(A week later)
Drew O’Brien
Whenever I’m stuck in my office in the evening, which is often, I watch the sun go down and think of you. Remember the first one at the junk art exhibit? We’d watch every sunset together until I left for Salinas.
Drew O’Brien
One of my greatest regrets is not watching the sunset with you while you were here in San Francisco. When I see you again, I promise we’ll never miss another.
“Is everything okay?” Dracula inquires.
I startle before returning to reality. Ever since Drew sent those texts, I’ve probably read them a hundred times. I force myself to place my phone back inside my little black purse.
“You are a hot Elvira,” my date raves.
I laugh. “Thanks, and you make a really tall Dracula.”
“I didn’t want to be Frankenstein’s Monster again this year.”
Bobby and I make our way to the downtown Portland bar for a Halloween party. Even though I took the time to find the vampiest black dress and the highest black beehive wig, I really don’t feel in the Halloween spirit. Part of me thinks it’s because it’s the first Halloween in years that I’m not celebrating with Blair, Jake, LeDawn and Kira.
The other part of me feels guilty that I haven’t broken things off with Bobby yet. It was easier with Jake. Bobby didn’t drag me on for years and break my heart. He’s been nothing but sweet to me. I don’t know why I still have my barrier up with him.
Actually, I do know why. The reason is named Drew.
Sanity tells me that a relationship with Drew O’Brien will never work. I’m not against long distance relationships, they’re just not for me. Even if I were to put my life here to a halt, drop everything, and go to him, there are no guarantees. He is an extremely busy man running a global company. If I were to give up my life for him, he could never put me first, nor would I expect him to.
I believe that is the real reason why I haven’t stopped seeing Bobby. Bobby Fisher is here while Drew O’Brien is not.
Bobby holds the door open to the crowded bar, and I squeeze in. As Monster Mash plays under the litany of loud voices and laughter, Bobby and I manage to find a sliver of space at the bar. He gives me the one and only seat. Standing tall at my side, he waves over one of the bartenders.
“You?” Bobby asks.
“Crown and Coke with lime, please.”
“Two Crown and Cokes with lime,” he tells the bartender.
Bobby wraps his arms around my shoulders, and I stiffen. In distraction, my eyes dart around and take in all of the creative costumes. My sight lands on a girl staring at me intently. She’s in elaborate royal African attire. She looks like a princess from the movie Coming To America. Then, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
“Blair!” I squeak.
“Quenie! It is you!”
I eject from my seat and the two of us fly to each other. We hug and squeal like idiots.
“Oh my God—I didn’t know you were coming!” I exclaim. “You said you were going to your work party.”
“I went, and it was dull.” Blair rolls her eyes. “Three coworkers and I decided to ditch and come here.”
She blinks several times when she notices Bobby towering over us.
“I’m Blair,” she sticks out her hand to him, which he gladly accepts.
“My best friend,” I sing. I pull her away from Bobby and hug her again, thrilled to be seeing her. She hugs me back with equal ferocity.
“I’m Bobby, by the way.” He laughs at the two of us.
When Blair and I finally let go, she says, “I know who you are. In fact, I’ve known about you for many years. My bestie tells me everything.”
“Oh? Does she?” Bobby teases. He briefly hugs my shoulder before turning to the counter and retrieving our drinks.
“He’s really cute!” Blair squeals.
“He is.” I smile.
“But not McHottie. Are you still dodging his calls?”
I shrug.
“Damn, girl.”
“I know,” I groan miserably.
We quickly get off the topic of Drew once Bobby is back in our midst.
Bobby and I sit quietly inside his Jeep, which is now parked in front of my house.
“Thanks for tonight. I had a wonderful time.” I crack a smile.
“I could tell.” His responding grin is lopsided. “You didn’t really come to life until Blair showed up.”
My eyes squeeze into slits. “I wasn’t expecting to see her.”
“I wish you’d light up like that around me,” he muses.
Oh boy.
“Is this going anywhere?” He poses the question and I freeze. “I mean—you know I dig the hell out of you, but I feel like you’re holding back on me. You stiffen up every time I touch you. You won’t let me kiss you, and we’ve been dating for a month and a half.”
I exhale shakily. He’s finally calling me out.
Since the beginning of August, I haven’t liked myself all that much. I thought I was living the dream with three gorgeous men vying for my attention. That three was really two. Drew had physically faded to the background but not emotionally.
Meanwhile, the two in Oregon were guys that I wanted way before Drew was even a thought. The fact that these two guys were running a full court press for my time and attention made me feel like I was hot shit. It was all a façade. Being on the road with Drew had raised the bar. For the first time ever, I knew exactly what I wanted.
I take off my seatbelt and lean over the center console. Bobby’s eyes dart up as my lips touch his. I initiate the kiss, but he snaps from his shock and takes over.
No magic.
No swarm of butterflies with Fourth of July sparklers.
I feel absolutely, positively nothing.
I pull away, to Bobby’s disappointment.
“Thank you so much for these past few weeks. I had such a good time. You really are a special guy, Bobby Fisher.”
He chuckles nervously. “Why does this feel like the first and last kiss?”
“Because it is,” I tell him.
Quen
(A week and a half later)
“There is a God!” he sings loud and proud.
I’m in a fit of giggles as Sam comes barreling around his desk. He hugs me like a boa constrictor.
“Girl—it is so good to see you.” He hums out loud.
“You too.”
“And you’re looking good!”
“So are you,” I return the praise.
Sam assesses my black skirt suit and nods his approval. It’s definitely a compliment coming from someone who dresses as awesome as he does. Today, he’s wearing a blue and gray floral ascot under a white dress shirt with skinny jeans.
“First of all, thrilled you’re back,” he says. “But what the hell?!”
I flash him a shy grin. “What are you talking about?”
“What’s up with this second interview? It’s a complete waste of time. The job is already yours.”
I giggle guiltily.
When Drew forwarded me the open marketing position at his company a week and a half ago, I thought it over long and hard. I’d managed to land two offers in Portland from two separate marketing agencies. All I had to do was take one and I would’ve been gainfully employed back home.