The Green Ticket

Chapter 15



“Alex! Come on, the guys are here,” Lila yelled for me. I stood in my bedroom on New Year’s Eve night, dressed for a party in a shimmering black and white dress, black lace booties, and patterned tights. My hair was pulled out of my face and sat on the top of my head in a thick bun, and my makeup was flawless thanks to the help of my friends. I was ready to party. I wasn’t ready to confront the text message on my phone from Kevin Dohlman.

“Alex! Don’t make us leave without you. Get out here, girl!” Carmen hollered.

I snapped my phone shut, trying to erase his words from my mind. I didn’t want to be a Blissful employee tonight, or Kevin’s prawn, or anyone’s manager and confidant. I just wanted to relax, be with my friends, and welcome in the New Year. Without breaking down.

“Coming, I’m coming,” I said, grabbing my phone and hurrying out into the living room. My four friends stood by the door, all wearing glittery frocks as well. Hannah and I stuck with simple black and white, but Lila, Carmen, and Emma were donning purple, green, and pink respectively.

“Finally. Everyone got everything? Phones? Extra shoes?” Emma asked, and we all held up our phones and a pair of much more comfortable shoes for the end of the night.

“I have our overnight bag,” Hannah said, holding up the tote that contained five sets of T-shirts and shorts and various face washes. We planned on spending the night at Peter and Henry’s house, since they were driving to the party. We were going to get a cab at the end of the night though, just to be on the safe side.

“All right, let’s go. They’re already here.” Lila shooed us out and we tromped down the steps, laughing and giggling like we were in a commercial featuring college kids ready to party hardy.

We reached Henry’s vehicle and piled in. I sat in the back on Lila’s lap, and Emma sprawled vertical on our laps, her face in Max’s crotch. Neither seemed to mind. Nine people in a vehicle that fit five, maybe six, seemed like a good idea when the plans were being made, but now...not so much. A cab would definitely be necessary later. No reason to give out free passes for cops to pull us over.

We drove towards the party house, some friends of the guys, and chatter ensued the whole ride there. I tried to distract myself from my work issues by meeting Henry’s eye in the rearview mirror. My body tingled when he winked at me. I couldn’t wait for the ball to drop so I could kiss him. Though technically, I would probably kiss him sooner.

Henry and I were teetering on the edge of the official boyfriend/girlfriend status. Since our awkward Saturday night date that left me sleeping alone and confused over Henry’s status, a lot had changed. Our double date with Hannah and Peter had been amazing and insightful. We kicked their asses at mini-golf, which led to them having to buy the movie theater snacks on our next double date, but Hannah and I also found out why Henry left me alone on the couch. Emma had been right. Religion. Turns out, Peter was indeed saving himself for marriage, which thrilled Hannah. Henry was not, as he had already lost his virginity at the beginning of college to the girl that he thought he would marry one day. They had dated in high school, and she attended college at a Des Moines nursing school. She cheated on him, he found her cheating on him, and he swore off sex until he was actually going to be married. Both were firm Catholics, and I had to appreciate and respect Henry’s decision. That cleared up a lot of confusion, and put me more at ease around him. Our dates continued from there, mingled with long phone conversations and even spending some nights with one another–– stopping before rounding all the bases, of course.

I was able to go to Seattle for Christmas, but only spent three days there instead of the usual seven or eight that I typically took. That was the compromise between me and Kevin and Dani. My sister was beside herself when I told her all about Henry and the fact that he came from a strong family with religious beliefs. Though our mom and dad raised us Catholic, after Mom’s passing we drifted away from the church. After having her children Alicia found her faith once again, baptized all five kids, and went as many Sundays as they could. I tried to follow suit and Lila and I often went to services ourselves, she coming from a religious family. Hannah attended every week.

Learning that we had our faith in common, Henry quite a bit more serious than I, had helped our relationship tenfold. The awkward moments weren’t there, and we respected the boundaries.

We pulled up to the house, vehicles already cramming the street. Our clown car exploded as we all jumped out, us girls pulling our dresses down and patting our carefully coiffed hair. No precipitation was in the forecast tonight but the air was damp and cold, the promise of snow looming on the horizon. Our group trundled to the house, Peter and Hannah hand in hand, Carmen and Emma chatting animatedly with Max and Lila, and Kyle falling into line. Henry swung his arm around me and pulled me close, planting a kiss on my forehead.

