CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

The party was in full swing by the time Callie arrived.

Music was blasting so loudly from the rooftop bar that she’d heard it in the streets. Shaking her head in amusement, Callie entered the building and made her way to the elevators. She was deposited on the forty-sixth floor, where the party was. The cool evening breeze blew a bit stronger in the open area, and she was thankful for it. It seemed that the throng of dancing bodies created a hot and heavy mass.

Opting to avoid the crowds, Callie headed for the bar beside the pool. It seemed relatively empty compared to the larger bar that was next to the DJ booth. Callie even found herself an empty stool where she could comfortably perch until her best friend found her.

“I’ll have an Iced Tea, please,” Callie spoke up, smiling at the bartender.

The tattooed employee who was manning the bar looked up sharply when he heard her order. “Do you mean a Long Island?” he tried to clarify.

“No, I meant a regular one,” Callie replied, her smile growing wider. People always seemed surprised when she ordered a plain, non-alcoholic beverage. Then again, they probably didn’t get much of those seeing as people went to bars for the drinks that could get them drunk.

“Coming right up,” the bartender spoke, still looking slightly confused.

“I think you broke him,” an amused voice said from beside Callie.

She turned to see a man taking a seat next to her.

He was the type of guy that would catch your attention even if he was standing in the middle of a large crowd. He had that unfairly proportioned and sculpted face that required no effort to look good. Blue-green eyes set under thick, serious eyebrows looked up at Callie through unfairly long lashes. A neatly trimmed beard that was a few shades darker than his slicked-back brown locks made him look more mysterious and mature, but the smile on his face was open and friendly.

Callie tried to act casual. She’d dealt with good-looking guys before anyway. They were still normal human beings, right?

“Just trying to keep things interesting,” Callie retorted with a slight shrug and a smile of her own. “I’m pretty sure no one else here ordered the same drink as me.”

At that, the mystery man cocked his head to the side in slight agreement. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure the people here didn’t come for normal drinks.”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” Callie replied with an amused chuckle. “My best friend organized this whole thing. And if I know her, no one here is going home sober.”

“Except you,” the mystery man pointed out just as the bartender placed the iced tea in front of Callie.

Callie gave a nod of thanks to the guy behind the counter before turning back to her new acquaintance. “Except me.”

“Are you the exception to many things, Miss-?” he trailed off, clearly waiting for her to supply her name.

“Everett,” Callie supplied, holding out a hand. “Callista Everett. And I’m quite typical, Mister-?” This time, it was her turn to ask for his name.

The man smiled that devastating smile again, and Callie felt as though she had drunk alcohol despite being complete, stone-cold sober. “James Alexander Hudson,” he revealed. “And I have a hard time believing that, Ms. Everett.”

“So, what brings you to this party, Mr. Hudson?” Callie asked when she pulled her hand back. Usually, the faces she saw at parties were familiar. Her best friend invited the same people to the parties that she threw, and Callie was certain she’d never seen James before.

“Well, you’ve caught me, Ms. Everett,” he said, suddenly looking sheepish. His gaze dropped to his lap, where his hand was pulling something out of his jacket pocket. When he revealed what the item was, Callie felt her eyes growing a bit wide.

Somehow, she had a feeling she knew what was inside the small, blue velvet box.

True enough, when James flicked it open, she spotted a beautiful diamond ring inside. It was a beautiful yet simple piece with a princess-cut diamond intertwined with an oval sapphire set in a thin, gold band. The sapphire seemed to match James’ eyes perfectly. “I’m not here for the party,” James continued as he showed her the ring. There was a nervous undertone to his voice now. She could detect a hint of shakiness under the deep baritone.

“I hope you don’t intend to propose to me without taking me to dinner first,” Callie joked, causing James to let out a laugh.

The tension seemed to leave his shoulders as he flicked the box closed and tucked it safely back into his jacket. “Surely, I’d have to fight a long list of gentlemen to even have the honor,” James commented, arching an eyebrow at her.

A part of Callie wished she could agree with him, but a part of her didn’t regret putting her career and herself first, either. “Well, whoever the lucky girl is, I’m sure she’s going to love it,” Callie said sincerely instead. Just because having a relationship wasn’t her priority, didn’t mean she couldn’t be happy for other people.

James nodded in gratitude, looking up at Callie again with that intrigued expression on his face. He looked as though he was trying to figure out a puzzle. Before he could say anything, a voice cut into their conversation.

“Callie! There you are!” Suddenly, there was a body colliding with Callie, and she looked up to see her best friend, Aiko, draping herself all over Callie. On the other side of Aiko, James watched in amusement. “Why didn’t you tell me you were here? Oh, and you’ve met James!”

Callie was trying to hold back her laughter. Drunk Aiko was a lot more talkative and enthusiastic than Sober Aiko, so it was always hilarious spending time with her. “I didn’t want to interrupt you,” Callie pointed out as she gestured to the guests. “You look like you had your hands full.”

Aiko pouted and waved her hand in the air, nearly punching James in the process. Luckily, he wasn’t just handsome. He also had good reflexes and managed to dodge at the last moment. “Nonsense. You’re my best friend and my top priority.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that I’m doing very well. James has been very good company,” Callie explained, sharing a knowing look with James. Aiko narrowed her eyes and turned to the man in question, who smiled innocently up at the host and held his glass of whiskey up to her.

“You better not fool around with my best friend, Hudson,” Aiko threatened, and Callie couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore.

She shooed Aiko away, letting her go back to the party, but also making a mental note to text her driver and have her taken home in half an hour. “I can take care of myself, Aiko. Now, you go have fun with the others.”

“Okay, but I will see you,” Aiko pointed at Callie when she said this, “later. And you’re going to tell me all about that other awful party.”

Callie nodded her head like a good student, the huge smile still on her face. “Yes, ma’am.”

With that, Aiko disappeared as quickly as she came, seeming to blend in with the dancing crowd. Callie shook her head, still amused, before turning back to James. “What other awful party is she talking about?” he asked curiously.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Champagne problems, really,” Callie replied, although she didn’t sound convincing to James or herself. While she loved the light banter they were having, she wasn’t exactly a person who relished sharing information about herself.

Deciding to leave before they got to the deep stuff, Callie stood from her seat and decided to go mingle with the rest of the people at the party. “It was nice to meet you, James. I hope you get the answer you’re looking for,” Callie spoke as she prepared to say goodbye. James, the true gentleman that he was, also stood from his seat. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to mingle a bit before Aiko starts thinking you’re monopolizing me.”

“We wouldn’t want that,” James agreed with a slight chuckle. “She seems like she can be scary if she wants to be. But it was great talking to you, Callie. I hope this isn’t the last time we see each other.”

With one final smile, Callie turned and walked off, spotting a few familiar faces by the balustrade of the roof deck. When she glanced behind her, James was already facing the bar and playing with the velvet box in his hands. She couldn’t help but wonder if someone would also be waiting for her with a ring in their pocket had her life gone a little differently.

But, no. She wouldn’t want to change the way things were. That was the reason there wasn’t a long line of guys waiting for her. This is how she preferred to live. Independent. In control. She only had herself to answer to, and she didn’t have to adjust anything in her life to accommodate someone else.

Turning back around, Callie continued walking away.