LAUREN

 

“Spill,” Peta demanded, pulling me into the storeroom.

It was Saturday night and Peta and Shrek were out, without kids, for the first time in months. We were just finishing closing up when Peta called in to get the gossip on what happened with Gabe the night before.

“Nothing happened.”

Peta narrowed her eyes. “Nothing?”

“I swear. Nothing happened.”

“Start from the beginning.”

“We watched TV. That was it.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m not in the habit of keeping secrets from you, Peta. Believe me, if something happened, you would be the first to know. I know it seems a little strange, but Gabe and I are friends, nothing more.”

“Gabe doesn’t do ‘just friends’.”

“I thought Gabe always did just friends and that was the problem.” I grinned. “I’m hardly what you would call his type, Peta.”

“And what would you know of his type? I just don’t want to see you hurt again, Lauren.”

“I’m not going to get hurt because nothing is going to happen. It’s ridiculous to think it could.” Already, I was scolding myself for the way I was thinking about him the night before.

“How has he been around you today?” Peta asked, still unconvinced.

“Fine,” I assured her. Gabe had been acting the same way he always did, convincing me even more that he was nothing but friendly. The attention I kept noticing was purely in my imagination. Put it down to wishful thinking, or loneliness.

“I think I’ll talk to him,” Peta said.

Opening my eyes wide, I gripped onto her arm. “Please don’t! Imagine what he’d think, what any of them would think if they thought I thought he was interested in me. Promise me you won’t, Peta!”

Peta looked at me warily. “I won’t say anything, but I’d stay away from him, Lauren. You don’t want to be one of the many.”

“Many what?” Jordan asked, opening the storeroom door.

“Exactly,” Peta agreed.

“I’m confused.” Jordan shook her head. “Anyway, Shrek is looking for you. That’s not exactly what he said, but it was the general meaning.”

Peta gave me a warning look before following Jordan back out to the café.

“For goodness sake, woman,” Shrek said, grinning. “We get a night away from the kids, the first one in months, and you want to spend it here at work?” He walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled into her neck. “Maybe we should just go home? I’m sure we could find something to entertain ourselves,” he said quietly, but not quietly enough for it to go unheard by the rest of us.

Peta peeled his arms from around her and pushed him away. “That’s enough out of you, Dylan Wilton.”

Gabe stood, mop in hand, resting his chin against the top of the handle. “What have you guys got planned?”

Peta groaned. “That seems to be the problem. We haven’t been out in so long we’ve forgotten what to do without children. We had dinner, thought about a movie, but now it’s too late for that.”

“Thanks to you,” Shrek added.

“Yes, thanks to me. Tell me, what do normal people do on a night out?”

“I don’t know about normal people, but I’m about to meet the flatmates for some pool. Want to tag along? You’d be keen for a game, wouldn’t you, Dylan?”

“I’m keen,” Jordan piped up, raising her hand. “You can give me some more pointers.” She smiled shyly at Gabe and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. So obvious. Gabe’s eyes flicked to Peta and he shook his head and held up his hands.

“Can we?” Shrek looked to Peta, begging. “I haven’t played in so long. Last time was with you and Derek, Ren.” His smile froze. Peta had forbidden him from talking about Derek in front of me, even though they maintained some sort of friendship, strained as it was.

“You’ll come along, won’t you, Ren?” Gabe said, smirking at Shrek’s nickname for me. And there it was again. That hopeful look. The one that made my heart skip a beat. The one that made me forget myself for an instant.

“Of course she will,” Shrek answered for me.

“I haven’t got a change of clothing,” I said, looking down at my shirt, complete with coffee stains.

“You can borrow a top from me, if you like.” Jordan reached for her backpack and pulled out a plain white singlet. “This will do, won’t it?”

“I’m pretty sure it won’t fit,” I said, comparing the size of her chest to mine. She was petite. I wasn’t.

“Personally, I think it will fit just nicely.” Gabe grinned.

“Watch it,” Peta warned, and Gabe held up his hands, mimicking surrender once again.

“Come on, Ren,” Shrek begged. “It’ll be fun.”

“Such fun,” Peta said dryly. “A nice romantic night out with workmates playing pool.”

I took the top and walked into the storeroom to change. Jordan followed me and changed into tight black pants and a sparkly silver top. I enviously looked at her small hips and flat stomach. Thankfully, the top was long enough to cover my stomach. My breasts strained against the fabric, though, like they were trying to escape.

“I wish mine were like yours,” Jordan said, looking at my ample cleavage. She pulled her two small breasts closer together, trying to plump them up, and sighed. If only she knew mine were lined with faint white stretch marks, my body preparing itself for something that never happened.

The bar was crowded, but thankfully the pool tables were free. Gabe’s flatmates were already there and, by the look of them, had consumed a number of drinks. Gabe introduced me and the one called Stefan got his eyes stuck on my chest. I resisted the urge to cover up and kept my hands firmly by my side, instead of crossing them over my chest like I wanted. It would only draw more attention.

