Once Upon A Time(46)

“You know, I don’t mind using my finger.” I chuckled, dipping my finger into the chocolate.

“Stop stalling!” she screeched, reaching for the jar. Out of reflex, I pulled the jar to my chest and sighed.

“Okay. Kate was in a meeting with Gabriel today. It wasn't synced with my calendar; I had to go into hers to see it.”

“Oh shit.” Kylie’s voice was a couple octaves higher, if that was even possible. “Do you think he’s going to tell her?”

Truthfully, I had no idea. Would he really be that vindictive? I didn't know him, he could do anything.

“I don’t know.” I sighed.

“Well, this explains why you want to go out.” She pointed. “You found out about the meeting and now you want to drink your weight in alcohol.”

“It’s a good idea!” I threw my hands into the air. “I’d like to be drunk as hell when I get the email about losing my job.”

“Have you thought of the possibility that he might not actually tell her? I mean, why would he? Surely he’s not that childish?”

“I don’t know anything when it comes to him.” I sighed, placing the lid back on the jar and putting it back in the cupboard. “Can we please just grab a bite to eat and spend some time together? I don’t want to think about this.”

“Okay, I'll make reservations for 7:30 at the Bistro.” She turned, leaving me in the kitchen while she made the call.

Ever since I'd met Gabriel, things were going from normal to nuclear fucked up. I had to find out why he was in a meeting with Kate. I just needed a plan to do it.

Quinn arrived right on time at 7, wearing the most ridiculous shade of pink I’d ever seen, matched with a pair of black dress pants. He looked hot. But also like Crayola vomited on his shirt.

“You’re wearing that?” I asked him, raising my brow as I stepped out of my room.

“What?” he asked, looking down at his clothes. “I’m gay. I can pull off pink.”

I shook my head.

“You just stereotyped your own sexuality, you do know that.”

“Don’t hate me because you can’t pull off pink.”

“No one can pull off pink,” I grumbled.

“Who got your panties in a twist? Or didn't might be the right question.” He grinned, grabbing the door as Kylie walked into the living room.

“We'll fill you in over food and cocktails.” Kylie smacked him on the chest playfully.

“Why am I always the last to know these things? You’re supposed to share, it’s sandbox etiquette!” he whined as we left my apartment and jumped into our awaiting cab.

“Didn't you once pee in a sandbox in your freshman year?” Kylie snorted as we sped off into the city.

“See? Sharing is caring!” Quinn laughed.





“FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, will you leave that poor boy alone?” Kylie shrieked and swatted Quinn upside the head.

We’d been at the Bistro for over an hour, trying to fill Quinn in on the mess that was my life but Quinn seemed to have other ideas and was unceremoniously winking and grabbing our waiter's butt.

“What?” He chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. “He slipped me his number with our first round of drinks. He loves it.”

I laughed, hiding my face behind my hands.

“You’re something else.” I smiled, reaching for my wine.

The Bistro was a small downtown restaurant. Kylie had introduced me to their amazing cheesecake back when we’d started our freshman year at Columbia. Over the years the wait staff changed but the owners stayed the same. Quinn, Kylie and I usually came just for their wine and cheesecake once a week. Sitting in the middle of the busy streets of New York, it was a little slice of heaven.

“You still love me,” Quinn sing-songed, popping a bite of cheesecake in his mouth. “Anyway, what are you going to do about Mr. Millionaire?”

I sighed, relaxing back in my chair, draining the rest of the delicious wine, which was going down like water. I knew I wouldn't get out of this dinner without twenty questions from Quinn, and I knew Kylie was going to be wondering how I felt about him.

“Mr. Millionaire is none of my business,” I declared, placing my empty glass on the table in front of me. “He’s a client. Nothing more, nothing less.” I shrugged, looking down at my lap. “I mean—”

The words caught in my throat and the air ripped from my lungs as my gaze drifted to the door. Walking into the restaurant was Mr. Millionaire himself… and he wasn't alone.

Quinn and Kylie turned to see what had caught my tongue and my attention. They both turned back, wide-eyed and sympathetic. Quinn even took it upon himself to refill my glass, finishing the bottle of red.