“Well, hello there. You look beautiful tonight,” Henry said, causing my smile to widen.

“Thank you. You’ve all cleaned up quite nicely,” I responded, giving his hand a squeeze. “Are the guys all cool with a house party instead of the bars?”

“Oh, yeah. We actually prefer it this way. New Years’ Eve is just like St. Patty’s Day–– amateur hour,” Henry said as we reached the doorstep. Kyle opened the door without knocking, and a blast of music hit our ears. The party was already in full swing.

“Amateur hour? What does that mean?” I asked, following my date into the kitchen. He whipped out a ten dollar bill and paid the pimply guy in a flannel shirt that held the cups, then offered to pour me a beer from the keg. I nodded my answer.

“Amateur hour. Where everyone thinks they can drink and drink and drink and then get beyond belligerent. Fights, puke, passed out people on pool tables–– that’s what those holidays are all about. People that don’t normally party all of sudden get it in their head that they can do eighteen shots in one hour and still function. The bars are a mess. House parties are the way to go.”

I nodded in agreement, taking my red cup from Henry and waiting for the foam to disappear before I took a sip. Cold and delicious. Kind of. For a beer. But I wasn’t going to complain. “That makes sense. We just have to make sure we call a cab tonight. No one needs to get a DUI.”

“Of course. How comfortable was the ride over here?” Henry asked with a laugh.

“Ugh. Not so comfortable,” I replied. We weaved our way through the crowd in the kitchen, finding the stairwell that would take us into the basement. Loud music thumped from speakers in the area, and a guy stood in the corner scrolling through an iPod.

“That’s one of our friends who lives here. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Henry took my hand and led me to the guy, who was tall and lanky, with closely cropped brown hair and shiny brown eyes. He also looked bombed.

“Hey, Lance, how you doing, buddy?” Henry and Lance did a slap hands/half hug sort of move, where Lance was a little too enthusiastic and ended up pouring beer down Henry’s back.

“Aw, dude, I’m so sowry!” Lance slurred, trying to wipe the beer off Henry’s shirt but really just soaking it in further. I didn’t know how to help so I just stood back and watched, cringing. My first impression of Lance was that he was a hot mess. More accurately ––a drunk mess.

“That’s okay, man, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” Henry tried to get Lance to stop touching his shirt, and finally just took a step away from him. “Anyway, thanks for having us tonight. I wanted you to meet someone. This is my girlfriend, Alex.”

Girlfriend? I looked at Henry with raised eyebrows. We hadn’t called ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend yet. Henry just grinned back at me, winking.

“Well, hello, Alex,” Lance said to me, holding out one hand. I stuck mine out thinking we were going to shake, but instead he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. Sweet yet creepy. “The pleasure is all mine.”

“Nice to meet you, Lance,” I said, trying not to laugh.

“You take care of this fella here. He’s a good fish,” Lance continued, looking at me through squinted eyes. Was this guy going to make it till midnight? Something was telling me no.

“I’ll do my best. Thanks for having us, and it was nice to meet you,” I said, biting down on my lower lip so I wouldn’t laugh in his face.

Henry put his arm around my waist and led me away from Lance, who went back to his iPod and sang along with the music. “Sorry about that. Lance is our soak.”

“Soak?” I asked.

“Alcoholic. Lush. Drunk. Soak.” We were about halfway across the room, heading in the direction of two tables that were being used for a massive flippy cup game. I stopped Henry before we could reach the group and join in.

“Gotcha. But bigger question. Girlfriend?” I asked, staring into his blue eyes.

“Beautiful. Special. Alex. Girlfriend,” Henry answered, before finding my mouth and placing the most romantic kiss on my lips. I positively melted into him, feeling euphoric. Henry was officially my boyfriend.

The rest of the party passed quickly, too quickly for my liking. We played multiple games of flippy cup, beer pong, darts, and pool. I danced with my girlfriends to the tunes Lance cranked out. I did jello shots, drank too much beer and snacked on chips, chips and more chips the owners had been thoughtful enough to provide. I didn’t think about Blissful or Kevin or the text message on my phone. I just partied like the twenty-year old college student I was, surrounded by my best friends and new boyfriend.

