My Five Night Fling by Maci Dillon

 

 

KASSIDY

 

“Kassidy! I was hoping I’d find you here.”

Sophia is standing at my door ready to knock when I fling it open on my crusade to drink my weight in tequila. She smiles, rushing me for a hug and a friendly kiss.

“Sophia, hi. What are you doing? I was about to head out for a margarita. Join me?”

She claps her hands together with excitement. “Abso-fucking-lutely. My treat.”

Ten minutes later, we’re sitting at a bar watching a trainee mix our margaritas. It’s happy hour, so if he fucks them up, no harm done.

“When I stopped by the gallery on my way over, Jarett showed me the portrait he did of you. It was exquisite.” Sophia watches as I run my finger around the edge of my finished glass, collecting all the sugary syrup. Licking the yummy goodness from my fingertips unapologetically, I smile dreamily.

“It’s a gorgeous portrait,” I agree. “A beautiful and heartfelt surprise,” I add, looking at her.

She sits half-swiveled toward me, her arm on the bar and her face resting casually in the palm of her hand. Her eyes are tender and trained intently on me.

“I don’t suppose you could extend your vay-cay an extra week or two?”

I’d just taken a sip of my drink and almost choke. Coughing and spluttering, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. Class isn’t in my corner right now.

Not yet ready to discuss my change of plans, I’m unsure how to answer her. What would my staying in London mean for Jarett and me? A relationship is out of the question. This is a colossal professional opportunity and not one I can afford to ruin by splitting my attention. Besides, Jarett deserves a woman’s full attention.

“You okay, Kassidy? You seem a little off,” Sophia reflects with a look of concern.

Nodding, I force a smile. “One hundred percent. Now, tell me why I should extend my holiday an extra week?”

Sophia has that same look of excitement on her face as she had when I mentioned margaritas earlier back at my room. “Next Saturday is my fortieth, and I’m overdue for a party. It’s going to be epic, and I’d love you to be there.”

“Fortieth? No way are you hitting the big four-o. I wouldn’t have picked you to be much older than me.”

She throws her head back, laughing. “You’re the sweetest, but I know you know I’m older than Jarett.” She winks. I desperately want to tell her I’ll be here, not only for the weekend and her party but for the next twelve months at least.

Except for my girlfriends back home and my mother, I want to tell Jarett first. I need to make some phone calls as soon as possible. Still coming to terms with the change of plans, I picture what life in London will look like if Jarett and I end this façade, this fling.

Part of me acknowledges the risk of allowing a relationship to take over my life. The other part, a loud inner voice, is yelling this could be fate.

My real-life fairy tale.

“Where did you go just now?”

Sophia’s words break my inner thoughts. “I’m sorry, I was picturing you partying it up and wondering how I could make it happen to be here to celebrate with you.” With that, her infectious smile touches my heart. If I stay, I have a true friend in Sophia. Provided my whatever-this-is-or-isn’t relationship with her brother doesn’t tear our friendship to shreds.

“You would contemplate changing things around and staying for my party?” Her eyes sparkle, and I love that my sticking around makes her so happy.

“I’ll see what I can do in the next twelve hours, you never know what life has in store.” I squeeze her hand reassuringly.

My bag vibrates. Pulling out my phone, I see Jarett is calling. We’re due to meet up soon, and he must be wondering where I am. “Hello, you finished your business meetings?” I greet him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Sophia cock her head to one side, a questioning look on her face. She stopped by to see him on her way here, so I’m guessing he’s been free for a little while.

“Wasn’t so much a meeting, just several things I had to act on and finalize before tomorrow, but yes, I’m done and all yours. Where are you?”

“Currently drinking half-priced margaritas with your beautiful sister, who apparently, is older than you, though she doesn’t look a day over thirty,” I tease. Sophia chuckles beside me and cups her face in the palm of her hands, batting her eyelids.

The young bartender catches her doing this, and I’m fairly sure it makes his day.

