Page 10 of Grin and Bear It

I stared at the screen, my heart rate picking up again. Could I see myself in amongst them, my face bleached pale by the flash photography, a smile on my face as I sipped at my lurid red cocktail? It wasn’t really my scene, I knew that, but… I looked around my room, then out the door, into the rest of my dingy bloody house and I was hit by a wave of longing. I wanted to. I wanted to fit right in, throw my arms up in the air and dance and then feel those big hands of Derek’s slide down my curves as he pulled me tight.

Dammit: I was going. And I’d find something appropriate to wear if it killed me.

I picked up my phone and opened my messages.

What time and where do I meet you?I asked.

That was another reason why Coll hated Derek. He never picked me up, never met me at my door with flowers, not like her guy did, and that put him on her shit list. I always just shrugged, never really seeing it as a big deal. I didn’t need hearts and flowers, I just needed—

Dinner at seven, he replied, my pulse jumping as I felt the notification come through.Then we’ll see where the night takes us. Meet me inside. You know where.

That last bit tugged at my attention, but I dismissed it quickly, because now I had a definite time, I realised I was going to need to race to get ready. The staff meeting had dragged on for hours and now I only had an hour or two to get ready and get across town to the restaurant. I wasn’t even going to have time for a shower so I’d have to do my best with a wet flannel and some soapy water in the bathroom sink.

“Damn!”Coll said, walking in the door an hour later and looking me up and down. “Is the plumber like really hot or something, because this…?” She gestured to the black chiffon baby doll top and my best lacy black bra that I’d paired with the vinyl wet look jeans and heels. “You look amazing, El.”

“Fuck, the plumber!” I said, hitting myself in the forehead, then frantically patting my skin, hoping I hadn’t messed up my makeup.

“Tell me you found a plumber,” she said.

“Tomorrow?” I smiled weakly. “I’ve got a date.”

“Ooh…” She sidled up as she dumped her bags on the dining room table. “This looks too fancy for Derek the dickhead. Found someone new?”

“Ahh…”

“Oh fuck, no, El.” Her face fell and she raked her hands through her hair in frustration. “Not Derek. He’s an arsehole. He doesn’t deserve this.” She gestured to my clothes and make-up. “Though, if that prick is finally taking you out for once… When’s he picking you up?” A beep outside the front door let me know my Uber was here. “He’s here?”

No, no, he wasn’t. She walked over and wrenched the front door open to observe this noteworthy moment, leaving me to follow along after her. The look on her face when she saw it was an Uber told me everything I needed to know.

“El—”

“I’ll get things sorted with the plumber tomorrow, I promise,” I told her, edging towards the car. “I might even be able to text one tonight after we get home. Derek might know someone—”

“I’m going to Dale’s,” she replied flatly, “so don’t stress on my account. Just… be safe and make sure you set all your alarms. I won’t be around in the morning to get you up, so Derek will need to sort that out. If he’s still here…”

She muttered the last bit, having pointed out many times that Derek liked to hit it and quit it, rarely sticking around until breakfast, but I wasn’t going to dwell on that. I’d had a shitty day so I just wanted to go out, have some fun, eat delicious food at a flash restaurant and then enjoy whatever came after that. I knew Derek wasn’t Mr Right, but he could be Mr Right Now.

“I’ll see you later,” I said, giving her a lame little finger wave and then watched her nod as I climbed into the Uber. I gave the driver the address and he took off, driving us out of boring suburbia and into the city.

Chapter6

Yes, this was just what the doctor ordered, I thought, as I clambered out of the car. I should’ve been at home, getting my marking done and working on my report comments, but I couldn’t find it in myself to regret ditching responsibility for a night out. Sultry music could be heard from the street and, even though it was still relatively early, every bar stool on the footpath outside Diablo was full of pretty people drinking cocktails and sharing nibbles. They were laughing, smiling, leaning in to hear their companions’ every word and I wanted to be a part of that. This place looked hot and, as I sauntered over, I felt like I was too.

Some people glanced up as I passed. I noticed, but didn’t dwell on their responses. I had, once upon a time. Growing up with Mum, I’d as good as been trained to notice all of those things. But with a whole lot of work, I’d trained myself to stop. It didn’t matter if they looked at me with boredom, dislike or interest, they weren’t who I was here for. He was. But as I walked in the door the last part of Derek’s message came back to me.

You know where.

I hesitated when I got to the ‘Please wait here to be seated’ sign, not sure if he was playing a game or he was just making assumptions. I grabbed my phone out, ready to call him and find out where he was, when a server approached me.

“Table for one?” she asked.

“No, I’m meeting someone.” I looked at my phone then back at her, smiling nervously. “Derek Jones?”

“Derek?” Her eyes widened and she looked me up and down in a way that wasn’t entirely professional, before she recovered. “He’s through there, but—”

“Great!” I gushed and then walked inside.

As I walked in, I realised why Coll was always on at me for not wanting, not expecting more from my dates. There was something special about walking into a place like this. The red and black flocked wallpaper, the black lacquered tables, the small stage where a gorgeous woman all in velvet was crooning out a song. I’m sure the whole place was a lot of work for everyone who worked here, but for me it was an experience. I felt something lighten in my chest when I saw Derek. He’d slicked his dark hair back carefully and was wearing an actual suit, the cut of it making his shoulders look even broader. He looked fucking hot and so was I, so I walked over with a steady sway of my hips, ready for everything this night promised.

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