“It’s starting!” A girl wearing hot pants, fishnets, and a hot pink jersey shirt called for everyone’s attention at exactly 11:59. She turned up the volume on the TV, and we saw a shot of New York City and Times Square, overflowing with people as they watched the ball drop.

Henry slipped behind me and placed both hands on my waist and I leaned into him. Lila was to my right, and I wondered if she was going to kiss anyone. She and Joel had finally called it quits a few weeks ago. Hannah was on my left, holding onto Peter’s hand. I could see Carmen and Emma across the room, and raised my cup in salute to them. They raised their cups back and continued to chat with Max.

“Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight!” More people in the room started to chant, watching the TV screen and pairing up. I glanced again at Lila, wondering if she was okay. She seemed to take her breakup with Joel fine, but New Years’ Eve could bring up some sour feelings. She caught me looking at her and winked at me.

“I’m happy, Alex,” she told me, without me even asking her. I winked back, relieved.

“Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen!”

“Quick! What was your favorite part of this year?” Henry asked me.

I turned to face him, already knowing my answer. “Meeting you,” I said, smiling up at my boyfriend.

“You stole my answer,” he smiled back.

“Ten, nine, eight!” the crowd roared, eagerly anticipating the final seconds.

“Happy New Year, Alex,” Henry whispered, his face coming close to mine.

“Happy New Year, Henry,” I said.

“Three, two, one. Happy New Year!” everyone shouted as someone threw confetti, poppers popped, and people cheered. The pandemonium was silenced by the kiss I shared with Henry.

$$$

“I feel like it’s cruel and unusual punishment to clean the apartment the day after New Year’s Eve. Why are we doing this again?” Lila asked as she listlessly squirted some blue ammonia onto the glass.

“Because our place looks like a train wreck, I have to work all week, and you’re going to be flying on a jet plane in three days to meet with an agency in Los Angeles. Or have you forgotten about that already?” I asked my friend, a smile on my face.

“I know! I still can’t believe it. I wake up every morning and ask myself if it’s true.” Lila shook her head in amazement, the forgotten Windex streaking down the glass. “I’m so nervous, but that has been the best diet. I’m seriously throwing up everything I try to consume.”

“Lila! That is disgusting. Please don’t turn into some crazy bulimic once you get out there. Please, please,” I begged my friend, running my eyes over her body. She did such a good job working out and watching what she ate the weeks before she met with Mary Strubaker. I would hate to see all her efforts be thrown away because she started to vomit everything back up.

“Trust me, that won’t happen. And I don’t throw up after every meal. Just when my nerves get the better of me. I have real casting calls that I have to do. I have to speak lines and make faces and pretend to report news and put my voice infliction lessons to the test and,” Lila started to turn red in the face, “I think I’m going to be sick.”

I rushed over to my friend. “No! No, you are not. Just breathe, okay? Big yoga breath in. Do it with me.” We breathed in together and exhaled. Breathe and exhale. Breathe and exhale. “Feeling any better?” I asked, concerned.

“Much.” Lila finally turned and wiped the bathroom mirror, and I turned my attention back to the toilet, squeezing the bottle of cleaner and watching blue liquid fill the bowl. I hated being on toilet duty.

Lila and I chatted a bit more about her upcoming week, where she would be flying to LA with Mary Strubaker and two other girls from Mary’s agency. Mary had lined up casting calls and meetings with “important people” out in sunny California, and it would definitely be a make it or break it moment for Lila. Who knew if she would ever have this chance again? Lila tried saying if she didn’t get any offers in LA then at least she would still have Iowa and Mary’s agency. But appearing in a farming ad versus having a shot as an entertainment reporter paled in comparison. And I mean really paled. Vampire pale. I was nervous but thrilled for Lila. Not so thrilled that if she got offered a contract or job that she would be moving away from me. Life without Lila...I sniffed a bit, feeling the tears start to threaten.

“Oh, Al, you’re not crying again, are you?” Lila asked, looking at me with her big blue eyes. I’d been known to break down over the last few weeks every time I thought about her moving away.

“No,” I lied, as one tear spilt over and ran down my cheek. Traitor.

