Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(14)

Jacob pretended to ignore him, but after a moment found he was unable. “When I am in the area I stop in. My fuel is caffeine, beggars can’t be choosers when you need a top-up.”

Krista smiled. She needed to get moving and get out. “Or when it’s free, which is why I’m here.” She moved toward the coffee pot, ignoring Sean as she neared.

Jacob got in behind her, so close she felt his keyboard nudge her lower back.

“Little close to the female staff, huh, Jacob?” Sean asked with warning in his voice.

Krista barely put two drops in her cup before she fled to the creamer station. Leaving the two men in a stare-off, she tore lids of creamer as fast as possible.

“It’s Jacob that has to watch out,” she said, reaching for casual to hide her urgency to leave. “My keyboard is all dirty and disgusting. If he’s not careful, I’ll pull a snatch-and-run with the clean one he’s got under his arm.”

Jacob turned to her with a smile. “Yours is dirty, huh?”

“Way dirty, yeah. I tried to clean it, but there is only so much Clorox wipes can do with dirt and grime from years of servitude. Anyway, I’ll see you two around.”

She made a hasty exit as Sean said, “Creamer, Krista.”

She looked back at the creamer station and realized she’d opened the containers but left them sitting on the counter like a complete boob. She let out a loud sigh, turned around with surprising agility for the size heels she was wearing, grabbed the opened containers, and got outta there.

Thank God the girls would be heading to her house later that night to view Ben’s painting, because she had a feeling she’d need a drink after the day’s end.

~*~*~*~

Text from Kate:

Where the fek r u? Weve ben here 20 min???

Text back from Krista:

walking from 25th. Where f-ing train dropped us!!!

Text from Kate:

Serves u rite 4 still livg on L line beotch

Text from Krista:

Not helping. C u in a while.

When Krista finally walked in, warm despite the mild chill from the air—turned out San Francisco was sixty degrees at nearly all times of the year, including winter, so her Seattle jackets were overkill—Ben, Jasmine and Kate were all sitting around the dining room table drinking a glass of wine.

“Hey guys,” Krista said, dropping her stuff on the floor.

“Abbey’s home,” Ben warned.

Krista gave a body consuming sigh of aggravation. She picked up her stuff and marched it into her room where she dropped it in the middle of the floor. She didn’t feel like getting bitched at. Ben’s “piece” was taking its toll on Abbey’s nerves. If this place wasn’t so reasonably priced for how big it was, she would move in an instant.

Also, it would help if she had some money to spare.

Back out, a glass of red wine waiting for her, she sat with a relaxing sigh and reached for it.

“What are you, Princess Sighs-A-Lot?” Jasmine asked, eyeing her from across the table.

“I think I’ve picked it up from my boss…“

“That jerk guy?” Kate asked.

“Yeah. He sighs a million times a day. Every time he opens his email, or looks at work, or looks at a cup of coffee for crying out loud—sigh. Always with the sighs. It rubs off.”

“Better than the double chin,” Jasmine said, taking a sip.

“True. How is work with you girls?” Krista asked, feeling so much better about her day now that she was home, with friends, and relaxing with a glass of vino. A girl had to look forward to the little things.

“Eh,” Kate said dismissively. “It’s work. I wouldn’t mind a change, but no one’s hiring.”

“Yeah.” Jasmine nodded. “It’s better than school in that I have a little money. It’s worse in that it takes up all my free time. So, I’m par for the course.”

“Oh—Kris,” Kate said, sitting upright. “I totally forgot to tell you. I can’t go to your Christmas party after all. My f**king mother wants me home for Christmas since I missed Thanksgiving.”

“Shoot!” Krista sighed yet again.

“That’s going to get old,” Jasmine reflected.

“It’s already old and I’m the one doing it. That sucks, Kate. Jaz, can you come?”

“Nope. I’ll be washing my hair.”

“Cute. Ben?”

“I really admire you, Krista, but I really don’t like those things. Sorry!”

“Ugh! You guys are all a bunch of hoboes! Well, it’s settled then, no way am I going.”

“Why?” Kate asked the same time as Jasmine said, “Don’t blame ya.”

“I’m not going to turn up to a party where no one will talk to me. How ridiculous would I feel?”

“What about that friend of yours. What’s his name…Johnny or something?” Kate asked.

“Tommy. He’s bringing his girlfriend. He’ll be talking to her all night and she won’t let me join the group because I’m a single chick.”

“Probably jealous of your cans, too,” Jasmine said.

“Dang it. I wanted to see Sean dressed up.”

“He’s going?” Jasmine perked up. She’d started seeing someone, so she wasn’t as horny, but she also was starting to get irritated by him already. It wouldn’t last much longer. Constantly dreaming of something better, she always wanted to hear the latest in the Sean files.