“Ah, yes, funny, aren’t you? Which bar? And you two better not be ganging up on me.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle into my phone. “Never.” Telling him where to find us, he promises to see us in twenty minutes. For a large city, it seems he’s never far from me. Spending most of his waking hours at the gallery and me staying in Central London helps. Moving to Shoreditch will be a different story.

Except Jarett also has an apartment there, not far from Maximum, where I spent my first night. Anxiety spikes, thinking about the what-ifs, but it’s not going to help me or anybody else to overanalyze everything.

However, I have to escape this get-together at some point to contemplate the coming months, do some research on my new position and contractor. Most importantly, I need to call home, so the girls know not to expect me on the flight home tomorrow.

So much to do, yet I’m supposed to celebrate my last night in London with Jarett.

“You know the rest of your day is a write-off, right?” Sophia says as I end the call. When I glimpse her blank expression, she continues, “My brother will want you all to himself for your last night here, but as the three of us, Jarett, myself, and Roman usually catch up at Maximum on Sunday nights, I’m going to suggest you join us before he steals you away.”

I do love the sound of that. Both a night at the speakeasy and being whisked off to spend alone time with Jarett. Hopefully naked and sweating. It’s fitting my first and last night will be enjoyed at the same place surrounded by the same fabulous people.

Only it’s no longer my last night, and I’m undecided how I feel about that.

“What a great idea. Count me in.” I grin. “Although…” I pause, debating how to plant the seed for some time alone, “… I should make some calls to work and family and see what I can do about changing flights and staying longer.” I raise my eyebrows and chew the inside of my lip nervously. I didn’t want to lie, but I’m also not ready to give her the whole story just yet.

Sophia’s on board. “Yes, you certainly do. I’ll help keep Jarett occupied to give you the time you need. I think it would be wise not to say anything to him about this until you know whether it’s happening or not.”

I’m surprised by her wanting to keep it a secret, but then again, Sophia is super protective of Jarett, so I shouldn’t be. Smiling, I raise my glass to her and slurp down the rest of my margarita. Sliding the empty glass toward the center of the bar, I summon the bartender. “Two more, please.”

“I don’t want Jarett to get his hopes up at the potential extra time with you for it not to happen. I know he’ll pretend to be adultish about it, but he’ll be disappointed.”

“No problem,” I agree, squeezing her arm lightly to reassure her.

True to her word, Sophia encourages Jarett to go with her to shop for décor for their new office design. He’s hesitant to leave, but I assure him I have some calls to make and a few things to sort out before my flight. We agree to meet at Central Station at six o’clock to make our way to Maxine’s for appetizers and cocktails.

Now I’m sitting in my room writing out a list of pros and cons in my notebook, putting off the phone calls. Why I insist on creating a list, I don’t know, because I have no option but to stay. Unless, of course, I’m willing to resign and give up the biggest career opportunity I may ever have.

Which, I’m not.

I want this.

My career is about to move ahead in leaps and bounds. The project tasks identified in the email I received from Malcolm after our call have motivated me, kickstarted my creative juices, and amplified my love of this career choice. 

Still, I continue with my list of pros and cons.

There are two cons.

One, what to do with my relationship with Jarett. Our five-night fling can’t continue past tonight.

Two, I’ll miss my friends.

Hardly enough cons to warrant any indecision or concern. Right?

My friends will still be there when I eventually return home, we can FaceTime regularly, and I’ll be giving them an excuse to come to London. Plus, I’ll be able to go home for a visit inside the first twelve months. That, I’ll make sure of. The Jarett situation isn’t as clear because my head and heart are at war.

I push my notebook to the side and close the cover. Picking up my phone, I call my mom. Of course, she’s excited for me, knowing how much my career progression means to me and how hard I’ve worked to get here. Given we aren’t particularly close, and I don’t see her as often as I should, anyway, she isn’t too worried about me being on the other side of the world. Her only words of advice are to “stay true to yourself and don’t let anyone take advantage.”

