“I don’t know where she is. Why are you here so early? You spent half the night on the phone and the other half in Leila’s wet dream just go home,” Sarah says trying to close the door again.
“Really,” he says crossing his arms and rocking back on the heels of his feet pleased that he was able to invade Leila’s dreams.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that. Look, Leila muttered something about this room smelling like the circus came to town so she left. Check the cafeteria,” Sarah says before closing the door in Tucker’s face.
Tucker walks out of the building and looks around the campus. It’s a warm spring day and there’s a cool breeze rolling in off the bay. He spots Leila sitting on a bench across the grass field. She’s wearing a short yellow peasant dress with tan wedged heels. Her hair is pulled into a high ponytail and she is beautiful. Tucker stops walking and watches her for a few minutes. His heart is beating quickly and he wants to race over and carry her away. The wind is blowing leaves from a nearby oak tree and a few leaves fall into her hair. She’s reading ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ which has been her favorite book since high school. She doesn’t notice Tucker watching. In that moment he knows that she’s the one. He can see a future with her and it scares him.
He is about fifty feet away when Mike appears out of nowhere and says something that Tucker can’t hear before sitting down next to her. Mike pulls the leaves from Leila’s hair and hands them to her. Tucker’s mouth is a straight line and his fists are clinching and unclenching involuntarily. He takes long quick strides across the field and reaches Leila and Mike in seconds. She smiles and stands to hug him. Tucker looks serious. His chest is sticking out a bit further than usual and his square jaw is set tight. He’s wearing jeans that hang low on his waist and make his ass look like the letter C, black converse and a new white graphic t-shirt. His dark blond curls are falling just above his midnight blue eyes. He reaches down and scoops Leila up in his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck. He smells like soap and his hair is still a little wet from his shower. She has flash backs of her dream and she shutters in his arms.
He puts her down but his arm remains firmly around her waist and his body is tense.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He says to Mike spitting out the words like poison.
This is a side of Tucker Leila’s never seen. He’s usually so laid-back but he’s looking at Mike as if he might go for the jugular at any moment.
“Mike came here to apologize,” she says looking up at Tucker’s angry face. “Haven’t you two been friends forever?” Mike is standing now matching the intensity of Tucker’s glare.
“Look man let’s just squash this,” he says offering his hand. Tucker releases Leila long enough to extend his hand to Mike. His jaw line is still tight and the vein on the side of his neck is pulsating.
“I told Mike that we’re all going out tonight. You should invite him,” Leila says.
“Will you excuse us?” Tucker says without looking at Leila.
The two men are glaring at each other as if they are long time enemy’s rather than best friends. “Gladly I’ll be in my room,” Leila says and sets off in a hurry.
When she’s out of earshot Tucker says, “The bet is off, if you want me to squash this than leave Leila alone.”
“Dude we’ve been friends since the seventh grade. I’m not going to let some girl come between us.” Well not again, Mike thinks to himself.
“Where are you guys going tonight? We’ll have a few drinks and let bygones be bygones.” Tucker just stares angrily at Mike. Mike raises his hands, “I promise to keep my hands off your girl.”
Tucker exhales loudly, “We’re going to meet Riley at the Cave. If you so much as look at her our friendship is over.”
“We make bets all the time what are you so pissed about.”
Tucker combs through his hair with his fingers. “It’s different this time.”
“Man don’t tell me you’re falling in love.”
Tucker turns to walk away, “I’ll see you tonight.”
Mike yells after him, “Clearly this one’s special so I’ll let you have her.”
Tucker shakes his head as he quickens his pace to catch up with Leila. Mike sits on the bench and texts Amy. He looks up from his phone sees Tucker kissing Leila and feels a twinge of guilt.
_______
“Did you make nice with your best friend,” I ask Tucker once he catches up with me in the quad.
He picks me up and kisses me gently. He puts me down and hugs me for a long time.
“Is everything ok?” I ask. There’s something different about the way he’s looking at me and I’m not sure what to make of it.
“Everything’s great,” he says bringing the palm of my hand up to his lips and kissing it softly.
I touch his face. “Are you sure you’re ok?” He nods yes.
I link my hand in his and pull him towards the dorm.
When we enter the room Pookie is laying flat on his back on my bed wrapped in a purple snuggie. Nickie is laying on her side next to him in sweats and an oversized t-shirt. Sarah has showered, changed into her favorite hello kitty night gown and is buried under a mound of blankets with only her feet showing.
“So I take it you guys aren’t ready to go out.”
“Uh uh,” Pookie says. I think there might have been something stronger than marijuana in that shit Topper gave us.
“Well Duh, he looked like he was one step away from stealing TV’s for crack,” I say.
Topper graduated from high school with Riley, Mike and I. “He’s on meth. I wouldn’t suggest you smoke anything he gives you,” Tucker says.
“Great, now he tells us,” Sarah says from her cavern.
Nickie cracks open one eye and looks up at Tucker. “Oh God Pookie told me what happened. I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.” She says and hides her face under a pillow.
Tucker smiles. “I’m glad you’re ok.”
“You guys should eat something it’ll help with the hangovers,” I say.
