by Lia London
“Dramatic? It’s totally dead.”
“It’s millions of years old.”
“So’s the whole planet, Barth. What’s the big deal?” The chill desert air disagreed with her bones.
“Aw, you’re just getting cranky after a long day of work. We’ll leave as soon as the sun sets.”
She glanced at her watch. “Isn’t sunset around 6:30? That’s still over an hour away.”
Barth shook his head at her like she was a whiny little child. Maybe she was. “I got leftovers in the car. Grab it if you need something to do with your mouth besides fussing.”
Chieko opened her mouth to protest, but a sharp laugh came out instead. “That sounds like something your Grammy MarLee would say.”
He nodded, hefting his camera in his hand. “Word for word. You got that right.”
Despite her weariness, Chieko smiled. “She’s really a character, isn’t she?”
“The best kind of character I know.”
He panned in a full circle with a steady hand, and Chieko ducked down low as the viewfinder swept over where she stood. “You’re so smooth with the cam. You could probably film while running a marathon.”
Barth chuckled and pressed the red stop button. “Nah. Sprints maybe, but I can’t do marathons. That’s a different kind of training.”
“How did you get so good at this?” Chieko meant it as a simple get-to-know-you question, but Barth’s eyes lowered, and his face darkened as if he faced away from the sun.
“Pappy and Grammy MarLee got me and Garold a mini camcorder when my momma left us. They told us to take videos of each other to send to her, so she’d know how we were doing.” He sat carefully on a boulder. “I guess I thought if I could make us look really good, she’d come back, so I practiced hard.” He fell into silence, staring at the horizon.
Chieko swallowed and sat beside him. “But it didn’t work.”
Barth shook his head, fiddling with the strap on his camera.
With a sigh, Chieko rubbed a large circle on Barth’s back, wishing she could comfort him but having no happy or hopeful mother-child stories of her own to share. Her own parents had not technically left her, but it didn’t mean she ever felt their full acceptance.
“I know what it’s like when your best isn’t good enough.” She smoothed her fingers over the skin on the side of his head. “Except you are good enough. You’re better. It isn’t your fault if she didn’t see it. And maybe there were other reasons she couldn’t come back.”
Even as she spoke, she recognized a parallel in her own situation. If her parents failed to appreciate her, it didn’t reflect her intrinsic worth. They had their own inherited issues. Knowing it didn’t always make it easier to move on, though.
Resting her cheek on his shoulder, she slid her fingers down his arm and into his hand. “Maybe we have to be the generation that changes thing, the ones who treat our kids right.”
The words left her mouth, and her heart tried to jump out after them. Kids? Since when did she think about having a family? Her own experience had soured her to the whole concept. But somehow, leaning into Barth’s warmth and sensing an emptiness inside him, she wondered if maybe…
She shook her head and stood up, disconnecting from him. “Come on. Keep your camera ready. This looks like the kind of place where aliens show up in movies.”
Barth gave a half smile and lifted the camera to his eye. “Yeah, well, the only weird life form I see is this little bitty pale thing with black eyes and hair, and …” His voice trailed off and he lowered the camera. “Miss Chieko, I promise I’m not flirting, but you look so pretty out here in this light.”
“Will you stop saying I’m pretty?”
“But you are!”
Chieko’s stomach pinched with pleasure, but she deflected his compliment. “Dim light does cover a lot of face crimes.”
“No, seriously. You’re beautiful when the sun rushes at you sideways like that.” The look in his eyes startled her. All the playfulness dissolved, and he appeared almost reverent. It took away both her breath and her words.
She reached for his hand, and when he took it, she looked long and hard at the difference between the two. Her pale, slender fingers curled into his dark, sinewy hand with a gentle squeeze, and she drew a strength from him that had nothing to do with his size or athletic prowess.
“Why don’t we walk into the sunset? Maybe find a fossil of our own.”
The corner of his mouth crept up, and his dimple appeared. “Or a rattler.”
