by Grace Gervas
Genajoinedin."Iknow.It'sjust...Idon'tknowClaire.I'm suddenlyscared;whatifI'mmovingtoofast?IthinkI'mgetting tooinvolvedwithhim,andatthespeedofalight.He'snice really,verynicethatIfeellikehe'stoogoodforme..."shekept tellingandherbestiehadtositmorestraightsoasbemore attentive.
"OhpleaseGena,you'rethemostself-consciousgirlIknow. Youneverhadthisinsecuritythingbefore,sowhat'sthematter? Andwhatdoyoumeanhe'stoogoodforyou?"Clairereminded her."Pleasestopthatrottenthought;you'regorgeousand incredible,andI'msureHarryknowsthattoo!"
"You'reanangelbestie.I'malreadyfeelingtheoverflowing confidence!IknewIshouldtalktoyou,becausebetweenus, youhaveturnedtobeanexpertrecently."Theysharedalong andrib-crackinglaughter.
"Okayguesswhat,ImetDoristodayand..."Clairestarted narratingherhorrorstory.
"What?Doyouthinkshehassnooped?"Genagasped. "I'mpositive!Shewasdefinitelysendingmeamessage betweenherspeech.WellIguessshewon'tneedtoworry anymore,becauseI'mbacktomysenses."saidClairewitha sigh.
"Areyou?Areyoureally?"Genaprompted.
"Yes.I'mcertainthistime,andmayGodhelpme!"Claire decided. OnSunday,thetwometduringafternoonanddecidedtodo someshopping.GenatoldheraboutherdatewithHarrythe otherday,whichturnedouttobesomethingcompleteoutof heranticipation;hetookhertohisparent'shouseanditwas quietahassleespeciallyaftermeetingHarry'smother.
"YouhavenoideahowstraddledIfeltwhenIstoodbefore hisperfectfamilywithgreatmoralvalues.Iwasoutofspace girlfriend."saidGenaastheyrummagedaroundthemall.
Claireburstedoutlaughingthewholeway."Shouldn'tyou behappythough?Atleasthe'sdecentenoughtointroduceyou tohisfamily,right?"Sheasked.
"Ohno!"Sheobjected."IwasnotreadyforthatClaire;you should'veseenhowhisobnoxiousmotherscowledmefrom headtoeasifIwassomesleazywomanfromtheNetherworld. Sheneverlikedmeonebit."
"Ohplease!" "Isweartoyou!"Genainsisted"Ohgirl,Ithinkthereis somethingcrookedwithmother-in-laws!"Shesaidandher bestiewasjustlaughing."Mayyoupleasestoplaughingalready? Youjustdon'tknowhowterriblemynightwas."
"I'msorryhoney."Clairekeptlaughing."It'sjust,Ican't imagineyourfaceafterfindingoutitwasactuallyyourin-laws place."Sheadded."Butthenagain,Ithinktheywerejustas startledasyouare;maybeyoushouldgivethemsomebenefit ofadoubt."Sheteasedherfriend,andshealsostartedlaughing.
"Ohpleasedon'tsaythewordin-laws,itscaresthecreep outofme!"Sheuttered,andtheywentonwiththeshopping whilstlaughingheartilyatGena'sexpense.
"Doesthislookgood?"Claireaskedwhenshetriedanoffice dress."It'skindoftight!"sheadded. "WellIthinkit'sperfect!"Genareplied."Girlyou'vegota body,andthatbootyfitsperfectlyinthere,youshoulddefinitely takethatdress."shecontrived,andtheysharedsimilarspeech overandoveruntiltheyscratchedtheircreditcards.
Later,whilegrabbingabiteatsomecoffeehouse;Claire asked,"Soareyoureadyforworktomorrow?"
"YeahIam!"saidGena."Ohbytheway,doyouknowthat Ryanisoutofthecountry?"
ThatwasenoughtochangethepaceofClaire'sheartand mood,altogether."Ohishe?"shequipped. "Yeah,that'swhatHarrytoldme."Genasaid."He'llbethere foraweekIguess,hedidn'ttellyou?"Sheasked,worriedly, whilegobblingherfries.
