ChapterOne
WILLA
“Oh-Em-Gee,Willa, I had the hottest dream last night.”
I glance at my best work friend, Bonnie. “Oh, yeah?” I want to roll my eyes, hard, because Bonnie always has hot dreams. Bizarre, hot dreams. I know this because she shares all of them with me.
Every single one.
“I shouldn’t tell you though.”
She’s feigning embarrassment, but Iknowshe’s dying to tell me. Trust me. Except, maybe she’s right. Hearing about her dreams at the office isn’t exactly appropriate, but it might be worse at this baseball game. A company-sponsored outing. “This probably isn’t the best place. Someone could hear.”
She leans in like it’s going to make a difference. Her voice carries even at a whisper, which means everyone around us will hear. And since we’re sitting in the stands at a professional baseball game for our annual company outing that the higher-ups like to call “Cultural Team Building” (whatever that means) but I refer to as “Mandatory Fun,” they’ll all hear every word she says. We’re literally surrounded, on all sides, by co-workers from all levels of the company from the mail room crew to the big man himself, John “Mac” McAllister, owner and president of McAllister Accounting LLC.
“No one will hear, Willa. I’ll whisper.”
“Fine.” I sigh, waiting to hear last night’s dirty dream. “Tell me.”
“I shouldn’t.”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare.
“Fine.” She leans in even closer. I feel her hot breath on my cheek. The odor from the hot dog with extra onion she just ate lingers. Ick. “It was about Michael Douglas.”
I snort. “He’s like a hundred, isn’t he?”
“NotcurrentMichael Douglas. He was more like the Michael Douglas in that famous movie with what’s her name.”
I wait. She’ll get there.
“The one where she spreads her legs, and––”
I stop her. “Basic Instinct.”
“Yes.” She shouts as she slaps my arm. “That’s the movie.”
“You’re right. He was hot back then.” I’ll give her that.
“Right?” She giggles. “Anyhoo, in the dream, he was my boss, and he had the hots for me.”
That’s not a stretch because Bonnie is an adorable woman in her mid-forties. Divorced with a grown son that she tried to set me up with, but apparently, he doesn’t appreciate women with curves. Big surprise.
“And, girl,” She looks left, then right, “I was sexy as hell. I had on this adorable skirt, and my ass was high and tight like I did squats every day for a year. Can you picture it?”
“Yep. You had a great ass.” I know I said ‘ass’ a bit too loudly because the guy next to me, Stan from maintenance, just turned his head. I glance behind me and see several other people from my department one row back. Behind them is the vice president of marketing and next to her is Gail from human resources. I don’t think it’d be wise for them to hear me saying ‘ass’ at a company event.
“Yeah. As I stated, it wassmokin’. He had me up against a filing cabinet, and honey…” She leans in closer. “I got all tingly down there.” She points to her crotch. “If you know what I mean.”
“On that note.” I stand from my seat. “I’m going to use the restroom and get something to drink.” I look down at Bonnie. “You want anything?”
“Nah. I’m good.” I watch her turn to the person on her left, another woman in our department, and say, “I had the hottest dream last night.” And I know she’ll be busy for a while recounting her dream again.
Scooching sideways to exit our row, I wait for the seated people to either stand or turn their knees a little so I can get through. “Thanks.” I say it to each person. “Thanks.” Once I’m out into the aisle, I turn right to head up the steps to the mezzanine area that houses bathrooms and a bunch of concession stand options. Our seats are pretty good this year. They’re not the ones low, near the field, and they aren’t in the nosebleed section like we had last year. No, this time we’re behind home plate which is exciting too. I begin the ascent when a voice sounds behind me. I recognize it immediately and frown.
“Where are you off to, Willamina?”
Glancing back, I see Spencer, a forensic accountant, who is also my immediate supervisor in the firm. “Oh, um–” I take a step up. Maybe if I walk fast enough, he’ll get the hint. “Just going to the restroom.”
