A Friendly Encounter

by Alex Dafney

  I let out a sigh as I turn to face him. “We really don’t have to go to dinner. I could just as well eat a PB&J.” He stares down at me, his expression blank. I let out a huff, placing my hand to my hip and raising an eyebrow at him. “You know what? I’m not going to dinner with you tonight.” He narrows his eyes at me, opening his mouth to speak, but I continue. “You’re in a foul mood, and you’re acting weird since my reaction to your million-dollar lawsuit. Sorry that it caught me off guard, but it doesn’t matter!”

  He stares at me for a moment, the muscle in his jaw visibly flexing. “You don’t care that I have that kind of money?” His voice is low and even. I fling my hands up at my side, giving him an exasperated sigh. “No! Why would I? Blake makes more money than I do, but it’s never once mattered to either of us. I don’t care as long as he’s happy, and the same goes for you! If anything, it makes me proud that you’re this successful at your age.”

  Just as the last word leaves my mouth, he slams into me. His lips crushing mine as my back hits the wall behind me. I vaguely hear the elevator ping as his hands roam along my body, my hands twisting in his hair as we kiss feverishly. He pulls back slightly, giving me a devious grin. “You’re so fucking incredible.” I don’t have time to respond before his lips are back on mine and he’s lifting me, turning back for his door.

  We sit outside on the balcony watching the sun go down over the city as we eat an obscene amount of takeout. I lift the chopsticks to my mouth, closing my eyes and moaning at the taste. Jase chuckles next to me and I open my eyes, finding him staring at me with a sideways grin. “I love watching you eat.” My cheeks blush slightly as I take another bite, focusing on not moaning my appreciation audibly.

  “I don’t even know what this is, but I could eat it every day for the rest of my life.” He leans toward me and I tilt the container so he can see. He gives a shrug as he sits back in his chair. “I’m not sure. I told the takeout place to send me an assortment.” He offers me the container in his hand. “Trade?” I pull mine to my chest, wrapping an arm around it protectively as I scowl at him.

  He laughs, pulling his box back to him and taking another bite. I sit up taller, peering over into his container. Whatever he has does smell wonderful, but I’m not sold on giving mine up. “What do you have?” He gives me another shrug. “Not sure, but it’s great.” I narrow my eyes at him, slowly passing my container toward him. We trade and both sit back in our chairs. I take a bite of his, closing my eyes and letting out a moan to which he laughs.

  We both glance over our shoulders looking through the window at the sound of the doorbell. I look back to Jase as he places his carton on the table between us and stands. “Please tell me you didn’t order more food.” He lets out a throaty chuckle as he slides the glass door open and steps inside, leaving the door open behind him as he strides toward the door in his boxers.

  I take another bite of the delicious takeout as I watch through the window, wondering who could be on the other side of the door. Before he reaches the door, it opens. My mouth drops open slightly as I watch Natalia step inside, closing the door behind her as Jase stops in his tracks between the front door and the living room.

  I have to admit, the woman is breathtakingly beautiful. She wears a cream-colored dress that makes her skin appear even more golden than it did last night. Her dark hair billows around her shoulders in perfect waves. She gives a seductive smile as she struts toward him, swinging her hips in perfect time with her steps. “Hey, baby.”

  She stops just in front of him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling toward him as she purses her lips. It’s as if time has slowed as I watch her lips move toward his. At the last second, he turns his head, her lips meeting his cheek. “What the hell are you doing here?” He asks as he grips her hands, unwrapping them from behind him and taking a step back.

  She stares up at him with a shocked expression. “I, um, Milton and I are over.” She drops her gaze to the floor as she wrings her hands in front of her. “I caught him with someone else.” She lifts her eyes, staring at him. “I just want you, Jason.” I scoff loudly, rolling my eyes. She glances over to the open balcony door, a snarl on her lips when she sees me.

