“Yeah, yeah, so you were right. I’m off of it now. I just- I don’t know… maybe you’re right. I need a project. Or two.”
“Hobbies, my man. They’re called hobbies.” Jason clapped him on the shoulder. “Now grab another beer and we can start laying that floor in the basement. You can tell me all about how you’re going to pass your time now that you’re a bachelor too.”
“I didn’t say that exactly.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “I know. But I’m going to help you stick to your guns here. Maybe when you learn how to be by yourself, you can attract the right kind of person. Put something good out, get something good, hmm? Makes sense?”
Matt wanted to tell his best friend where to put it, but the hard thing was, he couldn’t really argue with the guy’s logic. He hadn’t been putting out the right energy or even the right intention. It wasn’t a wonder that he felt played, cheated, and used. He tried to treat people fairly and thought it wasn’t right when his life ended up turning out like a shit pile, but maybe the guy was right. Jason was definitely right about the kind of people Matt dated. He could see that now. He really did attract the same kind of woman every single time. He couldn’t be surprised when the results were always the same. There was the whole common denominator as well. Himself. He knew already he needed to work on that before Matt so blatantly pointed it out. Which was why he was done. As in zero.
He just had to get the office Christmas party out of the way, but that didn’t truly count. It was shaping up to be as boring as all the other years had been. Definitely not nightlife, that was for sure. As soon as that was out of the way and the busy season at work was over and he could actually relax, he’d find some hobbies.
It was just unfortunate that he had no idea where to start.
CHAPTER 3
Callie
The hotel where the Christmas party was being hosted was of course, huge. It was one of those fancy hotels, the kind that has never-ending banquet rooms, real marble floors, and huge chandeliers. The lobby had a damn fountain in it.
“Ugh, I told you we shouldn’t have come,” Callie whispered under her breath just as the speeches were getting underway. She could smell the food that was being set out in the back by the catering staff and her stomach literally groaned. She glanced around, hoping like hell no one heard the noise.
Chantara leaned closer. She did her best to cover a smile as she whispered under her breath. “Okay, sorry, I never said it wasn’t going to be boring. I said that you should come and save me from having to endure it alone.”
“How am I supposed to save you?” Callie hissed. “I can’t believe we spent the entire day getting ready for this.”
“Well, you look good.” Chantara smiled maddeningly. “The speeches will be done in a few minutes. Just wait.”
Nearly an hour later, Callie was still waiting. She was still waiting, and she was still starving. “It’s never-ending,” she whined in Chantara’s ear.
Her best friend nodded silently. “I know,” she whispered back. “It’s bad this year. Last year wasn’t nearly this long.”
“I can smell the food. God, I think I’m going to pass out from it. I should have packed a damn snack in this stupid little clutch.”
“The only thing you could pack in that tiny thing is like- astronaut food. Freeze-dried turkey or something.”
“Ewww!” Callie wrinkled her nose.
“Oh look! Matt Hilbert just won an award. Too bad you just started working as his PA. If it had been longer, he might have mentioned you in his speech.” Chantara grinned devilishly.
Callie took a covert peek at the other six people seated around their table to see if anyone had heard or noticed that they weren’t really even paying attention to the program. Everyone else seemed lost in their own world or completely absorbed in what was happening at the front.
“Don’t,” Callie warned under her breath. “Don’t talk about Matt Hilbert.”
“Why not? You think he’s hot, don’t you? He looks nice in that suit. All black. Black shirt and black jacket. Black tie. Good choice. I’m not a fan of white. It looks like people are going to a wedding when they’re dressed like that.”
“I don’t think he’s hot,” Callie hissed. “Seriously. I don’t. I think he’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s hot.”
“Not even a little? Come on. Let’s sit here and judge him while he does his speech. There isn’t much else to do.”
“Judge him?” Callie barely suppressed a giggle.
“Yup. Judge him.” Chantara bent her head in so far that some of the pins from her updo nearly stabbed Callie in the side of the face.