"No,andhehadnoreasonto!"repliedClaire,pensively;her faceshowednothingbutdiscomfort,butherfriendcouldn'thint onthat,asshewasalreadyengrossedwithherphone. CHAPTER15
THEfollowingweekwentuneventfully,exceptforonetime,on Wednesday,whenBrunodroppedbyandClairehadlunchwith him.Despitebeingbusywithwork,underatightdeadline,she stillfoundtimegoingwayslowerthanshepreferred.Againshe heardnothingfromRyan,anditsomehowbotheredher immenselywithoutadmittingittoherself.Shekeptbelievingit wasbetterthatway,thatit'sexactlythechangesheneededfor herlifetogetbacktonormal;thenormalbeforegetting entangledwithRyanandhissucklinggames.
OnFridayevening,Clairedecidedtorelaxwithamovie insideherbedroom.Shewasbored;shewatched,butcouldn't seewhatthemoviewasaboutasshekeptchangingposture hereandthere,withherheadzoningnowandthen.But suddenly,theideapoppedintoherhead;shecalledGenaand askedherifshewasfreethatevening.
"Iam,butwhy?Wannacomeover?"AskedGena. Whilepacingaroundherroom,Clairereplied"Iwannago out;let'sgotoacluboranywhere."Shesnapped,asseriouslyas shecouldbe.
"What?Youwanttogotoaclub?You?"Genaexclaimed loudly.
"I'mcomingtoyourplaceinasec,"Clairesaid,ignoringher shock."waitforme!"Sheinsisted,andwalkedoutimmediately. Aboutanhourlater,shewasalreadyatGena's,andthe latterwasstillflabbergastedabouttheidea,evenifClairewas rightthere,anddeterminedtodoassaid.
"Soletmegetthisstraight,areyoubeingseriousaboutthis clubbingthing?"Genahadtoinquireagain. "OfcourseIam;Imean,it'sFriday,shouldn'twegetoff somesteamorsomething?I'mgettingdepressedsittingaround, waitingforMondaytoarrive."Clairesaid,whilerummaging Gena'sdresserforsomethingtowear.
"DepressedoversomeRyan?"Genasnappedwitha provokingsmile. "Idon'tknowGena,butIdon'twanttoentertaintheidea,at all."Clairecontinuedtoinspectthedresser."Hey,Iwant somethingflashy,andsexy,anysuggestions?"sheadded.
Genasnickered."Thisoughttobegood!"Shemurmured. "Letmeseewhattoputonthatsexybodyofyours."sheshoved Claireasideandtookcontrolofpickingtheoutfits."Youknow what,you'reright,let'sjustgo,havefun,andgetwastedwhileat it!"
"Yeah,letsdoit!"Shesnapped,allexcited. "I'mgonnacallforanUberbecauseIdon'tthinkI'llbeable todrivelater,andsinceyou'verefusedtorenewyourlicense, noneofuswillbeinconditiontodrive."
"IthinkI'llhavetoworkonthatsoonerorlater."She mumbled,whilepeelingoffherhideouspyjamas."Drivingyour owncarisimportantsometimes."Sheadded.
Theytooktheirtimepicking,tossing,andtestingdifferent clothesuntilanhourlaterwhentheyfinallygotreadytogo. "Wow!You'relookingsmokinghotgirlfriend."Genasaid whenClairefinishedputtingonalittlereddressthatcramped hercurvesintoplace.
"YoulookgreatyourselfSamuraiQueen!"Clairereturned. Withhairflailingfreelydowntheirshoulders,thetwobest friendswalkedintoahotclubintheCity,withheavymusicthat regardedtheminstyle.Genawasaregular,shejusthadashot ofmargaritaandslippedintothedancefloorthatwasalready active.Smilingly,Clairereformedherattentiontothebartender whofinallygrantedhisutmostattentiontoher.
"Haveyoumadeupyourmind?BecauseI'mnotgivingyou acherrysodawithhowsteamyyoulook"Thecurly-hairedguy behindthecountersaid.
