Drowning In Love

by Beth Rinyu

  He shook his head and chuckled at me.

  “Yeah, I think that can be arranged. Assuming I’m the friend that you’re planning on asking.”

  “Well, since you’re my only female friend, I guess you will have to do,” he joked.

  “Okay, I need details. What time, where, and most importantly, what should I wear?”

  “Seven o’clock, the Ritz Carlton, and formal.”

  He reached into his wallet, pulled out a business card, and handed it to me. I looked it over to find it was from a personal shopper from Bloomingdales. “What’s this for?”

  “Take this card with you, have her help you with a dress, and they’ll bill it to my account.”

  I handed the card back to him. “Thanks, but I can pick out and pay for my own dress just fine.”

  “Mia, I’m not going to make you spend all that money on a dress when I’m the one that asked you to go with me.”

  “Travis, if I couldn’t afford a dress, I wouldn’t have agreed to go. And besides, my friend Juan is my personal shopper. He would kill me if I bought a dress without getting his okay first.”

  “Mia, at least let me –”

  I put my hand up to stop him. “That’s enough or I will just have to cancel out on you,” I joked.

  “Wow, you are really different. If I had given any other girl free reign at Bloomingdales, they’d be beating down the door to get in.”

  “That’s right, Travis Montgomery, Mia Taylor is an original and don’t you ever forget it.” I giggled. “Besides, friends don’t take advantage of each other’s kindness.”

  A smiled stretched across his face that made me want to kiss him right on his dimpled cheek. Friends shouldn’t be thinking such thoughts either! I thought to myself.

  “I like you, Mia.”

  “Well, good, because despite my first impression of you, you’re not so bad yourself.”

  He took a step off the porch. “Well, goodnight.”

  “Good night and thanks for dinner,” I said.

  “No problem; you’re a cheap date.”

  I playfully smacked his shoulder. “I am not; just easy to please.”

  “I can see that.” He smiled again. Oh, what the hell! I leaned down from the step that I was standing on above him and quickly brushed his cheek with my lips. “See you Saturday.”

  “See ya, Mia,” he said as he stood there waiting for me to enter my apartment building.

  I closed the door behind me and stood against it for a few seconds, trying to gather my thoughts. Travis Montgomery, Olympic superstar, who could have any girl that he wanted, just asked me to be his date for a very important event of his. I just didn’t get – at all. But, I wasn’t going to overthink it; instead, I was going to enjoy this new friendship that had just begun.

  I couldn’t dial Juan’s number fast enough as I walked up the stairs to my apartment. It went to voicemail after the fourth ring and then I remembered he was out to dinner with Brian’s family. I left him a message, telling him all about my night.

  I entered my apartment and quickly changed into my pajamas. I was so excited but I didn’t know why. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything. Maybe it was because for the first time in a long time, I didn’t actually feel numb. I felt like I was starting to break free from this yearlong fog that I been encased in. I ran to my ringing phone that was on the kitchen counter, thinking it was Juan, but equally as pleased to see that it was my sister.

  “Hey, Tress, what’s going on, girl?”

  “Besides the fact that I feel like an overheated cow, not much at all.”

  “You are not a cow; you’re pregnant with my beautiful niece number two.”

  “Oh my God, Mia, wait until you see me. I really popped!”

  “That’s awesome!”

  “Oh, that’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one walking around with a watermelon in your stomach in this heat.”

  “Oh, stop complaining. Do you realize how blessed you are?”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just miserable right now. But why the heck do you sound so upbeat?”

  “Well, I have a new friend.”

  “Oh, is this friend a male?”

  “Yup.”

  “Is he straight?”

  “Yup.” I giggled.

  “Oh, do tell,” Tressa said as if she were intrigued.

  “Well, really, he is just a friend. I made that clear to him.”

  “Oh my God, Mia, will you just tell me all about him? The suspense is killing me!”

  I went on to tell my sister the whole story, starting right from the awkward day that I had first cut Travis’ hair. When I told her his name, I waited in angst for her reaction.

  “Why does that name sound so familiar?” She paused for a moment and then gasped. “Oh my God, Mia. Is it that swimmer guy?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “Holy shit!”

  “Well, relax, because really, we are just friends. That is it.”

  “Mia, how are you going to be able to control yourself around a body like that? My God, I remember watching him in the Olympics and drooling over the sight of him.”

  I laughed a genuine laugh, one that hadn’t escaped my insides in over a year. “That is exactly why I just want to be friends with him. I know all about his reputation with women. But I really enjoy his company, so I figure if we don’t start anything physical, then things won’t get complicated. Besides, I’m not ready to start dating anyone just yet.”

  “Mee, Mee, it’s been a year. I don’t think Eric would be upset with you if you started living your life again. I’m sure that’s what he would have wanted,” Tressa said gently.

  “I know, but the last thing I need to do is to start a relationship with someone who has reputation for not having relationships,” I joked. “So I will just admire that perfect body from afar while I enjoy his company.”

  “Well, you have better self-control than me, that’s for sure. I would be ripping his clothes off – if I wasn’t married, of course,” she joked.

