Read Online Slightly Settled by Wendy Markham - Free Book Online Page B

assistant, Tracey.
    “So anyway…I looked you up in the company directory….”
    Excellent detective work, Watson.
    Part of me—the eagerly expectant, shamelessly aroused part—is flattered that he wanted to find me again. Part of me—the utterly disgraced part—would have been content to slink on into oblivion.
    “…and I thought we should go out.”
    “You did?”
    He laughs. “I mean, I do.”
    “You do?”
    With a Don’t?
    He wants to go out with me after the spectacle we made of ourselves in front of the entire agency? Isn’t he the least bit mortified?
    Apparently not. He asks cheerfully, “Are you busy Friday night?”
    “I’m, uh, not sure. Can I let you know this afternoon?”
    He hesitates. “Okay.”
    “It’s just that I was supposed to have these plans with my friends….”
    Did I ever mention I’m a terrible liar?
    “That’s all right.”
    “I just—”
    “I understand. If you’re busy—”
    Suddenly, I’m Kate Winslet awash in the North Atlantic, clinging to his icy hand as he begins to drift away.
    Noooooooo! Don’t leave me, Jack!
    “Actually I think we switched the plans to Saturday,” I say quickly. “I’m not sure. I’ll just check and let you know this afternoon. I’m probably free.”
    “That’s fine.”
    I hear ringing in the background.
    “That’s my other line,” he says.
    “Okay.”
    “So I’ll talk to you later?”
    “Okay,” I repeat, quite the sparkling conversationalist.
    “Bye.”
    “Thanks for calling.”
    “Sure. Bye.”
    I’m elated.
    He asked me out!
    I’m suspicious.
    Why the hell would he ask me out?
    I’m—
    Dialing. That’s what I’m doing. I’m calling Kate. I need advice.
    She’s home, of course. She’s not working these days—or, probably, ever again. When I met her, she was temping, just like me. But her parents back in Mobile pay her bills, and the only reason she worked at all was to meet rich businessman types. Now that she has Billy, she’s basically a housewife without the house. Or the husband. Yet.
    “You’ll never believe who’s on Regis and Kelly this morning,” she says by way of a greeting. I can hear the television in the background; sounds of applause and Regis shouting something.
    “Kate, listen—”
    “Remember the short blond guy who was in that lame movie we saw last summer at the—”
    “Kate, I need to talk to you. I’m at work and I’ve only got a minute. It’s important.” Sometimes you just have to pluck her out of her insulated little Kate universe.
    “What happened? Are you okay? Why are you whispering?”
    “Because I’m at work and I don’t want anyone to hear.”
    “Hear what? Oh my God, are you pregnant?”
    “No!” I should have called Buckley instead. He’s a better listener.
    But I can’t leave her hanging now, so I quickly tell Kate what happened.
    “Did you sleep with him?”
    “No! We just kissed,” I hiss. “But everyone saw. And he’s my boss’s roommate,” I point out for, like, the third time. “How can I go out with him? I mean…what if I slept over at his house and ran into Mike walking around in his underwear?”
    “I don’t know…it might be good for you,” she says.
    “Spinach is good for you. Seeing your boss in his underwear is not good for you. Or maybe it’s good for you, but it isn’t for me.”
    I shudder at the mental image of a scantily clad Mike.
    Okay, he probably doesn’t wear Spider-Man Underoos in real life, but still.
    “I don’t mean seeing your boss in his underwear would be good. Nobody said you have to sleep with this guy. In fact, whatever you do, don’t sleep with him. I’m just saying that it might be good for you to go out on a date with him. After the way Will shit all over you, you deserve to have somebody take you out and treat you well.”
    Well gee, thank you so much for that, Kate. The thought of Mike wearing Underoos has been replaced by the oh-so-graphic image of Will shitting all over me.
    “But he’s my