By the time the doors admitted me through secret elevators, and I’d arrived at the rooftop bar, I was somewhat grateful I had on expensive heels at least.
The atmosphere was euphoric, but it was definitely for the wealthier patrons. I followed Richard to the outdoor area where I heard my name called and finally let out the breath I seemed to have held since following Richard to the elevator.
“Hey,” I said, eying the three friends I hadn’t seen since graduation night.
“Ashley Taylor,” Brittney laughed and hugged me. “You look awesome.”
“Thanks, you all look great too.” I smiled at my girlfriends and the men with them. “It’s been too long.”
“Six years,” Beth said. “Here, let’s get the introductions out of the way.” She pointed to the tall, prematurely balding man next to her, “This is my husband, Max.” She smiled with pride before looking on, “Go, Brit.”
Brittney threw her blonde ponytail back. “This is Jon,” she smiled at the blond man who was standing stiff and uncomfortably at her side. “He and I hooked up about a month ago.” She ran her hand down his polo shirt. “He’s not into the night scenes,” she giggled.
“I’m with you on that,” I tried to smile to help the poor guy loosen up some. “I think I’m going to need a drink to process this venue.”
“That’s on me,” Liz said. “It’s been so damn long, babe.” She hugged me and kissed both of my cheeks.
WTF happened to shy, sweet, Valedictorian Liz?
“That’s quite a greeting,” I laughed as I ordered a cosmopolitan. “Where’s your guy?” I teased.
The girls laughed while Max and Jon fell into a conversation, leaving the girls to chat while they returned to their drinks.
“Divorced,” she shrugged. “Being a doctor sucks.”
“Well, obviously, it’s good money.” I waved my hand around the stunning lights of the city and the vast view of luxury from the rooftop.
“Well, it is,” she sipped her martini, “But truth be told, I’m still paying off student loans and probably will be until I die.”
I sipped the drink that was placed in front of me at the high table where we stood. “Why in the hell would you reserve a place like this if you’re paying off debt?”
“It was one of the perks of the medical conference I had to attend today,” she said with a strange grin, then her face straightened. “I heard about your mom. I’m so sorry.”
These were not the same girls I remembered from high school. Maybe this is why I’ve heard so many stories about ten-year reunions sucking. Everyone is different but trying to be not to be. My friends from school were giggly, awkward, and—well, not what I expected. Maybe I was the weird one.
“Yes,” I answered her, gulping down half of my cosmo. “We thought her remission would last a lot longer than it did, but we lost her two years ago.”
“Dang,” Beth said uncomfortably. “Is your dad okay? Are you okay? You don’t have a man with you, so are you single? Why are you up in Frisco?”
Okay, I started drinking too late. I smiled, “Cousin’s wedding. Dad made me show up here on his behalf. They helped us out financially while mom was sick, and the bills were burying him. I have no idea who these people are, but I guess the wedding is a big ordeal, and they insisted we come.”
“Ugh,” Brittney sighed, “Annoying.” She reached out to me, “Not what they did, but having to be around people you don’t know like that. Right?”
Nothing compared to what I’m experiencing at the moment. Either they started drinking too early, or I was standing around three strangers who I probably would’ve never been friends with if I didn’t grow up with them.
“It’s fine,” I motioned for another drink, noticing I absently gulped down the first.
“Well, what have you been up to?” Liz asked. “I’m ready to fuck our keynote speaker from the conference today,” she said, my eyes widening at her abrupt words.
“Well, I had to drop out of city college, and put it all on hold,” I answered. “I needed to take care of my mom, and ever since she died, I’ve been sort of getting by while deciding my next move.”
“Girl, you have to do you!” Brittney stated, pointing at me.
“I am.” I sipped my drink.
I’d apparently lost the interest of my friends after informing them about my boring life plans. The conversation shifted—not to what we’d all really been up to, but to orgasms, broken relationships, and any male specimen who passed our table—as if Max and whatever the other guy’s name was weren’t there with us.
Thank God for the shift in our environment. The music grew louder and changed as the sun started to set, and now my obviously-drunk friends were flinging themselves onto the dance floor. Stuck with their significant others, I bowed out as nicely as I could, but I wasn’t leaving these views just yet.
I walked away from the crowd and found a slice of heaven on the rooftop that gave me the most stunning views of the city. I stared at the millions of twinkling lights that illuminated the city and tried to burn this image into my mind. I’d seen cityscapes painted and photographed, but feeling it while experiencing the site itself was something I’d never captured no matter how many canvasses I’d painted. I had to find a way to breathe life into a painting that would help people sense what I was sensing by looking at this magic.
“So,” a smooth voice said to my right, “I feel we might have met before?”
I looked over, and my drink sloshed in my hand when my left ankle weakened, and I almost fell off to the side after seeing the dream guy I spilled my drink on at the coffee shop earlier. “Yeah,” I said as he caught my fall by reaching for my arm.
He glanced down at the cosmopolitan I held. “I can safely say that if you spill that particular drink on me that I’m not one who looks good in pink.”
I smirked. Um. You would look good in anything…or nothing!
“No?” his eyes roamed over my face.
“Yes,” I answered, stunned and too buzzed to hold a conversation with Mr. Gorgeous.
His lips twisted, “What brings you here tonight?”
I looked at him in confusion. “Friends, and you?”
“Work.” He smiled. “Did you handle your assignment from earlier?”
Why the hell is this guy even talking to me?
“I did. Thanks for asking and actually remembering.”
“How could I forget? The moment I saw you tonight, all I could think was that this is the girl known as Any Position.”
“You here on business, Mr.—?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
His turquoise ones glistened, “I am.”
“And I’m guessing you’re most likely here with me—bringing up that stupid name—because you’re looking to have a little fun on your trip?”
“Perhaps.”
My body went into electric spasms at the thought, his fucking hot looks, and that I would even suggest this to him. Hell no. I wasn’t going to be some home wrecker because I came out to meet friends—which was a total fail—at a damn bar. I wasn’t that drunk, or maybe I was? The hell if I knew.