by Janice Ross
"Wait a sec, are you even listening to me?" Her fingers touched on my sleeveless arm, causing me to jump back.
"Yes. Um, of course I am." I blinked nonstop just before bursting out laughing. "I confess. I'm just having an amazing day, Mal. I can't remember the last time I smiled or laughed as much as I'm doing it now."
"Me neither, Chanel." She winked.
From there we walked on in silence, crossing over onto the walkway. Everyone wore the brightest expressions, ones that appeared to welcome me back into life. Nothing fancy or outside of the norm, just good old life.
The smoky scent of grilled burgers and fries hit us even before we entered through the front door of the restaurant. Only then did I remember that I was hungry when my stomach growled. Thank God for everyone being so loud.
"Let's catch this seat," Mal said, pointing to a two-seater booth where a couple had just gotten up.
We stood near and waited for a server to clean down before we could settle in. The bench was a dark burgundy shade to compliment the rectangular table. But it wasn't entirely closed off. You could still see everyone and everything that was going on, likely due to the low divisions throughout. We ordered crab cakes and hush puppies, including moxies. I breezed through the first glass before our meal arrived even though we were chatting nonstop about our classes. When the food arrived, nothing else mattered. We dove into our plates, literally.
About half way through, I glimpsed a familiar profile. Rhys only kept looking more and more desirable. He wore a gray cotton tee with boot cut jeans. A cap hung from the loop of the belt straps. He towered over everyone inside of the place. My palates went numb. I lost appetite for food.
"I'll be back, Mal."
"What? Where you..." I tuned her out.
I could've sat and waited for him to see me. However, I thought it was the least I could do to make up for brushing him off earlier. On my way, as I swerved past tables and chairs, our eyes connected. He stopped moving only to shift in my direction. You gotta know how awesome it felt to have an amazingly hot guy focusing on you. Oh, and then he smirked. Those lips...and knowing what they'd done earlier. You gotta know.
"Hey you," I let flow above the noise.
He playfully glanced behind him before saying, "You're talking to me, or just getting ready to throw me out?"
I covered my face with my hands. "Rhys..." I motioned him down with my hand. Sure, I wanted to apologize, but I didn't need the whole darn place to hear.
He took my wrist, leading me just outside of the entrance.
"Great for the food, lousy for any real peace and quiet." He ran his fingers down the sides of his beard. "Am I getting an apology, Chanel?"
"Cocky, aren't we?" My insides were blazing, heading was spinning and I got more and more sucked into him. Between the mixture of his carefree stance and come to me scent, I had no desire besides standing right here.
And when he replied, "You don't know just how cocky," I could've leapt up onto him and tore every bit of his clothes off right there, right then.
"I'm going to store that away for a later time, Mr. Cocky." Honestly, I was curious about how much, but I had to scold myself. No way I could continue to pass from innocence with taking a detour at self-control. He even got comfortable as his hand reached up for my cheek. I didn't budge, but instead allowed him to rub on me. His movement grew from a light pass against my skin to a seductive hold. My chin ended up cupped in the palm of his hand. "You're all touchy... "
"Want me to stop?" He didn't, yet continued on. "I wanna taste your lips."
"Why don't you?" I chomped down on my bottom lip. My right leg pointed off to one side, while I leaned with my hip to the other.
"Now who's getting cocky?" He grinned then placed his mouth on mine before I could react or give a snide comment. It wasn't a long, drawn out kiss or anything. He just laid our mouths together and kept them near for about three seconds. His tongue passed in the tiny space between us. I wanted to take it in, but he pulled away before I could.
"I can't decide what turns me on the most about you." This was actually my thought that manifested into the air. I was only commenting to myself. It slipped out without my permission.
"Everything turns me on–"
"Excuse me...Rhys?" a female voice cut me off. We barely pulled apart before a hand reached around him. Right after, a gorgeous, Mediterranean looking chick appeared. She almost seemed to bring the sunshine. Her eyes were brilliant, and her puckering lips bedazzled almost as much. Full cheeks carried a deep shade of red. Even though she seemed somewhat embarrassed, the emotion did her well.
