“You know,” Kiran tells Seth. “Right around the corner is where Anna and I had our first date. At the Shark Reef.” He smiles and sips his vodka and Coke.
“How long have you two been together, anyway?” Seth’s date, Marie, is seated across from me. I wonder how old she is, because she’s definitely not our age. My guess would be mid-thirties. Very attractive, and appears to be of some mid-Eastern descent.
“A little over three years,” I say.
“Anna and Kiran are recently engaged,” Seth informs her.
Marie’s face lights up. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”
“So how long have you two known each other?” Kiran asks.
Seth and Marie give each other knowing little smiles, and she playfully bumps into him. With his elbows propped on the table, he peers down at his drink.
“We go back a while.” Marie nods and grins. “About ten years, wouldn’t you say?” She furrows her brow, looking to him for confirmation.
I’m a terrible, terrible person, because all I start doing is the math at this point. Okay, maybe she just looks young for her age. But, say she’s thirty-five, that would have made her twenty-five when they met. Which would have made him forty-three. The age difference doesn’t seem like such a big deal now, but I cannot for the life of me picture myself dating a twenty-five-year-old when I was forty-three. Then again, I don’t get the feeling they’re exactly dating.
“What do you do for a living?” I ask Marie.
“Oh, I work here. I don’t mean in this restaurant.” She laughs. “I basically cater to all our high rollers. You know, make their dinner reservations, get them show tickets, get them into the nightclubs. All that good stuff.”
“We can thank Marie for the booth we’ll have at the club tonight,” Seth says.
Kiran and I both nod with appreciation.
“So what do you do?” Marie asks in return.
“I’m a physical therapist.”
“Anna has her own practice,” Kiran says proudly as he places his arm behind me.
Marie finishes the last sip of her Cosmo and sets her glass down. “Really? That’s impressive.”
I shrug and smile. “It’s not all that impressive, but thank you.”
“How long have you been doing that, Anna?” Seth asks, cutting into his steak.
“Basically since I finished school. I like it. I’d have to say the most annoying part is dealing with insurance. These poor people sign up with these fly-by-night health insurance companies, and then when it’s time to make a claim, the company won’t cover it. I’ve had to stop accepting a few plans, and I hate having to do that.”
“Yeah, health care is so fucked up in this country, isn’t it?” Seth says.
Oh God. What have I done? I did not mean to steer this conversation into anything political.
“Yeah. Well… It is what it is, I guess.” Looking to change the subject at breakneck speed, I continue. “What about you, Seth? You enjoy real estate?” Ah crap! This may not go well, either. Given how the real estate market has been affected by the economy the past several years.
Somehow I get the feeling my concern shows in my face, because Seth just grins at me while he chews his food. “It’s all good, Anna.”
***
An hour later, we’re at the club, and the place is wall to wall people. I’m on my third drink in as many hours, but it’s safe to say the boys and Marie are slightly toasted. I love dancing, but feel self-conscious in this crowd. For the most part, it’s made up of beautiful, hip, meticulously dressed twenty- and thirty-somethings, and I need a few more cocktails under my belt before feeling comfortable enough to get on the floor. But I can’t drink any more. I offered to be the designated driver. Marie is already out there as I sit wedged between Kiran and Seth in the booth. Not a word can be heard over this music, so they have to shout across me.
“Are you going to dance?” Kiran asks in my ear.
From the floor, Marie is motioning for me to join her.
“Uhhh, technically I require more of a buzz than this, but I guess so.”
Kiran stands to let me out of the booth, and then smacks me on the butt as I squeeze out. I turn and give him a bewildered smile, seeing a side of him lately that I’ve not seen.
Marie takes me by the hand and leads me further onto the floor, but still in view of Kiran and Seth, and within seconds, the music draws me in and I’m no longer nervous. I’m too engrossed in the crowd, the flashing lights, and the Cirque du Soleil performers who dangle from the ceiling above us. Before long, Marie’s behind me, dancing up against me quite seductively. Finding it amusing, I seek Kiran’s attention to see if he’s witnessing this and give him a check this out expression. He just smiles and shakes his head. Seth is laughing and saying something to him.
