Speaking of my co-worker, she makes her way over just as her name is said.
“Why am I no competition? What are we competing about anyway? It’s not that damn dartboard, is it? I swear I’m gonna get nailed in the head one of these days.”
“I hope not. I don’t do blood well,” I say, making sure to quickly move to another topic. “Does Dwayne need another?”
“Nope,” Tammy replies and I’m hopeful she forgot the original question. “Says he doesn’t need his beer to taste all fruity. Wants to go back to Dos Equis.”
Amused, I grab a bottle from the small fridge and pop the top. “Well, I appreciate his attempt at trying to be refined through drink, even if it didn’t last long.”
Tammy huffs a laugh. “Yeah, that’s what it is. An attempt at being sophisticated. It has nothing to do with the alcohol content.”
“It has the same percent as Coors Light.”
Tammy holds up her hand to stop me. “I know that honey. He just doesn’t seem to and I’m not correcting him. The last thing he needs is anything over four-point-two proof. Now,” she turns to Lauren, “What am I apparently competing for and what is the prize?”
I groan. I was hoping we moved past this. Lauren, on the other hand, is delighted.
Leaning in like she’s telling Tammy a secret she says, “Paul. He’s single, right?”
A look of understanding crosses Tammy’s face. “Ah yes. That man is a tall drink of man-candy for sure.”
I burst out laughing at her candor while Lauren exclaims, “That’s what I said. But she won’t go for it.”
“I am not sleeping with my boss, Lauren. It’s in bad taste.”
Lauren drops her chin to her chest grumbling, “She’s such a buzzkill.” Tammy, on the other hand, doesn’t ever mince words. Not even now.
“Listen, honey, there are only three of us here and my man has no reason to worry about me straying so I’m not going to make a drama out of you banging the boss behind closed doors.” Lauren gestures her hand in an “I told you so” fashion, but Tammy’s not done. “Unless you do it in the office when I’m trying to get my stuff, I’m the last person who will raise a stink about some good old fashion lovemaking.”
Lauren can’t help it. She starts giggling. I need to double-check the alcohol content on this apple pie. Giggles mean it’s already going to her head.
“Besides,” Tammy continues. “That tight little twenties body isn’t going to last forever. You better get your kicks while you can. Take it from someone who made sure she’d have lots of memories to last a lifetime.”
I shake my head at her and then gesture my understanding as Dwayne holds his beer up and waves it at me.
“I will take that under advisement. But Dwayne is getting antsy over there so maybe we can table this conversation.”
Tammy rolls her eyes. “It’s a wonder that man can keep his electricity on with how much he spends every night.”
“He’s just lonely,” I argue. “He’s not doing any harm.”
“Yet. Like I said,” she says as she picks up the bottle. “One of these days a dart is gonna get me right in the noggin. Mark my words.”
She walks away, making quick work of delivering Dwayne’s drink and bussing the recently vacated tables.
“I like her.” Lauren slaps her hand on the counter.
My eyes widen in amusement. “Okay, drunky.” I slowly pull the beer away from her. “No more ale for you tonight.”
“Oh stop. I’m not drunk.” She snatches the bottle back. “I just really want you to get laid. I think Tammy does, too.”
“As much as I appreciate that, the last time I was laid, I ended up a single mom. It’s probably best not to tempt fate that way. Want something else?”
“Yeah. Give me another one of those apple pie things. Also, it’s sad you haven’t had sex in over three years.”
She shudders which elicits a laugh from me.
“And you’re ridiculous,” she continues. “Just because you got pregnant one time doesn’t mean it’ll happen again.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I pop the top off another bottle and hand it to her, leaning on the counter. “But we both know how that ended and I think it’s best if I avoid flippant relationships.”
Her eyes darken as we both remember the shit show Spence put me through, even after he died. I quickly push it out of my mind. I don’t want to think about it. It’s over. I will never go through that again. And I’ll be damned if I put my son through it.
“Fine,” she finally concedes. “You win. This time. But I’m not going to give up on helping you find a man. You deserve some happiness.
“I have happiness. His name is Carson and he’s almost three years old. He has a fantastic Aunt Lauren and an even better Uncle Heath.”
“Hey!” she protests playfully. I ignore her.
“And as much as I love that he has them, I just hope they all don’t become so attached that he gets hurt when they do finally have kids.”
She shakes her head and swallows her drink that seems to have gotten stuck in her throat temporarily. “Not gonna happen. My man doesn’t love just anyone. But once he decides you’re part of his inner circle, you’re in for life. And Carson is basically his whole circle these days. That’s what happens when a grown man who is still a boy at heart has too much money and finds someone he can buy toys for, which is really just him justifying buying toys.”
I laugh out loud and grab a glass, filling it with ice and some Dr. Pepper to give me a shot of caffeine. “Is that what it is?”
“Absolutely. I’m not sure which one of them is more spoiled. Heath is already planning Carson’s birthday party.”
My jaw drops in shock. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
“It doesn’t,” I say with a laugh. “You know I’m the worst party planner.”
“Which is why I didn’t hire you to plan my wedding,” an unexpected voice says.
“Annika!” Lauren gives her a tight hug, as surprised as I am that we didn’t see her come in. “You look fantastic. Very tan and rested.”
I nod in agreement. Honeymooning looks good on her.
“Thanks,” Annika says sheepishly and turns to me. “Hi, Kiersten. Can I get my usual?”
“One unopened bottle of water, coming right up.”
As suspected, Annika opens her phone and holds up a picture of her lounging in a cabana, white sand and crystal blue water in the background.
Lauren snatches the phone from her and gasps at the photo. “Annika, this is beautiful. And damn girl. Look at you being all super-model like with your sexy one-piece and floppy hat. I didn’t even know you owned a floppy hat.”
“It was an impulse buy in the airport,” she explains while surveying over Lauren’s shoulder as she swipes through the pics. She absentmindedly plays with the label on her water bottle as she tells us all about their honeymoon and everything they did. From what I’m gathering, it was a whole lot more of what we saw in that picture—mostly lounging around in a cabana with a couple of tours through the rainforests. It sounds heavenly and I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever be as happy and in love as she is. I ignore the small pang of jealousy as I watch my two best girlfriends chat about their lives, each as one part of a happy couple.