Finding Forever

by Christina C Jones

  “I don’t have time for this conversation right now Mel.”

  “Oh don’t you dare try to drop this! I want the whole story!”

  I lifted my hands to massage my temples, gritting my teeth as I spoke. “There is no story. He was a jerk to me, then he gave me a half-assed apology.”

  “The flowers?”

  “How did you know about the flowers?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Duh, I’m the one who signed for them. They were nice flowers.”

  “Not nice enough.”

  “So why are you working with him?”

  Heaving out a sigh, I placed my hands on my hips. “Because Des asked. She’s a good friend, and doesn’t ask for much, so… I’m going to do this for her. Now can I get to it, please? So I can get it over with?” Not waiting for an answer, I sidestepped Mel and pushed open the door to my office. Collapsing into my chair, I threw my head against the back. I felt a little bad that I hadn’t given Mel the complete truth, but I knew if she thought there was anything there, she would bug the hell out of me, and I certainly didn’t need that. If I was lucky, I would get Avery matched quickly and could go back to never seeing him.

  As I sat down at my computer, I noticed the query I’d started before showing Avery out had finished. I clicked the button that would show the results I needed — the top five women that were qualified matches. I got excited when I saw that one of them was a 98.24% match. Anything over 97%, in my experience, was a sure thing, unless, of course, it didn’t ‘feel’ right.

  I picked up the phone to call her, to make sure she was still indeed single. Something about her number… seemed strange, but whatever. It wasn’t until my cell phone began ringing that I really looked at the name and photo attached to the profile. The phone dropped from my hand, making a loud clatter against the sleek, polished surface of my desk.

  No. No, no, no, no.

  The person who had a nearly 100% compatibility match with Avery… was me. Shit! I’d put myself in the system initially to assist in the creating my database. I needed real people, real answers to my questions to build software that actually worked, and it made sense to use myself. My profile, as was the intention for them all, was me, stripped down, no walls, no lies, and no cover-ups. It was the basis of who I was, and I rarely showed up as a match in anyone’s top fifteen. I had shown up as someone’s top match exactly twice. Rafael, and now Avery. If I thought about it too hard, it was a little disheartening that what I needed, and could offer, was so atypical that it was shocking that I had a match. This little discovery confirmed that maybe I wasn’t crazy for feeling a strong sense of connection with him, but that still didn’t matter.

  Avery had come to my office to be matched, but it certainly wasn’t going to be with me.

  — 5 —

  — Tori —

  I sank back into my pillows, waiting on my friend Renee to respond to the drama-bomb I’d launched into our chat. Renee and I had been friends for years after meeting and bonding via social media, and every year, I made a trip to the West Coast to see her. She and I ran very similar services, but Renee lived with her husband in California.

  ReNasty: “So… wow. What are you going to do? Are you gonna keep him as a client?”

  T.K.Oh: “Well yeah, it’s not his fault we’re a match. This is my issue, I’m not gonna take it out on him.”

  Dropping my tablet, I picked up my bowl of gelato with both hands, and contemplated sinking my whole face into it. The spoon wasn’t working nearly fast enough to help me drown my feelings. The LED light that indicated I had a new message lit up as I was shoving a huge spoonful of caramel cookie crunch into my mouth, and I grimaced against the brain freeze I had given myself as I turned the screen back on.

  ReNasty: “I get that, but… I don’t know, from what you told me about this Avery guy, it seems like there may be something a little more than just sexual chemistry there. And then finding out you guys are actually a match… this doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

  That’s because it was a terrible idea. I passed ‘not a good idea’ back when I agreed to take Avery as a client, knowing I had slept with him.

  T.K.Oh: “What do you mean more than sexual chemistry? There hasn’t been a chance for much of anything else.”

  ReNasty: “…you told me you spent 6 or 7 hours with this man. Yeah, you screwed each other’s brains out, but are you trying to tell me that was all? You already said you talked for a while before you decided to hop on his dick, so you can’t convince me there wasn’t more.”

