Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

MACKENZIE

Work, however, was the one thing I couldn’t get done.

My mind was not at work. It was at home, with a sad redhead in my bed?—

“Hello?!” A loud, grating voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Kenzie, hello?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, what?” I turned to Roxxy.

She rolled her eyes and glared at me. “Come on, Kenzie, I asked how your date went? The arcade?”

In a moment of weakness, I told Roxxy I was going to the arcade with Fallon. We’d been best friends since fourth grade, which meant we could read each other better than anyone else. We’d started working together six years ago, back before my life fell apart.

I shook the memories out of my head, and tried to get back to work, answering as nonchalantly as possible. “It wasn’t a date, Rox, and it was fine.”

“It was fine? Mackenzie, every time you’ve gone out with a woman, it’s always ended up way better than ‘fine.’ What happened?” she asked.

“That’s not true,” I grumbled, but I couldn’t hide my satisfied smirk. Okay, so it was mostly true. Anytime I had shown interest in a woman enough to go out, it usually ended back at my place or theirs.

“Kenzie, what happened?” she demanded again. This time, I sighed. She wouldn’t let it go until I gave her something.

“Nothing,” I replied. “We went to the arcade, had a good time, and she went home… this morning.”

“What the fuck?!” Roxxy yelled.

“Shh. Jesus, Rox! Look, nothing happened, okay?”

She didn’t need to know she slept in my bed, or about the wine spill… or the kiss.

“Mackenzie, I need you in my office, please.”

“Saved by the boss,” I mumbled. I had never been more grateful to be interrupted by my boss than I was in that moment. Roxxy scowled at me but I tossed her a smile, even though I knew that conversation was far from over.

The walk to my boss’ corner office was the longest walk of my life. Even though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, that didn’t stop my anxiety from surfacing.

It only took a few knocks before she opened the door, motioning me in. “Good morning, Mackenzie. Please, have a seat.”

“Good morning, Claire.” I smiled as I sat down in front of her desk. She walked around and took her seat, and my fingers brushed over the fabric of my pants, unable to stay still.

She wore an all-gray pantsuit, and her burgundy hair was always styled in a high ponytail. She had an undercut in the back of her head, designed with three half-triangles. She never spoke of her home life, so I couldn’t tell if the undercut was a fashion statement or something more personal.

“I’ll keep this short,” she began, her voice as steady as it always was. “As you’re probably aware, we’ve been searching for someone to fill the Assistant Director of Operations position. We’d like to offer it to you, starting next month. Amy is retiring at the end of the month, and we’ve been closely monitoring your work over the past year. We’re confident you’re the right person for the job.”

That was short? I sat there in disbelief, shaking my head. “Wow. I don’t know what to say, Claire.”

She stood up and came to stand in front of me, leaning against her desk. “You can say yes, for starters. You’ve earned this, Mackenzie.”

“Uhh… yes, of course. Are you kidding?!” I cleared my throat. “I mean—yes, of course I accept. Thank you so much.”

“Great. Of course, it comes with a pay raise and you’ll have your own office. We will send you the contract and all of the details to look over and sign by the end of the day.” She walked me out and I thanked her again.

When I got back to my desk, I started working again, ignoring Roxxy’s death stare.

“Excuse me?” She was glaring at me, and I tried not to smile.

“Yes? Can I help you?” I asked coolly.

She groaned. “Can you stop being irritating for one second? What did Claire say? Are you finally fired? It’s about time. Honestly, I’m surprised they didn’t fire you for taking that new receptionist into the bathroom during your lunch hour. Surely someone knew about that.”

I glared at her. “Will you let it go? Nothing happened with Ruby. Okay, we made out a little—well—maybe a little more than that—but anyway… no, I wasn’t fired. And you’re going to have to find someone else to annoy next month when I move into my new office. I got the promotion.”

“Fuck you, bitch!” Roxxy said as she hit my arm.

“Why are you so fucking abusive to me?” I asked, rubbing my now bruised arm.

“Because I love you! But seriously, we need to go out this weekend and celebrate! We haven’t gone out in so long.”

