” she ribs.
“You know he most definitely is. I’d marry the guy if I could. But boyfriend seems too official a label for someone I just met, you know?”
“Even if you’re falling for him?”
“Yes, even with that. I just…” My voice trails off and some of the frustration returns. I’ve been so mixed up in my head and the whirlwind feelings plus lack of sleep—no matter how enjoyable it was—are making me lose my cool. “I just don’t want to jinx it, you know?”
“You are one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met, Viv, but sometimes…” She doesn’t finish her sentence, instead locking up her desk and grabbing her purse.
Right back atcha, I think. But enough of the emotional convos for one night. I’ll leave that til the next time we revisit Mr. Derrick and howshefeels abouthim.
Vivian
the next day
Neon lights illuminating the bowling alley glare harshly against the night sky and even though it’s newly August, a chill runs through me. “Mi amor, are you cold?” Michael asks, his arm tightening around my shoulders as we walk inside.
“Just nervous,” I admit as I velcro myself to him.
“You have nothing to be worried about. They’re gonna love you and if they don’t, I don’t care anyway.” His words reassure me, but I’m still a little anxious to be here. My devil-may-care attitude isn’t enough to protect me now. Because for the first time, I really do care about what these people think. Although they’re ‘just’ coworkers, I know how that goes in work spaces. Michael spends a lot of time with these guys. These are the only people he knows in Atlanta, and I want to make a good impression on them. “They’ll just give us a little shit for how much time we spent on the phone that first week, but they’re actually really eager to meet you.“
“I’m the one who kept you from getting any work done? Yeah, that makes me sound really great.” My sarcasm betrays my nerves.
He laughs and tips my chin up at him with one finger. “Seriously, mi amor, you havenothingto worry about. And I’ll be with you the whole time.”
I sigh, and clutch his arm a little tighter. Showtime. Straightening my spine, I tell myself this is no big deal, and I want him to see me comfortable with his crew.
We enter into the brightly lit room. The garish zig zag of neon on the walls reflects on the bowling lanes, and the tables and chairs look new. But fresh furniture and decor aren’t enough to disguise years of stale beer and cigarette smoke cloying the air. Popcorn grease overpowers it all, making my anxious stomach even more queasy, and I petulantly begin to wonder just how long we have to make an appearance here before we can escape.
Michael grabs some shoes for us from the rental station and looks for his work colleagues. A large cluster of people who look like they’re on their third pitcher of beer draws our attention with raucous laughter, and Michael grimaces apologetically. “That would be them,” he says as he leads me toward the circus monopolizing the space.
“Michael!” a man in a teal t-shirt roars, and I realize the group are all wearing matching shirts with the company logo emblazoned on the back. “‘Bout damn time you got here!Andyou brought your phone operator.” He winks at me.
My eyes widen, then narrow.What the hell?
“No, no, no, this is Vivian, mygirlfriend,” Michael emphasizes as he corrects his friend. I look between them, waiting for them to clarify. Michael’s cheeks darken as the other guy continues.
“Yeah, we figured Michael had to have a phone sex operator on the line because hehatestalking on the phone. And since hespent so much time on it with these swoony eyes, it was the only possible explanation,” the guy regales, clearly relishing the story.
Ah, if that’s the case, I’ll accept the nickname. Laughter bursts from me at the thought as I say, “I’ve been called many things, but this is a new one.”
“Zip it, Hank.” Michael glares his way, but I can tell he’s not truly mad.
“Hmm, do you like my phone sex voice,lover boy?” I say, dragging out the words in a sultry tone.
His eyes flash dark as he leans over and growls in my ear, “Keep those sexy sounds for you and me only, mi amor.” With a light pinch to my ass, he takes my hand and leads me up to our lane. I swallow. I didn’t expect to like that pinch so much… or the hint of jealousy it implied.
Michael wraps his arm around my waist as he introduces me to his friends, getting wrapped up in conversation with one of them. There’s about a dozen people altogether, and I start scoping out the girls to see who looks most approachable. The guys seem to be well on their way to their beerdom, and I don’t think I want to chat with them all that much anyway. But I also don’t want Michael to feel like he has to babysit me and it’d be nice to talk to another woman.
A girl with light brown hair and shining blue eyes rushes up to me, a broad smile on her face as she takes my hands in hers. “Vivian, I’m so glad you came! I’ve beendyingto meet you,” she gushes. A little taken aback by her enthusiasm, I give a small nod and try to form a smile. “I’m Janice, and that lump over there,” she thumbs behind her to a red-haired guy with a beard, “is my boyfriend Adam.” The guy in question salutes me and walks over with his hand outstretched.
“It’s great to meet you, Vivian,” he says and again I’m left wondering how all these people know my name already. Seeing the confusion on my face, he laughs. “Don’t be so surprised.Michael’s kind of a hard nut to crack. He doesn’t go out much and when he started spending all that time on the phone… well, we had to find out who was bewitching our fearless leader.” My mouth drops open until I see the twinkle in his eyes, and I remember to shut it. “Shh, don’t tell him, but I covered for him the last time he was late to a meeting because he was still on the phone with you.”
