Love's Paradox

Chapter 7: Spontaneous Kissing

Cherry calls me on my way to work, which is abnormal. She typically doesn't wake up for another two hours. "I swear to god," she says in a pithy tone when I answer, bypassing a greeting, "if Steph doesn't stop snooping through my text messages, I'm going to put a passcode on my phone."

"What happened now?" I ask with a sigh. "And be careful what you say next, because I can't be held responsible for my reactions." I really do try to be nice to Steph, but generally she ticks me off with her insecure and possessive attitude toward my best friend.

"Steph's convinced you and I are more than friends. I don't know what else to do to prove to her that we're just friends," she gripes, voice sullen. "It isn't like I'm hiding something, and now she's undoubtedly lost my trust in her. No one wants to wake up to find their significant other looking through their phone. Especially when Steph's doing it to find proof that I'm cheating. Ugh. I am so pissed off right now."

"I'm sorry, sweetie. If it'll help, you can tell Steph I have a hot date with Parker tonight," I say, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

"Really?" Cherry cries, all irritation vanishing from her voice.

"Yup."

She squeals, hitting high notes I didn't know were possible. "Tell me more. Now, woman."

"There isn't much to tell," I admit. "We got along great yesterday, and then he asked me out on a date. I don't really know him all that well. What if he's a creepy stalker like Ian? I mean, he did go out of his way to get me in his office. Alone. For hours. That's weird, right? Something Ian would do."

Cherry sighs into the phone. "Oh, Rae. Not all men are like Ian. Give him a chance. First dates are all about learning about one another. Besides, you deserve to be happy. Don't let Ian destroy your life."

"All right. But if Parker turns out to be a freak, I'm blaming you."

"If he's a freak in the bed, you'll be thanking me."

"Hah-hah," I reply sardonically. "You and Steph have plans tonight?"

"We did, though I'm not sure anymore. Maybe once I tell her about your date, there will be spectacular make-up sex."

I pretend to gag. "Stop. Talking."

Cherry laughs, then adds in a singsong voice, "There might be whipped cream and—"

"La-la-la-la-la," I chant, trying to drone out the rest of the sentence.

"Such a prude."

"Shut it, lesbo."

"You're no fun," she says.

I roll my eyes even though she can't see me. "Anyway, I got to go. Just pulled up outside Livingston Oil."

"All right, babe. If you can, get a butt pic to entertain me while I'm at work."

"Yeah, that's not happening."

Parker is holed up in his office with the door shut when I enter Livingston Oil, though I can hear his muffled voice. Glancing down at the phone, I see he's on line one. I get situated behind my desk and turn on the computer, waiting impatiently for the dinosaur to wake up.

I don't have any specific tasks to perform, and the phone remains quiet, so I'm at a loss for what to do. I busy myself by organizing the desk and flipping through old paperwork to see what the previous office assistant did.

An hour passes, and Parker is still in his office. I wonder if he has misgivings over asking me to come work for him. Or maybe he's realized I'm carrying a ton of baggage. Before I can dwell too much on my shortcomings, a thud and the subsequent crash of something breaking in Parker's office startles me out of my introspection.