  I give her a little wave as I stand, seeing this as my cue to enter the room. I step in wearing nothing but a pair of underwear and a tight tank top with no bra. Any other time I would be mortified for someone to see me like this, but this girl has rubbed me the wrong way and I want nothing more than to rub it in her face. “Hi, Natalia. What an unpleasant surprise.” I say as I step next to Jase, placing my hand on his broad back as I lean into him.

  She rolls her eyes slightly, giving me a damn good bitch face before turning her eyes to him. “I want us back, Jason. I love you, and I know you love me.” I feel the muscles in his back tense, and I’m not certain why. “You cheated on me with my best friend and business partner.” She has the decency to look embarrassed as she drops her eyes to the floor. “I know. It was a mistake.”

  She looks up to him, tears pooling in her eyes and I have the urge to slap those fake tears from her eyes. “I made a huge mistake, but I know what I want now. And it’s you.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Right.” She narrows her eyes at me, her cheeks burning red. “Why are you even here? This doesn’t concern you!” Jase wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. “She’s here because I want her here. Unlike you. It’s time for you to go.”

  She bats her eyelashes at him, her mouth opening slightly as she shakes her head. “No. We need to work this out. We’re perfect together.” He drops his arm from my waist, walking past her and pulling the door open. “Time to go.” She folds her arms over her chest, a defiant look on her face. “I’m not leaving until we talk about this!” He drops his head, shaking it slightly as he chuckles. “There’s nothing for you and me to talk about. You fucked my best friend, in my bed, and I walked in on it.”

  He looks up to her and I can see the pain in his eyes. “You can’t honestly tell me you’d rather have her!” She throws her arm toward me, a look of disgust on her face. At that moment I understand what people say by seeing red. I’d love nothing more than to rip her hair right out of her head. Instead I fold my arms over my chest, jutting one hip out and open my mouth to spew out a smart-ass remark.

  “We’re not together, Natalia. She’s just a friend.” His words knock the breath out of my chest. At that moment I realize how big of a mistake our little arrangement is. His feelings for me are purely platonic and I’ve let my heart cross that line. She turns to me, giving a triumphant smirk. “Oh. Well, I’ll leave you with your friend. But I’ll be back.” She walks toward the door, reaching out and placing her hand on his bare chest as she gazes up at him through her lashes. “You know we’re perfect for each other, baby. I’ll be in touch.”

  I watch as she sashays out of the door, Jase closing it behind her. I drop my eyes to the floor, not wanting to look at him for fear that I’ll cry. “I have a headache coming on. I’m going to lie down.” I spin quickly, walking toward the hallway to escape to the guest bedroom. I hear him call my name and ignore him, stepping into the room and leaning back against the door.

  Tears burn the back of my eyes as I think about how utterly stupid I’ve been. Of course he would say that. He’s made it clear that I’m just a friend. How could I have let myself fall for him? I hear his footsteps coming down the hall and quickly turn the light off, scrambling into bed. He knocks on the door softly before pushing it open.

  A tear slips down my cheek as I pull the cover over my head. “I brought you some aspirin and a glass of water.” I hear him place the glass on the nightstand and feel the bed sag as he sits on the edge, placing his hand on my exposed shoulder. I tense at his touch, not wanting my heart to break any further at his friendly kindness. “Do you need anything?” I shake my head under the cover, not trusting myself to speak.

  I feel the mattress shift as he stands. “Alright. I’m right across the hall if you need me. O
r, I could sleep in here.” My breath catches on the lump in my throat. There’s no way I want him anywhere near me right now. I clear my throat, hoping my words come out normal and not laced with tears. “I’m fine. Thanks.” He lets out a sigh before walking over to the door and closing it.

  I stay still for a few moments as tears pool in my eyes. Slowly I lower the cover, finding myself alone in his dark guest bedroom. I fling my legs over the edge of the bed, tiptoeing into the attached bathroom. I gingerly close the door behind me, facing my reflection in the mirror as tears leak from my eyes. I shake my head at myself. How damn stupid am I?

  Quickly I brush my teeth and wash my face. The whole while tears streak down my cheeks. I walk out of the bathroom, crossing the room and climbing into the large bed. I sniffle against the pillow until sleep finally consumes me.

