Somewhere in Between (Madison Square #1) Read online

  I lumbered down the hallway to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee so it could brew while I got dressed. A note was taped to the top of the machine.

  You fell asleep. Call you tomorrow.

  -Drew

  I couldn’t do shots like I used to. I guess I passed out on the couch during the movie and he must’ve put me to bed before he left. Sure as hell wasn’t the first time. I hope I wasn’t talking in my sleep. That could have been embarrassing, considering I was dreaming about him. I left the note on the counter and headed back to my room to get dressed.

  When I got to the office, my hangover was in full force. Today was going to be rough. Bitchface plus hangover equals potential murder-suicide. I was going to do everything I could to avoid her today.

  I went about my morning routine. I checked the messages from last night and sorted through my e-mails. I got one from Gwen saying she would be out today. Oh thank sweet baby Jesus. Maybe today wouldn’t end in bloodshed after all.

  Madeline breezed into the office trailing Chanel, as usual.

  “Ms. McCabe,” she called from her office. I grabbed my notebook and headed toward her voice.

  “Good morning!” she said with a smile. “In Ms. Stevens’s absence, it looks like you will accompany me on the Jacobs walkthrough today. Please confirm with the project manager that all is set.”

  “No problem,” I replied. I returned to my desk and saw Wiley coming through, carrying a huge stack of fabric samples. I set down my notebook and went to help her. I took half of the stack before she tripped and ate floor.

  “Thanks,” Wiley said, trying to catch her breath.

  “These need Madeline’s approval.” She gestured toward the samples. She exhaled and sat on the edge of my desk.

  “So, how was dinner?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I let out a long breath as I walked past her to my chair.

  “It was fine. Drank too much and apparently passed out early.” I dropped into my seat, leaning as far back as I could, and closed my eyes for just a second.

  She spun around on the edge of my desk to face me.

  “Getting drunk with a hotty like him?” Wiley pointed to the picture of Drew and me from New Year’s Eve last year that I kept on my desk. “That sounds like a great night.”

  “I told you, Drew and I are just friends.”

  “Yeah, if I had a friend who looked like that, there would definitely be benefits.” She winked at me.

  “You’re awful!” I said, tossing a paper clip at her.

  “Seriously, how are you not attracted to him?” She picked up the picture of us and thrust it toward me.

  “I’m not blind. I know he’s attractive. I can see the way women look at him, but you don’t know him like I do. To me, he is just Drew. He’s family.” I shrugged and returned to my computer, typing up a quick e-mail.

  “You sure about that?” Wiley asked, giving me an I-don’t-buy-it look.

  I looked away and pursed my lips. “Well, actually, I did have a really intense dream about him last night.”

  “Really?” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “Spill!”

  I sat up and faced her. “I don’t remember all of it. Just pieces, like flashes of his hands and him kissing my neck. It was weird.”

  She jumped off my desk, surprising me.

  “I knew it!” she said, a little too loud. Slapping her hands over her mouth, she glanced at the door to Madeline’s office and leaned in to me, lowering her voice. “I knew you were into him.”

  “What? No, I’m not.”

  “You so are. I knew you wanted him. You don’t have sex dreams about people you don’t want to have sex with,” she whispered.

  “It wasn’t a sex dream!” I said though clenched teeth. “There was no sex.”

  “How do you know? You don’t remember it all.” Her face morphed into a haughty expression.

  “Trust me, I know. At most, it was foreplay.”

  “Ha!” She thrust a finger at me. “That qualifies. Admit it! You want Drew.”

  I put my hands up in defense, looking at her from the corner of my eye. That’s what you do with crazy people. Show them you are unarmed and don’t make direct eye contact.

  “Whoa, chill,” I said, trying to calm her down. I pulled my chair closer to my desk and farther away from Wiley. “I didn’t say anything about wanting him.”

  I tried to distract myself by typing up another e-mail. Did I want Drew? Yeah, he’s sexy as hell, and I do remember checking him out last night, but was my subconscious really trying to tell me something? I doubt it. Besides, even if I did want Drew, it’s not like he would want me. He has a Barbie Bimbo fetish. I’m not even close to his type. This whole thing was ridiculous. Nothing happened. The dream was a product of too much tequila and not enough sex. What I really needed was to get laid.

