"The gents."
Elsie stepped away while Sean frowned at the intrusion and her. She was helpless and they both knew it since Marcia had monopolized them already and was clutching Sean's arm. Marcia could at times act like a spoilt brat.
He watched his girlfriend leave and settle down on their table before turning to Marcia. "You do know you are a drunk party pooper right."
"Forget it Compton and just dance with me," she laughed gently and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was too much of a gentleman, so he sighed and did what she had asked.
Elsie sat for a while, watching what was happening on the dance floor at the same time keeping a close watch on Sean and Marcia. The hussy was just being a pain as usual.
"Hey" Randy addressed her before settling down next to her. "Where is your Mr. Top-notch lawyer?" he asked with a slight curl on his mouth.
Elsie pointedly looked at the dance floor and Randy had the audacity to whistle.
"She is dancing mighty close."
Marcia was clinging to Sean like his second skin and she frowned at the display as she wondered if Sean loved that, since he appeared to not be in the mood of disintangling himself from her clutches. They slowly swayed in harmony to the beat of the slow music now playing and for a person who had stated he had two left feet, it didn't seem like it. Elsie abruptly stood up and walked out while Randy called out to her and grabbed the jacket on the back of the chair. She wasn't listening but was intent in getting out of there as fast as she could.
He managed to catch her at the entrance before he led her to the opposite direction from the parking lot. "I didn't mean to offend you with my comment" he said. She shrugged her shoulders dismissively.
"Elsie Cooper, I am surprised though."
"Why?" Elsie asked and stopped walking. "I see you are not the kind of girl who would bash another for dancing shamelessly with her man."
"Ooh please, I trust Sean as for Marcia she can dance like that but Sean will never leave me for the likes of her."
"For someone unconcerned your voice mightily shrieks my princess" he chuckled and received a punch on his arm.
"Ouuch" he dragged out, "what was that for?"
"For being so mean" she retorted. She rubbed her arms, feeling the cool air whip against her dress.
Randy draped his jacket on her shoulders and she inhaled the spicy masculine scent of the lapel while they started walking again. “Why did you leave Mashy girl on the dance floor. You are the cause of her bulldozing us.”
Randy laughed before he replied, "Mashy girl is just out there, I suddenly realized I don’t fit in such a setting.”
“Poor Randy,” she whispered in understanding. That’s what appealed to her even more; Randy was set in his ways and also was more grounded. Whoever he would marry one day would have got a real gem of a man if ever they were anything like that.
“Since Marcia is out, I am sure we can find someone much better.” She could hear Randy inhale noisily before he breathed out and turned to face her. “If Marcia is a choice, I had rather not hear the rest.” She giggled, quiet enjoying his outraged face. “Why not?" she asked. He rolled his eyes, “Your Mashy girl offered me much more than I have ever been offered after a drink.”
“Welcome to the real world,” Elsie said and punched him on the shoulder.
“By the way, I thought you once mentioned to me and Rita that you liked a woman with experience.”
“I change my mind.”
He placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head while her breath hitched at the way he was looking at her.
“An inexperienced one will do much better.”
He smiled and that cute dimple appeared.
A voice was heard calling her and Randy dropped his hand from her face before he turned to where the voice was coming from. It was Sean leading Marcia with her arm around him as she looked like one who would topple down any moment. He seemed to realize that and picked her up while they walked towards him.
"I hope you don't mind Randy, please drop Elsie at her place while I take Marcia home" he advised with a scowl. "I will see you tomorrow," he pointedly looked her way before walking to his car. Elsie was about to protest but seeing he had turned away from her, she dropped her hand and tightly clenched it into a fist by her side. He seemed angry and she hoped he hadn’t seen that she had been about to kiss Randy. As it was, she was embarrassed over her actions. She had no right to be involved with two men.
"Shall we," Randy asked and she nodded. The drive back home was a quiet one. When they arrived she smiled at Randy after she got out of the car and handed him the jacket.
"Thanks Randy, there is no need for you to accompany me to the door."
"Good night then" Randy smiled reassuringly at her before he drove off. When she got into the house, her mother was still up waiting for her.
"How did it go" she asked. Elsie strode into the living room and settled down on the couch before removing her high heeled shoes.
"The fashion show was a blast as to be expected. Sean showed up and we went to the club. Marcia also showed up." She rolled her eyes at that while her mother chuckled.
"Marcia is sooo grrrh" she groaned while her mother laughed.
"I thought you said Sean wasn't interested in her."
"I know, I know, but you know Mashy babe and from elementary school she always wanted all the attention to be on her."
"And you don't" her mother asked with a raised brow.
"Off course I don't." She bristled.
Her mother snorted. "Don't you think you have been spending too much of your time with Randy?"
"Yes, it’s because Sean is not always available ma."
She could see concern on her face but she wasn’t going to listen to her warning. This was her problem, one way or the other she would end up with the man she thought was good enough for her. If it meant she had to bid her time in figuring that out. So be it, but she wasn’t going to allow any of them to date while she figured out her confusion.