What the hell? It’s totally harmless, so I play along, lifting my hair provocatively and rolling my shoulders up against her as she dances behind me. And I know for a fact the guys get off on this kind of thing.
When I glance at Kiran again, he’s slowly sipping his drink, taking in every move. Something about the way he’s looking at me makes my heart beat faster. And because I don’t want him to stop looking at me like that, I turn around to face Marie and move in even closer, never taking my eyes off him.
She and I continue dancing naughty to a Trey Songz tune, and that’s when things get awkward. Although it’s all for show, when Marie’s hands begin to roam my body, I quickly realize I’ve gotten in too deep. And when she starts to lift my dress, brushing her fingertips along my thighs, a couple of guys next to us are paying very close attention. Just about the time I seriously begin to panic, Kiran comes to my rescue.
He is out of his seat and on the floor within seconds, but somehow manages to gracefully claim me as his partner. Marie is unaffected because Seth joins her on the floor soon after.
Kiran and I exchange no words as he pulls me by the waist and holds me against him. Though a hip hop song beats wildly, we simply sway, eyes glued to each other. I can feel his heart beating as he bends to kiss me, his tongue exploring my mouth, and I am massively turned on. Damn! Why didn’t we book that room?
He looks down at me and grins. “Got yourself into a little trouble there, didn’t you?”
“Psh! I totally had this thing.” Then I shake my head to indicate I’m full of it.
“You’re gonna be in some trouble tonight when we get home,” he says and kisses me again.
“Promise?”
Kiran laughs. “Well, that is, if I stop drinking. If I keep at it, I’ll be passed out on the floor soon.”
We dance through a couple more songs, and now I’m glad we decided to come. Kiran was right. I think we’ve both been feeling a little over the hill lately. Admittedly, Seth is a bit impetuous, but tonight has forced us out of our comfort zone, which is healthy on occasion.
After a while, I leave to use the restroom. Seth and Kiran head back to our seats, and Marie continues dancing. When I return and come around the backside of our booth, a quieter music selection accompanying the acrobats’ performance allows me to overhear part of the guys’ conversation.
“Don’t get me wrong, Kiri. Anna is a doll…”
Though I shouldn’t, the second Seth says my name, I stop to listen to what he’s going to say.
“But are you really sure you want to tie yourself down? I mean, look at you now! Consider the tail that awaits.”
Hey, what a douchey thing to say!
“Seth, your green-eyed monster is showing itself,” Kiran says, not at all offended by his remark. “Besides, the only tail I want is Anna’s.”
Awww! Good answer, my love.
“I think you’re just jealous because you haven’t found the one yet,” he adds.
“Agh! There’s no such thing.”
I make my way to the front of the booth and sit beside Kiran. Neither of them appears to have any concern that I may have heard them. Kiran turns to me and rubs my thigh. “I thi
nk I’m clubbed out. How about you?”
“I’m ready to go if you are.” Though I try hiding my discomfort, it must show in my face when Seth and I make eye contact, because he briefly glances back at where I had been standing. I dart my eyes elsewhere before smiling at Kiran.
“What do you say, cousin?” Kiran asks.
Seth spots Marie on the dance floor. “I think we’ll just take a cab. She doesn’t look like she’s ready to call it a night yet.”
Kiran and I stand. “All right then. If you’re sure. Please thank Marie for us.”
“I will. And I promise not to stay out too late,” he jokes. Then he looks at me again. “Goodnight, Anna.”
“Goodnight.” I make sure to add plenty of lilt to my voice.
***
“I’m sorry.” Kiran breaks free from our make-out session and rolls onto his back. “Too much to drink tonight. I don’t think this is going to happen.”
I lay my palm on his stomach. “No worries. I’m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
He sighs heavily then sits up and takes my face in his hand. “I wish I could have taken you right there on the dance floor. Believe me, I was about to bust out of my pants.”
