Room One Hundred and Twenty Nine (Club Sin: Seattle Session 2)

Chapter 5

Haruko

I walk into work this morning with an extra bag. It’s filled with my makeup and a dress I plan to wear on my date tonight. I have quite a bit of work to do, so I don’t think I’ll have time to go home and change and still be on time. Thankfully, the office has a wonderful bathroom I can use. It’s private. Only the people who work on this floor can use it. And it’s just the three bosses and me.

I chose a red dress with skinny straps that has a straight neckline and flares at the hips. I’m planning to pair it with the black heels I wore to work and put on red lipstick. I curled my hair this morning and used practically the entire can of hairspray. Hopefully, it’ll be enough to keep it curled until tonight.

“Hey there, Haruko,” Parker waves as he passes by my desk. He’s already taken off his tie and lost a couple of buttons. Geez, how long has he been here? It’s nine in the morning.

“You've been here a while, I see,” I say, pointing to the lack of tie on his neck.

He chuckles. “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d get here early. I may have come in a little too early.” He walks closer to my desk and leans on it as I empty my purse, putting water bottle on my desk and a package of trail mix.

“What’s that?” Parker points to the extra bag sitting next to my chair.

“Oh, extra clothes. I’m going on a date tonight and I don’t have time to go home and change, so I thought I’d change here.”

“Ah, I see,” Parker says, and I can hear traces of what feels like disappointment.

“It’s not an inconvenience or anything. The bathroom here is nice and I just have to change into the dress and put on lipstick,” I say, thinking he’s disappointed that I’ll be working late. He’s always telling me I work too late, and it’s nice to know he cares about my beauty rest.

He looks up from the bag to my eyes as he shakes his head. “No, I didn’t mean that. That’s… that’s cool. So, who is the guy?”

Parker and I don’t talk about dates. I think this is the first time he’s asked me about anything date related and I’m getting a strange vibe from him.

“Um, some guy my friend set me up with. I’m going to meet him at The Hound Dog.”

“Nice. Do you have someone to call in case the date isn’t going well?”

I laugh. “Actually, yeah. Dani is going to call me half an hour into the date and tell me there’s an emergency of some sort. I can either tell her to not worry about it, which means the date is going well or I can tell her I’ll come over immediately if the date is going badly. ”

Parker nods slowly. “Good story.” He taps his finger against the desk, and I think he wants to say more, but he just smiles. “Well, I’ll see you later. Hope you have a great date and a great weekend.” And with that, he leaves.

I’m so confused.

Is he disappointed I’m going on a date? Why did he fake smile at me? I know Mister Golden Retriever’s actual smile and that wasn’t it.

Maybe he’s just having a day, and this has nothing to do with me. Maybe he hasn’t had a date in months and he’s jealous.

Maybe he wishes he could be my date. Fuck knows I’d like to be his.

But that isn’t going to happen. We’re coworkers and friends. Off limits.

But my God, would it be nice.

It’s nearing six o’clock and I log out of my computer. Nicholas and Elijah came up to the office shortly after my conversation with Parker and all three of them spent most of the day in Elijah’s office.

I can’t help thinking about that conversation, the vibe Parker left. I pick up my pack and head to the bathroom, replaying it in my head. It’s probably a him thing so I should just drop it, but I’m curious.

I set my bag on the sink and pull out my dress and makeup bag. I do quick work getting out of my white button up, black pencil skirt, and black blazer and into the dress. Luckily this dress has sewn-in cups, so I don’t have to put on a bra. It wouldn’t really look good, anyway. I reach my hand into the top and cup my breasts, putting them in the right position to pop. I check myself in the mirror and when I’m happy with the look, I move on to touching up my makeup.

Looking at my watch, I see I’ve got fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant. It’s only one block away, so I breathe deep and take a minute to look at myself.

Red lips, black eyeliner, my hair is more wavy than curly now and my dress hugs my body in a way that makes me look like I have a shape. I’m built like a two by four. Straight up and down all the way. But with the right dress that’s the right size, I make it work for myself.