"Hey Prissy, I'll be right in." Rhys spoke to her without taking his eyes or fingers off of me. I lowered my head, focus shifted onto the concrete. But he made me look up. "Don't look away from me," Rhys urged.
This Prissy remained at our side, her fingers resting on Rhys's arm. I tilted, staring at the way she claimed him with her presence.
"Prissy, I'll be right in. Get a table for us." Within five seconds, she stormed off. A light breeze flowed our way, leaving an overpowering floral fragrance behind.
I swallowed then asked in a low tone, "Your girl?" My voice croaked at the end.
"No," he replied steadily and with confidence. "I'm focusing on you right now."
I only nodded as I tried to figure out what the chick's behavior could've meant if she wasn't his girl. Honestly, no one would put themselves out there like that only to be embarrassed. "I need to get back to my friend, my food."
"Lemme taste your lips again," he ordered. Not asked, but telling me it was in our destiny. Yet something about this promise told me not only now. His stare held an undeniable fixation which couldn't possibly fade away that easily. He made my insides spark and my outsides tingle. I knew to turn away from him, however, I stayed. My feet were secure, right there at the concrete pathway running alongside the restaurant. The whole damn place could see us if they chose to watch.
I didn't care.
Rhys made me believe everything was all right just because he behaved like it was. So I lifted my chin that had still been resting in between his fingers, while he massaged just the tip.
"Now," I threw back at him. And he did as I told him to.
XXXI.
Rhys
~
Chanel took my number, then we walked back into the spot. I didn't know if I was hungrier for her or one of the burgers they were grilling up. She stepped away from me, spinning off, pretending like her mind wasn't blown. I'd made a mistake with Prissy earlier. That mistake now compounded, I only hoped to make up for taking advantage in the heat of a passion I carried for someone else.
Chanel, on the other hand, I owed much more for the bad choices I'd made three years ago, and on this very day. After launching into a fry from Prissy's plate, I shifted my neck in time to see Chanel settling onto her seat. I could almost imagine her snuggling onto my lap. The muscles along my cheeks flexed. I smiled while my head was still positioned in her direction over on the opposite end of the crowded space.
"Rhys!" Prissy cut off my focus from about two seats to my left. Chanel was way over to my left.
I nodded. Shouting out at me that way was so far out of line on Prissy's part. Contrary to the fact that I was just out front tonguing down Chanel, I was not one for drawing attention to myself.
"We came here as friends, Prissy. I'm sorry about that earlier stuff, but–"
"I wasn't sure of exactly what you wanted, so I didn't order anything for you."
I sat down, glancing back once more to see Chanel looking away. Out of common courtesy, I stayed there with Prissy. I preferred to go over to Chanel and taste her lips again and again. If I hadn't gotten so pissed off and nearly pushed things to the edge with Prissy, I wouldn't have felt like such a dick for being completely uninterested right then. She had to know.
"I'm going to apologize one more time. I was out of line. As roommates, we can live in the same house and not distort things."
&n
bsp; "It's your house, Rhys." She resorted to nudging fries on the dish. She sat up. Her eyes narrowed, lips poked out. "I'm curious about something."
"Go ahead, ask," I said with a nod. I knew it was about Chanel. I wasn’t the guy who hid his emotions and all. I tried to keep things real, even when my "realness" could cause hurt.
"Who was that?" Prissy's tone was low. She didn't lift her head, even made sure to keep her eyes on the table. Her plate had been picked over.
"You want a name?" I knew what she meant.
"Um, Rhys, you were just standing outside, all up in her face." She stopped to look up. I didn't turn away. "I'm pretty sure you kissed her, and with me right here." Like that, the interrogation ended.
I thought about my words before I let loose. I never thought Chanel would be here, in the same spot we'd chosen. This shit was like déjà vu all over again. Three years ago, Chanel had appeared in and out of my life. Now, while we lived in close proximity, we were only now butting heads. And on a regular. This universe had a sick type of plan in store for us.
