Page 88 of Use Me

Jett smiled. “Yours truly.”

A waiter came over with a tray of champagne. “It’s almost midnight.”

We all grabbed flutes, and I’d realized I’d left my Rosé on the table at the other end of the boat. Oh well. We were minutes away from returning to the pier and for us to go home.

While we waited for the clock to strike midnight, I stole glances in Abby’s direction. Her and Kenny were laughing and chatting. I knew they’d figure it out. It probably also helped that we were on a fucking boat.

Yeah, I never wanted to do this again.

No more boats.

Not long after, people started to count down from ten. When it got to one, we all toasted to the new year and Rhys and I kissed. Fireworks started to go off in the distance, and when you kiss the right person, you can’t tell who is kissing whom.

And it was clear to me that this person was Rhys.

Switching to the evening news wasn’t much different from the nightly news except I got off earlier. The daily meeting was still at the same time as it was before, but now when I arrived at work, I did the promo videos first thing instead of doing the meeting and then doing promo.

Freshening up my makeup in the one dressing room we had in the studio, I sent Abby a text. Rhys was working tonight, and I wanted to find out about Kenny and Abby. I know they’d hung out together after we left on New Years a few days ago, but I wanted to know if they really had figured it out.

Me: What are you doing on your dinner break?

Abby: I brought a boring salad to eat in the break room. Why?

Me: Take your lunch early and come to dinner with me.

Abby: Okay. What’s up?

Me: Nothing. I just miss my friend.

Abby: Okay. See you after your show.

I was waiting for Abby at my desk after my broadcast when I got a text. I balked when I read who it was from.

Corey: Congrats on moving to the evening news.

I stared at the words on the screen, and my fingers hovered over the letters wanting to text back. But I didn’t. What was there to say? Thank you?

Fuck. That.

“Ready?” Abby asked, stopping at my desk.

I stood. “Yeah. Guess who just texted me?”

“Who?”

“Corey!” We started to walk toward the elevators.

“What did he want?”

“To congratulate me on moving to the evening news.”

“Did you text him back?” Abby asked as she pressed the down button.

“Hell no.” We walked into the car, and Abby pressed the button for the lobby.

“He probably broke up with that hooker.”

“Oh my god!” I laughed, grabbing my stomach as the laughter coursed through me. “She was a hooker, huh?”