Chapter Nineteen
THE TUESDAY AFTER MY SCREW-UP on TV and the long weekend, things weren’t good. Some work colleagues laughed it off with me, others ignored it altogether, and then there were the whispers from others who accused me of sleeping with the boss to get my job and to steal his money. Which was ridiculous. Besides, it was Dylan who got me the job in the first place, and couldn’t they see it was one excited congratulatory kiss that would never happen again?
By the end of the week, people were no longer speaking of it. At least, if they did, it was nothing I heard about. I think what helped was how Grayson was his usual brooding self with me. He even yelled at me a few times in front of people. Which helped a lot and brought a smile to my face. Only, next time I had to make sure I smiled after Grayson had left because he caught it, causing his jaw to clench, his nostrils to flare, and his eyes to narrow. Then he’d stormed back into his office, slamming the door behind him. At first, I thought he could have ignored my little mistakes of e-mailing the wrong person in the company. Then again, when people witnessed his outburst, it helped my case by having them realize nothing had been going on between Grayson and me. So in the end, I was grateful for his temper.
To confirm people were dropping the subject, Friday at lunch, I was sitting with the usual people when Darby said, “Talk’s died down about you and Grayson. What helped was when you tripped over your own two feet the other day. Now they think you accidently fell onto his lips and then rolled down the aisle.”
Earlier, as I made my way down to the cafeteria, I’d also heard whispered from Kim, “There is no way a man like Grayson would like something like that.”
A friend of hers replied, “The poor guy probably went home to wash her away.”
Kim laughed. “I know I’d like to help him wash her away. Wouldn’t be the first time either.”
What the hell? Had Grayson been with Kim? Where was a barf bag when I needed it? Did he gag her to shut her up while they…. Shaking my head, I threw the unwanted, icky thoughts out of my head and glared over my shoulder before walking off.
Ryan snorted, bringing me back from my thoughts, and then he said, “Idiots. I guess they didn’t see the way boss man clung to our Kenzie here. Like she was his air and he needed her oxygen to live.”
All eyes, including my wide ones, turned to him.
“What?” he asked around his mouthful.
“There was no clinging going on. It was an excited, congrats touch of the lips and that was all.”
Ryan and Hudson shared a look.
Pointing my finger at them, I snapped, “What? What was that look?”
Ryan shrugged. Hudson shook his head.
“Babe,” Angelia started. I glanced at her. “The meatheads, like us, still think something will happen with the two of you.”
“Me and who?” I dumbly asked.
Angelia rolled her eyes. “Grayson.”
I snorted, then laughed. “You’re all crazy, like my family.”
Ryan arched his brows. “So your dad and sister think you and Grayson will get it on?” My dad and Lori had come to lunch a couple of times during the week, so they got to meet everyone.
Rubbing my forehead, I shrugged and told them, “I think so.”
“New bet,” Hudson called and everyone quickly threw money on the table placing a date on when Grayson and I would wake up and get together.
They didn’t know what I knew.
Actually, they should. Grayson had a type, and I certainly wasn’t it.
* * * *
We had just stepped into the restaurant when I froze. Earlier, Dad, Lori, and I were on our way out for our last dinner together before they left the next day, when Dylan and Grayson had caught us in the underground garage heading to my car. As soon as Dad had seen Grayson, he asked my boss to come along. Dylan, who had already been on his way up to see Lori, tagged along. I was surprised when Grayson agreed also and took his car with his brother in it. So when we showed up at the restaurant and walked in, my heart jumped into my throat, and my ears started ringing with nerves when I spotted Harper sitting at the bar with a few friends.
Harper.
Grayson’s ex.
Had she seen the award show?
Had she seen me kiss him?
God, I felt like a bitch all of a sudden.
Spinning around, and since I was the first one through the door, I threw my hands up and frantically said, “This place looks full. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”
Like to hell, which was where I was sure Harper would be wishing me to.
“Puddin’, what in the hell are you talking about? The place has heaps of tables left.” He tried to shove past me, but I pushed back.
“Maybe they’re empty because the food here isn’t good? Did you think of that? You don’t want food poisoning when you drive back tomorrow. You could poop your pants.”
Shit. I just said poop aloud.
I winced. Dylan laughed, and I saw Grayson’s lips twitch, and then he looked over my shoulder.
