That Night

 To Massy…this is all your fault. Love you, boo!Thanks to Danielle for saving me when I was drowning.

 New Year’s Eve I stared at my reflection, analyzing every angle. My light hazel eyes popped out from the smoky eye makeup, and my face was framed by what I called miracle curls of my coffee-colored hair. Perfectly pink lips with a hint of mischief finished the look.The silver off-the-shoulder dress with its flared skirt was festive, along with a mix of cute and sexy. Best thing—pockets.While I did have a wristlet, I could use the pockets as well. The silver wristlet had just enough room for my phone, lipstick, and some cards and cash.“How do I look?” I asked as I stepped out of the hotel bathroom.Jenna’s lips twitched up into a smile. “Like a hot beotch.” She slipped a silver bangle over her hand. “Zip me up?”I stepped over as Jenna turned, the glitzy deep red of her fitted dress contrasting against her golden, fair skin. Like mine, her dress sparkled in the light.Chicago’s Resolution Gala was all about the shiny. It was an event we’d both looked forward to

 Six weeks had passed since I last laid eyes on him, and I couldn’t help but notice the difference. The excitement, the life I saw more and more through that night, was gone. The light inside was replaced by the loneliness I’d also seen in him. All work and no play.It was hard to keep my attention on what was being said, my gaze locked on him. His lips moved, but I heard none of the words, until his eyes were fixed on me. In fact, the whole room was. A jolt of panic kicked inside me.“I’m sorry?” I asked, realizing my wandering mind had missed something important.“I asked why there are so many discrepancies in the GL for January. They should have been addressed before month end, yet they are still hanging open.”It was something I knew was going to come up. All accounts were supposed to be balanced by month end, but there were two general ledgers that wouldn’t balance and I was still investigating the reason why.I cleared my throat, nervous energy vibrating through my ve

 The entire way to the restaurant I couldn’t help but constantly glance over at her. In that dress, it was like we were picking right back up, like the last six weeks hadn’t even passed.Six weeks that I pined for her thinking she’d blown me off, but it was my own stupidity. I thanked that little voice that told me not to delete the contact, because that was my only saving grace. That evidence took her from standoffish to melting in my arms.And now she was sitting in my car in that motherfucking dress. The one I’d clumsily spilled her drink on, then promptly shoved my hand down.It was possibly the most idiotic move I’d ever made, but also the best.Still, that dress did things to me. It represented weeks of fantasies, and was a reminder of how I had felt that night. How much I loved that night. How captivated I was.“Have I told you how much I love that dress?”Her lips pulled up into that blinding smile, making her light brown eyes sparkle. “I chose wisely. I did notice

 We never left my apartment on Saturday, with the exception of running to Richard’s hotel to gather his clothes, check him out, and pick up some food on our way back. We barely wore clothes. The entire time we were together, we were either eating or having sex.There were also downtimes where we just lay there and talked.“Seriously, though, I don’t understand why they didn’t get an interim for Nina,” Richard said. We were recovering from our third round of the day, lying in bed and just talking. It felt so good to have that as well as the physical. Conversation wasn’t filled with all fluff thanks to our mutual employer.“Because there was no one. Trent getting fired created a hole and luckily I was chosen to fill it, but it takes an average of six months to fully understand a position, and I wasn’t in it three weeks before Nina was rushed to the hospital.”“Is she okay?” he asked. I wondered if he even knew before the meeting that she was out.I nodded. “She’s doing well,