  T.K.Oh “I mean, of course there was some pillow talk… maybe a bit of cuddling. He’s interesting, intelligent, charming, and he’s fine as hell. So yeah… we kicked it.”

  ReNasty: “Kicked it? Let me find that ‘eye roll’ emoticon real quick.”

  T.K.Oh: “I didn’t do nothin’ though.”

  ReNasty: “Oh please. First, it was just that you had sex with him. Now, you’re naming off all of his good qualities, and you two cuddled, and ‘kicked it’. I don’t think you know how you feel, but I do know you were way madder about what he said to you at breakfast than you would have been if there weren’t more to it than a one night stand being a little rude to you.”

  I sucked my teeth before tapping out a response on the screen.

  T.K.Oh: “Come on, Renee, don’t act like my response was unreasonable. Anybody would have gotten mad about that.”

  ReNasty: “Yeah, maybe ‘anybody’ would, but not you. Do you remember that time you video chatted with me during that crazy ass date you had a few years ago? You snuck your phone onto the table with me on the line because this guy was dumping you because you wouldn’t screw him again because the first time was a disaster. He was going through this long list of everything that was wrong with you, you were too introverted, but you talked too much. You didn’t dress sexy enough, but he didn’t like the way other men looked at you when you were out. Your boobs were too perky, ass wasn’t small enough, and I believe he said your hazel eyes were demonic. This guy was railing on you. Then, his drunk ass wife comes stumbling into the restaurant, and threw up all over you, and it was pure chaos after that. You remember that, right?”

  Of course I remembered. I had to file a restraining order against that fool and his wife, but that ordeal had been a good source of laughs.

  T.K.Oh: “Yeah.”

  ReNasty: “And do you remember your response, Tori? You laughed at that! You sat there and let that man pick you apart because it was comedy to you, but Avery makes some — admittedly rude— comments about your business and stuff, and were ready to hire somebody to bring you his head! ”

  T.K.Oh: “No, let’s be clear. It was funny to me that he was saying that crap because he wasn’t a catch himself. I didn’t even like him, and I wasn’t planning to see him again after that night anyway. Avery was different. He and I had this surreal connection, and it… damn. Okay. I’m making your point right now, aren’t I?”

  ReNasty: “Yeah, you are.”

  I eyed my empty bowl with contempt before shoving it onto my bedside table. I really, really wished Renee hadn’t pointed that out. It was just another complication for me to navigate.

  T.K.Oh: “Well, claps for you. I’ll admit I was feeling him a little before he went all Incredible Hulk, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that I promised Des I would help him, so I’m going to deliver on that.”

  ReNasty: “I understand keeping your obligation, and I admire that about you. I would just hate for you to involve yourself in another situation that doesn’t feel right, and ends up out of control.”

  T.K.Oh: “Like Rafael.”

  ReNasty: “Precisely.”

  ReNasty: “And by the way, kiss my ass for hiding that from me. I mean, I get it, it was his secret you were protecting too, but still.”

  T.K.Oh: “I know, I know.”

  ReNasty: “I still luv you though.”

  T.K.Oh: “You’d better! You and Des are all I have besides my
family.”

  ReNasty: “I’ve been with you for the last ten years, I ain’t goin’ nowhere girl!”

  T.K.Oh: “I know. And don’t worry about this ending up like Rafael, because Avery will never know we’re a match. I politely skipped over myself, and contacted the next women on the list.”

  ReNasty: “And how are you going to handle seeing him date other women?”

  What kind of question was that?

  T.K.Oh: “Just like I handle being alone with any of my other clients. I’ll talk to him, coach him, and counsel him, like anyone else. We actually have a shopping outing this weekend.”

  ReNasty: “Eek! He’s one of those?”

  T.K.Oh: “Yep. I wish I hadn’t told him I would do it, but that was before I knew about the… complication. I would have Mel do it, but…. oh hell, I’ll be honest. She’s too freaking pretty, and I didn’t like her flirting with him. My sister? Hell no.”

