Page 8 of Pour Decisions
“Are you embarrassed by me?” I’m surprised I’m asking again. But that doesn’t stop me from doing it. I need him to recant all the wonderful things he said to me last night so I can go on with my life void of romantic daydreams and visions of a handsome prince on a white horse. Back to my day-to-day living that doesn’t include sexy one-night stands who worship my body for hours on end.
“No, I’m not embarrassed by you. Jesus, Mag . . . Morgan. Why would you think that? Especially after last night? I mean, I know it was only one night, but I thought we had a connection.”
“Why me?” I ask.
“Why you, what?”
“Why did you ask me to dance last night? Out of all the girls at the bar, what was it about me that made you approach?”
“Shit, I don’t know. You looked happy, and like you were having fun, I liked your smile. And you looked really hot in that dress.”
He’s right, I did look hot in that dress.
Still. . .
“Hey, bud, we’re gonna head out. Catch you later?” I look up to see Michael and Blondie beside us. Michael has his hand on Riggs’ shoulder. Like they’re friends. Blondie is looking at me curiously; part intrigue and part distaste. God, they didn’t hear anything we said, did they?
“Yeah, man, I’ll call you. Maybe we can do breakfast in the morning before the whole thing gets started or something,” Riggs says back, giving Michael one of those one-armed guy hugs.
Michael turns to me. “Morgan, a pleasure as always,” he says to my chest, taking a moment to drag his eyes along my entire body before making a sound eerily reminiscent of “Yum” then dragging Blondie by the hand after him as they exit the room
“You know Michael?” I ask.
“Yeah, we go way back. Why?”
“It all makes sense now,” I tell him.
“What makes sense?”
“Why you picked me.”
“I already told you why.”
“You told me your excuse, your phony trumped up plan, but not your reason.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re setting me up so Michael can win the competition.”
“What?” he asks, his face incredulous.
“You heard me.”
“Are you nuts?”
“Are you?” Okay, not my finest comeback. But I’m incensed, beyond even. So much so, I can barely collect my thoughts.
“How would I be setting you up exactly?”
“By finding out my submission ideas and then telling Michael so he can sabotage me.”
“Ah.” He throws his arms in the air. “Well, nice work, Sherlock, you’ve caught me. Given we spent all night discussing yourideasand I know everything about your business now. If you’ll excuse me I need to find Michael so I can tell him all about it.”
“Just because it didn’t work doesn’t mean it wasn’t your plan.”
“You’ve got a screw loose, lady. I did nothing of the kind. I didn’t even know who you were. Hell, I thought your name was Maggie until just a few minutes ago. And tonight was the first time I’ve seen Michael in years.”
I have two choices here. Believe him or not. If I believe him, I risk last night being real. And what he said earlier about our having a connection being true. If I don’t believe him, my life goes back to normal.
