Unintentional

by Harkins, MK

  “No.”

  We’re looking at each other. I’m smiling. She’s glowering.

  “One more thing,” I add.

  “Oh, no you don’t! I’d almost prefer giving up my firstborn child rather then get up at that ungodly hour and run. Run! I don’t do running. Don’t you dare add more. What’s next, weight lifting?”

  A laugh escapes me. She’s feisty.

  “Nah, this next one is easy. I need some help with the ins and outs of the music business. I’ve focused all my attention on my engineering job, and I’m afraid I haven’t been able to educate myself properly. While we run, I want to ask you questions, lots of questions. I’ll need honest answers. Are you okay with that?”

  She looks relieved. “Thank God. Yes, yes! I can answer your questions. If I’m out of breath, you’ll wait, right? This isn’t part of the torture is it?”

  “No, you’ll enjoy this. I’ll wait for you whenever you need me to. So, do we have a deal? We run, I ask questions, you answer. Simple.” My eyebrows rise while I wait.

  She’s actually thinking about this. She’s feisty and stubborn. She doesn’t like to concede anything apparently. I try to hide my smile as she wrestles with the two small requests. I watch as the war rages, and she concedes defeat.

  “Okay Cade. You win, I’ll do it.”

  We shake hands to seal the deal.

  Laurel

  “He’s trying to kill me. Running? At 8:00am? Sophie, I can’t do this!” It’s been twenty-four hours, and I’m still panicking.

  Sophie jumps up and down. “But they signed with us! We did it, or I should say, you did it. You’ll have to do the hard labor.” She breaks out into peals of laughter.

  “I don’t know why my discomfort makes you laugh. I’m so happy to be the source of your merriment.”

  Still laughing, she replies, “If Cade had ever seen you before 10:00am, he’d never have asked. This will be so good for you Laurel. I’ve told you countless times, running outside is so much better than the treadmill you insist on using. You’ll love it. Well, once you get accustomed to waking up at the crack of dawn.” She continues to giggle, but now, she has the good grace to try and hide it from me.

  “I can understand him wanting to know more about the music business, but why does he need to drag me around Green Lake? It’s over two miles!” I flop on the hotel bed.

  “I think he wants to get to know you, Laurel, outside of your business relationship. I don’t need to know what happened in the storage closet.” She smiles knowingly. “But I can guess part of it. Why don’t you let yourself go, try out a relationship with him?”

  “Sophie, you know why I won’t. Beside the fact we now have a business relationship, there’s all the other things holding me back. For one, I’m certain he’s a party guy. Also, I’m sure he’s probably still in love with Mattie. But most of all, he’s dangerous to me like no one I’ve ever met. If I let myself go, even a little, I’m afraid I’d be lost. I can feel it starting already. Once he tires of me, I really don’t think I could handle it. It’s too scary.”

  “That’s your problem, Laurel. You feel a strong connection to him, don’t you?”

  “So strong. He has this intense magnetic power over me. It’s the strangest thing. Maybe that’s my problem. I’m a control freak.” I laugh to try to lighten the conversation. It’s getting too serious.

  “I don’t think that’s it. You’ve never let anyone get close. You always choose the boring, safe men you can easily leave. That way, you never get hurt. You protect yourself, Laurel, but at what cost? You’ll probably never get hurt, but will you be really living? What happens if you miss something wonderful, something great, because you’re closed off to the possibility?”

  “I’m just being cautious. I’m only twenty-five. I have lots of time to figure this out.”

  We’re both lying on top of the king-size bed, staring at the ceiling.

  I turn to her and ask, “Since we’re talking about all things relationship, tell me, what’s up with you gawking at Ayden?”

  Sophie covers her face, blushing. “Did you notice that? Oh no! Do you think anyone else noticed? How embarrassing. Yes! I admit it. Ayden is hot. I don’t mean normal-hot, but sizzling, crazy, sexy-hot. I almost jumped him right then and there! Did you see him? And he’s so cool; he just sat there the entire time, taking everything in. I introduced myself when you and Cade left.” She stops to giggle again. “When you and Cade went shopping for supplies?” She laughs, kicking her feet.

