A Whole Latke Love

Another December, another office holiday party, and another opportunity for Jenny Lambert to get drunk and dance on the reception desk.  

Yay. 

Matt was glad she at least had pants on this year. Last year Jenny had worn this amazing skirt and half the guys in the office had instantly turned into gawking, horny teenagers. Someone must have warned her. 

That said, though, wouldn’t it be nice if someone he could get into hopped up there and started working it a little? Maybe Nick or... ooh, William. William would look great up there. Then Matt could turn into a horny teenager for once. That would make this party way more fun. More interesting too. 

Great, now he was thinking like a pig. That didn’t make this party any better. 

He fought the urge to just leave now, reminding himself that he attended this ridiculous party because he was trying to make partner and, following the laws of office politics, he had to at least show his face until people were drunk enough not to miss him when he left. On the bright side, the food was usually pretty good. 

For the record, and just to add to his cynicism, it wasn’t really a “holiday” party. It was a Christmas party and everyone knew it. There was a big, Christmas tree lit up in the corner for one thing, and tons of red and white poinsettias were scattered around the big reception area that was currently being used as a dance floor. There were fake evergreens running across the top of every doorway and a giant wreath hung over the reception desk. There were silver bells over the elevator doors for crying out loud. Nothing actually said “Merry Christmas,” but the halls were definitely decked. 

Oh, and the DJ was playing “All I Want for Christmas is You” for Drunken Jenny Lambert to dance to.  

Christmas. 

Yes, there was a little table-top sized electric menorah on the other side of the room, but Hanukkah didn’t start until December twenty-second this year and someone had lit all the little orange, flickery candles anyway.  

He tried to appreciate the gesture, but really it just pissed him off. When he made partner, he’d make sure it was done right. 

Matt watched Jenny dance and tried to pretend like she was William, but it was useless. He looked at his watch, wondering again if he could casually walk by, pretend he was going to the restroom, and just get on the elevator instead and go home. Everyone was focused on the reception desk after all. 

“Do you think she is going to remember this in the morning this year?” 

“Last year there was pictorial evidence.” He grinned at Nick. “Didn’t you provide them?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Matt. They just appeared in the lunchroom.” Nick held up a glass. “You need to look less bored. Get a drink.” 

“I have a drink.” 

“Matthew Kaplan.” Nick shook his head. “That is a Diet Coke, not a drink.” 

“You know I never drink at these things, Nick.” 

“Why not? Are you afraid you’ll end up on the desk with Jenny?” 

“Not really,” he lied. It was a definite possibility. “Anyway, it looks like Greg beat me to it.” He pointed, and he and Nick laughed as the managing partner did the shimmy with Jenny. 

“We should get her a Lyft.” 

Nick snorted. “Matt, my friend, you are boring. Stay here. I’m getting you a drink.” Nick took off for the board room, where they’d set up the bar, and Matt decided not to be standing here when Nick got back. He didn’t need alcohol to make this event even worse than it already was. He headed past the makeshift dance floor and the scent of holiday dinner drifted over him.  

Oh, yum. He could eat.