16. Olga

Olga

S omething was happening with me and Michael, I could feel it. It was like there was an invisible string between us, compelling us to move close as we stared at each other. He leaned forward slightly and then I did the same, and before I knew it, our mouths were only a few inches apart.

Oh my God, we were finally going to kiss! I swayed a little closer, my eyes starting to close as Michael’s hand lifted to cup the side of my face.

Yeeeoowww!

We jumped apart as Nutella shrieked, then climbed up my leg and settled on my lap. He leaned towards Michael aggressively, hissing. Michael held up his hands like he was facing down the cops instead of a jealous cat.

“Nutella!” I chided.

“Okay buddy, you’re right,” Michael said. “That was probably a really bad idea.”

I tried not to feel hurt by his words. I mean, he was right. We had a good thing going here as roommates and in just a few short months, Michael had become one of my best friends. I hadn’t so much as glanced at the rental listings even once since I moved in here. If something were to happen between us, we’d probably both regret it.

Probably.

Or something incredible. Without knowing for sure, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

“I’d better go to bed,” I said, setting my cat back down on the floor so I could put my wine glass in the dishwasher. “I’ll see you later.”

As I walked out of the room, Michael stopped me.

“Hey Olga?”

“Yeah?” I asked, turning back to look at him.

His eyes bounced between mine.

“You’re not really a virgin, right?” he asked.

I started laughing. “Good Lord, no. I’m thirty-five years old, for cripe’s sake. Why would you ask me that?”

He nodded at my cat who was twining himself around my ankles.

“I’m confused how you ever managed to have sex with that furry little cock blocker around.”

“I usually stay at the other person’s house,” I explained. “It’s safer for everyone that way.”

“Ah, okay. Good night then.”

“Good night.”

As I lay in bed I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Nutella hadn’t interrupted us. Would we have just kissed? Or more?

Maybe I should start looking for a place before I lose my self-control and jump Mikey’s bones , I thought to myself.

But I knew I wouldn’t. I liked living here with him too much.

***

“I can’t believe we finally closed that deal,” Mark said happily.

My boss wasn’t the most cheerful guy – although he’d lightened up a lot since he married Lainie – but today he looked positively cheerful. We’d spent most of the last two weeks finalizing a large and complicated real estate deal that would make my boss several million dollars. It was a project that had been in negotiation for nearly six months.

I’d done the project management for the deal, as well as helping draft many of the essential documents. I’d even charmed one of the sellers when they freaked out, which Mark said saved the deal. I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I’d definitely helped move things along, and I was quite proud of myself.

I was also proud of the huge bonus I’d earned for my role in the project. Mark was a generous employer who believed in rewarding employees when they succeeded. The bonus was enough to give me a substantial down payment on a house if I should decide to move. For now though, I’d put the money in the bank. I loved the sense of security I felt when I had a healthy savings account.

“Let’s go get a drink to celebrate,” Mark suggested. “How about that place that opened a few blocks up the street? I’ve been meaning to check it out. What’s it called?”

“Sweet Cocktails,” I told him. “That’s where my roommate Michael works.”

“Your roommate is a bartender?” he asked. “And he has a place on the Gold Coast?”

“No, he owns the bar,” I clarified. “He owns several businesses, but he’s been spending most of his time at Sweet Cocktails getting it going and ensuring that it’s profitable before he moves onto his next project.”

I could tell that clarification earned Michael more of Mark’s respect. Not that there was anything wrong with being a bartender, but as a member of Chicago’s wealthy elite, Mark put more stock on people’s net worth than most of us did. Truth be told, sometimes he was a bit of a snob, although his wife was trying hard to break him of that character flaw.

“I’ll text Lainie to join us,” he said. “Tonight’s on me.”

Mark and I walked down to Sweet Cocktails together, our moods ebullient. When we walked in, my boss looked around curiously.

“Nice place, good vibe,” he pronounced.

I knew he’d already calculated how much he would spend on the place if it came up for sale and he bought it.

Michael was behind the bar, working with one of his employees. I waved at him as I followed Mark to a booth along the wall. I was expecting one of the servers to come over to help us, but instead Michael came rushing over, menus stuck under his arm, wearing an intense expression that I’d never seen before.

“Hey Olga, who’s this?”

The look he gave Mark was almost belligerent. It was so unlike his normal affable expression that I just stared at my roommate in shock.

Mark stuck out his hand with an arrogant smile that said he was sizing Michael up the same way my friend was sizing him up.

“Mark Barone. You’re the roommate?”

“You’re the boss?” Michael countered.

The two men glared at each other.

“What’s going on here?” I asked in confusion as my gaze bounced between them.

They both ignored me.

“Oh hey guys, you beat me here.” A woman’s voice interrupted the standoff between the two men.

“Oh good. Hi, Lainie,” I said, getting up to give Mark’s wife a hug. “I was hoping you’d join us.”

Lainie shoved Mark over, breaking his stare-off with Michael, then looked at Michael curiously.

“Lainie, this is my friend and roommate, Michael.”

She held out her hand and gave him a smile. “Oh hi, I’m Lainie, Mark’s wife.”

Michael instantly relaxed, which just made Mark look more entertained. I never understood why men were so weird.

“I’ll have a dirty martini, please Michael.”

He got drink orders from Mark and Lainie and walked away. As soon as he left the table Lainie looked at her husband and raised an eyebrow.

“What was going on with Mark?”

“Olga’s roommate was feeling a little possessive,” Mark said. “I didn’t realize you two were dating.”

“We’re not,” I said. “I don’t know what that was about. I’ve never seen him act like that.”

“He was jealous,” Mark said. “He has feelings for you.”

I looked around to make sure that Michael was still behind the bar.

“No he doesn’t,” I said. “Does he?”

“Definitely,” Mark.