Sarah
“So Sarah, Gemma tells us that you’re a historian. What era did you study?”
“Um, I’m actually an expert on British history. The Tudors, in fact.”
“Oh.” The man who’d introduce himself as Benjamin gave me a wry smile. “So you’re not an expert on the Mesozoic age?”
“Oh no.” I laughed. “I wish I knew more about dinosaurs and that sort of thing, but not really.”
“But yet you want to get a job at the Natural Museum of History and Science?” He looked at me with a confused expression.
“Well, yeah, I thought it would be like a stepping stone and Gemma said that she really enjoys working with you guys.” This was not going well, and I could feel my head starting to pound.
“Yeah, yeah.” Benjamin nodded his head and then looked over to the other side of the room. “Well, I think I see someone over there that I do need to talk to, so perhaps I’ll see you around?”
“Okay. Well, it was nice meeting you, Mr....” But he walked away before I even had a chance to finish my sentence. Well, that was a bummer. I knew it’d been a long shot for me to try to get a job at the museum, but I thought knowing Gemma would help, and just because I didn’t know about the history of different animals in different ages, I did know how to research and I’d be an excellent writer for their exhibits.
Ugh, I think it was back to the drawing board. I’d have to look for a job that cared about the fact that I knew so much about Tudor history. Someone had to care that I knew that the Tudors had ruled England for 118 years, and that two of the strongest monarchs that have ever ruled and sat on the English throne were from that era, King Henry the VIII, and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth the I. Though, I knew in my heart of hearts that this was not the place that cared.
“Hey, Sarah, why the glum face?” Gemma walked up to me. “You look absolutely amazing. Have I told you that tonight?”
“Only a million times. Thank you. I feel like a million bucks.”
“Well, you look like a million bucks and you’re worth a million bucks, so I guess that makes sense.” Gemma laughed.
“Yeah, I was just feeling a little bit upset because I was just speaking to Benjamin Beacher.”
“Oh yeah, my boss?” Gemma looked hopeful. “What did he say?”
“He wasn’t too impressed that I didn’t know much about the... let me think. The Mesozoic era.”
“Oh, yeah.” Gemma nodded. “Did he ask you about the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods as well?”
“The what?” I gave her a confused expression.
“Yeah, I should have told you to brush up on your knowledge of all things dinosaur, shouldn’t I?” Gemma looked guilty. “My bad.”
“Yeah, why didn’t you tell me? I mean, I know my background is not in dinosaurs or anything to do with different ages related to animals, but I have a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree. My thesis won an award. Like I can write, I can research. I could do this.”
“I know, Sarah, but maybe it’s not the best fit.” Gemma sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I mean, I tried to force myself into this and it didn’t work, but it’s okay. I’ll find something. I’ll find something that’s better fitted to what I want to do.”
“Yeah, girl. Why don’t you try and get a job with the British Museum in London or something? You said you’ve always wanted to live in England.”
“I would love to live in England, but you know my parents would not be happy if I moved overseas and …” I paused.
“And what, Sarah?”
“And it would just be so weird being away from all you guys, my best friends.”
“Are you worried about me or are you worried about Harry?” Gemma raised an eyebrow.
“Both of you, of course.” I laughed. “I mean, yes, Harry and I have been best friends forever, and we basically live together and live our lives together and, yeah, I don’t know how he’d survive without me. Speaking of which, he has been blowing up my phone all night.” I gave her a guilty smile. “And I think he wants to tell me off because he gave the girls the presents and I’m sure he’s mad. He’s also sent me a slew of text messages that are not very nice.”
“Oh man. What did he say? What did he say?” She was practically cackling with glee.
“Hold on. Let me pull out my phone and have a look. Okay,” I said, as I opened up my phone and rolled my eyes. “Let’s see what he said. ‘Sarah, that was not funny. Oh my god, Sarah. I’m going to kill you. Sarah, where are you? Sarah, call me back. Sarah, call me back right now. Sarah, I am going to come over to your house tonight and I’m going to make you pay for this.’” I looked up at Gemma. “And it looks like the next ten messages are basically pretty much the same.”