I laugh at his confession. “That would have caused quite a stir.” We kiss tenderly a few moments. “I love you, old man.”
“I love you, too.”
An hour later, I swear I wake to voices in the next room. Not sure if I was dreaming, I sit up in bed and open my eyes wide. Why is it when we hear something in the middle of the night, we make our eyes big, as if that will improve our hearing?
Is it…? Did I hear a female voice?
I remain still and listen intently, but there’s nothing. Then I pick up my iPod on the table and check the time. It’s 3:30 a.m.
Now there’s a brief shuffling noise.
After crawling out of bed, I fumble in the dark to our bedroom door and step into the hallway. The door to our office, which is right next to our bedroom, is closed. It’s never closed. Without thinking things through because I’m still in a sleepy fog, I open the door to see Seth’s bare ass, his hips thrusting vigorously as he holds Marie up on the desk. At least, I hope it’s Marie. All I can see are a pair of legs in the air.
Wait, why do I even care if it’s Marie?
I quickly and quietly pull the door shut and turn to see Ahsan approaching from the other end of the hallway. Shit!
“Anna, I was just going downstairs for some water… Is everything okay?” He knows something is up.
Trying to relax because I know shock is still etched on my face, I answer with a quick nod and smile. Oh God. I should have said something. Now I look like a deer caught in headlights.
Ahsan takes a step closer. There are more noises of movement from inside the office. He puts his ear against the door and there’s a muffled moan.
Could this be any more awkward? I think not.
Ahsan frowns and lets out a sigh of disgust. “This is why I said it was all right to say no to Seth staying here!”
And with that, he turns and says nothing more.
Putting my hand over my mouth, I slowly walk back to our bedroom.
Should I wake Kiran? Oh, I absolutely should!
I crawl back onto the bed and sit on my knees. “Kiran.” I gently nudge him. “Kiran!”
“Hmmm?”
“Wake up for a minute.” I turn on the lamp on my side of the bed.
“Is everything all right?”
“You are not gonna believe what just happened.”
Just then, we hear a door open and murmuring in the hallway. Kiran is tired and confused. He looks in the direction of the sounds. “Who is that? What’s going on?”
A second later, we hear a door close. They must have moved to the guest room where Seth is staying.
“So, I woke up a little bit ago,” I whisper. “Because I thought I heard voices. And I opened the office door, and Seth was screwing Marie on the desk!”
“What?” Kiran exclaims. “Oh my God!”
“Shhh… shhh.” I start giggling. “You’re gonna wake everyone up. Or should I say, your mother.”
Alarm registers on his face as he realizes what I’m saying. “No! My father knows?”
Grimacing, I nod my head. However, I can’t help smiling because this is all so ridiculous.
Kiran puts his face in his hands. “Seth,” he moans. “He’s never going to change, is he?” He looks up at me. “Did they see you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
When he realizes I can barely contain my laughter, he busts out himself. “What did you see?”
“His ass!” My voice is hushed. “It was like…” I hold up my curled fingers, as if I were to grab someone’s butt cheeks. “Right there.”
Kiran lays an arm over his forehead and starts laughing so hard, there are tears in his eyes.
“And her legs were all…” I spread my arms above my head and bounce my hands up and down. “Well… you know what I’m sayin’.”
Kiran rubs his head. “Ohhh, I can’t believe it… Actually, yes I can.”
“Are you going to say anything to him? I mean, please don’t tell him I caught them. But are you gonna say you heard them next to our room or anything?”
“I don’t know what to do. How do you feel about this anyway? He means no harm, but what he’s done is horribly disrespectful, especially to you.”
I furrow my brow. “Why to me?”
“Because you’re the woman of this house, and he essentially brought a one-night stand into your home.”
I hadn’t really looked at it that way. Maybe I would have, if we hadn’t already spent the evening with them. And Marie isn’t really a one-night stand if they’ve known each other for ten years.