  ReNasty: “So you’re really gonna refer to your crazy high compatibility as a “complication”?”

  T.K.Oh: “Stay focused on the things that matter, Renee.”

  ReNasty: “Like you being jealous of seeing him flirt with your sister, who is just a natural flirt, but you claim you’re going to be able to handle sending him on dates. Okay, we can talk about that.”

  T.K.Oh: “Would you look at the time? It’s almost 2am here, I should get to bed. Why are you keeping me up like this, girl?”

  ReNasty: “Mmhmm. So you’re pulling the time difference excuse?”

  T.K.Oh: “Yes. Yes I am.”

  ReNasty: “Whatever. Go to sleep. Tell me how this shopping thing goes.”

  T.K.Oh: “You know I will.”

  I tried to force myself to get a few hours of sleep, even though my brain wouldn’t stop running wild until nearly 4AM. At a little after seven in the morning, on a Sunday, my alarm woke me up, and I spent the next hour showering and getting ready for the shopping meet up with Avery. I was nervous about being around him, but I couldn’t let that affect whether I could deliver a good result.

  When I climbed into my car to meet Avery at the mall, I stuck my key in the ignition and turned, like always. I got… nothing, except a strange sputtering, choking sound. Confused, I turned it again. I had just gotten my car back from the mechanic the day before. How the hell could it not be working?

  I don’t have time for this shit.

  I pulled out my cell to call a car, and forty-five minutes later, I was finally walking into the front entrance of the mall to meet Avery. He was waiting in the atrium, talking to someone on his phone, and he stood, smiling when he saw me approaching.

  This is bullshit.

  Annoyance crept over me at how good Avery looked in a tee shirt and basketball shorts, and tennis shoes that looked brand new. The muscles of his arms bulged a little against the crisp white sleeves of his shirt, making them more pronounced, and I certainly wasn’t the only person who took notice. Alone, I caught a few people stealing second and third appreciative glances at him as they passed, and the people in pairs or groups would point him out to their friends, blushing and giggling behind their hands. Avery either didn’t notice, or didn’t care. I stayed a few feet away until he ended his call, then approached me with a pensive smile.

  “Sorry I’m a little late. I ran into some unexpected trouble this morning. Are you ready to shop?” I asked, giving him a warm smile of my own, hoping to put him at ease.

  He grimaced a little, scratching at the thick, freshly groomed layer of hair on his chin. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

  I wrinkled my nose, giving him an apologetic shake of my head. “Unfortunately….”

  “Yeah, I thought so,” he chuckled. “In that case… let the shopping begin.”

  — & —

  “Please tell me this is over,” Avery groaned as he stepped out of the dressing room, back in his normal clothes. Shopping was apparently not his idea of a good time, but I was having a blast sending him in and out of dressing rooms with arms full of clothes to try on and watch him model— if it could be called that. I could tell Avery was suffering through this trip, but it was a necessary part of the Matched process. He would thank me when he impressed his date without having to wear a tailored suit. However, seeing him this morning, looking like hot sex in basketball clothes, Avery looked impressive in anything.

  I gave him my most sympathetic smile as we exited the store, heading back to the front of the mall. “Yeah, we can call it a day, since you’re gonna be a baby about it.”

  “Whoa now. I’m being a baby?” he asked, scowling.

  “Yeah, you kinda are,” I nodded. “You’ve been huffing and puffing for the last hour.” I shook my head, smirking as I dug in my purse for my phone.

  “So you’re not gonna mention that I was a good sport for the first three hours of this trip? You’ve had me out here hopping from store to store since 9AM!”

  I shrugged. “But you’re gonna look great for your dates. Don’t you feel good that we accomplished what we set out to do?”

  He lifted an eyebrow at me before letting out a heavy sigh. “I guess. What are you doing?” He asked, peering at the screen of my phone, which I was tapping in frustration.

  “I’m trying to pull up my contacts so I can call a car, but my screen is being stupid.”

