Cold Feet novel Chapter 38

CHRISTINE

After the skank leaves, I turn on Rick.

“What the fuck was that?” I ask.

“Hey,” he says. “I didn’t do anything. You saw what happened.”

“How the hell did you meet that skank?”

Rick decides to omit their history. “She works with Lara. Lara asked her to step in after James’ stroke. You know she hasn’t been at work since his stroke.”

“Well, what the hell? Am I supposed to believe that she just decided to try and kiss you right now? How long have you been working on the wedding together?”

“Christine,” Rick says putting his hands on my shoulders. I brush him off. “Listen, it wasn’t my choice. Lara recommended her after James’ stroke. I trust Lara’s judgement. I had no idea she was going to do that.”

Rick can’t be honest. He thinks it will just make Viola’s situation worse. In all honesty though, he hadn’t tried to do anything.

“What the hell is wrong with your shirt?” I ask realizing that it’s wet.

“She spilled coffee on it.,” I reply.

“Oh how sweet. So she could pretend to wipe it off and feel you up?” I ask cynically.

“Actually, I think it was an honest mistake,” Rick replies.

“What, are you defending her now?” I ask. I’m looking for someone to vent on and he’s the only one in the room.

“Chris, calm down please. It’s over. She’s gone and …”

“You’re damn right she’s gone,” I say. “I’m calling Lara.”

Rick wants to object but he doesn’t. He knows there’s no point. It’ll only make matters worse. I dial Lara and when she answers I first ask her about James. She tells me he hasn’t improved. I then proceed to tell her what just happened and tell her I demand that she fires Viola.

Lara is shocked and struggles to believe it. I put Rick on the phone and he confirms what happened. He hands the phone back to me and Lara tells me, she’ll let Viola go and apologizes. I apologize to Lara as well because I know she has no other back up which means she’ll have to return to the office to run the business herself.

Then I grab Rick and take him home. That night we make love like we have not made love in a long while and I realize I have been neglecting him for Grady. I realize I need to be careful or I could blow this.

Lara returns to work the next day. She calls me after Viola has visited her office and returned the company laptop and phone. I apologize to her again for putting her in the predicament she’s in now. I offer to send over one of my staff to help but Lara declines.

Things return to normal and I begin to make sure I spend more time with Rick. He asks me to keep the next weekend open and I guess that’s the wedding day. When I see Grady again, I tell him. He’s less than pleased.

“What do you mean you think it’s the wedding date?”

“Well, he asked me to keep the weekend open. He never does that and since I told him to arrange everything for the wedding, I’m guessing this is it. He never tells me to keep days open. All things are pointing towards it.”

“So, what about us?” Grady asks. “Haven’t I proved myself to you enough? How much is it going to take before you decide I’ve done enough. I’m beginning to think you’re simply holding out on me.”

“Oh, is the poor, little rich boy going to cry?” I ask sarcastically. “Don’t forget who left who the first time. Who broke my heart? Who want’s me back? You do. Are you prepared to do what it takes?”

“Haven’t I shown you that already?” Grady asks, the irritation in his voice clear.

“You might think so but it’s not your decision to make. You agreed to this remember?”

“Yeah, well I’m beginning to think that maybe I shouldn’t have.”

“Really? What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask as my temper flares.

“Why the hell would you marry someone else if you’re interested in me? If you’re interested in me but aren’t sure if it’s going to work between us because of our past, then make a decision one way or the other. Clouding your vision with another asshole on the side isn’t doing either of us any favors. Even worse, you’re planning to marry him but will leave him just like this,” Grady snaps his fingers, “if you decide you want to be with me. Why do you want to endure the shit of a divorce if you can avoid it? I’m beginning to think your head’s not right.”

My anger flares. “Who the hell cheated on who the first time? Now you know what it’s like but you’re squealing like a little child! You’re allowed to fuck people over but don’t let it happen to you. Right? Well if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”

“It’s my apartment,” Grady reminds me.

“So you’re telling me I know where the door is?” I ask.

“Maybe,” he replies angrily.

I look at him in disbelief and decide to hell with it. I pick up my bag and head for the door. I slam it behind me and head for the elevator lobby. I call the elevator and wait for it. I can’t believe it. He hasn’t followed like I expected him too.

The elevator arrives and the doors open. It’s empty and I step inside. The elevator is made of glass and I can see down to the lobby of the hotel. I press the button for the ground floor and look down at the lobby as I wait for the doors to close. At the last minute I hear Grady. “Christine!”

