Page 27 of Beauty and the Grease
A flashback hits of our wedding, walking down the aisle, the beach, where I felt like a million bucks with Jenny on my arm.
I feel like a million bucks now. And when I get that big account, I’ll be making our company millions, along with a hefty bonus. Life is looking up.
“I spent some time talking with my new friends today.” Jenny says this low in my ear. It feels sexy. Her telling me anything this close to my ear feels sexy. “I realized a few things about who I am, and about the people in my life who support me. I’m in a good place. It felt like unfinished business not to close out this weekend at your dinner. I said I was all in, so I’m here.”
I want nothing more than to leave this place, right now, with her. We can talk about her day. About anything and everything. “I’m grateful you’re here. Thank you.”
“I’m going to charge you so much for repairs.”
I crack up at her wide, bright smile. “Maybe I’ll outfit the Audi with new tires. A new transmission. The works.”
She frowns. “That’s a real problem if you need to replace your transmission. I hope you haven’t been driving your kids in that car.”
“The transmission is fine.”
Angelina approaches. Her smile is frozen stiff. “Chase, can I talk to you for a sec?”
Angelina and I never have much to talk about. Our accounts don’t overlap. “Can it wait? I’m hoping to find a table at the back and make an early exit.” I want to spend time with Jenny.
“It’s just—” Angelina is interrupted by a retreat staffer urging us to find seats.
I spy a spot with easy access to the door. Linda crosses into our path. “You two will be at the front. By request.” It’s not a question.
Jenny raises a brow. “Must be good news if you’re up front with the big cheeses. Is that the proper way to address multiple executive cheeses?”
I laugh and tell her Owen has a T-shirt with a cartoon slice of cheese on it and the word GOUDA. He wears it specifically on pizza nights, even though gouda isn’t a cheese used on most pizza. “Maybe that’s not funny to anyone else.” My kid stories might be too much.
She’s grinning. “It’s cute. Your kids have unique personalities. It sounds like you have fun with them.”
The executives are spread out around the room, but of course we’re sharing a table with Cliff. He smiles as we approach. It’s off-putting. Then again, he doesn’t smile much. No lie, I’m nervous. I promised Cliff big stuff, but I’m ready for the challenge.
The soup and salad round begins. We still have a few empty seats at our table. Cliff engages in rigid conversation about the retreat grounds with the rest of the table.
I try to focus, but it’s tough with Jenny next to me. She came back when she didn’t have to. This feels like an actual second chance.
I want something more with her. It’s too early to say whatmorewill look like, but I know I don’t want to close the book on us. Jenny showing up tonight feels like the promise of what could be a new beginning.
“How are things going with your ex-wife?” Cliff asks.
Whoa, what? I glance around the table. The others are talking among themselves and didn’t hear his question. Just play it cool. Muster up confidence. “Lisa is doing well, thank you. She and the kids will be—”
“Not Lisa. Your other ex-wife.” Cliff spreads butter on a roll, not bothering to look directly at me.
I go numb. My vision tunnels around me, sharpening at the center to Cliff’s white, nutritionless dinner roll batteredby a stiff butter pat. A squeeze at my knee jolts me to reality. Jenny. She blinks at me, but her expression is unreadable.
“I’m uh, not certain what you’re referring to.” Confidence lost.
Cliff looks up. “Am I mistaken? I thought you were married another time. Before Lisa.”
Nobody at work knows this. It’s the only real secret I have. I know I didn’t refer to Jenny as my ex around them. Ever.
Linda arrives to the table. “Excuse me, I was caught up talking. Hello, everyone.”
Conversation resumes about today’s activities, but I’m shook. Cliff rattled me. No one else but Jenny seems to have heard Cliff’s questioning. I guarantee Cliff knows they could have. He’s flexing his power over me. Again.
Jenny leans in. “If you want to go, say the word.”
Go? I’d love to. But I can’t.