“No!” I cried and forced myself between Dad and Lori, then shoved Dylan sideways to grip Grayson’s cheeks in my hands, forcing his face down, so his eyes met mine. “I think I saw something heading for your eye.” I lifted one hand and swiped my finger under his right eye. “There, it was just an eyelash. Now, let’s get out of here.” Forcibly, I turned him and pushed his back to get him walking. Only he didn’t move. Not even an inch.
Under my hands on his hard back, I felt him sigh.
He’d seen her.
My shoulders sagged as I placed my arms back down to my sides. Grayson turned. “I’m not sure why you’re hiding us from Harper.”
My eyes bulged. “Ah, in case she saw the awards show.”
His brow arched.
“The, um.” I laughed nervously. Had it suddenly become hot? “When, you know, I congratulated you. She may think… that you broke up with her.” I laughed again. “For me.” I rolled my eyes. “Ridiculous I know. But I don’t want to cause a scene.”
“Then maybe it’s best she doesn’t walk over to us like she is right now?” he questioned.
“Ya think?” I snapped, my eyes narrowing on him. His lips twitched as I mumbled to myself, “I would have had us out of there, but nooo.”
“Grayson,” Harper called in a sweet soft tone. Then I turned and her smile morphed into a scowl.
“Let’s go grab a table,” Dylan suggested.
Grayson nodded. “I’ll be there shortly.”
My gaze swung back to him. He was going to stay and talk to her. The knowledge didn’t sit well with me, but I refused to analyze it.
Harper arrived next to us. She went to her toes to kiss Grayson on the cheek. Completely ignoring me, she beamed up at him. “It’s great to see you. I never did get to thank you properly for the modeling job.”
Modeling job?
Grayson had got her one?
“No need to thank me.” Grayson smiled tightly.
“Kenzie, you coming?” Lori asked.
Harper shifted to look with a glare at me. “Did you have fun at the awards show the other night?”
For some reason, I had an urge to yell, “I didn’t do it.” And I was about to open my mouth when a hand covered it.
Glancing up, I saw Grayson was right next to me. He probably knew I was about to blurt out something that would have been inappropriate. “Makenzie, go and sit,” he ordered. I narrowed my eyes at him as he removed his hand and gently ushered me into Dylan’s arms.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying anything to Harper as we walked off. Her smile was smug and I wanted to knock it off her face.
“Come on, honey, retract those claws and sit.” Dylan gestured to the seat next to Lori. As soon as I sat, he took the spare one on the other side of my sister.
“Dylan, I have no claws to retract. It’s fine. I’m fine. Harpy doesn’t get to me.” I snorted, moving my eyes to Grayson and Harper as she threw her head back and laughed. I clenched my jaw and then muttered, “She’s nothing special, only a model, who looks fucking good in her designer gear. And that hair, all glossy, shiny, and long. I mean, he broke up with her… I think, or did she break up with him?” I laughed nervously. Pulling the collar of my shirt away from my neck, I felt hot again. “Maybe he misses her if she broke up with him? He looks happy to see her.” I slumped in my seat and picked up a fork, twisting it in my hand. “Not that I care. I don’t. He’s my boss. He can do what he wants.”
“Puddin’, put the fork down before you throw it.”
Blinking, I looked at my dad, who sat on the other side of the table. Then I looked down to the fork and discovered it was stabbed into the table. Blushing, I pulled it free with a hard yank.
Sitting straighter, I smiled. “All good. I won’t kill anyone today.”
Unless I heard Harpy laugh one more time.
“So that’s his ex?” Lori asked.
“Yep,” Dylan answered. “Gold digging bi-ah-witch.”
“She looks like a stick of celery,” Dad offered.
Lori and I laughed.
“She just kissed him,” Lori whispered.
“Puddin’, let the knife go,” Dad warned.
“It was only a peck,” Dylan said quickly. “Like I’m sure you and dickhead Randal did.”
Scoffing, I shook my head, dropped the knife, and wiped at my forehead. “I don’t know why you’re all running a commentary. It’s not like I care.” All eyes turned to me. “I don’t.” Damn them and their raised brows. “Let’s look at the menu. I’m starved.”
“She’s hugging him,” Lori said.
I swore under my breath.