I couldn’t argue with that logic, and I could’ve definitely used a few drinks.

“Alright, fine, we can go out this weekend.” I smiled and went back to work.

It took Roxxy all of five minutes before she brought up Fallon again.

“So, your date, what happened?” She stared at me the way a child looks at bubbles.

“I told you it wasn’t a date, and nothing,” I said, trying so desperately to let it go.

She narrowed her eyes on me, not wanting to let it go. “Mackenzie, what happened?”

I sighed. “Seriously, nothing. She got locked out and crashed on my couch, okay? That was it.”

She groaned. “Boring! But fine, whatever. Still, you should invite her out with us. We want to meet your new friend.” She winked.

I rolled my eyes. “She is a friend. But sure, Rox.”

Introducing Fallon to my friends was the last thing I wanted to do. I loved them, but they could be a lot, and I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea and think I was trying to ask her on a date. Though, I wouldn’t object to that idea. Fallon, however, seemed adamantly against it. I had to think carefully about how to invite her. I exhaled sharply and texted her:

Me: Good morning Sunshine, how’s work?

Sunshine: Oh, you know, people are being stubborn and trying to die and what not. Not on my watch dammit! How’s work for you?

Me: Not too bad, today. Got a promotion.

Sunshine: What? That’s amazing! Congrats, I can’t wait to hear about it.

Me: Well, that’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to see if you would want to go out for drinks with me and the girls?

Sunshine: That sounds good. Who are the girls?

Me: My sister Harper, best friend Roxxy, and Rylee who you already know from Brewed Awakening.

Sunshine: Rylee is the sweetest!

Me: That she is. That’s what she tried to tell me about you lol.

Sunshine: Well, she’s not wrong!

Me: Haha. I’m slowly learning. So, drinks?

Sunshine: Okay. Meeting friends is okay.

Me: Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. They’ve met my one-night stands before, so it’s not a big deal.

Why the hell would I say that? Idiot!

Sunshine: Right.

Me: That’s not what I meant, they know we are just friends.

Sunshine: Ok.

Sunshine: Sure, sounds fun, Congrats again!

“Hey now, no sexting!” Roxxy laughed.

I looked up from my phone and gave her a look. “Shut up, Rox!”

“Did you invite Fallon? Is she going?” she asked.

“Yes I invited her. She said she’s going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Work, then drinks!” she sang. “Better bring protection!” she yelled.

I just flipped her off and kept walking with a smile on my face.

When I got home, I got a call from Fallon, and I smiled before picking it up. “Good evening, Sunshine.”

“Hey, so I forgot to ask, what is the dress code for this shindig? Dressy, casual, brothel-y?” she asked.

I let out a loud snort. “Hey! Uhh, brothel-y? Shindig? Who are you?”

She groaned. “Just help me out, will you!”

She was getting so riled up and it was adorable.

I had to admit, I was getting a little nervous. The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to spend with her, alone, and preferably with no clothing.

“I’m just messing with you, don’t get your panties in a twist.” I groaned as soon as the words were out. “It’s pretty casual. Whatever you feel comfortable in. We’re going to Reids. ”

“I’m not wearing panties,” she replied, and I almost dropped my phone.

“Jesus, woman! You distracted me with the image of you not wearing panties”

That was not the image I needed before being around her in a place where alcohol was present. “Also, can we stop saying the word ‘panties?’”

“Sorry, you’re just too easy.” She laughed.

“So, anyway, how was your day?” I asked, not ready for silence to replace her voice just yet.

She chuckled softly. “It wasn’t too bad, thanks.”

An awkward silence filled the air, neither of us knowing what to say.

After a few minutes, she spoke quietly. “I’ve gotta go.”

I cleared my throat. “Oh, yeah, of course. Uh, have a good night.”

“You, too,” she replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. Goodnight, Kenz.”

“I don’t think it’d be the same without you. Goodnight, Fallon.” She hung up and I wanted to crawl into the couch. That could have gone better.

I spent the rest of the night sulking around my apartment, anxiously waiting for tomorrow to come.