Love Unexpected

by Anne Leigh

  Hoping that this would change the topic, I asked, "So what about those drinks huh? They're great here." Abso-freakin-lutely lame, nothing else came to mind.

  Three pairs of eyes were waiting for Kieran to go on. I wanted to sink under the table.

  "Ace thinks New York is soooo good because of-"

  I managed to slap his left arm from where I was sitting. Hard.

  "Aww, Ace! Stop the violence," his voice was anything but hurt.

  Peter encouraged him to go on, "Continue. No more suspense."

  Kieran looked at me with teasing eyes, "Got to spill the beans, Ace. New York really sucks this year and this is the only way I can defend your honor."

  He was so going to get his beloved Nintendo DS soaked in the tub.

  The glaring look in my eyes must have had no effect on him whatsoever, he ratted me out, "Ace has an unhealthy obsession for Aaron Miller."

  In my mind, Kieran's DS was happily floating in the tub, with the box, and all the games that came with it.

  Peter and Duncan guffawed, "No vvay! That panzzy-azz Miller?! He'z your type?" Duncan's booming voice must have echoed in the room because a few of the customers were now stealing glances at us.

  "Shhh!" I quieted them to defend my honor by myself, "Miller's not pansy ass."

  Zander's eyes darkened as he asked, "So you got a thing for Miller?"

  My cheeks were incinerated, I said, "Not even going to answer that."

  Kieran answered for me again, "Dude, a thing for Miller is putting it mildly. She has a couple of his jerseys, which she got for Christmas 2 years straight because they were at the top of her wish list. And his face was her screensaver all throughout her senior year in high school!"

  Add the WII console to the already dead Nintendo DS. Kieran was so going to pay for this!

  Peter was downing his beer and trying to speak at the same time, "Aaron Miller's got to be the poster boy for pansiness. Have you seen his interviews? Not a hair out place. He must have a stylist on the sidelines waiting after each game."

  If Peter's drink went into the wrong pipe, I was just going to look away and pretend I did not know CPR.

  Duncan added, "Oh, and he always zztarts an interview with, ‘You know guyz...’," as he imitated Aaron’s ‘cool’ hair fixing gestures, before interviews.

  If Duncan choked on the handful of fries he was stuffing in his mouth, I would say, "Heimlich what?"

  I mustered up the courage to defend Aaron Miller, my all-time QB, the reason why I stayed up later than usual if their team happened to be playing on a Sunday night.

  "He is a gorgeous guy. He has the backside of a god, the face of hotness, and a body to die for. Oh, and he sure knows how to throw a football. His passing yards are off the charts," my voice was now breathless, probably from the annoyance, frustration, and irritation with these guys.

  Once the words came out of my mouth, I wanted to retrieve them back. Peter and Duncan's jaws dropped. Kieran was probably smirking on the side. Zander's expression was so dark. I could not read him. His gaze fell on the beer that he was drinking and his Adam's apple slightly showed as he swallowed. A muscle started ticking on his jaw line.

  "Man, that izz zzome zerious cruzzzh," Duncan exclaimed.

  No comebacks from me. I felt kind of awful. It sounded silly but I didn't think I would appreciate it either if the person I was kissing half an hour ago, was getting her rocks off describing another guy.

  Kieran tried to hug me. The cat was already out of the bag and jumping. I couldn't stay mad at him. He loved to tease me. His Nintendo DS and WII console were still going to drown.

  I was feeling extra tipsy and slightly embarrassed by my actions. I wanted to go home.

  "Kieran, can you call a cab for me, please? I know you want to drive me home but you barely got here and I'm going to be fine," I whispered to Kieran. He nodded.

  Peter and Duncan were still analyzing my crush for Aaron Miller. I said in a voice loud enough for those two bumbling doofuses to hear, "Sorry to break it to you guys, I won't be your teasing target anymore, I’m going home." I have had way too many margaritas. I was spouting out my undying crush for Aaron Miller, something that should have been kept private.

  "Oh come on, the night's young. You barely drank," Peter protested.

  I made Kieran promise that he would stay and I would take a cab if I went out with him and his guy friends. I knew they liked to stay out late. I didn’t want to ruin their fun. He was about to dial for the cab, when Zander said to Kieran, “I’ll take her home.”

  To the other guys, he said, “I want to know more about her crush on Aaron Miller. He’s a good friend of mine.”

  Oh crap.

  Zander’s face was determined. Kieran looked at me and I nodded. Yes, Zander could take me home.

  Zander

  I was not letting this topic go. I helped her into my car. She leaned back against the passenger seat and kept her eyes closed. I lowered the volume of the club music that was currently playing inside my car.

  Halfway during the drive, I said, “Got a big crush on Miller, huh?”

  It was a great thing that Aaron Miller, my high school buddy, was hundreds of miles away. If he wasn’t, then it would be different story.

