Page 47 of Hooking the Captain
I’m leaving for London in four days and would like to see you before then. Maybe I could bring you lunch or something
The dots danced on the screen briefly before his next text came through:
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Before I could argue with him, he sent another message:
Good luck in London
My heart sank as I read his response, and the finality of it hit me like a ton of bricks.
The November airin London was cold and damp as I walked toward my office building. The city looked dull and dreary, just like my mood had been since I’d moved to the city six weeks prior. I tugged my jacket tighter, trying to keep warm, while my mind kept drifting to the home I’d left behind thousands of miles away.
Once in the building, my footsteps echoed through the lobby as I made my way to the elevator. When the lift reached my floor, I stepped into the open space illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights. Walking to my cubicle, I passed by my colleagues, who were engrossed in their morning routines.
Surrounded by a sea of workspaces, I took a seat at my desk, which was covered in spreadsheets and marketing campaign mockups. Even the piles of work I needed to complete couldn’t stop me from thinking about Coop. His absence from my life had left a void my work-filled routine couldn’t fill. A wave of homesickness washed over me, and it was made worse because, back in the states, Thanksgiving was only a few days away. In a perfect world, I’d be with my family and making plans with Coop for us to do something together. Instead, I was all alone.
The urge to call him gnawed at me like it had every day since I’d moved, but I refused to reach out. When he said seeing me wasn’t a good idea, I took that to mean he didn’t want to talk to me either, and I had to respect his wishes. Although, it didn’t stop me from wondering what he was doing and if he was missing me too.
As I stared at the computer screen, trying to force myself to focus, a hand landed on my shoulder. I jumped, the contact pulling me out of my depressing thoughts.
“Hey, didn’t mean to scare you,” James, my coworker and fellow American, said and then leaned against the padded wall of my cubicle.
“No worries. Probably had too much caffeine this morning,” I offered as an excuse.
He chuckled and smiled. “Yeah, I know that feeling. I was talking to our other American co-workers about going out on Friday night since we can’t travel home for Thanksgiving. You should come with us.”
I nodded. “That sounds like fun.”
James grinned. “Nice. We’re going to hit up the Greystone Inn right after work.”
“I’m in,” I said, feeling slightly better about not getting to spend the holiday back home with my family ... Or with Coop.
When Friday evening rolled around,I met up with James and the others in the lobby.
“Ready to go?” Ben asked the group, which consisted of myself, James, Kaylee, and Robin.
We all nodded and made our way out of the building. Despite the chilly wind hitting my face as I stepped onto the sidewalk, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of excitement after weeks of isolation in my flat.
We arrived at the Greystone Inn, a dimly lit pub with walls made of exposed brick with wooden beams running across its ceiling.
“I’ll grab the first round,” James announced. “Why don’t you guys get a table while I order?”
“There’s an empty one,” Kaylee said, pointing toward the corner.
Ben, Robin, and I followed Kaylee, weaving through the crowded pub. As we sat at the high-top table, I took it all in. Laughter and chatter filled the air, instantly reminding me of the night I met Coop. The memory made me smile, but it was short-lived, knowing he wouldn’t be joining me.
James came to the table with five pints of beer. “Cheers, guys,” he said, raising his glass.
We all followed suit and soon we were immersed in conversation on topics ranging from work gossip to the upcoming holiday plans. It didn’t take long before the pub became more crowded, and the drinks kept flowing. As the night wore on, I found myself feeling the effects of the alcohol, and I started to relax and let go of some of the sadness I’d been carrying for weeks. I leaned against the wooden beam behind me and let my eyes close momentarily, only to feel someone’s arm brush against mine. My eyes opened, and I realized it was Kaylee, who was still sitting next to me.
Her lips curled into a smile as she inched a little closer. “Hey, Ford,” she said, her voice low and seductive. “I’m glad you could make it out with us tonight.”
I hadn’t noticed it before, but Kaylee was quite attractive. She was on the shorter side, with light brown hair that hung past her shoulders and bright blue eyes. Exactly the type of woman I usually went for ... when I was going for a woman, that was. Maybe trying to date again would help me move on.
“I’m glad I came out too,” I slurred.
Kaylee leaned even closer, her breath warm against my ear. “I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit down since you moved here. Is everything okay?”