Chieko shook her head slowly, tugging him to rise to his feet. “Too cold for rattlers.”
“Cold?” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “I’m nice and toasty warm.”
They walked in contented silence until the sun set, completely forgetting to film the spectacle.
“Hey, sleepy girl. We’re home.” Barth yawned and gazed at Chieko as she dozed against the window. “Chieko,” he whispered. “If I open the door for you, you’re going to fall out and bruise your pretty face. Wake up.” He tried once again to rouse her by shaking her shoulder, but then his hand ran down the length of her arm and scooped up her dainty fingers. Pressing them to his lips, he murmured, “Don’t tempt me to take you home with me. You’re too sweet.”
Chieko stirred and flexed her fingers. Her eyes snapped open as she realized he held her hand beside his face.
“I hope you’re not looking at me as a midnight snack, Barth. I’m mostly bone.”
He chuckled and let go. “You’re smart even when you’re asleep. Come on. Let’s get you up to your room.”
She stretched and looked out at the parking lot while he came around to open the passenger door. “Sorry I couldn’t stay awake. Are you going to be okay? You still have to go across town.” She slid herself sideways, ready to jump out of the truck, but paused as he moved closer. “Man, I’m stiff from sitting so long.”
“Come on,” said Barth, tapping his shoulders. “Hold on, and I’ll carry you in.”
“Oh, give me a break. I’m not three.”
“Nah, you’re at least as big as a nine-year-old.”
Her playful punch turned into a hug, and he maneuvered her carefully into his arms.
Immediately, he questioned his judgment. Holding a sleepy child to his chest was one thing. The press of Chieko’s body wrapped all around his torso with her silky hair brushing his cheek was another thing entirely. He enjoyed it a little too much.
“How about I get you as far as the door? Can you make it from there?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nuzzled her nose into his neck and yawned.
Her breath sent electric tingles down to his toes, and he almost dropped her. “Whoa, sorry.” His voice cracked. “Didn’t have a good grip. Can you walk?”
“Yes, Barth. Since I was eleven months old.” She tucked her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder as they made their way to the front door of the apartment complex.
“You got your key?”
“Yep.”
“You got your key out?”
She harrumphed and rummaged in her purse. “Got it,” she said with a lazy but triumphant smile. “Thanks for taking me home.”
The LED sconce lamps on either side of the door provided enough light for him to study her face one last time before saying goodnight. “What time tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” she asked, her voice almost musical in its weariness.
“To work on the edits. I think they’ll go together faster this time. We got good stuff.”
Chieko beamed up at him, her eyes growing more alert. “Yes. Good stuff.”
Barth cupped her cheek in his fingertips before he realized she’d pressed her hands into his chest. Was she trying to push him away, or was she signaling for a goodnight kiss?
Why was he thinking about kisses?
How could he not?
“Chieko?”
“Hmm?” Her eyes closed, and she drifted even closer.
“What time?”
His heart screamed, Now! Holding his breath, he slanted his face to hover above hers. He could taste her breath. With his pulse racing, he dipped a fraction of an inch until the corners of their mouths grazed against each other, not fully connected. If she wanted him, she’d kiss him. He pleaded silently for her to take a chance on him, to appease the longing of his lips.
“Call me as soon as you wake up,” said Chieko into his cheek. She stepped back, fumbling with her key.
Breathless, Barth agreed. “As soon as I wake up.”
Would he ever be able to fall asleep with the memory of that moment torturing him like a field goal missed by a mere inch?
Chapter 8 ~ The Ball Room
“Chieko, can you buzz me in?” Barth’s cheerful voice had a layer of husky in it that appealed to Chieko, but she didn’t understand the question.
Switching her phone to the other ear, she blinked. “Huh?”
“Buzz me in.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Don’t you have some way to unlock the outside door, so I can come up?”
Chieko spoke slowly. “Outside door.”
Barth spoke even more slowly. “Miss Chieko, are you awake, or am I talking to zombie morning girl?”