Shelaughed."WhatmakesyouthinkthatIwantcherrysoda, huh?AndevenifIwere,what'stheproblemwiththat?"She returnedwithashout;itwasquitenoisytobeginwith.
Theguyleanedoverlaughingly."Everythingiswrongwith that;ItgoesagainsttheFridaynightrule."
"Ohreally?Fridaynightrule?"Sheeyedhim,sensually,and hefoundhimselfdraggedintothesphereofherterrificeyes. "Yeah,thatone."
"Areyousureyouhaven'tmadeitup?"Shesmiled.
Helaughedaloud."Okay,yougotme!"Heslowlywinced back."Sowhatwillyouhave?" "Surpriseme!"SaidClaireplayfully,withherelbowsonthe counter,supportingherheadashergazemethis,froma distance.
Hewethisplumplipstantalizingly."Asyouwish!"hesaid, beforemovingawayandstarteddoinghismixology. Clairerealizedthatbybeingthere,itwasthebestchoice.At leastshewasabletorelax;watchingpeopleminglingonthe dancefloor,somemakingoutinsomedarkcorners,others chattingandlaughingwhileseatedattheboothswithfaintlight; itwasallworthit.Whenshefinallyresumedherobjectof interest,therewasacocktailglassinfrontofher,withapink liquiddressedwithasliceofpineappleandalittlestraw.She archedaneyebrowatthesightofit.
"Thatwasquick!"Shetoldthebartender.
Heonlysmiledarchly."Icallit,"heeyedClaire."Hey gorgeous!"Hesaidinhissoftvoice,andsmiledrelentlessly. "Heygorgeous?"Sheprompted,whilesuckinginthedrink slowly,withoutleavinghiseyes."Areyouflirtingwithmeright now?"sheplainlyasked.
"NoI'mnot,I'mjustadmiringyoureyes."Theguyreplied, andpulledbackabit,totendanothersoul.
Clairelaughedabit."He'scute!"Sheutteredtoherself,and heseemedtopiquecuriosityonherwords.
"Whatdidyousay?"Heaskedoverhisshoulder,while pickingmoreglasses.
"Isaidyouarenotmytype!"Shereturnedloudly,because oftheinterferingmusic. "Whynot?I'mhandsome,I'mcool,sowhynotyourtype?" Heremarkedoncehe'dservedasmokeywhiskeytoaguynext stool,stillsmiling.
"Yesyouarecool."Clairereplied."ButIlovefire!"She thoughtaloud,andforonceshelethermindwanderoffto someone'scoldapartment,whereshegottoexperiencea millionemotionsinoneday.That'swhenshefeltahand slippinghershoulderandsomeoneutterlyfamiliarappeared.
"Heystranger?"Amalevoicesnapp
edher.
"Nathan?Whatareyoudoinghere?"Shegraspedwhenshe discernedthatitwasherboss. Nathantookaseatcasually,besideher."IthoughtI've madeamistake."Hesmiled."Youlook...awesomeLevy,I watchedyousinceearlierandIthoughtitwassomeoneelse... doublescotchplease!"HesaidtoClaireandbartender, respectively.
"Um--thanks!Ididn'tknowyoualsocometothesekindof places."Shetoldhim.
"WellIdoonceinawhile;infactI'mnottheonlyone,the entireteamisoverthereexceptyou."Herepliedpointedly. Clairefollowedhisgazeandsawtherest."Oh,howwouldI knowifIwasn'tinvited?"
"Wewantedtoinviteyou,butyouknow,wethoughtyou wouldn'twanttohang."
"Ohplease,doIlooklikeapastor'sdaughteror something?"
Nathanburstedoutlaughing."You'resofunny!"Andhisscotch waspresented. Clairedecidedtogototheothersanddroppedahi;they hangedabit,beforeeveryoneelseeitherwentforthedance floor,restroom,oranywhereelsebutawayfromthebooth. Decidedly,shereturnedtothecountertogetherwithNathan whokepttalkingofhowtheyendedupthereafterwork.