That, I can do.

Next, I FaceTime Miah. It’s midnight in Australia. I should’ve made these calls earlier in the day. She picks up on the second ring. “Hey, girl, you packed and ready to come home?” she yawns into the phone.

“Umm, nope. Not exactly, no.” Her on-point greeting leaves no room for idle chit-chat, and I’m grateful. Her eyes widen, and concern etches her sleepy face.

“An incredible work opportunity has come up for me. I had a call from Malcolm this afternoon. A big-deal hotelier wants me to stay on as his hands-on consultant to help with the design and roll-out of a new hotel chain here in London.”

“Eeek.” Miah goes from yawn to screaming into the phone in less than five seconds. “Holy fuck, are you serious, Kassidy?” She doesn’t give me time to respond before she continues with her excited rant. “That’s fucking huge, congratulations! This could be the big break you’ve been looking for, right?”

“Exactly.”

“So, you’ll be what? Another week or two before you’re home then?”

I let out a deep breath and rub my temples. My eyes close as I break the news. “The initial contract is for twelve months, so unless—”

“Whoa, twelve months?”

“Yeah, it’s a big job, multiple hotels, and I’ll be employing a team of people to help with all aspects I’m not qualified to complete myself.”

She’s quiet for a few moments. Her voice is strained when she eventually speaks. “I’m so proud of you, Kass. This is a major opportunity. But twelve months, I can’t miss you for twelve long months. We might blow up FaceTime with how much we’ll be using it now.” She pushes out a light laugh, and I smile sadly.

I know how she feels. I’m a bucket of mixed emotions, especially now I’ve told her. “The upside is, I’ll get holidays, all-expenses-paid trips home at least a few times in the year, so it won’t be twelve whole months until I see you again.”

“Thank fuck because that feels like a death sentence to me.” Her tone is sad, and it hurts my heart.

I explain that I may come home after the initial consult to collect some of my things but wouldn’t know more for at least another week. She nods, avoiding direct eye contact. Then I hear her sniffle, and she pinches the bridge of her nose, something she does when she’s welling up but desperately trying not to cry.

“I love you, Mi-Mi,” I tell her. “It’s late for you, and I need to ring Raven and Chloe as well.” Again, she nods. When she finally peers at me, there’s a tear falling which I pretend not to notice.

“Love you, Kass. Talk soon, okay?”

The video call ends, and I dread making the next two calls.

The conversations with Raven and Chloe mirror the call with Miah except for one thing. A few months ago, Chloe reunited with her long-lost love, Will, and recently Raven has hooked up with a successful surgeon, Sean, and is, against all odds, now in a committed relationship. Therefore, blinded by love, their first questions centered around Jarett.

“Oh my God, you’re staying in London for a guy?” Raven quips.

I laugh at the shock in her voice and ignore the surprise on her face. “Did you miss the part where I said this is a massive career opportunity?”

She sighs. “Of course not, and I’m over-the-moon happy for you, I am. But the thought of you choosing Jarett, some five-night fling over me, sucks balls, Kassidy Rae.”

I shake my head. She reminds me of my mother, who always uses my first and middle name together when I’m in trouble. “I’m not choosing anybody. It’s business. I have to stay or kiss my career goodbye, which isn’t an option.”

She waves her hand at me. “I know, I know. I get all that. But I want it noted that although I want you to succeed, I’ll miss you every second you’re gone and will be counting down until we get to see you again.”

Smiling, I nod as her bottom lip drops a little. “Duly noted. I’ll let you know when I’ll be coming home. Who knows, it may be sooner than later, but I have to wait and see what happens after the initial consultation.”

Raven reminds me to stay clear of all future flings, and one-night stands are the only appropriate course of action if I were to kick ass with this contract. I didn’t promise anything, but her advice on this was also noted.

Now to figure out what the hell to tell Jarett and Sophia.

Or more to the point, how much to tell them.