“Who knows what will even happen when I’m out there? I could totally bomb and have to stay in good ole Iowa the rest of my life.”

“Don’t talk like that!” I threw an unused rag at Lila. “I want you to succeed. I want you to get contracts and offers and be on TV with a spray tan and eight pounds of makeup. I really do. I just don’t want you to leave me.”

“You could always come with me.” Lila had mentioned me going with her many times. And why not? I would actually be closer to my family in Seattle, and it wasn’t like I had much going on in Des Moines anyway. One more year of school that I could finish online. My job? I hated Blissful and all the baggage and secrets I had to carry around. Henry? I didn’t want to leave my new boyfriend. Plus, I did have more friends here than just Lila. And I was comfortable here. I liked my life in Iowa. I couldn’t begin to picture myself in California and rubbing elbows with famous people. It just wasn’t my scene.

“I know, I know.” I sighed. “And I’ve thought about it, I really have. I just...can’t. I have so much going on here. And I wouldn’t have anything lined up out there, no job or anything. It just wouldn’t be smart. And I don’t think I would fit in with the LA crowd anyway. I don’t have the celebrity knowledge like you do.”

“That’s the truth.” We declared the bathroom clean and headed towards the kitchen. “I don’t know what will happen, but if for some crazy reason someone likes me out there, you have to at least promise to come visit me. Someone has to keep my ego in check if I become a star.” Lila struck a ridiculous pose with one hand on her hip and the other in the air like she was waving at adoring fans.

I laughed, but still felt the tightness in my chest over possibly losing my friend to the world of Hollywood. “I will. I have to make sure you won’t forget all us little people when you’re schmoozing it up with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.”

“Seriously, Alex? Brad and Jen split years ago. He’s with Angelina Jolie now.”

“Really? How did I miss that?”

“I have no idea. Angie stole Brad from right under Jen’s nose when they were filming together. They even posed on a magazine cover together with all these kids like they were a family. It was so distasteful.” Lila turned her nose up and started to load the dishwasher.

I opened the fridge and started chucking expired food in the garbage. “Wow, how rude. But speaking of couples, how did you really take last night? Was it weird not having Joel around?”

“Yeah, it was. But you know what I felt when we broke up?” I shook my head, even though she had already told me three times. I knew she needed to keep reminding herself that she did the right thing, and I was happy to listen.“I felt relief. I felt light and free and ready to do anything. I didn’t realize that I was letting myself suffocate all these years. I was letting myself settle when my dreams were so much bigger. And if he can’t support them, he’s not supporting me. I don’t know if I can ever be just a dutiful housewife who loves nothing more than waiting on her man and popping out kids. I need more. I need to live, I need the excitement. I at least need to try, or I’ll constantly be wondering what if. I’m just glad I finally realized it before I was super old–– like twenty-five or something.”

“Excuse me? Twenty-five? When did that become the new eighty? And you’ll hit that age in four years, need I remind you.” I laughed.

“No, don’t remind me! It’s just harder to get jobs out there when you’re past twenty-five. Thirty is practically deceased.”

“That whole town makes no sense. But back to the original topic –– I’m glad you’re okay with the breakup. And that last night wasn’t too weird for you. I half expected you to find someone to kiss.”

“Nah. I thought about trying, but the last thing I want to do is find my Mr. Right before I leave. I don’t want any baggage here in Iowa.”

“Besides me,” I reminded her.

“Besides you, of course,” she reassured me.

We worked side by side for most of the afternoon until our apartment sparkled and shined. We gave ourselves a much needed break and went to dinner with Carmen and Emma. Hannah was on yet another date with Peter. After dinner we rented two movies, a scary one and a chick-flick, and headed back to Wacker to have an enjoyable evening with friends, movies, popcorn, and vodka. I limited myself to two drinks since it was back to Blissful for me tomorrow. I didn’t want to face Kevin. I wasn’t sure how I could face Allie.

$$$

Alex, let’s talk when you get in on Tuesday and keep the incident to yourself. I feel a bonus coming your way! Happy New Year, Kevin.

