We were no longer making sense. What we were doing was losing ourselves in each other’s eyes like a couple of lustful cartoon characters. I’d never experienced this kind of physical tug to another person and savored every moment of it.
“Speaking of the dinner party, you in that dress.” Carrie shook her head. “I could not stop looking. I thought you were beautiful the first moment I laid eyes on you, but that night…” She grinned into her drink and took a sip.
“Yeah, well, you weren’t the only one making discoveries. I had no idea you…”
“What?”
I dropped my voice. “Weren’t exactly straight.” I still didn’t know how she identified, but after that kiss, I could certainly rule out one option.
“Well, I’ve not taken out a billboard.”
“Is it something you keep quiet?”
“There was probably a time when I did. But these days, no. I’m not interested in bottling up who I am. But I’m sure there are executives who would prefer it.”
I blinked. That one snagged my attention, because this was the second mention today about what the higher-ups might want. “It seems like you get a lot of pressure from above.”
She laughed. “Understatement. I’m sure they would love it if I lost ten pounds and ten years, but I’m not a magician. So they control the things they can, like my clothes, my PR framing.”
“God.” Carrie didn’t strike me as the kind of woman who would bow to those kinds of demands, so it made me wonder if she feared for her job. The idea seemed ludicrous to me. She was a staple in this city. Her face was everywhere, and in my experience, she was universally adored. “I can’t say I’ve received the same kind of scrutiny. I think that just means I’m a nobody.”
“Give it time.” She shook her head. “You’re not going to be a nobody forever. Your star is already climbing. Trust me.”
I was nervous to ask for more, but I valued her perspective. “What makes you think so?”
“You have that spark. It’s unteachable. People are born with it or they aren’t. Others just can’t look away. Do you think Tam hired you for your experience?”
“I was covering softball games and the mayor getting a pie in the face for charity.”
“See? He knows the spark when he sees it.”
“He saw it in you.”
“Back in the day, yes. I’d only worked in two other markets before landing as a reporter at KTMW.”
“You were me. And maybe I’ll be you one day.” I looked off into the distance wistfully, only halfway serious.
She nodded. “But be careful what you wish for.”
“But it’s the dream, that anchor desk.”
“And I get why. The power seat, the attention, and there are quite a few perks. I’ll be honest about that. But it comes with the scrutiny and expectations that aren’t so easy to meet.”
I might have loved kissing Carrie, but I liked talking with her like this, candidly, nearly as much. She was full of wisdom and knew the station better than anyone else. “You’d never know it. You handle the pressure well.”
“Yeah.” But something shifted behind her eyes, and the smile that had been there moments before had waned. I wanted it back, and my brain was already trying to figure out how to make that happen.
“Well, you have a fan over here.” I looked skyward. “In maybe more ways than one.”
Her lips parted, and I remembered how sexy they were all over again. “We’re dangerous, aren’t we?”
I nodded.
She shook her head as if to say: What have I gotten myself into?
“I don’t think I could wrap my brain around everything that’s happened today if I tried.” That’s when the exhaustion hit, having been buried for hours by the excitement of the drinks, the story, the kissing.
She took a deep breath, mirroring my fatigue. “Then let’s leave it for tomorrow’s version of us. They’re much better equipped.”
“If we walk out together…”
“Who knows where we’d end up?”
We let that linger between us a moment as the angel and devil on my shoulders waged a war for the ages. I had a feeling I could persuade her to go home with me or to take me back to her gorgeous landscaped compound. But was that the right way to go about this? I wanted to be thoughtful and was literally in no position. My brain was missing in action. Had ghosted me.
Here went nothing. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, and I’m one hundred percent certain I’m going to regret it later, but you go. I’m going to do the levelheaded thing and sit right here and pay the check.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Gonna fulfill that IOU, huh?”
“It’s the least I can do,” I deadpanned.
That pulled a laugh. “Skyler, Skyler, Skyler. You’re pretty adorable.” She tapped the table. “But I will graciously accept the drink.” She reached for her bag. “Congrats on the Seth story.”
“Thank you. It was a good day.”
She sent me one last smile and, with a wave to Johanna, headed for the door. Part of me wondered if we’d slipped into some sort of alternate universe and the world would return to normal tomorrow. Would we see each other at work and pretend none of this happened once the light of day hit? I sighed and leaned against the back of the booth, allowing my mind to revel in each delicious moment of tonight. As a sea of rapid thoughts overwhelmed, I knew one thing for certain. If I died in my sleep that night, I’d leave this earth a very happy woman.
“Was everything to your liking?” Johanna asked as she picked up the leather portfolio containing my credit card.
“Oh, very much,” I said without hesitation. “Five stars.”
Chapter Eight
The air felt different now. So did even the smallest interactions with Carrie. They carried new weight. Had a whole new meaning.
I’d kissed her. She’d kissed me. Passionately.
There was also the element of secrecy that wrapped everything up in an exciting little knot. I grinned to myself more than I didn’t. I relished sharing that little stolen bit of information between us.
Carlos walked by and paused to chat with Carrie about the story meeting, looping me into the conversation, too. He had no idea what we’d done the night before. I made out with her, Carlos. Yesterday.
“Have you seen Tam around today?” Carrie asked later, swiveling in her chair as if pulled from a moment of intense concentration.