“Hey! Eyes up, buddy,” Gabe said, cuffing his head playfully. “Want a drink?” he yelled over the music.

Shrek came up behind us and passed me a red wine. “Got it sorted,” he yelled back. He handed Peta and Jordan theirs and returned to the bar to collect the rest, shouting, “This round’s on me.” The boys clunked their bottles together and tipped them back. Shrek snaked his arm around Peta’s waist and kissed the side of her face. “Rack ‘em up, boys!”

It was decided that Drew and I would play Stefan and Jordan on one table, while Shrek would take on Gabe, leaving Peta to take on the winner.

Drew was a good player and we won easily. Stefan was too interested in getting Jordan’s attention, and Jordan was too interested in getting Gabe’s to actually concentrate on the game. Gabe would meet my eyes across the table, and often I saw his gaze slip down to my chest as I leaned over to take my shot. Mind you, I think every man in the room was doing the same. I was tossing between feeling empowered, and feeling ashamed that I felt empowered. Peta even playfully slapped Shrek when she caught him sneaking a peek, but he just laughed it off.

“Not bad.” Gabe walked over and stood beside me once Drew and I had won yet another game. “One on one?” he asked.

Jordan sidled between us. “I’ll give you a game, Gabe. Though I’m sure you’ll easily beat me.”

“I asked Lauren,” Gabe said firmly.

“I don’t mind. Go ahead,” I assured them after taking in Jordan’s crestfallen face. She smiled triumphantly and took Gabe’s hand, dragging him away to the furthest table.

“Do you think I should be worried I’m going to lose another staff member?” Peta sat down and leaned back against the wall, drink in hand. Shrek blew her a kiss from across the pool table. She frowned, then laughed and blew one back. “That man,” she said, shaking her head.

I sat down beside her.

“He looks at you a lot.” She nodded to Gabe, who looked over at that exact moment. He didn’t smile this time, he just stared intently. “That is not a ‘just friends’ look, Ren.”

I sighed. “Whatever it is, I’m ignoring it.”

Peta raised her eyebrows then pulled them back into a frown. “Wise choice.”

Jordan missed another shot and looked pleadingly at Gabe. He leaned over the table, mimicking the movement of lining up the ball, showing her what to do, then handed the cue back. She attempted the shot, missed the white ball again, and batted her eyes. Finally, he leaned over her and helped her take the shot. She clapped and jumped up and down when the ball went into the pocket.

“He’s such a player,” Peta said, shaking her head and hiccupping. The hiccups were a sure sign that Peta was reaching her limit of alcohol. She took another sip and some of it spilled down her shirt. “But,” her eyes bulged mischievously, “he’s a damn good-looking player though. Oh to be young and careless.” She hiccupped and put down her drink before clumsily slapping me across the arm. “Well, I’ve clearly had enough.” She swiped her hand over her glass, signalling she was out. “Stay away from him, Ren.” She hiccupped again. “You’re an attractive woman, just ask Shrek. He’s mentioned it enough times. Did you know he tried to get me to convince you to have a threesome once?”

“Peta!” She had definitely had enough to drink.

“Don’t worry, I told him you wouldn’t be down for it. Not that I ever was.” She held up both hands, swearing innocence. “Besides, Derek never let you out of his sight.” She laughed and swayed on the seat. “Imagine that! Seriously though, a guy like Gabe would be lucky to get someone like you.”

I patted her arm. I hadn’t seen her this drunk in ages. Well, not in public, anyway. “Thanks, Peta. But I seriously struggle to see what Gabe would see in me, other than maybe racking up a root in another decade.”

Peta snorted and slouched against my shoulder. “He’s not that young, and I’d root you in any decade. You know, if I was into that sort of thing.”

“Thanks. I think.”

“I seriously should have stopped like three drinks ago.”

“Nonsense,” I scoffed. “When was the last time you let loose?”

“I can’t even remember.”

“Exactly. I’ll go get you a drink of water. You’ll feel better in no time.”

I walked to the bar and Shrek took my place beside Peta. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. As much as it hurt at times, I loved seeing them together. Shrek adored everything about Peta and wasn’t afraid to show it. They’d had their fair share of drama over the years, Peta falling pregnant only weeks after they had met, and it was nice to see them so happy.

“You ready for that game now?” Gabe slid onto the barstool beside me. He followed the direction of my gaze. “They make a cool couple, don’t they? How long have they been together?”

“They met not long after Peta moved down here. Maybe about eight years.”

Peta followed me down south only months after Derek and I had moved here. Derek introduced her to Shrek and a couple of months later they discovered they were expecting their first child together. It was a shock to say the least, but they made it work.

“It’s nice to see.”

As the familiar pull of melancholy began to wash over me, Gabe stood, took my hands and pulled me to my feet. “Come on, let’s go have that game.” He started to drag me from the bar, but I pulled back. “I haven’t got Peta’s drink yet.”