I re-read the text from Kevin on my drive to Blissful. Wonderful. Another bonus to keep my mouth shut. When had my job turned from manager of a spa to secret-keeper, spineless, but much richer Alex? I stopped at a red light and looked at the text again. As well as an older text from Kevin, dated right before Christmas.

Dani shouldn’t know about this. Think about our family, Alex. A check will be in your mailbox tomorrow.

A check indeed had been waiting for me in my employee mailbox. A one thousand dollar check. That payoff was for the first time I had caught Kevin–– actually caught him and he knew I did, not just spying at him from my car or outside a treatment room. I didn’t even know the woman he was with, the woman he was screwing on one of the massage beds. Why did I have to stay late to run year-end reports that night? Why couldn’t I have done the work from home?

I knew it didn’t really matter. I had caught Kevin with other women three more times at the salon. All were different, and once with Allie. Yes, Allie, my friend and spa confidant. The one who told me she loved her fiancé and couldn’t wait to marry him. The woman who spilled “gossip” to me when I first started at Blissful about how Kevin could be a little overbearing but Dani was the biggest sweetheart. But there she was, riding Kevin like there was no tomorrow in her treatment room on the Friday before New Years’.

Kamille had officially resigned from Blissful around the holidays. After she stole another idea of mine–– this time for a holiday gift basket prize for a lucky client who rebooked an appointment–– I had reached a breaking point. I suspected she was snooping through my computer files and I was tired of coming up with new ideas, doing the research and getting everything prepared, just to have it stolen under my nose and passed off as someone else’s genius. I printed off the photos from my phone and stuck them in Kamille’s employee mailbox in a large envelope. I typed up a cryptic note that read: YOU’RE CAUGHT. LEAVE NOW OR DANI KNOWS.

Kamille put in her two weeks’ the very next day. I didn’t know if she had figured out it was me who caught her, and I didn’t care. She was gone, my ideas were safe, and that was one less employee I had to worry about Kevin screwing. I didn’t let Kevin know what I had done, or that I knew about him and Kamille. I still wanted to keep my job intact, at least for the time being. Once I found a new job and got my reference, I would be out.

I shook my head and kept driving. I hadn’t told anyone about the new twist at Blissful, the checks that were coming in or how I had forced Kamille to quit. Not Lila or the girls, Henry, my sister. I felt sick to my stomach every time I thought about what was going on behind closed doors. And how I was going along with it. I had even been physically sick when I thought about Dani and her three daughters. Did she have any idea her husband was having multiple affairs? Allie had told me once that Dani had her suspicions, but stayed with him for the money. But how could I possibly trust Allie and anything she said? She was sleeping with Kevin–– a married man, her boss!

I barreled into Blissful just before two o’clock. Tiffany was behind the desk, wiping down the counters with a dust rag. I gave her a wave and continued towards the office. The floor was pretty slow, with only Lindsey cutting a woman’s hair and Carolyn sitting on her chair reading a magazine. She straightened when she saw me and put the glossy down, attempting to appear busy cleaning her area. I didn’t even bother to reprimand her. I requested that stylists go in the break room when they didn’t have clients. I thought it was tacky for them to be lounging in their chairs where everyone could see them. Carolyn was lucky I had bigger issues to deal with.

I made it to the back office and swung open the heavy door. Kevin and Dani were both there, Dani sitting in the computer chair and Kevin hovering over the printer. Documents were spitting out, and he had his cell phone pressed against his ear.

“These numbers are not acceptable, Tony. We need to open three more stores in the next nine months. Three stores, nine months. That’s what we want. You need to figure out how to help us achieve that.”

He hung up and turned to face me, a big smile on his face. I wanted to puke all over his shiny black shoes. “Alex, hello! Did you have a good New Year’s?” he asked, his bushy brows pulling together like he was actually concerned about my holiday.

“I did, Kevin, thank you,” I managed between clenched teeth. “And yours?” I tried to sound as polite as possible.

“Oh, we had a terrific time,” Dani piped in, swiveling her chair away from the computer. “We stayed in and had family time with movies and Wii games, and then on Monday we took the kids to Blair’s Mountain to go snow sledding and tubing. Well, baby Cam just watched of course, but the other girls had so much fun.”

The sick feeling in my stomach churned some more. Happy family time. Right. I forced a smile. “That sounds wonderful. Oh, Dani, you might be happy to hear that Henry officially asked me out. I am off the market,” I informed her. At least that was a happy thought.