“Oh wow.” She shook her head. “He’s really taken this seriously. And what does he mean he’s going to come over to your house tonight? Doesn’t he know that you’re out partying tonight, looking all hot and possibly getting laid?”
“Yeah, I told him that I’m out and I told him that I had a makeover yesterday and he didn’t even ask to see any pictures or anything,” I sighed. “But I guess that’s Harry for you.”
“Yeah.” Gemma just shook her head. “He’s really selfish, you know that, right?”
“He’s not selfish.”
“You should stop making excuses for him, Sarah. He absolutely takes you for granted, you know? I don’t know what he would do without you in his life. He would go crazy.”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
“It’s true, Sarah. He couldn’t survive without you. Yeah, I know he’s this playboy and he’s this big man around town, and he’s going to be this hot-shot CEO of Huntington Enterprises, but the man cannot live or survive without you. You frigging bought Christmas presents for the girls that he’s seeing. That’s absolutely crazy. You can’t even come to my Christmas Eve dinner because you’re going to his parents’ house to spend Christmas.”
“Well, that’s because my parents and his parents—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Gemma interrupted me. “Your parents and his parents have been best friends forever, and you always spend Christmas with them. But you know what, Sarah, you’re an adult now. Even your parents aren’t going to the Christmas party this year. You’re going by yourself and you’re not even going for Christmas. You’re going before Christmas just because he wants you to.”
“I know, but he wants my support and he wants someone there.”
“I mean, just listen to yourself, Sarah. How are you ever going to get a boyfriend with someone like Harry in your life?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, yeah, okay, we know he doesn’t want a girlfriend, so it works for him. You’re like his substitute girlfriend and then he gets sex from other women. But what do you have? You’re not getting sex from him or anyone else, and he’s not really doing anything for you either. Here you are looking absolutely gorgeous, like a frigging supermodel in this beautiful tight dress. Your hair is on point. Your makeup is on point. You look amazing. And yet you’re standing here worrying about Harry.”
“I’m not standing here worrying about Harry. I was just reading you his messages.”
“I know, but… okay, let’s make a deal.”
“What’s the deal, Gemma?”
“Tonight, we both flirt and we both have some fun.”
“Okay. I mean, I can do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“And then if we hit it off with the guys, we go out for an after-party.”
“What do you mean go out for an after-party?”
“We hit up a club or something. Have some fun. Let’s go dancing. Let’s get drunk and crazy.”
“I don’t know if I can get drunk and crazy, Gemma.”
“Sarah.”
“Fine. Fine.” I laughed. “Sure, I’ll get drunk and crazy, and we’ll have some fun. And who knows?”
Gemma said with a wicked smile, “Maybe you’ll even have a kiss tonight.”
“Yeah, let’s see. I want to see some hot guys before I decide if I’m going to kiss them or not.”
“Sarah, they don’t have to be hot. They can be just okay.”
“No, Gemma, they can’t be just okay. I have to feel some sort of connection with them.”
“Girl, once I get enough alcohol in you, you’ll be feeling a connection with just about everyone.”
We both started laughing as we walked to the other side of the room, and I decided that I wasn’t going to take it personally that Benjamin had no interest in hiring me for the Natural History Museum. It was true. I wasn’t the best fit, and I didn’t want to tell Gemma, but my old professor had taken a job in London and said if I was interested, he thought he could get me in at the British Museum or even at Hampton Court Palace, which would be a dream come true. Hampton Court Palace had been Henry the VIII’s majestic palace and being able to preserve history there for visitors would be absolutely amazing. I hadn’t told anyone though because I couldn’t move to England. I just couldn’t.
“I think I love you,” the guy to my right was singing, and I looked over at him and smiled.
“Oh yeah? I think I love you, too.” I was a little bit drunk. Okay, very drunk, but I didn’t care. I was having the time of my life.
“You are absolutely the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life,” he gushed. “I can’t believe you’re still single.”
“Yeah, I’m single and I’m ready to mingle.” I did a little dance as we walked down the street. Gemma was laughing and talking to his friend. “What’s your friend’s name again?” I asked him.
“What? You don’t remember?”