"Yeah,wehadafreepassbecausemybrother-in-lawowns thisplaceandwearetheonewhodecoratedit."Heblurted. "Ohisthatso?"sheprompted,withalittleindifference. Afteralittlemoretalk,andanotherroundofdrinks,Gena's phonewasringinginsideherpurse,butClaireoptedtoignore. "Yeah,itseemslikeLydiaisalreadydrunk."sheremarkedwitha laughastheyspottedoneoftheircolleaguesdancingoutofthe songbeat.
Againthephonerang,andClairefinallydecidedtocheck whoitwas;shefoundoutitwasHarry,andstaringatGena,it wasimpossibletoletherknowfromalltheworkshe'dbeen doing;dancinganddrinkingalternately.Seeinghowpersistent thecallerwas,shedecidedtoanswer,buttheycouldn't understandoneanother;Harrywaspracticallyscoldingand Clairecouldn'tunderstandthewordhehadsaid.
"Itsimpossibletomakeadecentphonecallinhere, perhapsyoushouldstepoutside."Nathansaidsuggestively. "Yeah,itwasuseless."Shereplied,andluckilyGenawas jostlingherwaythere. "Youshould'vejustignoredhim."SnappedGena,once learnedaboutthecall."HeisthemostannoyingguyIknow, howdarehecallsmenowafterignoringmycallsthewhole day?"Sherattled,anditseemedlikeshewasabittipsy.
"OkayGena,sitdownandrelaxabit."Clairesaid."You're drunkandyoushouldcalmdown!"Sheforcedherontothe barstool.
"NoI'mnotdrunk!"Genalashed."Wait,I'llshowhimwhatI reallyam.Alawyerornot,noonemesseswithGenaMontero!" Shesquirmed."DoyoumindtakingaselfiewithusClaire's boss?"SheregardedNathanwhohadbeenobservingthemin silence.
"Um--noproblem!"Nathanansweredhesitantly. Clairefrowned."WhatareyoudoingGena?"sheaskedher friendwhowaspullingtheothertwotogetherandsnappeda photo. "Wow!thisisgood,and...sent!"Genamutteredaminute later.ClaireandNathanexchangedanamusedglances,while shakingtheirheadstothesides.
**** HARRYhadjustpickedRyanfromtheAirportthatnight,assoon astheSKprivatejetlanded.Thetwowereridingbacksmoothly withRyanasthedriverhimself;heloveddrivingcarssince young,thathelearnedtodriveattheageoftwelve.Theywere talkingabouthistripandfewdetailsaboutthecompanyupon hisabsencethatweek.Duringtheentiretime,Harrylooked angryashekeptstaringhisphonewithoutlettingitoutofhis sight.
"What'swrong?Areyouexpectingacall?"Ryanaskedhim casually.
"No!it'snothing!"Harryreplied,curtly;buthisfacespoke completelytheopposite.
Ryanletoutamockinglaughter."Doyouknowhow suspiciousyoulook?Isitawoman?"Heaskedhimyetagain. "Ohcomeon!Whywouldyouconcludeit'sawoman?" Harrysnapped,evasively. "I'veneverseenthatlookonyourfacebefore,andI'msure ithasnothingtodowithwork.So,areyoureallyseeingGena now?Seemslikeyoutwoaregettingserioushuh?"Ryanteased him.
Harrysnarled,enraged."Stopkiddingarounddude!Doyou knowwherethosetwowomenarerightnow?Yes,including Claire."HebarkedanditpiquedRyan'scuriosityforonce. "Checkthis,"Harryhandedhimhisphone.
Ryanstaredatthepictureofthosetwowomen,including hisownsubjectofinterest;Claire.Hisbrowsfurrowed,in apprehensionofwhatshewaswearing,andmostespecially whenhedetectedapresenceofNathanPanther;hisjaw clenched.
"Doyouknowtheplace?"Heaskedseriously.
"IthinkIdo.It'stheonlyclubGenagoesto,fromwhat she'dtoldme"Harryreplied.