  Here’s my problem with Sophie. I love her dearly, but sometimes, she drives me crazy, like right now. “Sophie.” I give her my warning stare.

  “Oh, lighten up. You’ve got to admit it was funny. I almost felt bad for Kelly when you walked back into the room. She knew immediately she’d lost the account. Cade’s intentions were plainly obvious.”

  “Yeah. That wasn’t good. Her comment was rude, but I don’t really blame her. I would have been very disappointed if I were her. I do feel bad. I’m sure she put a lot of work into her presentation.”

  “Don’t feel too bad for her. She has her powerful dad behind her. She’ll do well in this business. We won’t be competing for any other bands until we get the boys famous, so she has free reign. Reign! Get it?” She’s obviously enjoying her use of the pun.

  “Her assistant, Rodney, looked like he wanted to punch someone – or perhaps all of us. Did you notice his body language? He was seething. I think I saw his hands shaking.” I was concerned when I noticed it. I prayed that violence wouldn’t break out. I was so happy when the meeting ended peacefully.

  “All I could see was Ayden. Do you think he might be interested in me? Could you tell?” Sophie’s face scrunches up, pretending she’s giving a kiss.

  “Now we’re back in high school, is that it?” I kick her. Sophie turns over on her side and says seriously, “I really like him. I know, I know, I always go for the tattooed rocker type. But he seems different. On the outside, he looks like my dream man, but I love the way he carries himself. He doesn’t seem to be conceited like the other guys I’ve dated. You know the type? They think they’re God’s gift to woman. He’s not like that at all. He seems a little quiet, almost shy. I really like that. Seriously, could you tell if he looked like he was interested?”

  “Sophie, you know our rules. No mixing business with pleasure. Even if he did like you, you can’t start something with him.”

  “I know. I don’t want to start anything. I just want him to want to start something.” She smiles mischievously.

  I’m not sure if I want to tell her this, but I think she should know. “Sophie, uh, I think I know of someone who for certain likes you.”

  Her eyebrows rise, waiting for my revelation.

  “Scott. He couldn’t take his eyes off you the entire night. I think he really likes you.”

  “Scott? No, you’re wrong. He’s more like a buddy. We had so much fun together. He’s like the big brother I never had. He has the best sense of humor. We laughed the entire time. You know he’s not my type. He doesn’t have the bad boy vibe I like so much.”

  “Maybe that might be a good thing?”

  Sophie has been disappointed so many times.

  “You may be doing the exact same thing I am, but in reverse. You pick men who are irresponsible, cheaters most of the time, who don’t form healthy relationships. They dump you before anything really gets going. They’re commitment-phobes. Sophie, we’re a pair aren’t we? We pick men based on how wrong they are for us.” I sigh deeply.

  “I’ve never admitted this to you before, but I think you might be right. We’re still young though, right? Now that we know we’re sabotaging ourselves in the love department, we can change things if we want.” She thinks for a moment. “I still think Ayden is different, but don’t worry. I’ll keep my hands off him. Just for you.” She smiles sweetly.

  “I’m expecting it, Sophie. Now that I’ve said no, has it sparked the Romeo-and-Juliette syndrome wi
th you? You’ll want him more now, right?”

  “Probably. I promise. I’ll be a good girl. Can I flirt though? Flirting won’t hurt anything.”

  “Famous last words,” I say.

  Cade

  It’s 8:00am, Monday morning, and I’m standing patiently by the small wading pool a couple yards from the running path at Green Lake. Laurel and I decided earlier this was the best, most obvious place to meet. There are only a few people around, fitness types and a few young couples clasping to-go cups of coffee.

  Laurel has only been to Seattle a few times, so I’m starting to wonder if she’ll be able to find her way. The thought of being stood up briefly enters my mind as I suddenly see a flash of white streak past me.

  Laurel yells over her shoulder, “Are you coming, slow poke?”

  Oh, it’s going to be like that, is it? Laurel has a competitive streak running through her. I’m sure she won’t slow until she drops. I chuckle to myself. This will be fun.

  I run up beside her. “Hey.”