I grin at myself before getting embarrassed and tossing my stuff back in my bag.

Slipping out of the bathroom, I see the light under Elijah’s office is still on. The sounds of their muffled voices drift out and I consider telling them I’m leaving. I always do, but I’ve never done it looking like this—like the person I am when I leave the office. Well, not exactly. I don’t dress like a sexy vixen every day. I like a pair of simple, soft jeans and a T-shirt most of the time.

And then there’s Parker’s weirdness with our date conversation.

But I shrug my shoulders and shake my head. Just be casual. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.

I knock softly on Elijah’s door. A moment later, I hear a deep voice say, “Come in.”

I put all my bags on the ground before poking my head in past the door and see Elijah standing behind his desk, tie off and sleeves rolled to his elbows.

Fuck, what is it about that look that’s so sexy?

Parker also has his tie off and sleeves rolled. Nicholas sits on the couch, tie and cuffs undone.

They’re all staring at me.

I notice Elijah in particular looking at my mouth. I press my lips together, not noticing that I had them parted like a fish. “I… uh, I’m going now.”

“To your date?” Parker asks, in that same weird tone he used earlier.

I nod.

“Cool. Have fun.” He gives me a soft smile and I smile back.

Silence stretches beyond my comfort as I look from Parker to Nicholas, who gives me a tight smile. I wave and Elijah, whose nostrils seem to flare. The tension that’s growing makes me feel awkward, but the butterflies in my stomach take off.

I clear my throat before saying, “Okay. Well. Bye.” I give them all a wave before pulling out and closing the door.

Cool. Cool. Cool.

I pick up my bags and start walking out of the office.

You know what? That was probably all in my head. They’ve been stressed lately, and this probably has nothing to do with me.

Though there’s a part of me hoping it might be.

That maybe they didn’t want me to go on the date because they want to take me instead. But that’s all fantasy in my head. There’s no way any of them want to date me, let alone all three. And yeah, I would want all three. They all have things about them I’m drawn to and I could never choose.

I shove my extra bag into my work bag so all I have to carry is the one and head to the restaurant. It’s a pleasant night tonight. No clouds and the air is warm, but there’s a cool breeze that almost has me reaching for my blazer. But I’m almost at the restaurant, so I just shrug off the cold.

I’m Canadian after all. I can take a little cold.

When I get to the restaurant, I see him already there. Looking around, probably waiting for me. I straighten my spine and walk in. I give the hostess my name and she brings me to his table.

He stands and gives my body a once over. For some reason, it doesn’t excite me at all. Not like when my bosses look me up and down. I get chills when they do that. And they do it a lot. When he does, it doesn’t have the same effect. But that’s okay. I’m still giving him a chance. Not all relationships start with a spark the first time they lay eyes on each other.

“Hey, I’m Noah. You must be Haruko. It’s nice to meet you.” He sticks his hand out and I give it a shake.

“Hi, nice to meet you.”

Dani texted me more info about him the day after she told me about the date. His name is Noah Singleton. He’s twenty-four. I knew that already. He’s a part time DJ and was the class clown in high school.

Apparently, he had good credit, too.

The server comes to our table and asks us if we’d like to start with a drink.

“Sure. I’ll—” I try order, but Noah jumps in.

“We’ll start with a bottle of your best wine.” He gives me a wink and I grimace.

Um… okay. I hope he’s paying for that wine.

The server nods and walks away.

“Hope you don’t mind. They have great wine here and everything is always so tense on a first date. Figured we needed a little liquid courage.” He winks again.

Man, the guy must like winking.

We chat about random first date stuff as we wait. Things like first pets, favourite movies and music we like. After the server comes back with our wine, we order. Again, he orders for me and I’m suddenly wishing that Dani would have to call a little earlier. I’m getting a strange vibe from this guy. It’s been fifteen minutes, and I already want to go home.

