“Working. Tired. Getting ready for the holidays. How about you?”
“I’m trying to get ready for the annual Diva & Gents’ Influencers’ Ball. I haven’t gone for the last two years so, . . .”
“That’s right. They do host that here. I’d forgotten all about it since, well, since you know.”
“You can say it. Since Jeremiah left me.”
“Yeah. I remember the two of you used to dress up every year and go all out for that. I won’t lie. I was low-key jealous about it.”
“Really? Why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really done that. I mean, we have the annual fireman’s ball every summer, and the paramedics are invited, as well, but it’s nowhere near as fancy as what you two used to do. I mean, a whole awards ceremony, televised, all that. Y’all did it big. Then the ball gowns, fly suits, and chauffeured cars. That was pretty cool.”
I looked around to see if Sawyer was coming my way again, but I didn’t see her.
“It was a lot of fun. Maybe you could suggest that you guys take it to the next level.”
An idea formed in my mind as I looked for Sawyer. But when I looked back at Christian, I froze. Should have been able to ease into what I wanted to ask him, but it was hard.
“You’re kidding me, right? We’re government employees operating on a budget that’s probably a quarter of what you guys have access to.”
“That makes sense. Uhm, well . . .”
I used to talk to Christian easily. All of Jeremiah’s friends were cool, but Christian was the best. He always checked in on me. If he saw that I was upset about something, he would act silly, tell a joke, or do something to try to cheer me up.
His flirtatious nature always made it easy to talk to him in the past. But then Jeremiah would accuse me of flirting with him or saying that I liked him. It didn’t matter that Christian behaved that way with everyone; Jeremiah was pissed that I responded to it. Not once did he tell his friend not to behave that way toward me. He only cared if I responded to it.
“Well—”
“Uhm, . . .”
“Just say what’s on your mind, Angel. Promise that I don’t bite.”
The look in his eyes said otherwise, and it made me blush. I had never blushed so much in my life.
“I haven’t gone in the last couple of years because I had no one to go with. Unfortunately, that has had an impact on my followers, and they have gone down. I didn’t want to go alone, because I’ve never gone alone in the past, and it’s seldom that anyone shows up by themselves. And while I should be comfortable with going on my own, I’m just not. It’s one thing when you exert confidence on your channel, but the reality is, I’m extremely introverted, and sometimes it’s hard for me to do things by myself. I mean, I guess I should and?—”
“I would love to attend the ball with you this year, Angel,” Christian stated, stopping me from rambling.
“Oh.”
I blinked rapidly at him, and he lifted an eyebrow. “That was what you were going to ask, wasn’t it?”
“Uhm, yeah.”
“Just thought I’d make it easier for you.”
I giggled nervously. “I hate that I ramble on when I’m nervous.”
“It’s me. No need to be nervous. I gotcha, baby girl.”
“Thank you.”
“And about that kiss. Again, my bad.”
“No apologies necessary,” I replied as I fought off another blush at the memory of his lips on mine.
“Text me your number. Send me all the details when you get settled.”