  “Hey, right back at ya.” Her eyes are squinted, determined.

  I reach over and give a little tug to her pony tail. “You can slow your pace. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

  She stops suddenly, hands on hips, glaring. “Just so you know, this is my pace. So if you can’t handle it, you can sit on that bench over there.” She motions off to the side.

  “Are you always this feisty, or is it just for me?” I question.

  She flings her ponytail back over her shoulder. “You were the one who wanted to do this, so pick it up.” And with that remark, she turns and bolts out onto the path. She’s running at a quick sprint, so I imagine, in about a mile, she’ll be ready to throw up.

  I quicken my pace to catch up with her. “So, Laurel, tell me why you started in the music business.”

  She’s out of breath already. She looks over at me, probably trying to decide whether to kill me or answer the question. “I like music,” she answers.

  “That’s good,” I answer, “but a lot of people like music. Why did you choose to become an agent?”

  “Music is my escape.” I see her wince. She didn’t mean to give me that much information.

  “From what?”

  “From people like you. Now let’s just run.” She’s smiling, so I know she’s not too upset.

  We continue to run in companionable silence for another half-mile. I’m giving her some space because I know this is hard for her. Although she’s actually doing better than I thought she would. We’re past the one mile mark, and she hasn’t let up her pace. She’s definitely stubborn. This is a girl who doesn’t want to either let down her guard or lose. She needs to learn how to handle both, but I won’t say anything about that yet.

  We’re at the mile-and-a-half mark when I hear a little wheeze next to me. I look over, and I’m startled by what I see. Laurel is flushed beet-red, sweating profusely, and, apparently, I was right about her not stopping until she drops. I stop in my tracks and call her name. She looks back at me and reluctantly stops. When she does, I can tell the adrenaline is tapped out and the exhaustion has hit. She leans over with her hands on her legs, taking big gulps of air.

  “Are you all right, Laurel?” I’m a little concerned.

  She can’t speak, so she raises her finger, silently asking for a minute. Sweat is pouring off her face, landing in drops by her feet. The wheezing continues.

  “Let’s go cool off for a few minutes. That bench is empty.” I take her by the arm and lead her over to a wooden bench a few yards from the path. She doesn’t resist. I sit her down and wait for her breathing to return to normal.

  “I wouldn’t blame you if you were enjoying this.” She has regained her breath, barely.

  “Um, Laurel? Are you always this stubborn and competitive?”

  “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No. Just curious.” I can’t hide my smile.

  She notices my expression, and her eyes narrow. “Those qualities? The feisty, stubborn ones you’re laughing about? Well, that’s what’s helped me get in the door to the major record labels and top venues around the country. I don’t stop until I accomplish my goals. Some people call it determination.”

  “I agree with you. I think you should be very proud of your accomplishments.” I wouldn’t have believed it, but I think she’s turning even redder.

  We take a few minutes, quietly watching the lake and the other early morning runners passing by.

  “Thanks,” she says quietly.

  “So, really, Laurel. Why did you pick music? I know it’s an escape for a lot of people, but why did you pick it for a career?”

  She looks down at her shoes, thinking carefully this time. “Honestly? My dad was a big-time banker. He was all about the ledgers, balance sheets, profit and loss – anything and everything to do with the financial world. I think, in some ways, music was a rebellion for me. I didn’t want to grow up and have a life like my dad. All he did was work his life away. His reward was a heart attack and a loveless marriage.”

  Wow. I wasn’t expecting her to open up as much as she did. Judging from her expression and the hand over her mouth, neither was she.

  “I’m so sorry. That just popped out. I didn’t even know I thought about it that way until it came out of my mouth. You’re never going to want to ask me another question again. Wait a minute.” She stops and laughs. “Maybe it’ll work for my benefit. Did you slip me a truth serum or something? Or maybe use hypnosis?”

  I shake my head. She’s the one who’s hypnotizing. She’s sitting next to me, sweaty, messy, and embarrassed, yet no one has ever looked better. Her spirit and energy are what I admire most. When I’m with her, I feel different somehow. She challenges me, infuriates me, entices me. I want to take her in my arms again, but I remember my promise. Instead, I take my thumb and wipe a little bit of sweat off her upper lip. I hear her breath falter, and our eyes lock.