"You do know you can't replace someone’s lack of attention by using another right?"
"Ma...I am not using Randy, he is... just my friend."
Her mother heaved a sigh before she got up from the recliner, "I hope so darling."
She moved to where Elsie sat and kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night love, don't forget to switch off the lights" she advised before walking away, back to bed.
It was after she was done with her toiletry and getting into bed when her phone rang. “Hey, just checking up whether you made it safe home.” Sean asked.
“Yes, I arrived in one stitch.” She giggled and heard him huff. “Elsie is something going on between you and Randy.” Sean didn’t beat around the bush and his tone definitely sounded irritated.
“Nothing is going on.”
“Well it didn’t look like nothing. I know love you can be a flirt but this is different.”
“Relax Sean, nothing is going on.”
“If you say so.” He sounded tired and resigned.
“Sean remember what I said, you can walk away any time you want.”
Ever since she told him about her past, that seemed to have shifted the relationship somehow. It was no longer the same and she had wished she had taken that about herself to the grave.
“I love you Elsie,” he said. “I know I might have a funny way of showing it but I do.”
“Ok,” she said and hung up. She knew she was not being fair to Sean but knew he was the only one who could accept her whole heartedly. She feared if she truly opened up to Randy he would no longer look at her the way he had done tonight. Life was just so complicated, she thought before she reached out to her side lamp and switched it off.
Sean unbuttoned his shirt and grimaced. He hoped Elsie was right in saying that there was nothing between her and Randy. As it was, Elsie appeared to be the best choice he had made according to his father. He knew the only reason his father was impressed is because he hope
d to gain more connections from the Cooper, Ross and Henderson relations he was likely to have once Sean and Elsie got married.
Its time he went out for a reprieve, out of town to unwind. He couldn’t do that at home since his father happened to be a slave driver and a workaholic. He sure would enjoy being around Clark and Will his childhood friends. With that in mind, he punched in a reminder on his phone. Next week he would make the journey and he hoped he would also have clarity over his relationship with Elsie.
Chapter Four
ELSIE WOKE up early the next day to a chaotic atmosphere as usual. Her noisy young sisters and brother.
"Hey Eric" she greeted when she came out of the room and hugged her little brother before swinging him in her arms as he laughed in delight.
Laura cried also, "me too" while Elsie rolled her eyes.
"You are too heavy poppet" she answered and her six year old young sis pouted and her eyes became watery. She was tinny for her age like all of them actually because of their mother’s tiny and short stature so Elsie sighed out of resignation and swung her into her arms to her delight before she did the same with Lorraine.
"Morning Thelma" she straightened and greeted the maid who nodded to her while the children escaped to the other room.
"Any plans for the day?" her mother asked as she got into the kitchen.
"I was thinking of visiting Randy's granny today."
Her mother frowned at that. So Elsie was going to be obstinate and not take her advice.
"Relax ma, am just visiting an old woman only, nothing more to it."
"If you say so." Her mother answered but Elsie could tell from her expression that she didn't like that one bit.
It’s not like she would see Randy. He was a busy person. Her tummy fluttered at the thought of the almost kiss. Randy’s interest would fizzle out if he came to know the kind of girl she was.
Jealousy had clawed on her heart when he smiled at Marcia before they left for the dance floor. Yet as usual Randy was the perfect gentleman with Marcia including stepping away when she plastered her body around him.
Her attention had been focused on them while on the dance floor and not at all on Sean, though she did enjoy the kiss.
Sean was skilled when he kissed and that usually made her bones melt. It was a surprise that she hadn't given him much more than a kiss in the four years they had been together.
She thought back on when he asked her to be his girlfriend. He was a freshman at law school and definitely one of the coolest guys according to her. He was sophisticated and appealed to her in more ways than one. Especially when she rubbed the girls faces in that fact at school. Girls who appeared to strive on thinking themselves better than anyone else. Thanks to her mom and strict ways, she couldn’t show the snotty girls that she was way above them by all means.
She had never suffered from lack of confidence before when it came to dealing with other girls at the private school she was once at, but those middle class girls truly knew on how to blow their trumpets, even with fewer things than she had.
Thanks to Sean when he dropped by at the school gate he managed to silence them all, in his orange sports car another of his collection and a tight bod in black trousers, white shirt slightly open on the chest and a red blazer.
Finally they had realized who they were dealing with and she was so ready to chuck out the ordinary uniform and dress in all her finery.
Sean was a virgin and wanted to remain that till they got married. He opened up about his family and how he didn’t want to follow the trend. He was trying to be unique. Elsie had felt disquieted after he mentioned that. He thought she was an innocent. It took her two years to finally open up and she had thought he would leave after he found out about the kind of girl she was except Sean stuck around her with her craziness, her tumultuous emotions and her flirting ways. She loved to do that a lot but it never got out of hand. She just loved the attention bestowed on her by men.
"Can we come with you Elsie" Lorraine asked having overheard that bit in the conversation. Elsie knew her mother already doubted her intentions hence she quickly nodded while her sister screamed and went to get ready informing Laura who was playing with Eric.