“I do, I do.” I laughed. “But what is it again?”
“His name is Weber.”
“Oh yeah, who remembers a name like Weber?”
“It’s okay, I’ll forgive you.” He grinned. “If you can remember my name.”
“Oh, shit.”
“What?” He grinned wider.
“Oops, did I say that out loud?” I smacked my hand to my forehead. “I guess I’m a little bit drunker than I thought.”
“Oh no, you’re going to break my heart, Sarah. Don’t tell me you don’t remember my name?”
“I do remember your name. Is it ...? Um, hold on, hold on. I got it...” And then I hiccupped. “Oops. I’m so drunk. I’ve never been this drunk before in my life.”
“Oh wow, don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you, Harry.” Oops. Oh, shit.
“Who’s Harry?” He looked at me with a frown. “I’m not Harry. You really did forget my name, didn’t you? I thought you were teasing me or something.”
“No, I was just joking. I know your name’s not Harry. I was just checking to see if you knew your name wasn’t Harry.”
“Well, my name’s Leo, so I don’t think it’s even close to Harry.”
“Oops, yeah, Leo like Leonardo DiCaprio, and just as cute,” I said to the balding man. He looked absolutely nothing like Leonardo DiCaprio, but there was nothing like buttering someone up to make them feel better.
“Well, you know, I have been told that before. I mean, a couple of years ago when I had more hair, but I still like to think I’ve got the same face as him, you know?” His blue eyes twinkled at me. “So Gemma tells me we’re going back to your place?”
“Yeah, I figured seeing as it was close to the museum, it would be fun. We can have a nightcap, you know, play a game or something.”
“Oh, yeah, I’d like to play a game with you tonight.” He winked and I could feel my face warming.
Oh boy, what was I doing? I ignored my beeping phone. I knew it was Harry calling to figure out where I was. He’d been texting and calling me all night. His last messages indicated that he was at my place, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my night. He couldn’t think he could just get a hold of me whenever he wanted. Didn’t he know I had a life too?
“Oops, so two more blocks and then we’re there. Gemma, Gemma,” I called back to her. “We’re nearly at my place.”
“I know, Sarah.” She laughed. “I’ve been there before, remember?”
“I know.” And then I stopped. “Wait, everyone, wait.”
“What is it?” Gemma looked worried. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but I just realized I don’t have any wine, and I’m pretty sure Harry most probably drank the rest of my beer.”
Leo looked at me with a deep frown again. “So there is a Harry? Is this someone I should be wary of? Is he like your ex or something?”
Gemma let out a huge sigh. “It would be almost better if he was her ex.”
“Gemma,” I said in a whiny voice. “Don’t.”
Leo looked back and forth at us. “So exactly who is this guy Harry? Can you let us in?”
“Harry is my best friend, and he has a key to my apartment and sometimes he likes to let himself in, and he let himself in tonight because he’s upset with me, but I’m pretty sure he’s gone because the last text he said, ‘I will see you tomorrow.’” I put on my best Harry Parker Huntington voice and we all laughed.
“Wow, he sounds like a very overprotective best friend,” Leo said with a grin. “But, hey, if that’s all you are, his loss, my gain.”
“That’s all we are, trust me. I never had anything with the other Huntington boys either.”
“Oh wow, so there are more Harrys?” Leo looked at me with a surprised grin.
“Yeah, well, he and his four brothers. The four brothers are older than him and he’s older than me, you know, but I’ve got nothing with any of them so there’s no need to be worried. I can totally kiss you tonight.”
“Okay, well, that’s what I like to hear,” he said.
And then I thought to myself, Oh my god, why did I tell him I’m going to kiss him tonight? I just put all my cards on the table. We hurried to a bodega and Leo went in with his friend and bought a couple bottles of wine and some beers.
Gemma whispered to me, “So what do you think about Leo? He’s in accounting at the museum.”
“He seems really nice,” I said. “I mean I don’t know if it’s a love connection, but hey, he’s fun. We’re getting along.” I twirled around in the street. “And I’m just having the best time in my new dress with my beautiful blonde hair.”