  It’s back, the insanely strong pull which turns my resolve to mush. I see the same war raging in Laurel’s eyes. She shakes her head once, apparently giving in, and launches herself into my arms.

  It’s electric. Hands and lips explore as if we haven’t seen each other in years. Her body is hard pressing against mine, but her lips are so soft. She has her hands fisted in my hair; it should hurt, but it feels so good. She’s moaning softly, pulling me closer. A desire I haven’t felt in forever warms my blood as it races through my veins. This feels incredible, but I know one of us has to stop, it’s 8:30 in the morning, and we’re in public. I feel her hands on my chest, pushing. Hard.

  Laurel’s eyes are startled, wide. “Wha…what happened? What did I do?” She tries to collect her thoughts. “This is all my fault. Wait, no, it’s your fault, too, but mainly it’s mine.” She looks around the path in both directions. “Thank goodness no one saw us.”

  “Laurel, it wouldn’t matter. We were only kissing.”

  “Only? In about ten seconds, that would have changed.”

  I can’t help it. Her comment brings a huge smile to my face. “That’s good news,” I tease. I take a closer look. “Laurel, are you about to cry?”

  She wipes her eyes quickly. “No. Yes. No. Probably. Cade, this has never happened to me. Ever. There’s this weird chemistry or something between us. I thought it was you. But it’s me. I did this today. I turned an innocent run into, I don’t know what, but it wasn’t innocent. What was I thinking?”

  I want to comfort her, so I put my hand on her back. “The kiss? It was really nice, Laurel. Well, it was great. I feel the same way. I don’t think the chemistry is weird though. It’s just stronger than what we’re used to.”

  I raise my hands in defeat. I hate admitting it, but it’s true. When I looked at her, sitting next to me with her pink cheeks, lavender scent mixed with an earthy sweat, I pretty much lost my mind. What’s disappointing is the obvious look of sheer panic she hasn’t tried to hide. She doesn’t want to be with me, and that s
tings.

  “Is that so bad, Laurel?” I ask, but I’m afraid of her answer.

  “Yes! It’s the worst. We have to work together. I thought I could get this out of my system with a few kisses. But it seems to be getting so much worse. I think we’re going to need to work remotely for a while, until this passes.”

  “Laurel, it’s been a year, and this hasn’t passed. Whatever it is between us seems to be getting stronger. I want—no I take it back—I need to see where this goes.” I lean toward her and she jumps up quickly.

  “That wasn’t the deal! You promised. I have rules!” She turns away from me and runs off.

  Whatever I was feeling toward Laurel a minute ago has turned to frustration. Really? This is how she plans to deal with this? I’m not going to chase after her. I can’t help it. All I feel is rejection, again. I don’t need to be told no over and over. I get it.

  When I think about it, I realize she’s not even my type, not really. She’s as good-looking as they come, but she’s also fiendishly determined and rebellious. She tough, and if I’m honest, she’s also soft. When I look into her eyes, I see beauty, but I also see a guarded expression. An expression that says stay out, or you’ll get hurt. She doesn’t want a relationship. Any relationship.

  With Mattie, my attraction started right away. It slowly built into a friendship, which progressed into love. Nice and slow.

  With Laurel, it’s electric, like sizzling wires on a high-voltage fence. Beware. Danger. I could handle a girl like Mattie. I knew exactly who she was. She’s sweet, kind, happy, predictable, and very domestic. Laurel, with her determination and feistiness, is strong, vulnerable, funny, and stubborn. She doesn’t know what she wants yet, which makes her unpredictable. I don’t feel safe with Laurel. She makes my emotions ping around like those little white balls in a lottery machine. If I get sucked in and let her get under my skin, I don’t think I could handle it if she tossed me aside. I wonder if this is how Mattie felt about Jeremy. I feel consumed, almost as if I don’t have any control at all. I don’t like this feeling of vulnerability. I don’t like that she has this type of power over me. I’ve never felt this connected with a person. What have I got myself into?