“If it’s morning, that’s a given.” She glanced at her watch. 9:25am. “Whoa, how did I sleep so long?”
“Now you sound awake,” said Barth. “Can you buzz me in already? It’s freezing out here.”
“Barth, you were supposed to call me when you woke up.”
“Um, yeah. Well, I kind of called you when I arrived, and now I’m out here with my laptop freezing my butt off. Can. You. Buzz. Me. In?”
Chieko chuckled. “This isn’t New York. I’ll have to come down. Hang on. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Keep your butt attached until I get there.” She disconnected with a hiccup, surprised she’d said such a flirty thing.
Surprised, but not. She’d stared at too many pictures and vids of him online in the last week not to notice his many attractive angles. Her rudimentary understanding of the game came from her time as a cheerleader, but then she’d been more worried about her own choreography. Watching him in action made her appreciate the athleticism of the game, at least for a player like Barth.
Chieko yawned and grabbed her keys. Hopefully, Barth wouldn’t mind her yoga pants and t-shirt jammies. As she rode the elevator down, her mind cleared enough to worry she hadn’t freshened her breath or put on deodorant before leaving the apartment.
In a flash, the closing moments of the night before played in her mind, and the memory of the lingering scent of Barth’s skin and breath made her heart flutter.
Had they almost kissed? She’d been crazy enough to want it, but he didn’t act, so she’d stepped back quickly before she made a fool of herself. No way would she throw herself at Barth the way she had done with Crawford Andrews and so many others. It never ended in anything that made her feel better about love or herself.
Love.
Chieko snorted in disgust as the elevator door opened with a beep. “This has nothing to do with love,” she claimed aloud.
She shuffled down the hall to the glass doors in the lobby. There stood Barth looking away in jeans and a thin windbreaker, his broad shoulders and muscular back tapering into a tight rear end. She allowed herself to linger, watching him, appreciating every line.
Then he turned and cupped his hands against the glass to peer inside. She knew the second he saw her because his whole face lit up in a bright smile, his dimple visible even at a distance.
Chieko faltered a step, knocked backward by an emotion that demanded her attention. She swallowed, afraid it would take over, but she couldn’t deny the elation his eagerness gave her.
Could it be he liked her, too? He looked so happy to see her!
Could this be more than a crazy little crush?
Barth held up a hand as if to say, “What’s taking you so long?”
Scurrying forward, Chieko shoved on the bar to let him in. He swept in with an icy breeze but stopped so close they almost touched.
“Sorry I didn’t call when I woke up, but it’s because I never went to sleep. I was too excited. You’ve got to see what I came up with. I hope you like it.”
Chieko’s eyes snapped wide. “Wait, what? You worked on our segment without me?”
Lines of worry marred his smooth forehead. “Are you mad? Don’t be mad. I got all this inspiration, and you were so sleepy last night, and I…” He shrugged, his eyes squinting as if he’d witnessed one of her tantrums.
Chieko stared up at him, acutely aware of his energy. His innocent virility and genuine enthusiasm both enlivened her senses and relaxed her body. “You’re amazing, Barth,” she said with a wide smile. “Parker should be paying you double since you’re the one doing all the work.”
“Aw, you haven’t seen it yet. Come on. Let me show you. I admit I think it’s pretty good.”
“Okay, but I should probably make myself look human first. I just woke up. I must stink, and my stomach is growling.”
“You don’t stink any worse than the Ducks locker room, so I can handle it. You need me to get you some breakfast?”
Chieko grabbed his free arm. “No, I need you to come up to my room before someone sees me dressed like this. I’m Chieko Makiguchi, remember? I’m supposed to be in a business suit, not sweats.”
Barth’s eyebrows wiggled. “I kind of like this casual side I’ve been seeing. You sure seem happier. It’s probably the shoes, huh? Tight shoes make me cranky. But now you’re in polka dot socks and smiling.”