Now with Prissy on the other side of the table and what had certainly been a bad move plaguing me from earlier, I needed to set things straight. I wasn't gonna lie or pretty things up, and I wouldn't be a douchebag either. "Prissy, you're cool–"
"Don't patronize me, Rhys!"
Now, my voice was low. What she put out made the surrounding customers pause. I was ready to walk off. I was not someone to do bullshit, especially not in public. So I lifted my head. I wanted to set her straight, but I wasn't about to pull these strangers into my business. Damn, if I could go back in time and take back the flirting, I sure as hell would've. Bullshit like this was what made men behave like dicks. I might have looked like one, but I sure as hell wasn't one. Without a reply, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a twenty from my wallet, and left her ass right there. From the corner of my eyes I could see Chanel staring, but this had gotten too complicated. No doubt, I would see her again, so I chose to hang by myself for the rest of the day.
XXXII.
Chanel
~
"What did he say? I saw how he was holding your face. Chanel, answer me." Mal wouldn't stop bugging the crap out of me. From the second I got back to the table, all I did was pretend I didn't care about Rhys being with Prissy. "Who's that chick anyways?"
How was I supposed to explain any of this to Mal? Yeah, so the guy I'm lusting over has this stalker of a…friend? What the hell? I didn't even know myself.
"Mal, can I get a second to chew on my own thoughts?"
"No! What the hell was that all about, Chanel? You're going from having no one to getting caught up in a freaking love triangle." For all her alleged anger, she was smirking.
I was about a millisecond away from screaming and running out of the place. Between the food which had gotten too cold to enjoy, the conversations at every angle and the interrogation from Mal, I started feeling claustrophobic. I could've damn near gotten up and followed Rhys. Then there was this whole other issue. My afternoon got even more complex as I caught a glimpse of Prissy. No, she wasn't chasing after Rhys.
"Um, I'm Prissy." Deep black curls cascaded over her right shoulder. I tried to convince myself she wasn't all that stunning, when in fact, it was undeniable. With wide eyes, plump lips, a seemingly naturally golden tan and amazing curves, I could see why Rhys likely desired her.
"Did you hear me?" she repeated, knocking me out of the daydream.
"And?" I really didn't care to know her, coupled with the fact that I felt somewhat insecure just then, even jealous. I was forced to convince myself she was a dude's playground, especially with a name like Prissy. From the way he'd allowed her to touch him when she'd approached us out front, even as he touched me, she seemed too familiar with him.
Hovering over the table, fingers now grasping the edges while she attempted to stare me down, I saw her vulnerability. Her eyes glossed over during her misguided attempt to intimidate me.
"Prissy, you need to back away from here. Move your hands, add room to our personal space." Mal leaned forward in her seat. Prissy didn't turn her way; her eyes remained in mine like there was only one threat to her world: me.
"I didn't say anything to you, now did I?" She finally redirected at Mal, tilting her head to pose the question. But her eyes, those damn wishful things kept trying to size me up. This chick was beyond crazy.
"I would suggest you move your jealous ass from over here," I interjected before taking to my feet. Sure this girl had more height than I did, but there was no intimidating me. For her to approach me this way, and over a guy I had little to do with, she had to be out of her mind.. Well, something like that.
"I asked you a simple question?" Truly, it wasn't a question. She ordered like I was her damn child. Moreover, this time her words captured more than my and Mal’s attention. The other customers became silent all at once. It was like a spotlight came on inside the restaurant. Never, I mean ever in my life had anyone approached me this way, especially not over the foolishness this girl was spitting out. No man drama! No drama, period. I kept to myself. So, I was literally mortified.
I stood, pulling myself up as far as I could to reach. She happened to be breathing down on me like a beast in heat.
"Ask Rhys who I am. More specifically, who I am to him." Nothing hurt more than when you flipped the switch on a catty chick.
Her eyelashes fluttered, her cheeks turned dirty red, and she took a few steps back.