I don’t move and he makes it into the lift just in time. He spins me round to face him and before I can do anything he pulls me close and kisses me. It takes me a moment before I respond. I have wanted Grady since I saw him again and as much as I have been denying him sex with me I have been denying myself. I’m crazy with desire and at last I respond to his kiss. Our mouths melt together as our fingers find each other’s neck or hair to stroke or grab. Our breathing accelerates and we sound like we’ve just finished running a marathon. When we finally separate, I look down to the lobby and my eyes find Lara.

She is looking at me in disbelief and astonishment.

“Fuck!’ I say.

‘What is it?” Grady asks. He wants to look where I’m looking but I stop him.

“Don’t look,” I say. I try to consider my options and make a decision quickly. “Don’t get out of the elevator with me. Go back up. Don’t go straight to your floor.”

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“Someone’s seen us,” I tell him. “I’ll call you later.” Out of the corner of my eye I can see Lara moving toward the elevators. I hope I can get out before she get’s to them. I don’t want her to see Grady. She knows him. This just got so complicated.

Thankfully, the elevator stops and I get out before Lara’s arrived. “Go!” I say to Grady. He punches a number on the elevator panel and presses the close door button. The doors start closing as Lara rounds the corner. Her face is like a thundercloud.

I smile as innocently as possible and starts walking towards her. She reaches me, takes my arm and leads to a quiet corner of the lobby.

“What the hell was that?” she asks. “Was that Grady?”

Shit. I didn’t think she’d seen that much.

“Did you just kiss Grady in the elevator?”

I sigh and nod. “Lara, it’s not what you think it is. He just grabbed me and kissed me. He surprised me.”

“Really? It didn’t look a whole lot like you were resisting,” Lara says angrily.

“Maybe it looked that way to you but he’s strong. I promise you he’ll think twice about trying to kiss me again after I slapped him.”

“What are you doing in the elevator with him?”

“It was pure coincidence,” I lie. I ran into him here after I finished a client meeting. We spoke and I rode up in the elevator with him and came straight back down. He wanted me to go to his room and I said no. That’s when he jumped in the elevator and kissed me by surprise.”

Lara is looking at me suspiciously. She doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. I don’t blame her but I’m not going to budge with my story.

“You know, I let Lara go because you demanded it. She was kissing Rick when you walked in on them. I fired her, like you asked and now, I have to bust my butt doing the work I need to do while my husband desperately needs me at home.”

“What is your point?” I ask as my tone hardens.

“My point is, I had perfectly good help that you demanded I fire because she made a move on Rick. I fired her but then I find you locking lips with your ex. That’s just as bad if not worse. I won’t condone it.”

“I told you that he surprised me,” I insist. “Please Lara. You know me.”

“I’m beginning to wonder,” Lara says as she looks hard at me. “He broke your heart and you’ve never recovered. You’ve never had a proper relationship since then. You’ve changed men like underwear…”

I know she’s right but to stand here and listen to her judgement of me and simply take it is tantamount to admitting the truth.

“…you know,” I interrupt her. “I’ve listened to your jokes about my dating habits since Grady broke my heart. I’ve laughed with them and even participated in them, but I had no idea that you judged me for them. I’ve always trusted you as my best friend and I had no idea you were judging me so harshly all this time.”

“I never judged you all this time. I’m speaking from my view of your life since Grady broke your heart. And I say it because I care, not because I’m judging you.”

“Because you care?” I ask. “How do those remarks show me you care?”

“They tell you I care because I’m trying to tell you to look at what you’ve become since he broke your heart. Now you get to the point that you’re ready to get married to a nice man and you’re going to screw it up because of Grady? Look what he did to you.”

“I can control him,” I say and then realize I’ve said too much.

Lara looks like I’ve slapped her. “You can control him? So, this isn’t the first time you’ve seen him since you broke up?”

“I don’t answer to you,” I say defensively.

Lara looks at me coldly. She is quiet for a moment and then she finally speaks. “No you don’t. You don’t answer to me. Do as you wish. Just remember, I don’t answer to you either. Just do us all a favor and decide what you want with this wedding, okay?”

“The wedding goes ahead,” I reply angrily.

Lara hesitates then nods before she turns and leaves.

A few spectators gathered watching her altercation and now I snap at them. “What are you looking at? Don’t you have enough drama in your own lives?”

They quickly hurry off and I leave the hotel soon after.