  We finished up our conversation and I took my phone over to the couch with me as I began to flip through the channels to find something to watch. I looked down at my vibrating phone on the coffee table. A smile stretched across my face when I read the text message:

  Just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed your company tonight – friend. See you Saturday.

  Yup, Travis was just a friend. A friend that gave me butterflies in my stomach, but nonetheless just a friend.

  Chapter 10

  Mia…

  The week flew by. Juan and I spent three very long nights shopping after work to find the perfect dress. We finally compromised on a floor-length sleeveless dress with a draped cowl neckline. I preferred it in black, but Juan insisted that I go with a color called “spring green,” insisting that it would accent my blue eyes and sun-tanned skin. I finally gave in, admitting that his fashion sense was a little better than mine.

  Saturday had arrived. I rushed home from work and took a shower. Juan did my hair in perfectly formed loose curls. I wanted to apply my own make-up, but he had insisted on doing it. I finished dressing while Juan waited out on the couch for the final product.

  He stood up when I walked out of the bedroom and put his hand on his cheek. “Oh my God, Mia! If only I were straight.” We both began to laugh. “You look like a princess. You are going to be the most beautiful girl there.”

  “Aww, you are too sweet.” I looked in the mirror, happy that I had listened to Juan and had gone with his color choice. My skin was glowing. By the time Juan left, I found myself sitting around, trying to keep my mind occupied. My nerves were finally getting the best of me. I waited anxiously for Travis to make his way up the stairs after I buzzed him in. I took a deep breath as I turned the handle on my door to let him in.

  A full-fledged grin appeared on his face as I opened the door. “Mia, wow, you look beautiful. I mean, you always look beautiful, but tonight…” His eyes widened and
he shook his head.

  “So, do you approve of this dress?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  “Told you my personal shopper is better than yours,” I joked.

  “I can see that.”

  “Well, you don’t look so bad yourself.” Boy, was that an understatement! He looked absolutely delicious, wearing a black tux. His short brown hair was perfectly tousled on top and his hazel eyes were once again favoring the shade of green. He still towered over me, even with the three-inch heels that I was wearing. I grabbed my hundred-dollar micro mini purse that Juan insisted I buy and we headed out the door.

  I wasn’t sure if he was driving or if we were taking a taxi. He took me a little off guard when he took my hand in his and walked me over to the limo that was parked a little ways down the street from my apartment building.

  “A limo?” I asked, looking at him a little shocked. I wasn’t used to all of this and I was a little uncomfortable. I was just an ordinary girl and I didn’t intend on changing that for anyone. But maybe, for just one night, it would be fun to pretend to be living a fairy tale.

  The limo driver opened the door for me as I got inside. Travis got in after me and took the seat across from me. "Wow, is this your usual form of transportation?"

  "Well, I figured that you wouldn't want take a dirty old taxi in that beautiful dress of yours, and this way I don't have to worry about driving in case I decide to drink."

  I nodded and looked around the inside of the huge limo. The only other time I had been inside of a limo was for my sister's wedding, and that one was nowhere as big as this one.

  I fixed my eyes back on Travis, who was gazing intently at me, making me feel a little uncomfortable. "What's the matter?" I asked.

  He gave me a half smile. "You."

  “What are you talking about?"

  "It doesn't take much to impress you, does it?"

  I smiled back. "No, not really. So, whose party is this, anyway?"

  "It's for a company called EFE. I have an endorsement with them."

  “Oh,” I said, looking out the window, pretending like I had a clue as to what he was talking about.

  We pulled up to the hotel and my nerves began to take over. I didn’t know what to expect. I certainly didn’t lack self-confidence and I was comfortable in most social situations. I just wasn’t sure what type of people I would be encountering tonight.

  Travis got out of the limo first and took my hand to help me out. He again took my hand as we entered the hotel. My eyes were bombarded by the flashes of the cameras snapping pictures of the two of us. We entered the elegant ballroom that was already filled with people. I looked at some of the elaborate gowns that some of the women were wearing and I was beginning to feel a little inadequate.

  “You’re the most beautiful woman here,” Travis whispered in my ear, making me feel a little bit better and at the same time a little uncomfortable. Somehow, that statement didn’t sound like something that just a friend would say.

  “Hey Travis, there you are,” a tall blonde woman said as she approached us. She looked me over, up and down, and nodded at Travis as if she approved.

  “Chloe, this is Mia.”

  She extended her hand to me. “Nice to meet you, Mia, I’m Travis’ agent.”

  “Nice to meet you, too,” I said as I shook her hand back.

  The night progressed very well and for the most part everyone was very friendly. Travis stayed by my side for most of the night, except for the few times that Chloe would pull him off to the side for a private conversation. I looked at Travis a little strangely when he wrapped his arm around me as he introduced me to the president of EFE. I quickly removed myself from his arms after the man had walked away. I didn’t want him to start thinking that I was going back on my plan of friendship only. “Do you want a glass of wine?” Travis asked.

  “Oh, no, that’s okay. Don’t want to have a repeat performance from the most embarrassing night of my life.”