  “Tell you what. Tomorrow night is trivia night at The Den. Come with. You can meet Drew for yourself; see just how much we annoy each other. Then you can put this crazy idea to bed.” I ushered her away from my desk so I could get back to work. She rolled her eyes.

  “You say annoyance, I say sexual tension.” She waved at me over her shoulder as she headed to her office. I shook my head and returned to my desk. God, I hope she doesn’t bring this up around Drew.

  ***

  I was just walking through my front door when my phone rang. I dropped my keys on the hook by the door and set my bag on the barstool to rummage for my phone. My bag had this little pocket for my cell phone conveniently sewn into the lining to eliminate this whole little dance of frantically searching for it before you missed the call, but I’d be damned if I ever used it. Just one more genius invention that goes unused, like portable purse hooks.

  I finally located the phone and slid my finger across it to answer.

  “Hey,” I said, sounding a bit out of breath.

  “You should get a smaller purse, then maybe you would be able to find your phone faster,” Drew replied. I could hear the smirk in his voice.

  “No can do. I can’t fit everything I need in this one.”

  “What do you need with all that stuff anyway? That bag is dangerous. It should be labeled a weapon of mass destruction.” He chuckled.

  “Hey, I’ll remember that the next time you ask me to sneak candy into the movie theater for you.”

  He took a breath and continued. “So, last night, you passed out on me.”

  “Yeah, sorry. Guess I’m a cheaper drunk then I used to be. I woke up with the worst hangover. No more Tequila Mondays for me, okay?”

  “Okay,” he said, sounding a little confused. “You don’t remember anything?”

  “Not really. Why? Did I talk in my sleep? I didn’t say anything stupid, did I?”

  “No,” he said, “you were fine.”

  “Good.” I started to unload my bag, taking out the concept drawings I brought home. “Oh, I invited a friend from work to trivia tomorrow.”

  “She hot?”

  “No!”

  “No, she’s not hot? That’s not very nice, Red,” he scolded.

  “No. She’s great, but no screwing my work friends! It creates too much drama for me when you stop returning their calls. She is off limits, got it?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I got it.”

  “Good.” I nodded. “Well, I would love to shoot the shit with you, but I have some work to do. See you tomorrow?”

  “Yeah.” He dragged the word out a bit. “Red?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You really don’t remember anything?”

  I panicked. Shit! Did I say something about him in my sleep? Oh God, what did I say? Play dumb. He will let it go. “Nope.”

  Drew stayed quiet and I started sweating. Dear God, please let him just let this go!

  “Okay, I’ll see you at The Den.”

  I let out a big sigh of relief and rushed to get off the phone before it got awkward. “Okay, see you then. Bye.”

  I hung up and placed
my phone on the counter, leaning against it for support. I didn’t know what was up with me, but I needed to get it under control, and fast.

  ***

  The Den was only a few blocks down from my apartment. It was a tiny little English pub, owned by Drew’s dad, Jack. Our little group affectionately called him Papa Jack. Papa Jack was a broad, burly, bear of a man, but his eyes gave away his sweet and gentle demeanor. His mess of dark hair was just like Drew’s, but gray was beginning to pepper through the dark strands. A scruffy beard covered most of his face, making his expressions a little hard to read and slightly more intimidating. Those of us he loved always knew where we stood with Papa Jack. Once he claimed you as one of his own, he would always have your back.

  Drew and his brother, David, got their looks from their mother. I only met her a few times in college before she passed, but she was kind, beautiful, and the most genuine person I have ever met. Drew is so much like her. His kindness, compassion, and thoughtful charm all came from her. His sarcastic nature, sharp wit, and sense of humor was all Papa Jack.

  I asked his mom once how she handled being around so much testosterone. She smiled, wrapped her arm around my shoulder, and said, “I treasure every gray hair they gave me. You’ll understand when you have a Collins boy of your own.”

