Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series) (18 page)

              Patty nearly jumped out of her skin when Marc’s phone started making an atrocious noise. Marc popped out of bed looking around and then realized it was his phone.

             
“Jesus” he said grabbing his phone turning it off and rubbing one eye. He looked over at Patty and gave her the cutest grin she had ever seen. It wasn’t until then did she realize he was only wearing boxer briefs that hung low and showed off a light patch of hair that trailed all the way down to his crotch.

Patty caught herself staring and diverted her eyes saying, “Good morning.”

She felt really awkward. She didn’t know what to do. She just started playing with the comforter smoothing it out and trying to think of something else to say. She needed to think of something other than Marc’s amazing body that was burning through her soul.

“Good morning.” He said. “Uh, did you sleep alright?”

She looked up at him trying not to look at his package and stay focused on his eyes.

“I slept great actually. I have not slept that well in a while.” She decided honesty was the best policy.

He smiled at her. “Well maybe you should spend the night more often.”

Patty rolled her eyes. “Alright
Romeo, don’t get any ideas. I’m sorry I broke the contract last night. I promise it won’t happen again.” She got up from the bed and started making her side. Marc came around so he was right next to her, helping her tuck one of the sheets in.

“You know I wouldn’t mind more sleepovers.”

“Marc…”

“I know.” Then Marc left her side and went to this bathroom.
“I’m assuming you will go home and take a shower. You know your way out. I’ll see you later. Thanks for a good night.”

Then he left and shut the door. Patty sat on his bed. God
she was so frustrated with herself. She was hurting Marc and she knew it. He had wanted to date her for a while and she knew this friendship thing was not working out. It was only giving him false ideas and she was not helping. What was she thinking?

She got up, took Mar
c’s clothes off and left them on the bed for him, then proceeded to put on her swimsuit. She grabbed the rest of her items and took off. She knew Marc was frustrated and that was why he didn’t help her out of his house. Maybe she should just give them some space.

She got in her car and put her head on her steering wheel. She so desperately wanted to be with Marc but she knew she cou
ldn’t let him close enough to actually be with him because she was too afraid to be hurt and that wasn’t fair to him. He deserved better. He deserved someone who could give him their whole heart to him.

She needed to end this friendship thing they had going on because it was only leadin
g to heartbreak and she couldn’t put herself through that again let alone Marc. She cared too much for him.

                            ***

When Lucy walked into work she noticed Jane put fresh flowers all around the office. It was one of the simple things Jane did to make the work environment so welcoming. Lucy loved fresh flowers and Jane always picked the prettiest ones. This morning she had gorgeous pink hydrangea scattered throughout the office which added a lovely splash of color against the cream and white furniture and light gray walls.

Lucy went to go put her purse next to her desk when she saw Patty and Jane sitting at the conference table with a dozen donuts and some coffee waiting to be consumed. Lucy shook her head. There was not going to be much work done this morning.

She walked over to the conference table. “Good morning ladies. How was everyone’s weekends?”

Jane looked like she just got done doing some naughty things with Brady and Patty looked fake, like she was trying to act as if everything was ok but deep down something was bothering her. Hmm, maybe Lucy could divert some attention from herself this morning and focus a little bit of it on Patty.

“Oh lovely but we’re not talking about us, we want to hear everything” said Jane.

Well so much for that idea. Lucy knew they were not going to even begin to start work until she spilled the beans. Both girls just stared at her waiting to talk. Lucy grabbed a glazed donut and took a big bite of it chasing it with a swig of coffee.

“Where should I begin?”

“Begin with the dressing room.” J
ane said. “I want to know what’s going on. The only way I can have peace between everyone is if I know everything.”

Jane was always a peace maker. She hated having people she was close with angry at each other. She always needed everyone to be friends and
be happy. Well in this case, there was no way she could play damage control.

Lucy told the girls about all her recent drama filled events starting with
Molly bombarding her in the dressing room claiming Austin as hers. Jane was shocked that Molly didn’t tell her about Austin. All three of them thought it was weird she was trying to keep the relationship, if that’s what it was, a secret. They thought it was healthy for her to get out there and explore new things especially since she was so depressed.

Lucy ju
st nodded when they talked about Molly’s depression because Lucy had bitter feelings toward Molly. Lucy didn’t want to put Jane in an uncomfortable position by bad mouthing off about her best friend.

Lucy continued telling
them about how she got drunk one night and how Austin came over, took one look at her and started kissing her.

“I couldn’
t believe at the time, how I was finally kissing him, I waited so long and it was great, more that great. At the time it was like the world stopped spinning and all my dreams were coming true all at once. We slept together and it was amazing. We held each other all night long.”

“Aw Lucy that’
s so great but what happened? Why is everything so wrong now?” Jane asked.

“Well this is where it gets good. The next morning we had jus
t woken up and Austin decided to play with me, you know, down there.” Both girls smiled. “He made me feel incredible and literally right after he, uh well I’m just going to say it, right after he made me come, his phone rang. He slipped out of bed and answered it in the other room. I didn’t think much of it until I heard him talking. It was Molly and he was making plans to see her that night.”

Both girls gasped. “You’
re kidding me, right?” Patty asked.