  He laughed. “I thought you said you could handle just one glass.”

  “Yeah, but I’d rather not.” I didn’t want to take a chance of doing anything that might cloud my judgment and have me waking up in his bed tomorrow morning.

  “Okay then. Do you want to dance?”

  “Um, sure, why not?”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist, keeping a comfortable distance between the two of us. As much as I hated to admit it, it felt wonderful having his strong, muscular arms wrapped around me. My sister was right; this friendship thing was going to be a lot harder than I thought. As the music played, he moved his hands up the small of my back and pulled me closer. I was beginning to re-think my whole just friends plan. The music ended just in time. He still had his arms wrapped tightly around me and was staring down into my eyes. My knees were weak as I looked up at him, trying my best to avoid the awkwardness of the moment. I cleared my throat and looked away briefly. “Well, I think we should get going. I have to be at your grandmother’s early tomorrow.”

  He was still staring at me silently with a hint of frustration on his face before he nodded. “Okay,” he finally responded.

  We were heading out the door when Chloe pulled him off to the side again. I watched as she high-fived him and began to laugh. I silently wondered what they were talking about, but then quickly dismissed that thought, not really caring about any of his business-related stuff.

  The limo ride home was mostly silent. I stared out the window as I started to come to the realization that this “just friends” deal with Travis wasn’t going to work. I knew exactly what he wanted and I wasn’t willing to be his next one-night fling. He closed the privacy divider and climbed over to my side of the seat. Something told me my resistance was about to be put to the test – God give me strength.

  He took my hand in his. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  He leaned in and brushed his lips on mine. I looked up at him and bit my lip. Within a matter of seconds, he had his tongue halfway down my throat and his hands were exploring my body. I responded back just as eagerly, but only for a brief second before I finally came to my senses. “Travis, no!” I pushed him away. I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t used to hearing that word.

  “Mia, I know that you’re just as attracted me as I am to you, so why are you fighting it?”

  “Because, I told you, Travis. I really enjoy hanging out with you and I don’t want to ruin it by crossing that line. I should have never come here with you tonight. I feel like I just led you on and that was so wrong of me.” The limo had just pulled up to my apartment and I wasted no time getting out, not even waiting for the limo driver to open the door.

  “Mia, wait.”

  “No, Travis, I have to go!” I quickly closed the door and got into my apartment building as fast as I could. I entered my apartment, kicked off my shoes, and sat down on the couch.

  What the hell was I thinking? A guy like him would never want to be just friends with any girl, especially not me. I felt so foolish for even entertaining such an idea. I wanted to call Juan or even my sister, but it was after midnight, so I put those ideas to rest. I changed into my pajamas. I tossed and turned endlessly, trying my best to fall asleep and not deal with this until tomorrow or hopefully, after my hasty departure tonight – never.

  Chapter 11

  Travis….

  What the hell did I just do? This wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan. I should have never tried that with her. I couldn’t behave the same way with Mia that I normally did with other women. She was different. But she just looked so damn beautiful tonight that I couldn’t resist. I ran my hand through my hair, contemplating what to do. She was really serious about this friendship thing, but something deep down inside was telling me that she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. I closed my eyes and thought back to just a little while ago when I had her in my arms on the dance floor. Her skin was so soft and she smelled so good that she w
as driving me crazy. I knew she sensed it and I was hoping to get the same reaction from her, but instead, she asked to leave. Whatever it was that we had, I knew that I wasn’t ready to lose it. As sexually frustrated as she got me, I really enjoyed spending time with her and I wasn’t ready for it to end. I was willing to play this friendship game with her for however long she wanted. At least I knew where to find her tomorrow and I would make a point of being there bright and early.

  Chapter 12

  Mia…

  I arrived at Mrs. Montgomery’s for my usual Sunday morning routine of doing her hair. I hadn’t told her anything about my get-togethers with Travis and I was most certain that Travis didn’t either, since she had never mentioned anything to me. I was giving her one last spritz of hair spray when I heard someone clearing their throat loudly. I turned around to find Travis standing in the doorway. He was wearing athletic shorts and a tee-shirt, looking like he had just gotten done going for a run. “Travis! What a pleasant surprise,” Mrs. Montgomery said as she got up to give him a hug. He smiled at me, making my knees go weak. I gave him a quick smile back and began to pack up my things. “Are you hungry, dear? I could have Bernice make you some breakfast.”

  “No, actually, I just stopped by to see if Mia wanted to have coffee with me.”

  “Oh.” Mrs. Montgomery looked a little shocked before a huge smile stretched across her face. She turned around and looked at me, waiting for my response.

  “Well, actually, I have to meet my friend Juan in a little bit to go shopping.”

  “We won’t be long, I promise.”

  I looked at Mrs. Montgomery, who had a pleading look on her face. “Okay, as long as I’m done in time to meet him.” A look of relief flashed over Mrs. Montgomery’s face. I grabbed my bag, said my goodbyes to Mrs. Montgomery, who was all smiles, and followed Travis out the door.

  We stood in the hallway and waited for the elevator. “I have to give you credit; that was pretty slick,” I said.