"Okay!"wastheonlythingRyansaid,beforechangingthe gearandacceleratedthesilverSUV. Howorwhentheywereabletodoit,wasn'tinquestionatthe moment;RyanandHarrybrokeinsidetheclub,andstarted lookingaroundinsearchforthetwowomentheyboth particularlyknew.Itdidn'ttakemuchlongerforHarrytosee Genaswayinghipsonthedancefloor,andasforRyan,heknew exactlywheretofindClaire.Thelatterwalkedtowardsthe counterwherehisglisteningeyesrestedonNathanPanther, besidethesamewomanhe'dmadehispresencethereupon. "AmIinterrupting?"Heannouncedassoonashegrabbeda
spotinascandalousmanner.Claire,whohadbeenlaughing heartilyatNathan'sexpense,wasnearlyonvergeofdropping herjawoffthefloor.
"Ry--Ryan?"Shegaspedandstoodupherfeet.Thinking perhapshermind,withalittlealcoholinherbloodstreamswas playingtrickonher,butthearrogantlook,mingledwith somethinglikeangeronthefaceofhis,Clairegrasped immediatelythatitwasreallyRyan.
"HiPanther?MindifIstealyourcolleagueforaminute?" RyanregardedNathan,ignoringClaire'sastoundedlook. Withsimilarstartledlook,Nathanreplied."Ofcoursenot, Mr.Stevens!"
"Thanks."Ryansaid."Shallwe?Miss.Levy?"Heturnedto Claire,withhisusualinsolentsmilethatkeptherbloodboil. "Ryanwhatareyoudoinghere?DoyouactuallythinkI--" Clairestartedtocontradict,butheleanedclosetoherearand whispered;
"Youdon'twanttocreateascenehere,doyou?" Asoftbreathescapedherlungs;consideringthelegitfact thatsomeofhercolleagueswerepresentattheplace;sheknew goingagainstRyan,atthatmoment,wasn'tatherbestinterest.
"Fine,letmeatleastclearthecheck."Sheansweredcalmly, andswiftlyturnedtothecounterwhileopeningherWallet. Nathanheldherhand."IsaidthisisonmeLevy,welcome totheteamtreat?"Hesmiledwarmly,andClairereturned exactly.
"ThanksNathan,IguessI'llseeyouonMonday;andtoday wasfun."Shetoldhimknowingly,beforefacingthenearly icebergofaguynexttoher.WiththatlittlegestureofNathan PantherholdingClaire'shand,andpayingforherdrinks,Ryan's jawclenchedbutheneverlosthiscool.
"Shallwe?"Heurged;withgreatdealofreluctance,Claire obliged.
"Ohno,Gena!"shesnappedfewstepslater.
"Don'tworryabouther,she'sprobablyoutside."Returned Ryan. "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Shesnorted,anditwasless ofanargumentuntiltheyfinallysteppedawayfromtheheavy music,andspottedGenaandHarryarguingoutside,nearthe parkinglot.ClairelookedatRyan,andheonlyshrugged.
"Letthemsorttheirownissue,"saidhehaltingly,"because wehaveourstosolve."headdedpointedly.
"Hah!"Clairegasped."Ofcoursewedo,soletmereturnmy friend'spurse,sothatwecanalsodothesame." Andwiththat,shefollowedGena,disregardingHarrywho seemedtobehavinghisfillfromallthedrunktalktalkfromthe Asianwoman.Clairebuttedin,andkindlyaskedhimtogive themaminute.
"Sure,goahead."Harryrepliedwithgreatcivilityand steppedaside,towhereRyanwas.
"Areyouokay?"Clairehandedherpurse.
"OfcourseI'mokay.DoyoureallythinkfewMargaritashots couldtakemedown?"Genaspoutedandherfriendlaughed. "Actuallyitwasmorethanafew,"SaidClaire."butanyway, whatnext?doyouwantmetostickaround?BecauseIdowanna stickaround!"Sheaddedinalmostascare.
ItwasGena'sturntolaugh."Why?Areyouscaredtobe alonewithhim?"
"Honestly,Iam.Isthatweird?Imean,noteveninmy wildestdreamhaveIexpectedtoseehimhere." "Weirdlyfair,butno,IcanhandleHarryallbymyself.After all,hewantsustogetthisoverwithbeforethenightends,andI wantthesameIguess."repliedGena.