So far, the things we’ve talked about haven’t led to me think we’re meant to be. His first pet was a lizard. Mine was a parakeet. His favourite movie is Mad Max and mine is The Proposal. And he likes EDM techno music, and I like country. So far, we have almost nothing in common.

And add the fact that he’s interrupted me as many times as he’s winked, I’m thinking this date is a bust.

Geez, Dani, I thought you were my friend. What the hell did you see in this guy?

“So, what about books? You read? You look like a gal who likes to read.”

My eyebrows perk up, not knowing what he means by that.

“Um, yeah. I like to read.”

He nods and smiles, “Cool. What do you read?”

“Romance,” I say confidently. “I read romance books.”

Generally, if someone gets me started on romance novels I won’t stop. I’ll tell all my favourites, how long my Tbr list is and give recs for days. Something tells me that won’t be the case with Noah when this jackass starts fucking LAUGHING.

“Oh, my God. You actually read that shit?”

My jaw drops at his audacity. Like bro, are you looking to get into my pants because laughing at my reading choices is not how to do it.

Heads in the restaurant turn our way as Noah continues to laugh. He’s dabbing his eyes with his napkin.

“Yes, douche, I actually read romance. What’s wrong with that?” I ask.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “But come on.” He leans in as if he’s telling me a secret. “They’re barely books. They’re just mommy porn you find in your mom’s closet.”

My jaw twitches and I steel my shoulders, ready to give him a lecture about how amazing romance is and that it’s the reason I can get myself off better than he ever could. But before I can go all in my phone rings.

Thank fuck!

I pick it up and say hello before even checking the caller ID.

“How’s it going?” Dani asks.

With a smile on my face, I say, “Oh, you need me? Like right now?”

“Woah, that bad, huh?”

Oh, yes. So bad we’re going to have a conversation about this later.

“Yes,” I say. “I’ll come back right now.” I pick up my bag as the server comes with our food.

“So sorry to bounce like this, but I have to go.” I don’t even bother telling him the lie we came up with. I just start walking away.

“Um, okay.” I hear him say.

Before I go though, I turn about and say one more thing.

“Just for the record. Romance is one of the most popular genres. It makes billions of dollars every year and it’s the reason you’re going to have a hard time finding a date because no woman will stay with some guy who laughs at what they like to read. We’re confident in ourselves and would rather spend time with a fictional man than someone like you. And deep down, I think you know it. That’s why you want to degrade the genre, but that won’t happen. You are not the worst guy in the world. You have the potential to be a great partner, but dude, you’ve got to get with the program. Romance is awesome. And so are women. So maybe it’s time you took a long hard look at yourself and figure out why you’re intimidated by a fucking book genre. Books filled with the imagination of someone they’ve never met and characters who don’t exist in real life.”

I shrug. “Anyway, you have a nice rest of your evening.”

I turn and leave the restaurant. In my head there’s applause and “Eye of the Tiger” blasting through the speakers, but in reality, it’s totally silent as I leave and try to hail a taxi.

“Okay, so what the fuck girl?” I hiss into the phone. Dani’s still on the other line, and I want some answers.

“Oh, my God. First of all, you go, girl! Second, I’m so sorry. I take it from that epic speech that he had not so nice things to say about romance books?”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“I’m so sorry. He seemed so nice. I didn’t think he was going to be like that. Can you forgive me?

I smile into the phone. “Of course. Just maybe lay off the blind dates for a while.”

“Okay. What are you going to do now?”

“I’m going to go home and listen to a romance audiobook. Probably that book about the girl who gets railed by four guys.”

“Good idea. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

“Bye.” I hang up as a taxi pulls to the curb. I step inside and give him my address.

Yeah, so this date was a bust, but I think part of me was wishing it would be. My crush on my bosses is so strong I’m actually wishing my real-life dates fail. That’s fine. I have many years to find “the one.” I’ll just lay into my fictional men and my crush until I’m ready.