Dani stood and hugged me, her giant boobs pressing into me. I wanted to cry. I really liked her. I hated Kevin. I hated Blissful. I was so confused. “Good for you, honey! Are you going to invite him to your birthday party?”

My birthday party. I had almost forgotten. Dani had offered to throw me a party at Tango, one of the hottest restaurant/bars in town. The bottom floor was a fancy restaurant and the top was a happening dance club. The two would seem to clash, but it actually worked. The reservation book was full for months, but Kevin knew somebody who knew somebody who knew the owner and had reserved the twenty-third, a Saturday, for my twenty-first birthday blowout bash.

“Yep, I’ll be sure to invite him. He’ll probably bring some friends too, if you don’t mind. His friend Peter is dating my friend Hannah. And he lives with two other guys.”

“Bring them all! The more the merrier for your special day. I remember my twenty-first birthday.” Dani’s eyes turned wistful as she thought back a whole seven years.

“Really? Most people don’t remember their twenty-firsts,” I joked, thinking about how hungover Lila was the day after hers.

“Oh, I was pregnant with Brianna when I was twenty-one. No alcohol for me on that birthday. I was about seven months along and in full-on nesting mode already. Kevin and I ordered, what was it, four large pizzas and boxes of breadsticks and after all that, I still made him drive to the store to buy me a gallon of ice cream. I was a walking cliché of pregnancy.” Dani laughed and squeezed Kevin’s hand. Tears poked behind my eyes. I hated Kevin. “Anyway, I need to get going. I have to pick up Bri from school in a half-hour.” She kissed Kevin good-bye and gathered her things, floating out the office door.

Kevin and I stood alone in the office, the first time we were face-to-face since I caught him with Allie. I was speechless. And really wanted to be anywhere but in a small office with him.

“Well, Alex, let me start off by saying that I am so sorry you witnessed what happened between me and Allie. I don’t know what came over us, but I can assure you it won’t happen again.” His words sounded fake, phony, scripted.

“That was the first time you’d ever been with her?” I didn’t believe that for a minute.

“It was. And the last. I had come here from drinking with some of my buddies and I guess I had my guard down. I had been holding off Allie’s advances for some time now, but that night she just proved too much for me. I’m devastated about it.” He hung his head, but I still didn’t believe a word he said. A man that was smacking another woman’s ass while she rode him didn’t seem like he had tried too hard to hold off her “advances.” But was it Allie that did come onto him? Or was it mutual? My head was spinning.

“What happens next?” I wanted to know. Did I have to fire Allie? Would he tell Dani and she would fire Allie?

“I’m going to keep this little discretion from Dani. She’s not in the right state of mind to deal with something like this. You see, we’re trying for another baby, and she might even be pregnant right now. The timing just doesn’t work.”

I sucked in a breath, horrified. Dani might be pregnant with her fourth baby with this cheating, slimy bastard. “And Allie?”

“I spoke with Allie already and let her know that she is to never try something like that again. She apologized immensely and agreed that she was in the wrong. I agreed to let her keep her job for now. But one more slipup and she will be terminated.”

I wanted to laugh. And throw up. None of this made any sense. Dani wasn’t to find out, Allie got to keep her job. And what about me? I was just going to have to live with this secret? It was eating away at me.

“As for you, Alex, you’ve been doing a tremendous job as manager. Morale is up, our numbers are better from last year, and you’ve shown that you can successfully handle all the challenges being a manager has thrown your way.” Like seeing my boss bone one of my top employees. “I spoke with Dani, and we wanted to give you a little bonus for it.”

“But you just gave me a Christmas bonus,” I said. A five thousand dollar check with Merry Christmas–– you’re a star! written in the memo.

“That was just a Christmas present to you. We give bonuses to all the employees,” Kevin said with a wave of his hand. “This is an employee-deserved bonus. You’ve done a great job.”

Kevin handed me an envelope and walked out of the office. I stood still for a moment, dreading opening it. This wasn’t an I’m doing so great my bosses want to thank me check. It was a cover-up. A buyout. Hush money. I opened the envelope and took the check out. A ten thousand dollar hush check.