I had spent a great deal of my teenage years frequenting gay clubs, searching for a stranger’s company to validate my sexuality. Thankfully, that phase hadn’t lasted long. As I got older, I grew more comfortable with myself, and my nights out became fewer and further between. These days, it was only at someone else’s request – be it a birthday, helping a friend forget a bad break up or, apparently, an office Christmas party.
A part of me I thought I had outgrown resurfaced, envisioning spending an evening in a dark, sweaty club with Rowan. It made me nervous, but undeniably excited.
Why did I have a feeling this Christmas party was going to bemessy?
???
“Morning.” Rowan greeted me with no hint of anything else in his voice – just like yesterday, the day before and the day before that...
“Hey,” I replied, not looking up from the patient list in my hands.
“Have we got a busy day today?” Rowan asked.
“Not too bad. It’s only one side of A4 today.”
“Thank fuck for that,” he sighed, and I smirked, looking up to meet his gaze for the first time all morning.
“Oh, I found out where the Christmas party is, by the way,” I said, feigning nonchalance. I spun on the stool and turned to the computer, so my back was to Rowan.
“Yeah, Glitterball, right? Becca told me this morning.” Rowan nodded, pausing for a moment before continuing. “She mentioned you weren’t sure how you were getting home?”
“She did? Yeah, the others are getting a taxi, but I live on the other side of town, so…” I trailed off, clearing my throat. “I’ll probably just walk home. I live about half an hour from town.”
“Where do you live?” Rowan asked, leaning back against the countertop.
“Up by the town hall. Do you know Carradan Street?” I asked.
Rowan nodded. “Yeah, around the corner from that curry house someone was stabbed outside of a few weeks back?”
“Uh, yeah,” I replied sheepishly, feeling embarrassed.
“I could give you a lift home if you want?”
My shoulders tensed and I froze, still with my back turned. I stared at the screen in front of me but couldn’t focus on the words as I floundered for something to say.
“That’s sort of on my way home. I live up where they’re building that new sports centre,” Rowan continued. I had only been up to that side of town once or twice, but I knew it was filled with huge houses and very posh cars.
“Don’t feel like you have to. I’d be alright.” I stammered, scratching the back of my head nervously, my heart beating harder and harder against my ribs.
“I don’t feel like I have to, otherwise I wouldn’t have offered,” he argued. I could hear the smile in his voice, even without seeing it. “I’d rather take thirty seconds to go out of my way to drop you home than have you end up dead outside a takeaway.”
I laughed and turned to face Rowan. “Well, they mugged that guy for his money and his drugs. I don’t have either, so I think I’ll be alright.”
“If you’re sure.” He shrugged and walked away, heading into his office. “The offer stands if you change your mind.”
I nodded, even though he wasn’t looking at me anymore and internally kicked myself.
“Hey,” I shouted to him, distracting myself from ‘could have been’ fantasies. “If you’re driving, that means you’re not drinking?”
Rowan returned to the room, carrying a cardboard archive box. He unfolded it and started to build it. “That’s right. Teegan has a violin recital the day after at nine in the morning. Can you think of anything worse than being hung-over and listening to other people’s kids playing instruments?”
“Ugh,” I groaned.
“My sentiments exactly.” Rowan smiled at me before turning his attention back to the box.
I had to admit I was a little disappointed. I had been looking forward to seeing Rowan drunk, but I supposed it was probably safer that he wasn’t going to be. Never mind, at least I’d get to see him in his casual clothes. He rocked the shirt and tie combo, but I was keen to see what he wore out of work.
“I can’t believe it’s only two weeks until Christmas. That’s come around so fast.” I changed the subject.
