Ardent Strangers

by Samantha Kately

  I squint at the tiny versions of us. We are closer than I thought.

  Nathaniel taps the screen three times quickly. He picks a perspective from below and skims the screen upward. The glasshouse blurs and stops, showing the glass panels of the roof to the blue sky above. He holds his finger over a glass panel and the camera zooms to a close up of a seagull passing by wisps of cloud.

  He begins selecting a new target, his fingers tapping a button below while tapping the large green butterfly on screen. I scan the room quickly for the butterfly-ball and find the green butterfly several feet away, sitting on a sign.

  “Once the target has been set, the camera’s infrared measures the target’s temperature, diameter and composition, much like the way a heat-seeking missile locks onto a target.” He points in the direction of his butterfly-ball. I follow his hand and watch it flutter in a hover. And then like liquid dissolving, the ball disappears…

  I gasp, wondering if Nathaniel is as devastated by its loss as I am. “Nathaniel, your invention!”

  He squeezes the top of my arm. “Eve, it’s alright.”

  “Your ball! It’s gone. It just vanished into thin air!”

  He raises a fair brow. “Did you call Le Papillon a ball?”

  “Um, no… No, I don’t believe that I did.” I smile sweetly, then frown. “But aren’t you upset?”

  “Not at all.” He clicks a button at the top of his remote, then taps the screen version of me. The cameras zoom towards my arm.

  “You’re not aiming that thing at me, are you?”

  “Trust me?”

  “Maybe.” I sigh. “I’ll try.”

  Watching the screen, I see his lips twitch. “Hold out your palm.”

  I do as instructed, scanning the room quickly, searching for a ball that may or may not exist. I see nothing, but something feather light touches down in my hand. For only a second, there’s a slight vibration. My brow furrows as I come to grips with what I’m holding—or not holding. The only thing I can think of is to close my hand. My fingers bend and stop suddenly, hitting a round cool surface.

  “Ha!” I open my hand and there sits the tinted ball, devoid of light. “You’re a little chameleon, aren’t you?” I say to it, then frown. I’m talking to a ball—not an animal—a ball.

  “It’s a cloaking device actually. But I’ll take chameleon.” His amusement fades and he scratches his head. “Damien and I were working on a way to scan a target’s DNA before he…”

  “Well, I think Le Papillon is incredible, chameleon or not,” I say, passing it back to him, praying it’s enough of a distraction.

  “That’s some compliment, angel. Thank you.” He clutches it tightly for a second, then slides it back into his coat, along with the remote. “So, which will it be—monkeys or tigers?”

  I go over the map in my mind. “The tigers are closer. But I can never go past the gorillas.”

  “Gorillas it is.”

  He ushers me from the Butterfly Sanctuary and the temperature drops fifteen degrees. Brewster and Hunt are waiting at the exit, the two security guards leading Nathaniel and I to the buggy before they climb in behind us. Ashley is already behind the wheel, soon launching into a tour towards the gorilla track at Nathaniel’s request, which means venturing back into the main entrance of gravel walkways.

  I groan quietly as the buggy is swamped by passers-by. I blame Nathaniel’s designer coat and gold ponytail which are made to draw the eye, not helped by the fact that millions of viewers saw him wearing the same outfit on the news this morning.

  I put my head down slightly, hiding as close to the center of the buggy as possible and inadvertently closer to Nathaniel. I chance a look through the open door frames. Between the crowds, several camera crews are filming away, their lenses aimed right at us. Nathaniel might be busy shaking people’s hands, but his other hand finds mine. His fingers rub lightly over the back of my hand. His touch is all I can think about, the only way to block out the noise and the people trying to get past Hunt who has climbed outside the vehicle, shielding my door from the crowd.

  Three girls my age or younger make it to the front of Nathaniel’s door. They look like they should be out clubbing in their busty singlets, short skirts, and heels. It’s the middle of July and the heart of winter, and I’m guessing they made the sacrifice to freeze to death if it meant impressing a young billionaire. They probably started planning their outfits as soon as they saw Nathaniel’s invitation to Haven Park. I feel a little sick as they each take turns whispering into Nathaniel’s ear. He laughs lightly.