  "Like I said, it's only a crush," she emphasized, her eyes were still closed, "Plus, Aaron Miller's not going to spare me a glance. Probably thousands of ladies have crushes on him. Let's move on from this topic."

  "You're wrong, Sedona," I spoke, my voice had a hard edge to it.

  "Wrong?"

  I nodded, “Yeah, you’re wrong. You see, Aaron went to my high school. We were kind of close so I know his type." He was two years ahead of me. Nice guy, overall.

  The inside of this car was getting hotter every second. I fumbled with the steering wheel, a habit that came up when I was nervous.

  "And?" she asked.

  "If Aaron knew that a girl as beautiful, smart, and hot like you had a crush on him, he would have no problem sparing you a glance. He'd probably fall at your feet," my eyes flickered; I felt the molten heat rising from them. I tried my best to keep my facial expression contained, passive.

  My outward somber expression belied the intensity of my emotions. For more than a month, this girl had been on my mind. I was reaching the end of a very short stick. I wanted to let her know how I felt.

  “Wow,” she whispered, “I’d like to see that.”

  No fuckin’ way. Not a chance in hell.

  She was not done, “He’s probably used to tons of girls also falling at his feet. Kind of like you, you know.”

  WTF?

  “What do you mean? Kinda like me?” She was pushing my limits. After the taste of her lips and her impassioned response, I wanted to crawl in bed with her for days. Talking about Aaron and other women were not my desired topics.

  She said matter-of-factly, “Well, you know, you have Blondie one day. Next, you have a redhead and then another day, you were with a brunette. Now, you’re back to a Blondie. You’re going through the color wheel of hair pretty fast, Zander.”

  She kept tabs on me?!

  “You should know, all of your lady friends are posted in Chatty Pepper’s site,” her voice sounded strange.

  I was going to burn that web site.

  “You told me you weren’t ready for anything,” I responded, “Then, all of a sudden, you were with Kieran.”

  The margaritas really did a number on her, her eyes were slightly glazed, “Kieran,” she hiccupped, “Excuse me, Kieran is my best friend.”

  We were almost at her place. I slowed the car down.

  “I thought he was your boyfriend. You were with him at the awards and you guys looked really close. And John sent me a picture of you and him at the beach, all cozy and shit.”

  She laughed lightly and managed to explain, in between hiccups, “I like hanging out at the beach,” Hiccup, “with Kieran,” Hiccup, “he’s my bestest friend,” Hiccup, “Awards night? Nalee was,” Hiccup, “t
here with us too.”

  What a bunch of misunderstandings! I saw the dynamics between her and Kieran tonight. They were close, yes. But there was nothing close to romantic going on between them. If there was, I didn’t think Kieran would be the type to just sit around and say nothing about his girlfriend’s mouth on another guy.

  I was going in. She was tipsy, but I was grabbing my chance. I’ve missed too many chances with her. I parked my car.

  “Sedona, those other ladies, they were just dates.”

  “Just dates?” She hiccupped again.

  “Yeah, nothing happened between me and those women.”

  “Nothing?” she looked at me, unbelieving, “Really?”

  “Yes. You were too busy occupying my mind that nothing ever happened between me and them.”

  “Yeah?” she asked again, then a hiccup, “I’m tipsy, Zander, not stupid.”

  She had to believe me. I planted my hand on her leg and asked her to look at me, “Believe me, they were there. But they weren’t you. I just hung out with them, but I went home alone every night.” Suddenly, it was very important for me to let her know that she was the only one on my mind.

  She was quiet, I was sure she was going to tell me to go home, she did not believe me.

  She looked to her right, towards her apartment, “Zander, you know what the best cure for hiccups is?”

  I was not following her train of thought; I answered anyway, “No.”

  “Hiccups are caused by the involuntary contraction of a person's diaphragm…”

  She was giving me a science lesson?! She was tipsy but her brain was obviously working.

  She continued, “Drinking too much alcohol can cause hiccups.”

  I was not sure where she was going with this. She was changing the topic.

  “…and I heard the best cure for hiccups is a kiss. Lots and lots of them.”

  My mind whirled, my gaze landed on her lips. Was she saying what I thought she was saying?

  “Zander, kiss me.”

  She didn’t have to ask twice.

  Chapter Eight

  “If you get the chance to experience something new, grab it, and hold on for the ride”

  Sedona

  Thank god for Saturdays. I stretched in my bed and stared at my digital wall clock. 10:38 AM. I adjusted gym time to 1 PM on Saturdays if I had a late night on Friday.

  The margaritas were great last night. Now, the effects were bound to hound me for the rest of the day. My neck muscles were sore. I massaged my back with my hands as I tried to recall last night’s events.

  I remembered wanting to drown Kieran’s Nintendo, Zander taking me home, and Zander ‘curing’ my hiccups.

  I thought I heard that ‘cure’ on a radio station. I wasn’t sure if it was scientifically proven, but it sure was effective.