Eric wailed when he saw his playmates leave the house and his mother held him back by whispering that they would buy him ice cream on their way back.
Such was Elsie's surprise when she got to Randy's place and it was abuzz with activity.
"What is going on?" she asked Nana once she got into the house with the twins.
"A family brunch of some sort. We used to have these while Randy's parents were still alive" she answered. Lilly and Raff got into the kitchen and hugged her before they left with the twins to meet their other relations.
"Surprise!!" Rita yelled by the door and Elsie stood up, indeed surprised at seeing her there. "I can't believe this Rita, when did you arrive from uni. Thought you had forgotten about us simple folks after getting into the prestigious med school."
"You wish" she giggled and gave her a hug. "I did send a voicemail yesterday. Why are you here then if you didn't get it?" Her brow furrowed while Elsie swiftly waved off the question and asked on whether she now had a boyfriend. Nan chuckled at Rita's expression. "Rita just like Randy isn't searching until she finishes her studies."
"Which of course nana thinks is absurd" Rita added before moving to settle next to the old lady. Elsie joined her and asked, "Nan, how do you know that you are ready to commit to a person and also that the one you have chosen is 'the one' that you have been searching for" she used her fingers to that effect, quoting on 'the one' part.
"How did you know that you were going to commit for four years to Sean?" Rita interrupted as usual while Elsie resisted the urge to roll her eyes and expectantly waited for the old woman to answer. They were interrupted by Randy's cousins who burst into the kitchen before Nan answered and dragged outside to join the rest of the family. In all that time Elsie hadn't caught a glimpse of Randy. They were a lot of things taking place. Rita's family was also there and Dustin was playing the music while others danced.
Elsie was introduced to the cousin sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and had a blast. It hadn't been what she had expected when she left home but she was glad that the twins also had fun and were dancing with the other children their age.
"So how is big daddy Sean?" Rita asked her while they were settled on the steps leading to the backyard and watching the family on the grounds. The children were dancing while the adults were still having their meal. Nan had also joined them and was chatting with two old women. Elsie and Rita were done with their meal. Rita handed Elsie a can of cola before reaching out for another one and opening it.
"He is fine, the last time I checked."
"And when was that" her friend asked.
"Yesterday."
"Hmmm for a person who was once madly in love, you appear not to chat about Sean as much as you used to. What's going on?" With the way she was looking at her, Elsie giggled and answered, "Nothing is going on."
"Ok, if you say so. You will tell me if there is something wrong right. Like an old flame coming into the picture?" Rita joked and they both burst into fits of laughter. "Do share the joke" Randy spoke from behind them and Elsie felt her tummy flutter in response to his voice. She shifted so he could pass them and stand in front of them. He was dressed in an indigo V-neck shirt that tautly stretched over his body as usual and black ripped jeans. Whoever mentioned to him that his body was attractive had ruined Elsie’s chances of being sane around him.
"None of your biz" Rita retorted good humoredly.
"Rita don't forget you are in my territory and I have every right to know." She scoffed and rolled her eyes while Elsie did nothing to help her out. "I think Dustin the dj is calling me," Rita finally said, standing up and moving away before she turned and hollered, "It’s up to you Elsie to handle him."
Randy sighed at the dramatic way Rita was before he settled down next to Elsie and nudged he
r by the shoulders.
"What!!"
"What were you talking about?"
Elsie scoffed and retorted. "Definitely not about you."
"You are beautiful you know that?" Randy asked her with a grin and made her blush instead as she lowered her eyes.
He was glad to see her there. After last night his opinion of her from being like his young sis suddenly took a 360 degree turn. He noticed also what he had been blind to before, her attraction to him. Not that he had been blind, but he always brushed it aside thinking it was just a phase. Only God knew what went on around Elsie’s mind. She appeared to enjoy though coming to his neighborhood for a visit.
"Sooo how is Marcia?"
Elsie frowned before she shrugged her shoulders and answered, "I don't know, why do you ask?"
"I figured I would save you the time and effort for looking for a woman for me like Nan suggested and you give me her number."
She huffed, “If I remember correctly yesterday you didn’t want anything to do with the lady.”
“I changed my mind, I slept on her suggestion and I woke up thinking she is what I want.”
He smothered a laugh when Elsie opened her mouth and shut it without uttering a word. She was jealous, he knew it. One thing still bothered him though, if her relationship with Sean was that serious, why were they not married. He understood the whole concept of waiting till she was done with varsity yet at the same time felt if he were Sean he wouldn’t wait for that long.
Like his Nan, he knew the temptations involved with couples dating for a longer time. He had tried it and before long, his girlfriend wanted to get him into bed. He decided to focus on one thing at a time and forget about relationships. One thing he wanted was to be a role model to his siblings by marrying a good girl, believer like him and who chose to wait for sex and did it in a marriage setting than what their generation termed as ‘trying out.’
Sweet Crazy Love Page 5