“Nope, right after he fucked me
, he made plans with another girl and I know that I didn’t have any claim on him but it was insulting. We have been friends since high school and he treated me as if I was some two cent hooker he picked up downtown. When I confronted him about it he didn’t have an argument. All he said was he ‘thought’ there could be something between us. Thought was the key word. There should have been no question after what we shared.”

Jane leaned over and grabbed
Lucy’s hand. “I’m so sorry Lucy. I could smack him. You don’t deserve to be treated like that. Are you doing ok?”

Lucy could not help but smile. “Actually I am.”

Both Jane and Patty looked at her confused. “Gee, I would have thought you would be heart broken.” Said Patty. “You were practically in love with Austin, I can’t believe you are not a crying puddle. No offense.”

“None taken. Actually I feel amazing. I feel like a burden has been lifted off of me. He did me a favor and set me free. I stood up
for myself and realized that I’m an amazing catch and it’s his loss.”

“You are one amazing girl
” said Jane.

They were interrupted by someone walking through the front door. It was a guy with a box delivery. Jane went up to meet him and signed for the box. She looked at it with a confused look and said, “
It’s for you Lucy.”

For her? What the hell was it? She didn’t remember ordering anything. She took it from Patty and set it down to open later.

“Uh, you’re opening that now” said Patty matter of factly.

Jane handed her a box opener and they both waited in anticipation.

              “It’s probably free pens or something.” Lucy said trying to mask her excitement.

             
She opened the box finding a note on the top. She opened it and read:

Lucy,

Thank you for an amazing night. Here’s a little clue for what I have planned for our second date. Make some time for me this week. Call you tonight, love.

Connor

              Oh God, he was adorable. Lucy read the note two more times before looking up at her friends. They were both staring at her in anticipation.

             
“I guess I have some explaining to do.”

             
“What the hell is it?” Jane asked.

             
Lucy pushed the tissue back and laughed. She pulled out a pound of homemade baklava from Mossimo’s.

             
“Baklava?” asked Patty. “Who is the note from?”

             
“Uh, well here’s the thing. I’m kind of seeing someone. I met him yesterday afternoon. He took me out last night and maybe slept over.” Lucy said wincing.

             
Both girls just looked at her with open mouths. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” asked Jane.

             
“Yes, I am and here is the kicker. It’s Connor.”

             
“Connor?” asked Patty.

             
“Connor who…wait, Connor…Connor Cartwright?” Jane said almost yelling.

             
Lucy just nodded her head.

             
“Wait, Cartwright?” Patty asked. “As in…”

             
Jane cut her off, “As in Molly’s dead fiancé’s brother. I knew he was moving to Atlanta but hot damn girl. If he is still the way I remember, you found yourself a keeper.”

             
“I really did.” Lucy showed them both the note and told them all about the way they met and their date last night.

             
“It sounds like a dream night” said Patty.

             
“Well it was until we got back to my apartment. Connor and I got through the doorway and he practically had his hand in my underwear when he was ripped off of me by Austin.”

             
Patty and Jane both yelled in unison, “Nooo!”

             
“Yea, Austin was there and I don’t really know the reason actually. He said something about wanting to be my friend again but then again he almost beat up Connor for kissing me. It was all so weird. I took his key away and kicked him out. I was mortified. I fled to my bathroom and just let Connor sneak out. Little did I know he was actually an upstanding guy and he took care of me last night in more ways than one.” Lucy said winking.

              Patty playfully swatted Lucy. “Wow, that is one hell of a story. I bet you anything Austin still has feelings for you and that’s why he lashed out on Connor. There is no other explanation for it. Am I right, Jane?”

             
Jane nodded her head in agreement. “Yes, Austin defiantly has feelings for you still, I mean how could he not. I love Molly but I highly doubt she is giving Austin the attention he needs and since you’re no longer in his life, he’s missing someone taking care of him.”

             
Lucy never thought about it that way. Before Austin kissed Lucy, he was having his cake and eating it too. He was getting his physical needs met by Molly and his emotional ones fulfilled by Lucy.

Maybe that was why he was at her apartment the other night. He was missing out on someone actually caring about his feelings and listening to him. Well she was not going to be that person anymore. If they were still friends that would be one thing but he used her
, left her and chose Molly over her. She would never forgive him for that.

                            ***

              When they got done chatting about Lucy and her amazing weekend Jane talked about the upcoming week and what she expected from everyone. Patty admired Jane; she was a great boss and was able to delegate tasks to Patty and Lucy giving them the chance to succeed easily since she gave them tasks that catered to their strengths.

             
Jane broke the morning meeting and Patty was just about to get up from her chair when Lucy placed her hand on Patty’s arm.

             
“Patty don’t get up. I know something is going on, I don’t want you to hold it in. Believe me it helps to talk about it.”

             
The last thing Patty wanted to do was talk about her complicated thoughts and feelings. They made sense in her head but she highly doubt they would make sense to anyone else or that she could even begin to explain them.

Her old roommate
, April, understood where Patty was coming from. April was the one who gave Patty a home when she first moved to Atlanta and helped Patty get back on her feet after Gino almost beat her dead.