  I wake up the next morning, utterly exhausted after a few hours of fitful sleep. By the sun streaming through the window I can tell it’s early still. I sit up in the bed, swinging my legs over the side and walking toward the bathroom. I need to get ready and book a return flight home. Sometime during the night, I decided leaving today instead of staying one more day with Jase would be for the best.

  I quickly go through my routine of showering, makeup, hair, and getting dressed. I zip my suitcase and place it on the floor. As I open the bedroom door I’m greeted with silence. I let out a relieved sigh. Thank God. I was hoping to be out of here before he woke up to avoid any awkwardness. I stop in my tracks when I enter the kitchen, finding Jase already up and dressed for the day. He looks up from his laptop at the dining table, his brow narrowing as he takes in my suitcase behind me. “You’re leaving?”

  I drop the handle of the suitcase, clasping my hands in front of me and looking down at the floor. “I think it would be best for me to go.” I hear the chair scrape against the tile floor as he pushes it back and stands. I look up to him as he steps in front of me, his hands gripping my arms softly. His mouth drops at the corners in a slight frown as his brows draw together. “Please don’t go. I had the locks changed this morning, so you won’t have to worry about Natalia coming back.”

  I sigh softly, looking from Jase to the door. Natalia coming back is my last concern. Foolishly, I let myself believe that this would continue beyond this weekend. My heart and brain scream at each other, but as I look into his dark, blue eyes my heart wins. I nod my head, a small smile forming on my face as I silently agree to stay, trying to convince myself that it’s only one more day. A final goodbye to the feelings I’ve developed. He drops his head so he’s at eye level with me, giving me that heart stopping grin. “That’s a yes?”

  I sigh heavily, smiling up at him with a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Yes. I’ll stay.” He leans toward me, his lips brushing mine gently before pulling back. “Good. I have our whole day planned.” As he turns from me walking back to his laptop on the table and shutting it down, I mentally kick myself whilst reminding myself it’s only one more day. He grins at me as he walks toward me, gripping my hand and lacing our fingers as we walk toward the front door.

  We walk down the streets of downtown L.A. hand in hand. “Where are we going?” I ask casually as I take in the scenery around us. “There’s this great diner a few blocks away. They have the best omelets I’ve ever eaten.” I smile up at him as we wait for a crosswalk signal, knowing that he knows it’s my favorite breakfast item. His smile falters and he turns to me, gripping both of my hands in his. “I’m really sorry for the way Natalia treated you last night.”

  I shrug one shoulder, looking anywhere but into his eyes. I guess I should be grateful that he thinks that’s why I’m upset. “It’s fine.” The crosswalk signal flashes green and I start to step onto the pavement, but he grips my hands firmly, causing me to look up to him. “It’s not fine. You’re an amazing person. She had no right to talk to you like she did.” I shake my head slightly, looking at the ground between us. “She’s right though. I have no idea how to be a part of this world.” I pull one hand from his grip, gesturing it around us.

  He drops my hand, sliding his arm around my shoulders and leading us across the crosswalk. “You’re wrong about that. The only reason I got the deal with Fletch is because of you.” As we reach the other side of the road, I duck my head under his arm, stopping to face him full on. “What are you talking about?” He gives me a sideways grin. “Fletcher loved you. He’s pitching a full-length animated movie to his team this afternoon about a blond headed nurse with a fiery attitude and funny tales.”

  My mouth drops open as I stare up at him. “Wh, what?” He chuckles lowly, grabbing my hand and pulling us along the sidewalk. “He thought your stories were hilarious the other night. He told me he hasn’t stopped thinking about them since meeting you, and when he got home from the event Thursday, he immediately went to his office and started writing a screenplay. He asked me to solely do the animation.”

  My heart thrums in my chest as I recall the stories I casually told about my patients. I stop abruptly, pulling my hand from his and shaking my head as he turns to face me. “He can’t use my stories.” I look up to him, my eyes wide. “I’ll lose my job! Hell, I’ll lose my license!” He quickly grips both of my hands in his, a look of concern on his face. “He’s not going to use your stories, Abbi. I’d never let that happen. He simply came up with an idea based on your experiences.”