"Heissosweet,unlikesomeoneIknow!"Clairesaid,and shotadaggeratRyan."WellIguessI'lljustgetgoing,andplease beniceGena,theguyistrying!"
"I'lltry."Genasaid.Theysharedafriendlyhugbefore parting,withClairereturningtoRyan,andHarrytoGena afterwards.Whatfollowedwasastaringcontestbetweenthe othercrazycouple.
"Ihaveplentyofquestionsrightnow,"Clairesaid,witha pause."butI'llonlyaskone."shesighed. "Goahead..."Ryanreplied. "What'sthemeaningofthis?" "Ofwhat?"
"StopplayingdumbwithmeRyan!I'mtalkingaboutyou comingallthewayherejusttoruinmynight."shebarked."I understandHarry'sattitude,becausehehasagoodreasonto, butyou?Whatmadeyoucomehere?"
Heraisedoneeyebrowather."Ialsohaveagoodreason, you!"hesnapped."WhatwereyoudoingflirtingwithPanther?" "Doingwhat?"Sheyelled."Iwasn'tflirtingwithhim,and evenifthatwasthecase,ithasnothingtodowithyou?" "Ohitsurelydoes!EverythingaboutyouClairemattersto me,doyougetit?"Hesnapped. "NoIdon'tgetit!"Sheexclaimed."Ithoughtwe'redone withtheshitRyan,whenyoudecidedtomut
eforoveraweek andlefttoGodknowswherewithoutawordIthoughtitwas overbetweenus,andIwasrelievedthatatlasteverythingis backtonormal.Butguesswhat,hereyouare,onceagainto messwithmylife!"Shescreamedamidsttheparkinglot,andfor oncesomedrunkencouplepassedbywhichshutherdown momentarily.
"That'swhatIthoughteither."Hesaid."Butitallchanged whenIsawthepictureofyou,andthat...andthatPanther!" ThatremarkmadeClairestiflealaugh.Thepictureseemed tohaveaffectedRyanmorethanhe'dleton,andforsome stupidreasons,thatsimplefactbroughtheragrandfelicity.At easthewasjealous,shethought.
"Andsowhat?Doyouwantmetoappraiseyouforyour heroicactofruiningmynight?BecauseIwasreallyenjoying myselfthere;Nathanisfuntobearound,butyoucameand--"
"Doyouwanttogoback?"Ryanretorted;hisvoicewascalm, andhiseyesveryserious."Ifthat'swhatyouwant,youcango ahead!Iwon'tstopyou."headded.
Sheswallowed,loweringherguardsforonce.Seeinghim actingassuchwasararescene,andforthefirsttimeshefelt somekindofadmirationtowardshim.Shehesitated,nibbled herlips,andeventhoughtforawhile,beforereplying;
"No,Ijustwanttogetoutofhere,it'sgettingcold."She openedthealreadyunlockedcar,andslippedintothe passengerseat.Ryanfollowedheraminutelater,withhislooks indifferent.
TheSUVhittheroad,andtheridewasrathersilentasbothkept theirthoughtstothemselvesinthemeantime.Clairefound herselfstaringathim,butunabletoutteraword.Ryankepthis sightfixedlyontheroad,withoutshowinganyofwhateverhe wasthinking.Thesilencestartedtobringaboredom;andeven withhereyesstickingtotheslidingbuildingsalongsidethetwolaneasphalt,Clairefelttheurgetofurtherinquireabouthistrip, andthereasonwhyhestoppedcommunicatingwithher.
"Imissedyou!"Thewords,thatcameasastartle,pierced Claire'searsandsheglancedathim.
"What?"Sheprompted.
"IsaidImissedyou."Ryanrepeated,bygracingherastare thistime. Therewasaflutterofjoyforher,butshedidn'twantto showit."Ifyoudid,thenwhydidn'tyoudoanything?"shetold him,withaperfectindifference.
Hesmiled."BecauseIwantedtodoasyouwant;toleave youalone."
"Andthenwhatchanged?"Clairereturned.