  I remembered Zander bringing me to my apartment and then to my room and he applied the hiccup cure some more. That was where my memory ended. I must have fallen asleep.

  I was still wearing last night’s clothes.

  I reached for my phone and saw a text from Zander that came in 9:35 AM, “How u feelin?”

  Kieran also texted me at 8:15 AM, “Hangover much? I heard you got home ok. Zander called me.”

  I texted Kieran first: Hide your Nintendo. It’s going down the tub, buddy!

  He texted back: Get some aspirin first. BTW - My Nintendo goes missing, your planner goes into the ocean.

  Yikes. He knew how to hit me where it hurt.

  Time to text Zander.

  Me: Hey, thanks for curing my hiccups.

  It took less than 10 seconds before my phone beeped with an incoming text.

  Zander: My pleasure. Definitely. What r u up to?

  Me: Just wakin’ up. Hangover. Aspirin, crackers, juice, in that order.

  Zander: Hope u feel better

  Me: Me too

  Zander: Any chance u feel better this PM?

  Me: Hmm

  Zander: ?

  Me: Why?

  Zander: I wanna hang with u

  Me: Ok

  Zander: 5 good?

  Me: Yeah. Now, my bed is calling me. Again.

  Zander: I wish I was in that bed

  Me: Me too

  Zander: hfjjjikym

  Me: ?

  Zander: Sorry, almost dropped my phone

  Me: K

  Zander: So, u wish I was in that bed too?

  Me: I think I texted the wrong guy

  Zander: WTH?

  Me: I thought I was texting Miller

  Zander: Not funny

  Me: J/K

  Zander: For real, u wish I was there?

  Me: Yes

  Zander: U just made my day

  Me: Cool

  Zander: K, later, pick u up at 5

  Me: K

  I brushed my teeth, took a quick shower, changed into my lounge clothes, grabbed an aspirin from my medicine cabinet, and headed towards the kitchen.

  I was halfway into my PB & J toast when Nalee and Tanya walked in the apartment.

  They were giggling. They must have gone to Yoga or Pilates. I was more of a runner and swimmer. Sometimes, I joined them in their exercise classes for the fun of it.

  Tanya grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the fridge and poured it in a tall glass, "Whew! That was a good workout. You should come with us, Sedona."

  Nalee sat on the chair across from me, "Yup. Zumba works out all your muscles."

  Just the mention of muscles hurt. My arms were sore. My neck had a permanent kink on it.

  “Next time, you're going with us. Wait,” Tanya’s voice needed to dial down, “Are you hung-over?"

  I nodded. My ears hurt. Life was a bitch after margaritas and mojitos.

  "I thought you were out doing laps at the beach or at the gym. It’s Saturday,” Nalee said.

  "Yeah, maybe later. I’m kind of feeling sore. I'll ask Zander if he wants to go."

  A pair of green and a pair of hazel eyes zoomed in on me.

  Tanya recovered first, "Zander?!"

  "Zander? THE Zander?" Was Nalee screaming too?

  I covered my ears. Too much stimulation was not good for a hangover.

  They were not going to let me out of this kitchen without spilling details. I told them what happened last night. I left out the hiccupping cure and details. I just told them we kissed.

  Nalee's eyes bulged at the mention of the kiss. They both knew that I didn’t go around kissing random men. "Sweetheart, he's a player. Jerome is a player. I hate it. I’m just so used to it. But you, you're fragile; you can get out before everything becomes complicated. Don't get sucked into it."

  Fragile? Was that what she thought of me? Just because I was a virgin didn't mean I was fragile.

  "Nales, Zander said that he only hung out with those girls. He didn't take them home or anything." I sounded lame. I believed Zander‘s explanation about the women last night.

  "You're sure of that? I'm stuck with Jerome because I got sucked into his lies. One day, I'll probably get out and tell him to just fuck himself. But look at me, I'm sick of his lies but I hang onto them. If I knew this was going to be my life, I would have told myself, ‘Self get out while you can', years ago. Just because he said he didn't take them home or didn't do anything with them doesn’t mean it’s true."

  My appetite was gone. I had no desire to finish the rest of my toast. Nalee was right. What was I thinking? Just because he said he wasn't a man whore, didn't actually mean that he wasn't.

  Tanya looked at Nalee and me, "It's true."

  Nalee asked first, "What's true?"

  Tanya’s emerald gaze went back and forth between Nalee and I. "Zander's telling the truth. Two of the girls in Chatty Pepper's website are my sorority sisters. I'm not close to them but we all got together for an event a few days ago. Those girls happened to be there. I overheard those two comparing notes about Zander. They both said he was a great guy, but they thought he was gay. He didn't even attempt anything with
them. They must have pulled out all their charms. He's a great catch. He was a complete gentleman. He took them out to dinner, separate times, of course, and that was it."