  She was always convinced Drew and I belonged together. I wish I’d had more time to get to know her, but, then again, to know her was to know her boys.

  The air in The Den was always heavy with the smell of beer and fried food, making my heart full and my mouth water. Papa Jack made the best fish and chips in the city. Of course I was a little biased.

  I made my way through the bar and headed to our usual table in the back, smiling at Papa Jack as I passed him in his usual place behind the bar. I swear the man never leaves this place.

  Papa Jack looked up at me from the sink where he was washing some glasses and said, “I’ll send Bridget with your usual, Alex.”

  “Thanks, Pop!” I shouted to him over my shoulder as I dropped into my usual chair facing the door.

  A few minutes later, Bridget dropped a Bud Light and a basket of fish and chips in front of me with a nod and took off to deliver some more drinks.

  “Papa Jack! My man!”

  I lifted my head as Sean came through the bar. He slapped his hand against Papa Jack’s and made his way to me. Sean, Drew, and I stayed close after college. Now, Sean and Drew work at the same graphic design firm downtown. Sean and I had our differences over the years, but he was someone I could always count on. The man was in a class all by himself. He’s larger than life and always the one to stand out, but he is fiercely loyal.

  Sean dropped down in the chair across from me, grabbed a fry from my basket, and popped it in his mouth.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said with a wink. He pursed his lips in my direction. He always was a shameless flirt.

  “Hey, Sean.” I giggled. “Where is your partner in crime?”

  “On his way. He said something about picking up his tux for Friday.”

  He reached to grab another fry. I swatted at his hand. Bridget came by and set a Sam Adam’s in front of him. He looked up at her with a thousand-watt smile. She rolled her eyes and hurried past him. I covered my mouth to stifle the laugh. Poor Sean. He’s been trying to get Bridget to go out with him for years with absolutely no success. You had to admire his blind determination.

  Don’t get me wrong, Sean is a good-looking guy. Tall, with a lean but muscular build and short blond hair styled into a faux hawk. He wore thick rimmed, black hipster glasses, and his smile was completely infectious. You couldn’t help but have fun when he was around.

  Drew came in a little while later, followed closely by his brother, David. “Hey, Pops,” Drew said, throwing his hand up to Papa Jack.

  Papa Jack nodded at him and turned to David. “Where’s my beautiful daughter-in-law?”

  “She’s at the store. She wanted to take care of inventory before the baby comes.” David sighed and made his way back to our table.

  “You don’t deserve that girl,” Papa Jack called back to him.

  “I know, Dad.” David grinned. “I know.”

  David kissed my cheek and said a quick hello before moving to the other side of the table, slipping off his suit jacket, and taking his seat next to Sean. Drew slid into the chair next to me with his back to the wall. He leaned over and plucked a fry from my basket.

  “Hey, get your own.” I smacked the back of his hand. Completely un-phased, he just smiled and plucked another fry.

  Bridget came back with her tray and set two pints of Guinness down for Drew and David and a basket of fish and chips for each of the boys. She set an extra basket of fries in front of me with a wink. I made a mental note to add a little extra to her tip tonight.

  I picked up the malt vinegar and handed it to David. We’ve all been friends for such a long time that we had each other’s likes and dislikes down to a science. When I met Drew back in college, this motley group of misfits came along with him. They accepted me immediately and made me feel like a member of the family, something I will be eternally grateful for.

  “Should Millie still be working this hard? The baby is coming really soon,” I said, starting to worry about Millie.

  David twisted the lid off the vinegar, dumping a generous amount on his food. “You try telling her to take it easy.” He grumbled. “I’ve been trying to get her to slow down for weeks. She is determined to work right up until the delivery.”

  “Pfft. Women,” Sean said.

  I chucked a fry at him. He just grinned, his mouth full of fried fish.

  The door opened and I saw Wiley searching the crowd. I stood up and waved to get her attention. She moved quickly though the bar toward us.

  “Lexie!” She called, using that dreaded nickname. Drew lifted an eyebrow at me and mouthed, “Lexie?”

  “Shut it,” I told him.

