“Drew.” I shake my head. “No, it’s An— Andy now,” I slur. “Not Drew, can’t call you that. It’s Andy.”
Daniel comes into view and I’m not sure if Andy is there or not or if I’m only hearing voices.
“It’s okay. I can take her off your hands. I’ll get her home,” Daniel says.
Somehow I regain my feet but my vision continues to swirl. Damn four-inch heels aren’t doing me any favors.
“I like those heels,” Mandy responds and I realize I’ve spoken out loud.
When I’m steady, I glance up into piercing blue eyes. I feel the arctic air they bring. Andy. I give myself a thumbs up for remembering his new name.
“You’re really here.”
I notice his steadying hand at the small of my back. I start to melt into him and lean up to press my lips to his when I catch sight of two guys behind him. I wave because it’s only polite. As wasted as I am, I don’t want to embarrass Andy in front of his friends or colleagues.
“Catie, you can stop waving now.” Mandy is by my side and conspiratorially whispers only to me. By the smirks on the guys’ faces, they must have super human hearing abilities. “Who are these handsome guys? Have you been holding out on me?”
“Cate, Mandy, I have a cab. We should go now.” Daniel sounds way too sober. Mandy and I turn to face him.
“Don’t be such a Clark Kent,” I say to him over my shoulder.
When I glance to Andy, his back is turned to me. I can’t hear what he’s saying. When he turns around, I’m struck by just how goddamn good looking he is.
I hear Mandy introduce herself and the guys speak but my gaze is locked with Andy’s.
“Cate.” I blink a few times, only now putting it together that Andy was talking to me.
The two good looking guys wave a quick goodbye and walk away.
I chance speaking. “You didn’t have to let them go. Superman man here,” I hook a thumb in Daniel’s direction, “is going to save the day and take us home.”
As Andy blurs into one instead of two, I see his brows arch. “Superman, huh?”
A glance at Daniel confirms that three of him agree as their smiles beam like the girl in the toothpaste commercials.
I pat Andy’s chest and when I feel the solid muscle under my palm I pat it a few more times. “No need to be jealous. You’re totally Batman and everyone knows Batman is the sexiest of them all.”
“Not everyone,” Mandy declares. She’s sounds drunk and I’m almost embarrassed for her. “No offense Batman, but I’m really into Thor. So if you are truly the Dark Knight, will you hook me up with that Chris Hemsworth look alike that just left? What was his name?” Her words sputter but somehow it all comes out coherently.
“Guys, the cab is waiting.”
“Daniel, hold your horses,” Mandy drawls as she shifts her focus to our coworker. “Wait…you do look like Clark Kent.”
We high five it but miss. That’s weird. We try again, and totally fail. I start to crack up because it’s so damn funny. She shakes her head and decides to take a step in Daniel’s direction. I try to follow because his face is so sour, you’d think he’s swallowed a lime. However, Andy doesn’t let me go.
“I’ll make sure she ends up home safe,” Andy declares.
Daniel straightens, his super power allowing him to morph from three into five. I can’t help but comment. “You are so outnumbered,” I say to Andy or no one. I’m not sure.
Andy glances down at me but there isn’t humor in his eyes. When his face does that horror movie blur deal, I murmur, “You aren’t Batman are you? You’re something else?”
“I am something,” he mumbles back. Then his voice takes on bass and strengthens. “I’ve got her. You can take her friend home.”
The ocean starts to roll again and I lean on Andy, pressing my cheek on his chest. His wool coat is rough on my frozen cheek but I move in closer wanting to hear his heartbeat. I need to know he’s alive and I’m not in some crazy dream.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We’re coworkers and I don’t know who you are,” Daniel says.
Andy’s voice sounds muffled though one ear and clear out the other. “Cate and I…, we have history. I guarantee she’s safe with me. I’ll get her home.”
Information I need to share gives me the strength to stand on my own once again. “Yeah, we’re going to have dinner and catch up on old times. I mean new times. And we’re planning to have breakfast.” I laugh before I become thoughtful. “I haven’t had breakfast in a while,” I say absently. And in an even softer voice because I have to share this secret only with Mandy, I add, “You know what breakfast is code word for.” I giggle and I can’t stop it even though I hate to giggle.