“I just didn’t feel up to it, so I headed home early. It was lovely though, I couldn’t believe that was the same bar that we drink at.” I quickly pull the boxes of cereal out of the bag and turn to the pantry. The Pharell Williams song ‘Happy’ blares suddenly, Katie’s ringtone.
I release the heavy breath I’d been holding. Evan seriously could not have better timing. I peek over my shoulder to see Katie’s shit-eating grin as she turns, cellphone in hand, to walk out of the kitchen.
A massive wave of relief washes over me as I continue to unpack Katie’s groceries. There’s no need to make ripples where there doesn’t need to be any.
I don’t even have the excuse of being drunk, I’d only had two glasses of champagne.
I’ve had one-night stands before, but I’m really not a one-night stand kind of person. The last five guys I’ve slept with were all guys I’d been in relationships with. I know the appeal of avoiding commitment, but at the end of the day I like to cuddle, and you can’t do that with an empty bed.
No matter how many times you try, it’s just not the same.
I’d decided to take a hiatus from dating only weeks before I left California. Who knew Aurora, Illinois, was where all the good men were at - I certainly didn’t. If I had, I might not have left in the first place.
Actually, that’s not true. Maybe I just would have visited more often.
I grew up in Aurora with my four brothers. Living amongst all that testosterone, Katie was like a surrogate baby sister. After high school, I needed to get away, and I thought of no better place than the sunny west coast.
I’m still unsure if not giving Hayden my number was a good idea or not. We’ll most likely never see each other again, but… my mind still wonders. What if?
2
Hayden
“Mr. Carmichael, are you okay?”
I draw my attention back to Nellie, who stands in my office doorway with a concerned look on her face. I must have really been zoned out to warrant Nellie’s concern. She’s well-known as the office hardass. I clear my throat before smiling over at her.
“I’m fine, Nellie. Thanks for checking in.”
“Frank said these need to be filed?” She hands me a thick manila envelope with a roll of her eyes.
One peek at the documents inside and I know what it is - something I’d been expecting to show up all morning.
“Great. Thanks.”
She lingers at the door as I continue pursuing the contents. “Is there something else?”
“I’m concerned. You’ve been so distracted lately. That’s not like you.” Her face pinches in uncertainty, probably worried about speaking out of turn.
“I promise, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“If it’s nothing to ‘worry about’ then it must be a girl. Who is she? It’s not Jenny in HR, is it?”
I crack out a laugh at the look of utter disgust on the seventy-year-old woman’s face. I suppose her reaction is valid. Jenny from HR is a handful, a stuck-up bitchy handful that we all make a game of avoiding.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, it is a woman that has my mind so occupied. And no, it’s not Jenny.”
“If you need any advice, my cubicle is always open.” She sends me a wink before turning to leave.
I wouldn’t even know where to start…
I slept with a woman, now I can’t get her off of my mind?
I had mind-blowing sex with someone I just met and now she’s all I can think about?
Is it possible to fall in love at first sight because I think it might be.
Veronica.
Who is Veronica? And why the hell had I never met her before now?
While sipping my coffee, I pull out my phone and open up Facebook. There has to be a record of her somewhere. Just because I don’t know who she is right now, that doesn’t mean I can’t learn.
I type in ‘Veronica’. I don’t know her last name, but I’m hoping that won’t matter. If she was at the party last night, that must mean that we share at least one mutual friend. I scour through the results as they load up.
The top result is a page for a supermodel, I think.
Next result, I click on, but the only photo I’m able to view is one of a small dog bounding through a field. I understand sharing photos of your pets, but I’ll never get why people use them as profile pictures. Three friends in common, both of whom I only faintly know.
There’s gotta be a closer match.
Hmm… moving on.
It’s the third result where I strike gold. Veronica Hall.
It’s her. But her account is set to private, hiding everything but her picture and our mutual friends. Two; my mom’s veterinarian Lucas and-
Oh, this is good.
I send Veronica Hall a friend request and close the app. For all I knew, she may not even remember my name and if she does, who knows how long before she responds.
No, I need to see her in person.
Now.
I press a button on my office phone that connects me to my assistant. “Nellie, would you mind coming in here for a moment?”
I could just ‘bump’ into her. Surely, that’s innocent enough. It’s not a practical plan, but it’s better than asking Nellie for her address and just showing up on her doorstep.
“Yes, sir?” We’ve worked together for years, the woman is in her seventies and yet she still calls me ‘sir’. I hate that, but she’s insisted numerous times.
I gesture for her to enter the room as I stand from behind my desk and move around it. At this moment, I’m not her boss, I’m Veronica’s future soulmate. Whether anyone else knows it yet is not my concern.
“How do you know Veronica Hall?”
3
Veronica
“Lane!”
“Darlin’. I’ve missed you since you moved out west, to the big city.”
If he had any idea where I actually lived while I was out in the big city, he wouldn’t be calling it ‘the big city’. Some parts of L.A. are more dump than suburb.
“Well, guess what? I’m back for good.”
“Really?” Lane pauses what he’s doing, which was wiping down the bar between us. He gives me a funny look, a mixture of confusion and scrutiny. “What’s made you do that?”
I second guess my impulsive instinct to lie. Lane is one of my oldest and closest friends here in Aurora. I didn’t want to lie, but I also didn’t want to see that look on his face, the pitying one.
“I was fired. I didn’t have much choice about moving back. Apparently living on your own is only for people who can afford their bills.”
“You back with your parents?”
“For now. As soon as I get a job, I start saving to find my own place. Which brings me to my next point, you know of anyone hiring?”
“Really? This close to Christmas? I don’t think so darlin’.”
“I was afraid of that.” I chew on my bottom lip as I ponder the situation. “Who runs the library now?”
“Still Mrs. Cassini. You’re not thinking about trying to get your old job back, are you?