Playing It Safe(38)

I breathe in and out, over and over again until I’m able to think clearly and rationally. I’m going to just pretend he never called. In the morning I’ll delete the message and go on with my life and never talk to him again. Hopefully he’ll get the hint and leave me the hell alone. And for good measure, I’ll make sure to add to my latest list one very important item:

            4. Forget about dickhead and have fun with Alex.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


No streamers. Got it,” I say while scribbling it down on a notepad. “Anything else that is a total hard limit for you?”

“Pi?atas,” Josie adds and sneaks a peek at her mom. “Sorry, Mom, but I hate those things.”

Vanessa laughs. “Well, if I would have known you hated them so much, I wouldn’t have made you suffer through them every year.”

“I don’t blame you,” I say. “Those things explode and kids lose their ever-loving minds. It could be pretty dangerous, if you ask me.”

“Tell me about it,” Vanessa agrees. “See this scar?”

She points to a faint line on her forehead about two inches long that I would have never noticed had she not brought it to my attention.

“My dearest baby brother Alex was swinging away at a pi?ata with a baseball bat at his eighth birthday party. Instead of hitting the pi?ata, he hit me square on the head with the bat.”

“Holy shit!” I quickly cover my mouth and apologize for cursing.

“I’ve heard a lot worse, Julia,” Josie says while giggling.

“So what happened?” I ask.

“Nine stitches,” Vanessa says with a shrug while smiling. “Wasn’t so bad. My face was covered in blood though, and Alex took to calling me Carrie for a few years, that’s about it.”

“Right. Definitely a big no on pi?atas then.”

Vanessa nods in agreement and then pulls her keys from her purse. “All right, kiddo. Time to get moving so you can finish your homework.”

Josie launches out of her chair and comes to where I’m sitting. She carefully wraps her arms around my neck, giving me a big hug that makes my heart melt a little, further dispelling my awkwardness around kids. Well, not all children, just other people’s kids really. I’m sure once it’s my turn to have them, I’ll be fine, or at least I hope so for the kid’s sake.

“This party is going to be awesome, isn’t it?” she asks enthusiastically.

“Totally awesome,” I say and hug her back. “I promise.”

She walks away with a huge smile on her face, back to her mom, who is waiting by the door to my office. Vanessa mouths a sincere “thank you” to me before hooking her arm in Josie’s and closing the door behind them.

I wave good-bye to them and get back to work, thinking I was all kinds of stupid the other day when I met Vanessa and I was a little afraid of what she might think of me. In my defense, I did want to make a good impression on her, but I really had nothing to worry about. She is extremely easygoing, and I can tell where Josie’s great personality comes from.

A couple of hours later I’m about to start packing it up for the day when Lisette pops her head into my office with keys and purse in hand. “We’re going to happy hour at Rio Station and so are you.”

“I’m really tired,” I groan. “I’ll catch up with you guys next time.”

“Nuh-uh. You’re going. You’ve been cooped up in here all week, and I can tell you need a drink or two or three. Don’t worry, I’ll be your designated driver if you need one.”

The thought of having a few cocktails does appeal to me. “Okay, you twisted my arm. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll meet you over there.”

Her satisfied smiling face disappears behind the door, and I rush through getting my things packed before heading over to the bar. I probably could have walked there, and I would have arrived quicker than sitting in South Beach traffic at five o’clock on a Thursday night. Because didn’t you know that Thursday night happy hour is the new Friday night happy hour? Thank you to the * who came up with that brilliant idea. Like there was something wrong with going to happy hour on a Friday night.

When I arrive at a very crowded Rio Station, I spot Lisette and Sarah right away at the far end of the bar along with several other people from not only my office but from the gallery too. I stop in my tracks and canvass the area to see if Alex is here. As best I can tell from my current vantage point he’s not, and I feel a small pang of disappointment. I start moving toward them again until they finally spot me. Sarah raises her mixed cocktail up in the air, waving it back and forth like a lunatic. Some of it spills, just barely missing Lisette, who is also waving me over, sans drink.

“You made it!” Sarah squeals loudly and pulls me into her arms for a big hug. “Yay! Lisette, look! Julia’s here!”

While her back is turned, Lisette brings her hand to her mouth, tipping back an imaginary drink and pointing to Sarah, signaling that she’s already tipsy.

“Sarah, how long have you been here?”

“Since four-ish, I think,” she slightly slurs. “Alex let us leave early today.”

“Don’t worry, I already took away her keys,” Lisette whispers in my ear.