I walk over and pull the blanket away from Sarah’s face. She says, “No,” and snatches it back up.
Pookie peeks out from his snuggie, “We ordered a pizza so why don’t you two love birds go out and we’ll meet up with you later.”
“Alright let me change clothes.”
“I’ll help,” Tucker says and starts to follow me.
Pookie extends one finger from under the snuggie, “No you stay she’s got it covered.”
Tucker winks at me and says, “Just trying to be helpful.”
I change into tan leopard print jeggings, a thin long sleeved fitted white shirt that clings to my waist and stops right in the middle of my butt. I put on silver hoop earrings, charcoal gray leather booties and a cropped gray mohair sweater vest. Back in the room Sarah, Pookie and Nickie are sitting up in bed eating pizza. Tucker is thumbing through drawings on my drafting table. “You look amazing,” he says.
“Pookie picked it out. I hope it’s not too much.”
Pookie chimes in with a mouth full of pizza, “There’s no such thing as too much. He stands up, dusts his hands off and hands me a red Coach satchel. “Sarah told me about your little situation this morning. I took the liberty of packing a few things you might need.”
“Honestly Sarah,” you told my uncle?
“Yes, I told him damn it. You need to get laid,” she says pointing at me with a slice of pizza.
Tucker smiles and wraps his arms around me. He buries his head in the crook of my neck. “Oh God, she told you to didn’t she?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he lies.
“As soon as we pull ourselves together we’ll meet up with you guys. I’m thinking we should explore the Castro tonight.” The Castro District is a predominantly gay area of San Francis
co. I love Pookie more than anything and I will never even consider dating someone who disapproves of him. I search Tucker’s face for signs of homophobia but he is staring at my ass with the same horny expression he always has. “Ok just call when you’re up and out,” I say as we leave the room.
Chapter 9
Tucker drives a Chevy Charger. It’s big and rugged the complete opposite of Mike’s car. He probably can’t afford a flashy car on a student teacher’s salary. He doesn’t strike me as the flashy type anyway.
“I want to show you something before we go to The Cave.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a surprise,” he says merging onto interstate 80.
We cross the Bay Bridge and maneuver through the crowded streets of San Francisco. Tucker reaches across the seat and holds my hand as we ride in silence for most of the drive.
“Alright, I can’t take it anymore. Where are we going,” I say looking up and down the tree lined streets. Tucker just smiles.
He parks in front of a meter and I check my makeup while he puts in change. He opens the door and takes my hand. We walk three blocks past stores and office buildings. I have to walk quickly to keep up with him because his legs are twice as long as mine. We stop in front of a brown brick building that I recognize right away.
“It’s the gift shop Frank Lloyd Wright designed,” I say. Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most influential architects of all times. The brick arched door way of the building is so distinct. It was designed to attract attention and draw customers in and that’s exactly what it does. It is impossible to pass this amazing structure without gazing in awe at its unique design.
“I have wanted to see a Frank Lloyd Wright building for as long as I can remember. How did you know?”
“I saw your reproduction of the Guggenheim Museum in your sketch book and I thought you might want to see its predecessor.” The Guggenheim Museum in New York is also a Frank Lloyd Wright building. It was build after the gift shop but has similar architectural features.
I walk over and touch the building. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you,” I say feeling a lump in my throat.
“Next time we’ll go see the Guggenheim,” he says walking behind me and enclosing me in his arms.
I lean back and rest my head against his chest. “It’s a date,” I say knowing it will be years before I can afford a ticket to New York.
We look around the gift shop for a few minutes and Tucker buys me an overpriced book about Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. From the gift shop we head over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Marin County.
“Who are we meeting here,” I ask as we pull into the drive way of The Cave.
“We’re meeting Sarah’s brother Riley.”
The Cave is a trendy restaurant and bar with an outdoor grill and live DJ. He finds a parking spot gets out and walks over to open my door. I step out of the car and Tucker places both hands around my waist and lifts me until we’re eye to eye. I drape my arms around his neck as he nuzzles against me.
“You smell like fruit,” He says kissing my neck.
“Its oranges,” I say.
“It makes me want to eat you,” he says pressing me against the car and kissing me forcefully. I wrap my legs around his waist and we make out right in the parking lot like two randy teenagers. After a few minutes of cat calls from passersby he lowers me to the ground and I take a few steps away on wobbly legs. I adjust my clothes and apply a new coat of lip gloss.
“Are you ready to go in,” I ask when I’m done.
He’s leaning against his car, “I need a minute for the blood to go back to the proper places.”
“Should I go in and get an ice pack?”
“Funny,” he says locking the car then taking my hand and leading me inside.
He spots Riley in a far corner of the bar nursing a rum and coke. “Where the hell have you been,” Riley says giving Tucker a half handshake half hug thing that men do. Riley looks exactly like Sarah with wide set green eyes and narrow features. He has short neatly cut dark hair and the same mischievous look in his eyes Sarah always has.
“We ran into traffic,” Tucker says grinning and rubbing lip gloss off his face.
“Hello beautiful you must be Leila. This guy,” he motions towards Tucker, “has been going on about you for weeks.” Riley reaches for my hand and brings it up to his lips but Tucker pulls my hand away before Riley can kiss it.
