Chapter 166
Jaiden took a bite of his chicken salad sandwich and chewed. “Anyway, tell me about the project. Any problems so far?”
We spent lunchtime discussing strategies and I made a few suggestions that he seemed to think were brilliant.
“You’re made for this kind of work, Alister. I don’t know why the hell you’re in HR.” I didn’t kiss ass, for one thing.
I shrugged as I swallowed a bite of my Southwest BLT sandwich. “I started there as an intern and never left.” I’d never thought of leaving, either. Figured, with my track record, socially speaking, I would remain where I was until they fired me or something. It was the shiny, friendly people who didn’t trip over their laces or spill coffee once a day that got ahead. Funnily enough, I hadn’t done either of those this morning. Huh.
“Well, I think you’re wasted where you are.” He smiled at me, then cleared his throat. “So, one more week? We should do something to celebrate once this is over. I’m throwing a party at my house next Saturday. You should come. Bring a friend or two, if you like.” As if I had more than one.
My eyes were probably as wide as saucers. “Me?” I squeaked. “You’re inviting me to a party?” That had never happened to me before.
Jaiden frowned. “Yeah. Is that a problem?”
“No! I…sorry, I’m just…surprised is all. Sure, thanks, I’ll come.” And drag Anderson along with me so I wouldn’t embarrass myself too much.
Jaiden smiled, seeming relieved, for some reason. “Great! I’ll make sure you have my address closer to that date.” He finished his sandwich and wiped his mouth with a napkin, which just drew my eyes to his lips and wishing I knew what they tasted like. Would his tongue curve around mine as we kissed hungrily, no breath to spare? Would he…?
“Alister?” I blinked and tried not to blush as I realized I was daydreaming again. I looked at Jaiden but realized he was staring at someone to my left, mouth slightly agape. When I turned my head, my stomach dropped to see Heather all dolled up, her hair a mass of perfection, and that outfit—she hadn’t been wearing thatskirt this morning. And it was so…short.
“Heather,” I said, not sure what was going on. “You having lunch?”
“Duh,” she replied with an eye roll. “When I saw you here with Jaiden, I thought I’d come over and say ‘hello.’” She cocked her hip and winked at him, leaning over slightly so her cleavage was very visible. Jaiden seemed decidedly uncomfortable.
“Well, we’re, uh, having a lunch meeting, but it’s nice to see you.”
Jaiden still hadn’t said anything.
She looked a bit put out. “Oh, well I…I was having lunch by myself and I thought it would be nice to have company. You don’t mind, do you?” She batted her lashes at Jaiden, who, though he seemed annoyed, dutifully invited her to sit with us.
Smiling triumphantly, Heather scurried back to her table and brought the remains of her salad and an open can of soda to join us. I quickly put the documents we’d been discussing on the floor, and left Heather to take over the conversation and completely ignore my presence.
She also somehow managed to spill the can of soda all over my new suit, and her fake “sorry” didn’t fool me for a minute. I sopped up the liquid as best I could, my temporary high for a morning without accidents now deflated, and my ego was back to its regular low.
Whenever Jaiden tried to include me in conversation, Heather swooped in to make it all about her. After a few minutes of this, I decided I’d had enough and excused myself from the table. I needed to go home and change anyway.
Jaiden tried to catch my eye as I left, but I couldn’t bear to see pity or anything else in his gaze.
At home, I pulled on a new black turtleneck and gray pants, then headed back to work. Heather wasn’t at her desk, which was a relief for me. If she had been, I might have lost my temper, something I hadn’t done in over a decade and preferred to keep under wraps. It took a lot to provoke me, but Heather was really at the tipping point.
What a bitch.
* * * *
The night of the party at Jaiden’s house, Anderson dressed me in a long-sleeved pin-striped shirt with black leather pants that were a bit snug. When I complained about this, he ignored me.
As for my roommate, his shirt was shimmery and pants just as shiny. The guy he’d met when we’d gone clothes shopping—Albert—was at our apartment a lot, and he would be coming to the party tonight. He was dressed similarly to Anderson, and he wore eyeliner, which Anderson demanded he wore as well. Whatever was going on with the two men, they seemed to be having fun.