“Please?” Vanessa gave Mel a pleading look. Coming from Vanessa, it looked ridiculous.
A smile broke out on Mel’s face. “Okay. But nothing over the top.”
“Then I’ll cancel the helicopter ride.”
“Very funny.” Mel s
moothed out the sheets in her lap. “That was a joke, right?”
Vanessa shrugged. “Maybe.” She placed her hand on Mel’s. “I promise you. I’m going to make your birthday unforgettable. You’ll love it.”
Mel sighed. Vanessa had even more of a disarming effect on her than before. But it seemed to Mel that Vanessa was letting her guard down a little too.
Vanessa took Mel’s glass and placed it on the nightstand next to her own. “You’re the only person I’ve ever had to beg to let me spoil them.” She pushed Mel down by the shoulders, straddled her body and pinned her wrists above her head. “I think you need a reminder of who you belong to.”
“Happy birthday, Mel!” James said.
Mel looked at her watch. She hadn’t even noticed that it was past midnight. “Thanks,” she said quietly. Like Vanessa, James must have found out from Mel’s employee records.
“What are you doing to celebrate?”
“Just spending time with… a friend.”
“That’s all?” James shook his head. “Why don’t you come out for drinks with everyone after we close? Consider it an impromptu birthday party.”
“I don’t think so. I’m not big on birthdays,” Mel said.
“Okay, how about this, I won’t even tell anyone it’s your birthday. As far as the others will know, it’ll just be the usual after-work drinks.”
Mel hesitated. She had been working hard lately. And she didn’t have class until the afternoon. It couldn’t hurt to have a little fun.
“Come on, Mel!” James said. “Just this once. Live a little.”
Mel held up her hands in defeat. “Sure. Why not?”
“Great.” James leaned down against the bar. “So, how do you feel about dancing?”
“Don’t push your luck.” Mel grabbed her tray and walked off, knowing she was going to regret her decision in the morning.
A few hours later, they had closed up shop, and James, Mel and a handful of her coworkers were hanging out in a seedy bar a few blocks away from The Lounge. It was one of the few places that was still open.
“Mel!” James yelled. “Dance with me. It’ll be fun.”
“How many drinks have you had, James?” Mel asked.
“Not nearly enough.” He stood up. “So, are you coming?” He cocked his head toward the ‘dance floor’ that the group had made by pushing some tables to the side.
“No thanks,” Mel said for the tenth time since they’d arrived. “But you should go ahead and join the others.”
“Come on, show me your moves, Mel.”
Why did James want her to dance with him so much? Mel let out a heavy sigh. “Look, James. You’re a great guy, but I’m not interested in whatever it is that you want…”
James looked at Mel blankly. Then he burst out laughing. “Did you think I was hitting on you?”
Mel’s face flushed. “Well, you’re always so persistent…” Mel frowned. James was laughing a little too hard.
“Oh, man.” His chuckles died off. James sat back down. “Sorry. Believe me, I’m not into you that way. I’ve just been trying to get you to come out of your shell a bit. You don’t talk to anyone at work, so I figured you could use a friend. That’s it.”