Page 31 of Wicked Player
Chapter Eleven
I’m giddy for the rest of the day, happy to see my customers at the café. Well, I always am, regardless. I do love my job, and for that, I'm forever thankful. I wonder what Colton does all day. I must ask him. We never talked much about his work and studies, nor mine.
I wake up on Friday morning to a text message from Cassie.
Guess what?! I have an interview. I may be going to Colton Rossi's next party!!!
I don't know what to think. My heart stops for a second. Should I tell her about my date? Can we even call it a date? I'm not sure what it is. I wonder if this is something he does often — movie night with the ladies and their sons or daughters. Maybe he has a thing for single moms. A lot of men do, but unfortunately, not the right type of men. I shake my head, not wanting to overthink it.
You will make it in, I reply, and this is no lie.
I’m convinced she’ll make it. How could she not? She’s so beautiful and charming.
It’s a ball. Great food! Booze and edibles!I add.
I really hope she doesn't get chosen though. I'm not sure how I would take that.
* * *
Christian and I have talked it over ad nauseam, and we decided onDaddy’s Home. I personally love Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. It’s not so bad either. I'm wondering if Colton has ever seen this movie. I hope not.
I'm giddy and nervous all day preparing for the big night. I clean every corner, wanting this place to be perfect. But let's face it, at seven hundred square foot, this place is a tiny shack compared to Colton’s estate. It’s an open loft concept with two small bedrooms and a tiny washroom. But it's home, and I love every square foot of it. Colton's ensuite bathroom is probably bigger than this whole place. I laugh at the thought. If only I could be in his brain when he first sees this place. On second thought, I probably shouldn't be.
“So remember… you be on your best behavior,” I remind Christian yet again.
“Yeah, I know. I know.” He rolls his eyes. I suppose I've already reminded him more than once, and Iamkind of annoying.
It might be a little weird for Christian, me inviting a random guy over. I never do. In fact, I haven’t been with anyone since Keith, not in six years. Cassie finds this fact both depressing and unbelievable. She keeps telling me I'm a catch, and that a catch should never be wasted.
“He's a new friend,” I tell Christian. “His name is Colton. You’ll like him.”
Just then, I hear a car coming down our long driveway. And lo and behold, it's a black Escalade. I assume it's Colton, and when I see his tall slender frame sliding out of the car, my assumptions are confirmed. Damn, he's a beautiful man.
Christian and I scurry down the deck stairs to meet him on the driveway.
“This place is great,” he says. “That’s a long driveway. Who ploughs in the winter?”
“I have a guy for that,” I tell him. “I pay him two hundred and fifty a season.”
“That's a great deal because this drive is huge.”
I’m brought back to the exquisite tree-lined winding drive to his estate. “Not as big as yours though.”
“That's what she said,” he jokes. We break out into laughter and Christian seems confused. I know one day he’ll get all the jokes, and a part of me doesn’t look forward to that day. I kind of want him to be my sweet little boy forever.
“Come on up,” I welcome him eagerly. “This is Christian.”
“Hello, Sir,” Christian says as they shake hands.
“Well, hello to you, buddy.”
I smile because the sight is pretty sweet.
Colton follows us up the stairs, onto the deck. Christian is bouncing, clearly excited to have a visitor. We don’t often do, save for Cassie, or Miriam who lives a few cottages down the bay. Colton stands next to me and takes in the view. I study his chiseled profile as he does. The man is perfection.
Our cabin’s not much to look at, but the property is gorgeous. The view from the deck looks down onto boulders and cliffs leading to the water where our dock sits. We can catch the sunset if we sit on the dock and look to the left of the bay. Christian and I like to do that once in a while. I'll usually have tea, and he’ll have a hot chocolate.
“Wow,” he says softly. “This is gorgeous.”