“Oh, Sarah, we should have done this a long time ago. You know I love you, but you’re even more fun when you’re drunk.”
“Are you telling me I’m not fun when I’m not drunk, Gemma?”
“Would I say that?” She grinned.
“No, you wouldn’t. You’re the best friend a girl could have.”
“You mean after Harry?”
“Well, of course. Harry is my bestest friend in the world, but you’re my bestest girlfriend, you know that, right?”
“I know, Sarah. I know.”
A few minutes later we let ourselves into my apartment and I looked around just to make sure that Harry wasn’t there. If he saw me showing up with Gemma and two guys, I was pretty sure he’d have something to say about it, and I really was not in the mood for him to ruin my night.
“Okay, the coast is clear. No one’s here. Yay!” I said with a small smile as I let everyone in. “Let’s go into the living room and I have some cards if you want to play cards or even have dominos. I love to play dominos.”
“I can think of something I’d rather be doing more,” Leo said with a smile as his hand came up to touch my shoulder. “I think that I—”
“Wait, wait, wait, let me go and get some glasses,” I said. “Not too fast, mister.” I grinned at him, my heart racing fast. I mean, yeah, I wanted to get to know him better and I wanted to kiss him, but not this quickly. I mean, he hadn’t even taken me on a date. But really, did you need to go on a date in this day and age to kiss? If I was attracted to him, which I was, minimally, I couldn’t lie. He wasn’t the hottest guy I’d ever seen, but he was worthy of a kiss. But was he really? Self-doubt started to creep in.
I walked to the kitchen and opened the cupboards to take out some wine glasses. As I was setting them down on the counter, I noticed a note sitting there. In big letters was my name. I rolled my eyes as I recognized the handwriting. It was from Harry. I opened up the piece of paper quickly and read it out loud.
“Sarah, I am very, very disappointed in you. Where are you? It is already one in the morning and you’re not home. You’re being very, very irresponsible and I need to talk to you. You have not answered my calls. You have not returned my text messages. This is really not acceptable. Also, what you did with those gifts has left me in a bind. My dad is very upset, and he needs me to have someone to bring to the work parties. You know this was important to me, so you’re going to have to help me fix it. I will see you in the morning unless you call me back tonight and then I will come over. Harry.”
I rolled my eyes, crumpled up the paper, and threw it into the trash. Sometimes he was just too much. Sometimes he acted like he was my dad rather than my best friend. I totally didn’t need to deal with him tonight. I’d give him a call when I woke up tomorrow and then meet him for brunch or something. I mean, it wasn’t my fault that the girls hadn’t liked the presents. That was on him. If he’d wanted to ensure they’d like them, he would have got them himself. Or maybe he wouldn’t have been so cheap. I mean, fifty dollars, come on, what did he expect? Stupid guy. I laughed to myself though. I really wondered exactly how the dates had gone down, and I wondered if he would tell me exactly what they’d said.
I was just about to walk back into the other room with the glasses when my phone rang. I answered it, “Hello.”
“Sarah, there you are. What is going on? Where have you been?” Harry snapped at me. “You’re being totally irresponsible.”
“What do you mean I’m being irresponsible,” I said in a singsong voice. “You’re irresponsible, Harry Huntington.”
“Sarah, are you drunk?” He sounded shocked. “You’re never drunk. You don’t drink.”
“Well, I’m drunk right now, and I have to go because I’m here with a guy called Leo who looks like Leonardo DiCaprio and he wants to make out with me. So there.”
“Sarah, this is not a good idea. I’m going to come over right now.”
“No, you’re not going to come over right now, Harry Parker Huntington. You’re such a selfish asshole. You knew I got my makeover today. You didn’t even ask me how it went, and you didn’t even ask me to send you photos of myself.”
“Oh my god, Sarah, really?”
“Yes, Harry, really. You knew this was important to me.”
“I’ll see you soon enough. I’ll see you in person.”
“You know what, whatever, Harry. Don’t come over tonight. I don’t want to see you. I’m going to be making out, so goodbye.” And then I hung up, turned the phone off, and walked back into the living room with the glasses of wine and sat down next to Leo, and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.