  Irritated, I slip my hand out from Nathaniel’s. He glances back to me, confused. Confused!

  “Nathaniel!” the brunette calls, tapping his shoulder.

  He gives me a smile, which could be interpreted as pleading. There is nowhere to look but the goddamn headrest! Out of the corner of my eye, I see the girl shove a tiny piece of paper into his hand.

  “Call me,” she says.

  “You can have that back.” He passes her the paper, but she closes her hand over his, trapping the paper inside.

  “Please…” Then she whispers something I can’t hear.

  Flashbacks of Jeremy and that girl on the couch fly through my mind, and suddenly all of my insecurities come rushing back. What if Nathaniel turns out to be that guy, another cheating Jeremy?

  “Agent Hunt!” I call out, placing one step on the ground.

  He spins in my direction, the crowd pushing at his back. “Yes, Miss Lockhart?”

  “Can you get me out of here by foot?” I whisper loudly. “I can’t breathe!”

  He looks toward the entrance on Nathaniel’s side and the people blocking it. He’s debating all the angles, I can see it. I can also see the torn look on his face, trying to solve the unsolvable task.

  “Eve?” Nathaniel’s hand falls to my shoulder. “Don’t go. You can check the buggy, my pockets, anything. I did not take any phone numbers. Alright?”

  I think I might be glaring at him, I’m too agitated to tell. I pull my leg back into the buggy and the two security agents climb on the back. Ashley is yelling at the crowd to move aside and let us pass, until finally we are driving toward the Gorilla track. Hunt and Brewster are talking and laughing behind us, but I’m too angry to hear a word.

  “You can take phone numbers,” I snap. “I’m not your girlfriend.”

  “No, you’re not,” he says quietly.

  I grip the chair on either side of me. Eventually, I find it in me to nod.

  He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “I don’t have your phone number.” Blushing, I unlock my phone, ready to pass it over when he says, “Take my photo first.”

  “Huh?” A snapshot of Nathaniel? This is starting to feel personal. (What if Aaron sees it?) No, I’m overthinking this. It’s a photo. I fumble with my phone, then manage to point the camera at Nathaniel. He swivels in his seat, brushing wisps of hair behind his ears. It’s kind of cute how he’s readying himself for my photo—nervous, even. “Smile!”

  But he is already smiling that same dazzling smile from earlier, his eyes alight with all kinds of secrets and, dare I say it, affection. I’m tempted not to take the photo out of fear that I’ll retrieve it far too often, but I press snap, and snap again.

  “You can text that to yourself.” I toss the phone into his waiting hand.

  “If my lady insists.” Nathaniel holds up the phone, smiling all too happily. I cannot resist that smile. Then I hear a computerized snap, and he turns his back and types away. I try peeking over his shoulder, but he hides the phone.

  “Did you take my photo?”

  He turns his head, his cheek bumping my nose and mouth.

  I practically kissed him!

  “Angel. You are making this very difficult.”

  “What did I do?” I squeak.

  “That better not have been the kiss Aaron requested.”

  “Kiss?” I drop back in my seat, all too hot. I’m actually grateful he’s facin
g the other way, doing who knows what to my phone. “No, wait. Why?”

  He swivels around and leans closer. “I think we can do better than that.”

  I gulp. “We can?”

  “But not yet.” Three chimes ring from his coat, and he slides the phone into my hand.

  I eye him closely. “What did you do?”

  He laughs and looks out the window.

  I open my phone and see my new wallpaper. Nathaniel’s photo takes up the whole screen! The mock jungle is passing in a blur behind him, and while the photo is shadowed slightly his face is becoming all too familiar and handsome as he smiles in a way meant only for me.

  I could stare at this all day.