"C'mon Mal," I called out, grabbing my purse. I didn't look back to see a reaction. I’d gained the upper hand and wanted it to stay that way.
Mal caught up with me as I pulled open the exit door. The noise behind us had started back up again. Honestly, I felt kinda good over my clout.
"Sooooo, when you gonna call him?"
"Seriously, Mal?"
"I'm saying, just to piss her off." She wore this devious grin and a wishful twinkle in her pupils. Mal lived for drama. She wasn’t the troublemaker kind, but the type that would get an unsuspecting diva put in her place. I became Mal's newest hero when I set that Prissy chick straight. While she looped her arm through mine, I tried to pull away. Believe me, Mal was in her element and this would be like a darn monkey on my back.
"Didn't know you had it in you, girl, but damn."
"You're a drama queen."
"And I'm supposed to feel bad because..."
I bit down on my lip and shook my head, increasing the pace to get away from crazy. The air was crisp, fresh as ever. Sunlight was too much, though just the right amount to cuddle me. I tried to push out the afternoon, the day, but couldn't quite do it.
"Call him now, Chanel."
Perhaps the number one reason why I was finding it difficult to forget.
"Mal–"
"He owes you some type of explanation."
We stopped at a corner light at this point. I kinda gave her an annoyed look bordering insanity, just before a grin took over my face. So yeah, I pulled out the phone and selected Rhys' name. When the light changed, the few people around us started walking across the street. I lowered my hand to follow until I heard Mal clearing her throat.
"You really need to get a life, you know," I observed.
"Makes two of us."
By the third ring, I thought he wouldn't answer.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, Rhys?"
"Who's this?" I could see his lips forming the perfect syllables, almost tasted the cool breath rushing from his lips. Damn, how the hell could someone leave that kind of mark on me? I wasn't looking for or ready to be swept away, as some would say. But at the thought of him, I got sucked in by reminders of being near, and the very scent of him.
XXXIII.
Rhys
~
"Chanel." The line went dead after she gave her name. I couldn’t say I expected her to call me right away. Not that I was disappointed though.
"Miss me?" I asked, trying to add life to the dead wires.
&nbs
p; "Actually, Rhys, I think someone is missing you. I don't know who this Prissy chick is, but you need to straighten things out with her."
"Why, what happened?" A vein jumped at my temple. Pressure built up along the back of my neck. I could handle stress pretty well, but bullshit, not so much.
Chanel exhaled into the line. "Your friend..." There was the accent on the name, then a pause for effect. "Your friend approached my table after you left."
"What did she say?"
"She wanted to know who I was to you."
I squeezed the phone and felt like I would throw the damn thing into the middle of the street. I kept my lips tight. I wasn't trying to be silent or anything, but sprouting out a dose of colorful language wouldn't help the situation. Besides, Chanel wasn't the offender.
"I think it's only fair for me to ask. Is she your girlfriend?"
"Hell no!" The answer couldn't come out quickly enough. I'll admit that my ego had been bruised by Chanel when I was at her place, but screwing Prissy would've damaged what I was hoping to begin. Now, I just needed to straighten out this shit.
"Where are you now?"
"We left. Heading home now."
"I'll meet you there?"
"Why?"
"Because it's what I want." What else was I supposed to say?
"So?" I could tell she was trying hard to stall, but with her still on the phone, I wasn't worried.
"So, I'm coming for you. I tasted something damn good and I sure as hell know there's more where that came from." I hated lines and all, but she'd put me in that mood.
When she whispered into the receiver, "Okay," I ended the call and shifted my direction.
My phone vibrated less than a minute later, and I pulled it out without even checking first.
"Rhys, we need to talk!"
Here was an argument for a caller ID. If I’d known it was her...damn, if I had just checked the screen.
"I'm busy."
"That's odd because you didn't seem too busy when you were groping me!" The messed up thing about this was, I didn’t know how the hell I’d gotten into this. I’d believed stopping would've fixed it all, but it clearly hadn't.