“Nice to meet you,” I say smiling politely.
“We can’t stay long,” Tucker says.
“That’s not going to work dude. Sarah and you’re girl’s family are on their way.” Riley looks past Tucker, “and I think you’re stalker’s here.” Tucker and I turn around and see Amy walking in with two scantily dressed women. “Dude does she have a tracking device on you?”
“I’m starting to wonder,” Tucker says.
This is my first time seeing Amy close up. She is a few inches taller than me. She has a large Roman nose and straight capped teeth that are a bit too big for her face. The boobs, what can I say about the boobs? Amy has to be about 90 pounds on a good day. Her unnaturally round breasts rival those of any porn star. Even with the amount of silicon she’s supporting she could be pretty if she didn’t constantly look as if she smells something that stinks.
Amy and her friends walk over to where we’re standing. “Hello Tuckie,” Her dry nasally voice makes me want to puke. “Who’s you’re little friend?” She asks looking me up and down with her stink face.
“You must be Amy. I’ve heard a lot about you,” I say extending my hand.
She looks down at my hand as if I recently touched shit and rolls her eyes back to Tucker. “Oh Tuckie do you still talk about me?” She looks at me with her head tilted to one side sympathetically. “We were in love for so long that I’m sure our break up must be taken its toll on him.” She reaches out and touches his arm. I mentally count to ten. Amy watches as Tucker places a hand around my waist and starts to pull me away.
My body stiffens, “Tucker hasn’t mentioned you but Sarah’s told me plenty.” Amy’s expression changes from smug to angry.
“Did she also tell you that she spent a year in a mental institution,” Amy says. Her smug smile returning.
Sarah told me that she was on antidepressants for a long time. She said she’s always been a little high strung and that she had a hard time keeping her emotions under control when she was younger. She stopped taking the pills once she started acting. It gave her a platform for self expression. I had no idea she’d been hospitalized and listing to this horse face bitch discuss the intimate details of my friends life makes me want to punch her in the face.
“You need to focus less on Sarah’s personal life and more on finding a man of your own because this one’s mine.” I say pointing to Tucker. “Excuse me,” I say pulling away from his grasp and leaving them all standing with their mouths open. When I reach the place where Riley is sitting he puts up one hand and I high five him, “I can’t believe I just said that,” I say before walking away.
I rush into the bathroom and call Pookie. He doesn’t answer so I call Sarah. She answers on the first ring, “Where are you guys?”
“Riley told me Amy’s there. We’re on the bridge we’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Help is on the way baby,” I hear Pookie yelling in the back ground before the call disconnects.
I walk into one of the stalls and send Keisha a text message briefly telling her about Tucker and the ex-girlfriend. I place a handful of seat covers on the toilet and sit down to wait for her reply. The bathroom door opens and I peek between the stall doors. Amy’s goons sashay in and stand in front of the mirror. They are average weight, average height not pretty or ugly. In fact there’s nothing memorable about either girl. I assume that’s why Amy hangs around them. They are so unremarkable that they make her pretty by compar
ison.
My view through the stall door is limited so I can’t tell which girl is saying what. “Did you see Amy’s face when she saw Tucker with that girl?” one of the goons says.
“Yeah I can’t believe he left her for a black girl.”
I imagine myself kicking the door down and punching the first plain girl in the face while delivering a round house kick to the stomach of the second girl.
One of the girls says, “My brother dated a black girl once. He said they’re good in bed but he’d never marry one of them,” She says adding a fresh coat of mascara to her lashes. “Amy doesn’t have anything to worry about I’m sure Tucker will fuck her and forget her,” They both laugh.
“You’re probably right,” the second girl says.
“That outfit is hella cute though,” The second girl says as they walk out of the bathroom.
I open the stall door and look at myself in the mirror. “What if they’re right? What if Tucker has a case of jungle fever? I leave the bathroom and sit on a bar stool next to Riley. Tucker is still standing with Amy who is waving her arms and talking loudly. Tucker tries to leave but Amy grabs his arm and pulls him back. I reach over and pick up Riley’s rum and coke and down it in two swallows.
“I told him that girl was a train wreck but he didn’t listen.” Riley raises his hand to get the bar tenders attention. “What are you drinking?” he says.
“I’ll have whatever this was,” I say raising the empty glass. The bar tender sets two glasses in front of us. I look away hoping he doesn’t ask for an ID. The bartender walks away and I quickly drink my rum and coke. I squeeze my eyes shut and hold on to Riley’s arm to steady myself.
“You alright,” Riley says with a chuckle.
“Uh huh,” I say snatching his drink before it reaches his lips. I take it down quickly gagging a little with each bitter sweet gulp. Tucker is watching me while Amy rants. I slide off the barstool with my head spinning. “Why should I always be the responsible one?” I take Riley by the hand and drag him onto the dance floor.
“You’re going to get me killed,” Riley says. Biggie Smalls ‘I Love it when you call Me Big Papa,’ is blaring through the speakers. “You know he likes you right?” Riley says into my ear while we dance.
A Love Like This (Book 1) Page 8