  With a sigh, I open the message with an un-named number. What beams back at me is my ridiculous smile, caught on camera a minute before. Parts of me are obscured by the hair blowing across my face, leaving only glimpses of bright blue eyes and pale cheeks. Then I read the text sent out by Nathaniel:

  ‘Hi Nate.

  Call me anytime.

  Evangeline.

  Xo’

  I laugh, squinting at the text. “Did I write that? I don’t remember writing that.”

  He peers over at the screen. “Wow. You certainly are keen, aren’t you? You must really like me.”

  I lightly whack him on the thigh and he grabs my hand as I’m about to do it again. I don’t even bother freeing it, guessing it will soon find its way back to him. I click out of the messages and his face reappears on my home screen.

  “I’m beginning to think you have quite the obsession with me. Look at that wallpaper,” he says, pointing to his photo.

  I scoff. “You think?”

  “I do.” He pulls out his phone and opens the text from ‘me’. “Ah, what’s this?” he says looking over my photograph—the photograph he’d taken! “I think it’s only fair that you should be my wallpaper.”

  “And why would you want that?”

  “It makes your obsession with me less creepy. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  I roll my eyes. “I think you’ve gone mad.”

  He smirks. “And here I was thinking that I was having a moment of brilliance.”

  “Some might call it that.” He takes my snarky responses so gracefully that I finally give in. I pinch his phone and set my photo to his home screen. It feels weird seeing me there behind all of his apps, as if I suddenly belong to his phone.

  As I pass it back to him, his eyes shift gently over mine. “Thank you. It will make the wait more bearable.”

  “The wait?”

  “Yes.” He leans back in his seat and I wait for him to say more.

  The mood turns quiet, the buggy tinkering along the track as the air becomes crisp and earthy. Again, there are too many people crowding us. I’ve seen maybe two animals the whole time!

  He leans into my ear, “In case you’re wondering, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I envisaged our date.”

  I laugh. “Do you always have this trouble on dates, or is it just this one?”

  The laughter has gone from his eyes. He shifts and pulls out a golden pocket watch from his jeans. He clicks it open and shut before I can see the time.

  Maybe he wants to leave…

  “The truth is I have no idea, but even I can see it’s a disaster”

  Confused, I smile weakly. “Sorry.”

  He waves off my awkward apology. Cheeks flushed slightly, he leans towards me, as if he’s about to tell me the most wonderful thing. “Can I tell you a secret?”

  “Yes. Of course.”

  “I would never normally admit this to anyone, but…” He inhales deeply. “This is the first date I’ve ever been on. As for girlfriends, I’ve never had one.”

  “Never?” I cover my mouth. Horrible response. Maybe he’s a virgin. Unlikely, but I suppose anything’s possible.

  “Never. Although, I am curious as to what’s going on in that head of yours.”

  “But you have been with a woman, right?” Agh! Another horrible question.

  He rubs his forehead. “You think I might be a virgin?”

  I smile overly bright. “Bad question, sorry.”

  “I wish I was that pure, but alas…”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, why have you never had a girlfriend?”

  “If I’m honest, right up until the moment I met you on that bridge my rendezvous’ with women have only ever lasted a few hours at best.” He smiles uncomfortably. “So far all I’ve met are wannabe-socialites trying to snare an affluent husband, better still if that potential husband looked half decent and not some old codger in a nursing home. Anyway, it’s a moot point. I’ve never wanted a date or a relationship before. And the thought of marrying one of them…”

  “You don’t like marriage?”

  “I’ve hardly considered it up until now.” He freezes, as if in the midst of an epiphany. “Actually, I know what the problem was.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I never saw myself falling in love with any of those women, let alone saw one of them as a mother to my children.”

  “That’s a bit harsh.”

  “What? You offering to have them for me?” He laughs.

  “You’ve known me all of…one night and one afternoon! Those women knew you better than I do.”

  “They knew shite about me.” He shrugs. “Fifteen years of meaningless encounters and I never felt I was missing out on anything. Until a week ago.”

  I hold down a gasp, the entire bridge scene playing out at super speed in my mind, the connection between us and my immediate attraction to him.