“Jellybean, I can’t afford to bail your sister out of jail. Best not tell her what’s going on.”
“Damn it,” I snapped, picking up the knife again and waving it around at the people at the table. “This is our last dinner together. We’re going to enjoy it. Everyone look at their goddamn menu.”
The table fell silent. I put the knife down and picked up the menu, my movements jerky. Stupid Harpy. Stupid Grayson. Stupid fucking kiss. Not only the one she laid on him but the one I gave him.
Out of my league. He always had been.
My chest ached over the fact I made a fool of myself, not only from kissing him in the first place but also for letting my family and Dylan know of my crush.
Taking a deep breath, I had to calm my leaping heart. I needed to calm my twisting stomach and hope Grayson had insurance. There was no way of knowing if a knife or fork would end up in his eye by the end of dinner.
My body jolted when the chair beside my dad was pulled out. “Sorry about that.”
The table stayed silent. For God’s sake, someone speak.
“She was just telling me about the job I got her.”
No one said anything, our heads buried in our menus.
Rolling my eyes, I guessed it was up to me, so I mumbled, “Uh-huh.” And flicked my eyes around the menu, not really reading it though.
“She just got back in yesterday.”
“Hmm,” I muttered.
“I couldn’t exactly walk away from her.”
“Uh-huh.”
Will someone else speak already before I stab the lot of you?
“It would be rude to have ignored her.”
That was when I laughed. I threw my head back and laughed loud and long, my hand going over my belly. I wiped my eyes as my laughter waned. “Oh, that was precious. You being rude.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s like your middle name.”
“Boss,” Dad coughed into his hand.
Clenching my jaw, I picked up the menu again.
He was my boss, and I had no right to be annoyed… like I was jealous.
I’m not jealous.
I’m not.
Fuck. I am.
Harpy was his type, and I wasn’t.
“Makenzie—”
“Let’s order,” I virtually shouted. Looking around, I waved a waitress over. “Hi, I’d like the steak and fries.”
“Okay. Would you like a drink?” she asked.
“Yes. I’d like… um, just make up any cocktail, and I’ll drink it.” I handed her the menu and turned to Lori. “Are you going to have a drink with me?”
“Jesus,” Dad muttered.
“I’d love to.” Lori smiled. “Make that two cocktails, and I’ll have the mushroom risotto.”
The men ordered after us. I turned to Lori and started a conversation about her exams coming up. She answered, only every now and then her eyes would flick to Grayson opposite me. She knew I was diverting the situation by not talking to him or looking at him.
In other words, she knew I was being childish.
I had to get over my crush. I had to find someone who could help me get over it.
* * * *
Three Hours Later
“No, nope, I’m really gonna do it,” I drunkenly yelled. We were sitting in the kitchen, chatting and just having fun. I had tried to get them into my living room, in case Grayson got home, but Dad thought it safer to be in the kitchen. I’d only spilled a few drinks in the past. Suddenly, I stood from my seat, only to stand on it and then the table with my drink in my hand. “I declare that all men are idiots.” My sister clapped and cheered. “Men are no good for nothing. Men can kiss my round ass because I’m turning gay.”
“That means I won’t get grandkids from you,” I heard Dad shout from wherever he was.
“I’ll get them for you, Dad. Kidnapping is out so my girlfriend and I will use a turkey baster because, from this day forth, men no longer do it for me.”
After dinner, Grayson had said he had to be somewhere and disappeared, taking Dylan with him. When Dylan said he’d catch up to us later at the apartment, Grayson said nothing. He was probably going off to see some other woman, or he’d planned to catch up with Harpy, who had left the restaurant an hour before us with a smile and a wink to Grayson. Not that I was looking.
“We need T-shirts made saying Men suck. Wouldn’t that be cool?” I asked Lori.
“Totally.” Lori grinned and took another sip of her cocktail. She was drinking more than she would have because she was upset that Dylan couldn’t make it back. Something had happened with a business deal of his, and he had to work it out before the shit hit the fan. Which was what he said. He also promised my sister he would see her bright and early to say goodbye. Lori admitted she didn’t want to say goodbye. She wanted to wrap Dylan up and take him home with her, which was when Dad had left the room to leave us to drink.
“Son, I wouldn’t go in there.”
I shook my head. Looking down to Lori, I asked, “Did Dad just say something.”
