Wild Night: Part 9
Cara
Three hours had passed. It was now one a.m., and though the party was winding down Donna still felt wide awake. Josh had long since passed out, and was now snoring serenely. The guests had gone home, Toby included. The latter had stumbled his way out, declaring morosely that it wasn't fair; Sam always had all the fun. Donna had been tempted to do something to make him feel better, but she'd changed her mind and watched him leave.
Gina, now yawning conspicuously, came up beside Donna. “How ya holding up, kid?” she asked, flopping onto the sofa beside Josh, who didn't stir.
“I'm fine,” Donna answered. She sighed and sat down on the arm of the chair. “It's just …”
“What?”
Donna looked up at the older woman. Something in her face made the story easy to spill. “Josh told me once that I'd never be anything more than a dull secretary. You know that.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I felt really … for lack of a better word … *alive* doing this. You know?” Donna edged herself onto the couch next to Gina. “But he didn't know it was me, and he didn't even think this 'me' was pretty.”
Gina snorted. “Don't go by the outside, dearie. I know when a guy is interested in a girl. And trust me. He was interested.”
The other woman's words heartened her a little, but they also reminded Donna of the other strange thing that had gone on that night. “Well … so was Sam,” she said softly. “He was leering at me.”
“ 'Leering?' ” Gina echoed.
“Yes.” Donna sighed. “I can't explain it. He leered.”
“So what are you saying?” Gina looked at Donna, seriousness overtaking her lighthearted mien. “He was hitting on you?”
Donna bit her lip, looking troubled. “I don't know.”
Gina shrugged. “Well, why don't you just go hit on him and see if he answers back?”
Donna stared at her indreculously. “Hit on Sam?” she echoed. “Are you nuts? He's about to marry my best friend, for Christ's sake!”
“Yeah, well, do you want him to marry her knowing that he was hitting on you?”
“I guess not.” Donna got up and started to make her way over to the other room. But she stopped herself. “Gina …” she said. “I don't know if I can do this.”
The other woman rolled her eyes. “Donna. Shut up, go over there, and at the very least have a little fun before that beautiful man is off the market.”
Well, when she put it like that … Donna rose, heaved a resolute sigh, and headed over to the living room.
However, when she got there, she found a rather unexpected sight. Sam was trying, unsuccessfully, to close the CD player. He kept missing, however, and as Donna walked into the room his eyes filled with inebriated tears. “Abb-y?”
It was all Donna could do not to collapse laughing. “Sam, what's wrong?” she said, biting her lip to keep her composure.
He gestured sloppily towards the offending object. “This won't work.”
“That's too bad, Sam.” Donna sat down in the chair. “Have you tried to close it?”
“Yes.” Sam's lip wobbled as some of the tears threatened to spill over. “But I can't!” He went to sit down next to Donna, but missed, and wound up sitting on the floor.
Donna stroked his hair absently. How could she ever have thought Sam was hitting on her? How could she ever thought of flirting back? “Sam, it's okay,” she said. “I'll close it.”
He was perilously close to bawling now. “But you're not C.J.!”
Donna could no longer hold in the laughter. Giggling she said, “Sam, do you miss C.J. right now?”
“Yes …” Sam laid his head against Donna's legs and made an effort to calm down. “I want C.J., Abby.”
“Don't worry,” Donna whispered, not wanting to wake Josh. “You can see C.J. in the morning. After we all go to sleep.”
That was the wrong thing to say. “Sleep. Sleep good.” With a dreamy, intoxicated smile, Sam passed out, falling asleep leaning against Donna.
Donna looked down incredulously. He was drunk … he was asleep … wait a minute. They had won!
“Gina!” she hissed. “Gina, get in here!”
She came at a run, and instantly stopped in her tracks. Trying not to giggle, she said, “You want me to get him off you?”
“Please.” Donna choked through cackles of amusement. “My leg's falling asleep.”
Slowly Gina grasped the unconscious man's shoulders and lifted, while Donna extricated herself from the deadweight that was Sam. Once free, the two women maneuvered him so he was propped against the bottom of the sofa, lying on his side. “Good,” Gina said. “He won't drown.”
“Right.”
“Well, I'm going to get outta here.” Gina stood and began fumbling for her bag. “It's getting late.”
“Sure you're all right to drive home?”
“Yeah, fine. Swear. I'll get a cab.” Gina lingered for just a moment, though. “Hey, Donna … this was fun.”
“Yeah, it was.” Donna grinned. “Any time you need an extra stripper, come find me.”
“Yeah.” Gina looked back once. “See you 'round.”
“No,” Donna said, an afterthought striking, “see you at C.J.'s bachelorette party. Remember? She said she'd invite you if we won. And,” she finished, gesturing to the two unconscious men, “we've definitely won.”
“Yeah. Guess so.” Gina walked out laughing. “Call me about it.”
“I will.” Once she was gone, Donna watched the sleeping men. Finding the phone, she dialed the familiar number and spoke only a few words. “C.J.? It's me. We've got them.”
Part 10
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