“What’s she having?” he asked.

“She’s onto the hard stuff. Water.”

“Drew!” Gabe called across the room. Drew held up his bottle in response. “Grab the boss a glass of water, would you?”

Drew saluted and headed towards the bar. Gabe tugged on my hands again and dragged me to the pool table.

I collected the balls from under the table and racked them up. “Do you want to break, or shall I?”

Gabe grinned, and once again his eyes slipped to my chest. “Oh, I definitely think you should.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter.”

I don’t know if it was the three wines I had, but as I prepared to take the shot I leaned over lower than I needed to, feeling a little thrill as Gabe’s grin widened.

Derek taught me to play pool and I was good. I think Gabe was a little surprised. In no time, I was down to the eight ball. I lined it up precisely, planning to knock it off the rail and into the pocket, and was just taking the shot when Gabe whispered in my ear. “Don’t miss.”

“Hey!” I whirled around and punched him square in the arm as the ball missed its intended pocket. “You made me miss!”

He grinned and took the pool cue from me. “Guess we will just have to have a rematch sometime.” He walked to the end of the table to take his shot.

But two could play at his game. I crouched at the end of his line of vision and leaned over.

Gabe stood and put his hands on his hips. “No fair.”

“What?” I asked, feigning innocence.

“Your distraction techniques surpass mine.” Gabe leaned over to take the shot again, biting his lip when his focus slipped from the ball to me. He blew out a long, slow breath and took the shot.

“You missed!” I yelled triumphantly.

“I was at a disadvantage.”

I took the pool cue and made the winning shot before any further distraction techniques could be employed.

After a few drinks of water, Peta decided she was good to have a dance. We laughed over the ear-splitting volume of the music and reminisced about the time back when this style of life was common for us. Neither of us had been on the dance floor in years. Peta had been too busy with the kids and the café, and I had been too busy planning a life that was no longer an option.

“There you go,” Shrek said as he came up behind Peta and pulled her close to him. He dipped in time to the music, grinding his hips against her backside.

“Someone’s had a few,” Peta yelled. Shrek never danced unless he was half-cut. Shrek whispered something in her ear and she smiled slowly. “We’re going to take off,” she yelled. “You okay to get home? Want to share a taxi?”

I shook my head. Drew was still over at the pool tables and Jordan, having finally given up on Gabe, had gone home.

“I’ll get going too. It’s not a long walk. I’ll be good.”

“You sure?” Shrek asked. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for an embrace with him and Peta. “We need to keep an eye on you,” he slurred.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t think Drew was drinking, so maybe he can give me a ride,” I said, just to assure him. They said goodbye and walked away, caught up in each other.

Gabe wandered across the dance floor as soon as he saw them leave. A girl caught his arm as he walked past but he shook his head and pulled away. She pouted and tugged at him again, holding onto his hand, before walking her fingers up his arm seductively. A tingle of jealousy rippled through me and I shook it away. The girl was what I guessed to be his type, and a lot closer to his age. But Gabe pulled his arm away and shook his head more forcefully, nodding to me. Her look when she glanced my way was one of disbelief. She looked back to Gabe questioningly, but he had already moved past her. His smile grew when I held out my arms and slipped them around his neck. The music was fast but he danced slowly and sensually. His attention and the wine had lowered my inhibitions, and my body responded as he ran his hands down my back and rested them on my backside, drawing me close.

“Watch it,” I warned, removing my hands from around his neck and shifting his grip to rest on my waist. He threw back his head, laughed, and said something that I couldn’t hear over the beat of the music.

“What?” I yelled.

He said it again but I shook my head.

Leaning in close, he talked into my ear. “You’re a tease.”

The feel of his lips against my skin just about undid me. I glanced up and suddenly imagined everyone staring. Look at that woman draping herself over that young guy, I could hear them saying. Even if there weren’t that many years between us, it looked like there was. Gabe looked young. His jeans were too loose and baggy, his t-shirts were too tight and his hair too long. I, on the other hand, looked every minute of my twenty-nine years, maybe more.

“I’m older than you,” I yelled, close enough for him to hear but not close enough to touch him. I didn’t trust myself.

“And?” He grinned wickedly.

“And, we’re workmates.”

“Peta’s not here.” He looked at me and bit his bottom lip suggestively. It was only the thought of being laughed at that made me take a step back. He held up his hands. “Ouch. Shot down. I’ll keep my hands off, if that’s what you want.”

I nodded. It was a lie.

“Friends?” he asked as he backed away.

“Friends,” I yelled back over the music.

He walked back over to the girl who had grabbed him before. She smiled willingly and wrapped her arms around his neck. They danced closely and I felt a little sick watching him as he slipped his knee between her legs and pulled her closer. I didn’t know if I felt sick because I had almost behaved like that, or if it was because I wanted to behave like that. Either way, it was clear I needed to stay away from Gabe.