Work Holdiay Party: Year Two

Sitting on my patio with Mel some time in November I mentioned casually that I'd asked BP to be my work party date. I dreaded going it alone knowing that Work Guy would be there, probably with his newest conquest who would undoubtedly be thinner than me. She smiled and nodded. She gave me this look that said "Good, you NEED to have a date to THIS function."

I couldn't help it. My heart constricted. So he shall not be named has moved on. Mel is on a committee with Work Guy and hears all his latest exploits which she keeps from in hopes I will move on too.

"So he has a new girlfriend?" I sounded small and like I would cry. She immediately felt awful for telling me.

"I wouldn't call her his girlfriend, he just says they're 'seeing each other' very pointedly. The way he talks about her, man, he is a Douche. Who the fuck would want to date his fat ass anyway." I love Mel, she always says the right thing in the least eloquent way possible.

She changed the subject but I was breaking apart inside. It is so wrong to have to hear about your ex moving on, seeing it every day at work, when you're left a shadow of a person. NEVER date someone you work with. NEVER.

So, the Holiday Party rolls around and I have the unfortunate experience of dress shopping a few hours before. I need to look good. Not for Work Guy but for my pride. He will have some skinny little thing hanging off his arm whom he has probably told every gross detail of my inferior-ness to her beauty and I will have to walk around looking my absolute best knowing this.

I chose a strapless ruffled dress I hoped wouldn't make me look too chunky. I ran to Victoria's Secret to buy a strapless bra, having not owned an outfit which would require one in many a year, I was out of practice. No one would help me. I chose the only one I could find and went to the dressing room. It fit weird. I asked for help and had a toddler pick a few out that might work. When I asked for a larger size in one she told me "Well, that bra is made for younger women so it really doesn't go up into your size." I stared. I am not, by any means, a busty lady. Nor am I eligible for medicare for the next few decades. What the fuck does she mean by "younger"? I contemplated telling her that I had worked at VS before she even had boobs but in thought that would kill my whole age case.

I bought the bra I started out with and resolved I would never go back to that store.

I hurried home to get ready at lightning speed. BP showed up looking dapper in a button down shirt and tie. No cowboy outfit like he had threatened. When I came out in my dress, heels and red jewelry he gave me a very appreciative look. I blushed. However he did not tell me I looked amazing or take me into his arms to kiss me passionately. Deja vu reminded me, yet again, that I do not live in a romance novel.

Mel and her man met us at the house and we all took BP's truck to the party. I was a little worried about getting upset, but BP is fun to be around and I looked forward to dancing. I walked in, just like last year and Work Guy was standing in exactly the same place. There was eye contact for about a second before I looked back at my handsome date. I was determined to have a fun time.

And we did. Besides the fact that the lady who runs the whole party took my plus one to mean only one and gave me half the drink tickets I should have had and later had to be hunted down to get a poker pass for the whole casino playing thing.... We laughed, drank and were marry.

BP was the perfect date. Attentive but not grabby. Understood I had to schmooze a little and was content entertaining himself. We gambled, I line danced, he put up with loud Mel and her even louder boyfriend. He draped his arm around me casually, leaned in to talk, rubbed my leg affectionately. Told me I had to keep that dress on all night.

Some mutual friends of Work Guy came over to say hi. They were unintentionally sitting at the table behind us... with Work Guy and his midget date. I swear to God she was 5"3" in heels and walked like they were killing her. She was cute and petite in a simple black dress with her brown hair pulled half back. She was pretty, but not the bombshell I was dreading. They seemed newly dating and uncomfortable. I felt a little sorry for them. But not too much.

Mel told me later that she overheard them fighting. Apparently New Girl was ripping Work Guy a new asshole and he just looked in the other direction. Sigh, I remember that. Lucky lady. The rest of the evening I didn't see them much together and once caught her sitting at the table not talking to anyone, yawning. I hope he marries that one.

While BP did not dance with me he sat at the table and watched, laughed at out antics. I won baseball tickets in the raffle due to his gambling. We went home with Mel and her man to build a fire, drink and laugh some more. I changed into sweat pants, to BP's disappointment.

At some point, after SEVERAL glasses of wine, Mel asked BP his intentions. It became very clear he didn't have any so I answered for him. "It's just sex." He laughed, but I gave up. That was all this is and it will soon go away.