“Nope,” she replied with a happy drunk smile, probably much like my own.
“Right, where was I?”
“Men don’t do it for you. You’re turning gay.” She giggled.
“Okay.” I nodded and threw my hand up in the air, sloshing my drink around, then yelled, “Men suck.”
“K-Kenzie.”
“That’s right, sista. Men suck, and I’m gonna get grandkids for Dad from a turkey baster.” I looked down at her. She seemed pale. “Hey, hey, hey.” I got to my knees on the table. “You okay? You don’t have to turn gay with me. You just let me know if some guy fucks with you, you tell’em your big sista is gonna beat their ass.” I reached out and patted her head. “Okay?” I asked.
“I see you’re having a good night, Makenzie.”
My hand froze on Lori’s head. I leaned in and whispered, “My boss is standing behind me, isn’t he? I did hear his voice, right?”
She nodded.
Closing my eyes, I sighed loudly before I sat back on my knees and glanced over my shoulder. “Good evening, Mr. Jackson.” I raked my eyes over his body. Damn him for looking good. How was I supposed to get over my crush when he looked so bloody delicious?
“I never would have thought to return home to find my assistant standing on the dining room table,” he commented, leaning against the doorframe, only to straighten and step in as Dad came into the kitchen from behind him.
“Ladies, I think it’s time for bed. Lori, we’ve got a big drive tomorrow, and I ain’t pulling over every half hour for you to puke.”
I blinked slowly. Bed did sound wonderful. At least there my mouth wouldn’t open where I’d say stupid stuff that should stay in my head. I got down from the table and straightened. “I’m angry at you.”
“What did I do?” Dad asked.
“Not you. Him.” I pointed at Grayson, then walked right up in front of him.
“Puddin’, I wouldn’t say any more,” Dad suggested.
Grayson’s lips twitched right before he said, “It’s fine, Trent. No matter what she says, she won’t lose her job.”
Well, that was nice.
“That’s nice,” I cooed, patting his chest. “See, you can be sweet.” I smiled and then narrowed my eyes. “But I’m still angry.”
He sighed but did it with a smirk on his lips.
Lips I had kissed.
Lips I felt I was swaying toward.
Shaking my head, I stood tall and muttered, “I think I should go to bed.” Want to join me? Was on the tip of my tongue. I bit down on my bottom lip and whimpered when I saw Grayson looking at my lips.
Spinning, I went to Lori and hugged her tightly. “I love you so freaking much, Lori, Tori, Pori.”
“I love you more.” She sniffed into my shoulder.
Hands on her shoulders, I pushed her back and cried, “I can’t wait for you to move here. Then we can get a place together.” Leaning in, I whisper-yelled, “You work on Dad moving too, but not in with us. We want to bring guys home and all.”
There was choking behind us.
Kissing her cheek, I said, “Sleep well, my beauty.”
Next, I moved to Dad and hugged him just as tightly. “Daddy, Dad, Dad. I have missed you so, so much.” Pulling back, I added, “But no more. I’ll be calling all the time and Skyping and other shit, like all the time and you’ll be like, ‘I wish Kenzie would shut the hell up and stop calling.’ So you’ll just have to move here, and then I can visit instead of calling, so at least you won’t hear bring, bring, bring like every hour.”
Dad chuckled. “I’ll think about it.”
I pointed in his face and warned, “You do it or bring, bring, bring every second.”
“See you in the morning, Puddin’.”
Smiling, I nodded. “You will. But I’ll be sad to see you both go.”
“We’ll be sad to leave.”
“Now I feel like crying,” I whispered.
“Makenzie,” Grayson clipped. Jumping, I looked at him. “Get to bed.”
Saluting him, I said, “Yes, sir.” Under my breath, I added, “Mr. Bossy.”
At least I didn’t feel like crying, so I went to bed a happy drunk. Waking had been another story altogether. After a tearful goodbye, Dad and Lori left.
Dylan placed his arm around my shoulders and said, “I’m a goner, honey.”
I could see it. The way he had been so attentive to Lori, leading up to the final second, and now he seemed like his light had been snubbed out. He wasn’t smiling. His eyes weren’t shining, and he sighed sadly.
Patting his stomach, I said, “She’ll be back soon.”
“Not soon enough,” he grumbled.