Page 62 of Thrown for a Loop
“Me either,” I agree, even though my galloping heart says otherwise. I pick up my margarita and take a deep gulp. “He’s right, anyway. We don’t know each other well.”Not anymore.“Ten years ago we both worked at the same skating camp. But I hadn’t seen him since.”
“Weird.” Aiden looks disappointed. “That video makes the story seem more interesting.”
“So does professional wrestling,” Darcy points out. “You can’t believe everything you see on the internet, Aiden.”
“I guess not.” He gives her a wink. “Next you’ll try to tell me that those seven-minute ab workout apps aren’t really magic.”
Weber comes bounding over then, and I brace myself for even more questions about my video with Chase. “Yo, Darcy?” he says instead. “My room key doesn’t work! Did you give me the wrong one?”
She stares into her cocktail with a sigh. “Oh, rookie. Did youtry switching it off, counting to ten, and then switching it back on again?”
He holds the card up to his face and squints at it.
Darcy cackles. Then she downs the rest of her cocktail. “You are just the cutest, Weber,” she says, hooking her arm through his and handing me her empty glass. “Let’s go get you sorted out.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says as they go off together.
“Darcy is our queen,” Aiden says, sliding onto her vacant barstool. “That makes you our new princess.”
“Oh, please. Keep the tiara.”
He gives me a handsome smile. “Chin up, Zoe. I heard you had a big win today. Chase may be healed.”
“We’ll see,” I say, trying for modesty. But tomorrow night I’ll be on the edge of my eighth-row seat. If he gets his groove back, I’ll be the first to celebrate.
“We should have a drink sometime. Just the two of us,” Aiden says suddenly.
“Like… a date?”
He looks heavenward. “Who knew I’d lose my touch so young? I’m not even thirty.”
“Sorry.” I laugh. “I’ve had a long day with ButterScorch.”
He winces. “Did anyone warn you not to sit close enough to hear them argue?”
“No, in fact.” I give him a little shoulder bump. “That would have been useful.”
He grins. “Sorry. If you go out for drinks with me, I’ll tell you all the gossip.”
“I like gossip,” I say, keeping my friendly smile in place. “But I couldn’t do that. If I date anyone at work, nobody will ever take me seriously.”
He looks incredulous. “What difference would it make?”
“Plenty.It’s different for women. You’ll have to trust me on this. Besides, I’m not dating at all right now—coworkers or not. Getting divorced will do that to a girl.”
His expression softens. “I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds lonely.”
“No, I like it,” I insist. “It’s healthy.” I drain the last of my margarita. “Want to help me finish this pizza?”
“Sure,” he says. “It’s already cheat day.”
We each take a slice. “Cheers.”
A half hour later I head to room 404, where Darcy is waiting in a cute pair of flannel pajamas with bunnies all over them. “I just made an appointment for our pedicures.”
“Perfect.” I locate my suitcase beside the untouched bed. “Thank you for bringing this upstairs. I feel like I could sleep for a hundred years.”
“Same. I saw you talking to Aiden, so I didn’t come back to the bar. Looked like he was turning on the charm.”