Chieko grinned as she punched the elevator button. “Yeah, it’s probably the socks.” She entered, silently adding, Or the company.
At her apartment door, she paused. “It’s a little messier than the last time you were here. I’ve been gone so much.”
“You’ve been with me,” he said.
Chieko rolled her eyes. The truth was she’d spent too much time in her quiet moments reliving their conversations and picturing his smile instead of tidying up the apartment.
“Hey, I like your new print!” He pointed to the panoramic ink and red paint poster.
“Oh, thanks. It’s supposed to be a village at the foot of Mt. Fuji.” She shrugged. “I thought maybe I needed a little more color on the walls.”
The corner of Barth’s mouth crept upward. “Aw, I’m rubbing off on you. Give me another month, and you’ll have one of Grammy MarLee’s crochet afghan blankets all over your black leather couch.”
Chieko crossed her eyes and shook her head. “I doubt that, but yeah. I could use a little color in my life.”
Barth shimmied closer, as if to rub his forehead into hers. “That’s what you got me for, right?”
Silly or not, the sentiment rang true. Chieko let her weight fall forward until their noses rested against each other. “Right.”
An urge to kiss him overwhelmed her, and she panicked, knowing her morning breath could fatally repel him.
“You set up the stuff,” she said, pulling away quickly. “I’ll freshen up.” She smirked and spoke with exaggerated clarity. “Then we’ll meet up, and you’ll show me how brilliant you were when you stayed up.”
Barth winked. “Hey, I understand little words now. Up, up, and away.”
Barth planned only to set up his laptop on the counter, but when he heard Chieko start the shower, he hesitated. If he sat listening to the water run, his mind might wander to what she looked like in there, and he needed to get his kindling desire in check. Why had it started running sprints as soon as he saw her in those form-fitting yoga pants?
He groaned inwardly and cast his eyes around for something distracting to do.
“Breakfast. She needs breakfast.”
Opening the kitchen cupboards, he caught a manifestation of the paradox called Chieko. Everything was black and white, fashionable, and orderly. Healthy food dominated the inventory e
xcept for one sloppy corner crammed with Mint Milanos and Poki sticks in assorted flavors.
Based on the ingredients available, he made an educated guess, and got to work, finishing only a minute before Chieko emerged from her room.
Barth drank in the sight of her. Black leggings and a midnight blue jersey tunic accentuated the delicate curves of her body, and either the warmth of the shower or a hint of make-up added a flush to her cheeks. Her open-mouthed, bright-eyed expression sent a wave of longing through him.
“Oh my gosh, you made me breakfast?” She covered her mouth with both hands. “That’s so sweet of you. How did you know what to make?”
Barth grinned, pushing back a cheer of victory. “I did a little research.” He tapped his forehead. “There’s still some brains left in there, even after all those years of crashing helmets.” Biting his lip, he added, “I hope it’s okay that I snooped in your cupboards to find stuff. I promise I stayed in the kitchen.”
Chieko came forward and gazed with rapture at the steaming bowl of oatmeal with blackberries and bananas on top and the glass of orange juice. “This is perfect. That is so nice of you.” She glanced up. “And you even washed up afterwards? Wow! You are not fitting into the stereotypes of slobby guys who can’t find their way around a kitchen.”
“Well, ever since my cousin started dating that genius chef of hers, I thought I’d better step up and join the higher ranks of men with domestic skills. Seems like girls like it.”
“Oh yeah!” agreed Chieko. Her eyes widened, and she blushed. Her voice softened. “Yeah, it’s nice. Thank you so much.”
“Try it!” He slid the bowl closer to her, dipping a spoon into the mush.
Barth watched, holding his breath, as she sampled a bite and smiled. “Wow, this is better than I make it. Creamier. What did you do to it?”
“I made it with milk,” said Barth with a shrug.
“And you didn’t scald the milk?” She made a show of sniffing the air. “Wow. Impressive.”
“Aw, now you’re making fun of me.”