  I loathed the name Lexie. I am so not a Lexie. Wiley knows it bugs me, but she uses it with such affection, I let it go. Sean stood when she reached the table and offered her his seat. He went to grab a spare chair from the hallway leading to the restrooms.

  My boys are such gentlemen. He set the chair at the end of the table, straddling it and folding his arms on the back of the chair. His eyes roamed up and down Wiley as he thoroughly checked her out, and he wasn’t being at all subtle. I just shook my head. I guess I should have had the no-screwing-my-work-friends talk with Sean too.

  “This is Sean, David, and Drew.” I pointed to each guy as I said his name. “Papa Jack is behind the bar.” I gestured toward him and he nodded a response.

  “Guys, this is Wiley,” I said as she gave an enthusiastic wave.

  “As in Wile E. Coyote?” Sean piped up.

  Drew almost choked on his beer. I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. I didn’t want to embarrass Wiley. I elbowed Sean in the ribs, causing him to wince at the contact.

  “Not exactly.” Wiley giggled. “I had the misfortune of my parents naming me Willimina. I shortened it to something more me.” She shrugged her shoulders, not seeming bothered at all.

  Bridget stopped by our table, standing silently next to Wiley, waiting not so patiently for her order. Bridget was a strange bird. She didn’t say much, but we regulars didn’t notice much anymore. Bridget knows what we like and makes sure our beers are never empty, so no one complains.

  Wiley looked up at her with a bright smile and Bridget raised an eyebrow. David leaned toward Wiley, offering her a quick lesson in reading Bridget’s facial expressions. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Oh!” she said. “Black and Tan, please.”

  Bridget moved on, and Wiley turned her attention to us. She looked around the table, appraising the guys. She glanced at David, then back at me. “He’s hot,” she mouthed. I sipped my beer and wiggled my ring finger at her. Her smile faltered and she nodded her head when she got my point.

  I never really thought of David as hot. He’s good-
looking, of course. Clean-cut and polished, whereas Drew is usually a little rougher around the edges. David just always felt more grown up, like we were all pretending to be adults but he really was one.

  “So, this is the trivia group,” Wiley said to no one in particular.

  Drew set down his beer. “Pretty much. We’re missing David’s wife, Millie. Unlike the rest of us slackers, she actually has a work ethic.”

  We all nodded. There was no denying that one. Millie works herself like a dog. She’s going to go crazy on maternity leave.

  “Everyone has their specialty,” Drew continued. “David handles sports and European history. I handle geography and music.”

  “He thinks he does,” I interrupted.

  “Smart ass over here handles literature and pop culture,” he said, hooking a thumb in my direction with a smirk. “Sean is here for the beer.”

  Sean put a hand on his chest, pretending to be wounded. “I’m hurt. I have a plethora of useless knowledge in my pretty little head.”

  I leaned across the table to Wiley. “Useless is the keyword.”

  Sean looked at me, feigning shock. “I expect this crap from him,” he said, gesturing toward Drew, “but Alex, for shame. Besides, what I lack in actual knowledge, I make up for in enthusiasm.”

  “Yeah, Mr. Enthusiasm here is why we always lose. He likes to yell out the wrong answer.” I took a long drink of my beer as Sean pouted in his seat.

  “Since Millie isn’t here, think you can handle fashion and movies?” David said to Wiley.

  She smiled. “I will give it my best shot.”

  As the night went on, Wiley turned out to be a major asset to the team. She picked up the slack by answering questions from all of our categories, including one about what animal the Canary Islands were named after. We would have had that one if Sean hadn’t jumped up and yelled, “Canaries!” FYI, it was dogs. Who knew? Well, Wiley knew, but seriously, dogs?

  Between questions, I noticed Wiley watching Drew and me. I could feel her eyes on me as he pinched the skin on my hip when I wasn’t looking and again when I laid my head on his shoulder while laughing at something Sean did. At one point Drew pushed a piece of hair away from my face and smiled. To me, this gesture felt natural, something he had done a hundred times, but when I glanced at Wiley, her eyebrows looked like they were trying to escape into her hairline. I took a long swig of my beer, feeling a little self-conscious.