  I blink back my tears, looking up to find genuine concern on his face. “I promise you. Fletcher is a good guy; he’d never risk you loosing your license. He just thought up a character based off what you told him.” He lets out a chuckle. “The character is a dog with blond fur who takes care of the other animals in town.” I stare up at him, unsure of what to say. “Wait. He’s turning me into a dog?”

  He throws his head back laughing, dropping one of my hands and gripping the other as he pulls us along the sidewalk. “Well, yeah. Animals are more appealing to small children.” I think about the few movies I’ve taken Blake’s niece and nephew to over the last year. Every damn one of them has animals as the focal point.

  “That’s kind of a big deal for him to ask you to do the animation. Right?” He squeezes my hand that he holds, looking over to me with a wide grin. “It’s huge.” We stop in front of a small building, Jase opening the door as smells of breakfast food waft toward me. I step inside the crowded diner, Jase placing his hand on my lower back and leading us to two empty barstools at the counter.

  I slide onto the tall stool as a waitress places menus in front of us, walking away quickly. I scan the menu for a moment before deciding what I want. Closing it and placing it in front of me on the bar as I turn in my seat to face Jase. He glances up from the menu he holds, his eyes locking on mine as he places the menu on the bar. “What?”

  I shrug one shoulder, glancing away from him as the waitress stops in front of us. “What can I get you two?” I rattle off my order, Jase requesting the same thing I’m having. I turn to him, a playful smile on my lips. “Couldn’t decide what you want and decided to hijack my order?” He laughs lightly. “That’s what I always get. You won’t be disappointed.” He narrows his brows, his lip tugging up one one side. “Why were you looking at me like that a minute ago?”

  I take in a deep breath, dropping my elbows to the counter in front of me and looking at him straight. “I’m slowly understanding what you do for work. What’s something I’d recognize?” He tilts his head slightly, giving me that damn grin that is my undoing. “I’m sure you wouldn’t know any of it unless you’re a fan of Slopeside productions.”

  I scoff loudly, picking up the glass of water that the waitress places in front of me. I think you’d have to live under a rock to have not heard of or seen a Slopeside production film. It’s only the household movie makers name for anyone with children. As she walks away, I glance over to him, a small smirk on my face. “Blake has a six-year-old niece, and a four-year-old nephew. I’ve been to my fair share of Slopeside films over the years.”


  He raises a questioning eyebrow at me. “Did you happen to see Diplomat Duck?” I smile as I recall the cute movie of the duck that quacked his way into congress. “I did.” My eyes widen as I realize his question. “That was you?” He nods shyly, shifting his eyes away from mine as he picks up his water in front of him. I reach over, placing my hand on his knee. “Jase! That’s incredible! I knew you were talented, but damn.”

  He chuckles softly, placing his water glass back on the bar. I give him a genuine smile. “What else has your name on it?” He leans toward me, gesturing with his hand for me to do the same. “Nothing has my name on it. I use my company, Slopeside productions.” I pull back from him, giving him a puzzled look to which he shrugs. “I love what I do, but using my real name is dangerous. I enjoy my private life and if anyone found out who I am, that could end quickly.”

  I nod in understanding. “So, what has else your companies name on it?” I ask with a grin on my face. He rattles off a few of the past years top children’s movies as my eyes widen with disbelief. I shake my head slowly as he finishes, a true smile on my lips. “I’m truly impressed. Congratulations.” He gives me a shy smile as the waitress sets our oversized breakfast plates in front of us. I pick up my fork digging into the enormous omelet on my plate, closing my eyes as I savor the bite.

  The next few hours fly by. Jase shows me as much of L.A. as possible before we’re both worn out from all the walking and sight seeing. We pile into the limousine and head toward his apartment, me slumping against his shoulder during the ride. He places his arm behind me along the back of the seat, pulling me firmly into his side, placing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m really glad you decided to stay.”