“Well… while we’re on the subject of Seth. I wasn’t going to say anything about it, but… I heard what he said to you in the club tonight—about tying yourself down.”
Kiran closes his eyes and his expression grows serious. “Anna, I’m so sorry. I assure you, I know his heart, and that was not meant to be malicious in any way.” He sits up and takes my hand. “But I understand how hurtful that must have been. I’ll tell him he needs to find someplace else to stay.”
“No, don’t. I mean, I admit it pissed me off at first. But, he didn’t say anything to badmouth me personally. And the more I thought about it, coming from a lifelong playboy, it doesn’t surprise me that he would see things that way.” I bite my lip, embarrassed to admit what I’m about to. “Deep down, I think about it too, sometimes.”
He gives me a questioning gaze. “Think about what?”
I let out an uncomfortable sigh. “You know. You hadn’t looked like you do for very long before we met. You hadn’t dated much…” I shrug because I don’t want to go on. “You know.”
“You’re not serious, are you?” He almost appears hurt by what I said. “Anna, I’m nothing like Seth.”
“Of course you’re not!” I shake my head. “I wasn’t trying to say that. You know what? It was stupid of me to have said anything. Just forget about it.”
“Look, I don’t think I have to tell you that Seth is simply imposing his own life issues onto my situation. That is all. So I hope you won’t let what he said feed into… your doubts.”
Ugh! Why did I go and open my big trap? Now he thinks I have doubts about his feelings for me. “I won’t. I’m not.” God, what a jackass!
TEN
“Have you seen your doctor about the flooding yet?” Julia asks, stopping to eye a turquoise blouse as I follow her through Macy’s.
“No. The soonest I could get in is a month from now. I just hope she’ll be agreeable to ablation. You’re so lucky you don’t have this problem.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” She pulls the blouse off the rack and holds it up to get a better view. “But then again, you don’t get the hot flashes like I do. I don’t think I’ve gotten more than three uninterrupted hours of sleep in the p
ast six months.”
I scrunch my nose. “I guess that would suck pretty bad. I get one every once in a while, but nothing that’s been keeping me up at night. Yet.”
“Plus, my moods are all over the place. Derek probably thinks he’s married to Sybil.” Holding onto the turquoise selection, she circles a rack, sliding the hangers from one side to the other. “I just can’t help myself. It’s like I’m looking at myself from the outside in. I know I’m being bitchy, but sometimes everything he does just pisses me off, you know?”
“No, thankfully.” I chuckle. “But Geena told me she was the same way when she went through it. Oh! I’ve been meaning to tell you I joined a couple of perimenopause groups on Facebook. You have got to check them out. Some of the things these ladies share are just hilarious. It’s great to pop in when you’re sure you’re losing your mind.”
Julia takes notice that I’m not holding any clothes to try on. “Nothing?”
“Not yet.” It sounds weird, but I don’t know how to shop at the mall for clothing. At least, not in the big department stores. I lack the patience to search for deals, and I end up resembling one of the ladies on the TJ Maxx commercials when she looks at the price tag. Utterly disgusted.
“What about this?” Julia pulls out a sundress. “This would look cute on you.”
“I guess I’ll try it.” I shrug and look for one in my size.
***
After shopping, Julia and I have lunch at Maggiano’s.
“So bring me up-to-date. How are the wedding plans coming?”
“Oh, they’re not.”
Her forehead wrinkles. “Why not?”
“I just don’t know where to start. I know that Geena will be more than happy to help me, but Kiran has already warned that she’s gonna try to take over, and I’m not sure what I want yet.”
“What are you leaning toward?”
“Something elegant, but small.” I slice each of us a piece of bread from the loaf on our table. “Because I’d rather spend our money on a nice honeymoon than dump it all into the ceremony.”
Julia nods in agreement. “If you want small, why don’t you have it at your house? Right on the lake, maybe at night? That could be really pretty!”
Menopause to Matrimony (Fortytude Series Book 2) Page 5