  “Do you know, I haven’t been with a girl since? Ironic, since you’d been with no one for seven months and the week that I find you you’re with my best friend.”

  I almost die on the spot. If I’d known he was waiting for me since the moment we met…

  Worst timing in history.

  “I never expected to see you again,” I mumble.

  “And Aaron was there, in your home, ready to fill my place.”

  I wince. Is Aaron really a substitute for Nathaniel? I’m not so sure.

  He gives a hollow laugh, then returns to the open gorilla enclosures passing us by. “That’s not the only reason I’ve been waiting.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “Part of me wanted to see if I was capable of being faithful to one person, and doing those messages to you was probably the wisest thing I could have done. With the world watching, I wasn’t about to walk into a bar and find any random girl. It would be all over the news. I would have lost any chance of finding you. The hotline would seem abhorrent. I’d look pathetic, an asshole,” he adds, glancing at me for a second. “I’m selfish that way.”

  I’m hardly breathing. His honesty is harsher than I’d expected.

  He looks out his door and rubs his chin. “The other part of me wanted to be able to look you in the eye when I found you and have no regrets.”

  “And do you?” I whisper.

  “What I really regret is Laura’s interference, that she made you leave my room. I had you there. We were talking. The things you said…”

  What did we talk about? It’s so important to him.

  “I thought I’d wake and see you again,” he says.

  “I wanted to stay.”

  Hearing my words, he smiles sadly. “If it wasn’t for Laura, you probably wouldn’t even be with Aaron—waiting for Aaron. Losing you to him, I feel as if I’ve paid a tithe in exchange for you saving my life. That’s why I need your photograph, Eve, a piece of hope to hold on to while I wait.”

  He can’t mean… “Can I ask what exactly you are waiting for?”

  “Aaron’s conditions for you to choose. Count me in. I’m yours for the next month. I won’t even look at another woman, let alone touch one. We’ll have that dinner a few weeks from now, and if it’s Aaron you choose I’ll let you go. I’ll even try to be happy for you both.”

  Stunned, I bite my fingernails. He
looks so serious, so certain. But it’s more than that. He always has this look, a gravitas that draws people to him, the hard jaw, the determined eyes that say he would battle his way through anything, a fighter to the end, but there’s a fragility about him. He’s just bared everything, and I’ve barely said a word.

  “You’d do that?” I breathe.

  He nods, then turns to his window.

  Nathaniel’s waiting… I’m astounded, confused, possibly a little hopeful.

  By the time we reach the gorillas, the viewing areas are empty and I’m relieved to be free of the buggy so I can pull my thoughts together. Nathaniel is by my side a second later. His hand settles at my lower back, guiding me to a viewing area. Not that I need guiding—I’ve been here at least a hundred times before.

  Hunt and Brewster peer fleetingly at the enclosure and return to the buggy. Nathaniel gives them a nod, then looks to the shrubs and trees for any sign of the primates.

  “There,” I whisper, pointing toward the black fur by a tree stump.

  He shakes his head. “I don’t see it.”

  I point more forcefully. “There! Tree stump.”

  He leans in, resting against my arm as he follows my line of sight. “Oh… There he is.”

  “He’s a she, actually,” Ashley corrects.

  I narrowly avoid laughing when I see Nathaniel’s surprise.

  “Oh, so that must be her baby I’d seen earlier.” Nathaniel points out a small gorilla peeking its head out of the shrubs.

  “You knew where she was the whole time, didn’t you?” I ask.

  “I might have spotted them when we arrived, but you started pointing and whispering. I didn’t have the heart to tell you otherwise.”

  I consider hiking back to the buggy. Instead, I look at the signs detailing the gorillas on display, along with a map showing their dwindling numbers in the wild. Ashley gives us the tour speech on the mother and her baby, and Nathaniel leaves my side and becomes engrossed in a discussion about the impact of technology effecting gorilla survival. As I stare at the two primates, I feel blessed just to watch them. The intelligence and awareness in their eyes never fails to astonish or sadden me.