Page 33 of Drunk In Love
“I’m sorry that happened to you. If you can help us, we can report whoever threatened you. They would be facing serious charges,” I reply.
“No,” he says, no longer meeting our gazes. “I need to get back to work.”
“Take my card,” I say, pulling it out of my back jeans pocket. “In case you change your mind.”
Franco nods, pockets the card, and disappears back into the restaurant.
Once back in the car on our way home to my apartment, Max speaks firsts. “What did you think about what Franco was saying? You think he’s telling the truth or not?”
I wasn’t sure what to think. Up until Franco was fired, everything carried on without a glitch. His absence seemed to cause everything to go haywire.
“I believe him,” I say to Max. We’re stopped in the traffic heading back into New Jersey as everyone merges to head towards the Lincoln Tunnel.
“Kamaya,” he says, finally able to merge and shooting across the tunnel. “You’ve got that look on your face,” he says, unsuccessfully trying to hide a grin.
I smile at his laugh. “What are you talking about?”
He tries imitating me. “That’s your determined look.”
CHAPTER 11
Kamaya
“No, do not wear that!”
I turn the dress on a hanger in my hand and move it frontwards and backwards, and Nicole only shakes her head harder. This is the third dress option she has swiftly vetoed since she arrived.
“No, you should wear this instead,” she says, moving up on the stepstool and grabbing a dress.
I scrunch my face at her selection. “That’s very showy,” I say.
Nicole releases a deep sigh. “Kam, you wear too much black. Zach sees you in drab work colors all the time. For your first date, you want to stand out in something he hasn’t seen you in before.”
I should have known inviting Nicole over while I was getting ready for my date was going to be a mistake. The best and worst thing about our friendship is she always pushes me out of my comfort zone. She was right, however. Zach only saw me in the confines of the office building or while I was working. The only exception was Brandon and Ava’s wedding. I certainly never looked glammed. Working behind a screen most of the time, it felt silly going to work with a beat face every day.
“You really think this will be better?” I ask, waving my hand towards the dress she’s holding.
“Absolutely! Red will make you pop,” Nicole says, shoving the dress towards me. “Now, you get ready to change, and I will look for shoes.”
I shake my head at her bossiness while heading towards the bathroom to start straightening my hair. “Who made you my stylist?”
“I did, since I need to save you from yourself! Besides, I need this date to go well so that we can go on double dates.”
“Of course, this is all personal gain for you!” I call out from the bathroom’s open doorway.
“What about these?” Nicole appears, showing a platform heel.
“Yes, that works.”
“See? You need me,” she says. “Seriously, I do hope this goes well tonight and that Zach is everything you’ve been obsessing over since you started working in that building.”
“Yeah, I think we’ll have a good time,” I say, removing the iron from my hair.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Nicole asks, her tone turning serious. “Here I was expecting you to be over the moon.”
“I’m looking forward to the date, it’s just…” I falter, not ready to voice my true feelings about the date tonight with Zach.
“Just what?” Nicole prompts, leaning on the doorway.