  “What are you calling a car for, you didn’t drive up here to meet me?”

  I shook my head as I tossed the phone back into my purse. “No, something is wrong with my car, and I haven’t had a chance to get it looked at yet. Can I use your phone?”

  He placed a protective hand over his pocket as if he thought I might force him to give up his phone as we walked out of the mall. “Tori… I can give you a ride home. That’s not a problem.”

  The hell it isn’t.

  This shopping trip, with plenty of people around was one thing. Being alone in a confined space with him was something else entirely. “I appreciate that, Avery, but no. I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way when I can get a cab or something.”

  Shaking his head, he nodded in the direction of his car. “I already said it wasn’t a problem. Come on.” Without waiting for a response, he started walking away. After a few steps, he glanced back, presumably to make sure I was following him. “Tori, come on. It’s not a problem.”

  Before I could think of a rebuttal, the weather made my decision for me. Out of nowhere, it began to rain. It was a light sprinkle, but more than I wanted to wait around in, so I quickly followed him to his car.

  “Can you grab the keys for me?” He asked, squinting against the drizzle as he indicated the pocket of his shorts. His hands were full of shopping bags, and I knew he didn’t want to put them on the now wet ground, but I didn’t want to put my hands anywhere near— “Tori? Did you hear me? Can you grab the keys please?”

  With a deep breath, I quickly got my hand in and out of his pocket to retrieve the keys, and pressed the button on the key fob to open the trunk and unlock the doors. I climbed into the passenger side and strapped myself in with my purse clutched close to my stomach, trying to take up as little space as possible.

  Avery did a little double take when he got in on his side, lifting an eyebrow at what I’m sure was an awkward sight. “Uhh… are you okay? You look… uncomfortable.”

  “I’m fine,” I assured him. “Just got a bit soaked, so I’m cold.”

  “I can tell…”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks as I realized his gaze was pointed right at my breasts, which were covered by my bra, but still pressed very clearly against the damp, thin fabric of my tee shirt. My nipples were already on high alert because of the sudden drop in temperature, and it seemed they were enjoying Avery’s attention, because they somehow got harder.

  “Could you not?” I scolded him, crossing my arms over my chest.

  He laughed as he put on his seatbelt, then shifted the car into reverse. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate. I’m teasing you though… like when you called
me a baby earlier, remember?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him smiling in my direction as we exited the parking lot, and I couldn’t help returning it. “I guess you might have a point. We can call it even then.”

  “I’m fine with calling it even if you don’t think you can hang.”

  Eyebrow raised, I turned to face him. “Excuse me? I’ll have you— oh, shoot, that was my exit! I should probably give you my address or something if you’re giving me a ride home.”

  “Don’t need it yet. I need to make a stop first. Tell me what’s going on with your car.”

  “I’m not sure , but it sounds bad.”

  “What do you mean it ‘sounds bad’? Elaborate.”

  I held up a finger, indicating I needed a second, and reached toward the control panel of his car. When he didn’t react, I went ahead and turned on the heat, angling my body away from his before I dropped my arm and pointed the vent toward me to dry my shirt.

  He grimaced against the hot hair blasting into the car. “Now that you’ve got us preheating, can you tell me what’s happening with your car?”

  “Fine. I went out to my garage this morning to leave, and when I tried to turn it on, it kept making this weird sputtering noise.”

  “Is this the first time?”

  I shook my head. “I got it back from my mechanic yesterday evening, and it’s going right back on Monday. Umm… what are we doing here?

  It wasn’t raining anymore, and I could clearly see we were in a part of the city I’d never been. As we pulled into a parking lot, a glowing neon sign caught my eyes. He’d taken me to one of Dallas’s two Ignition locations.

  “When I take you home, I’m gonna look at your car for you, but I need to grab a couple of things from here.”

  “Are you asking or telling?” I huffed.

  Avery cocked his head to the side, giving me an amused half-smile. “I’m insisting.”

  Damn him for that sexy smile!

  It was hard to be annoyed by him forcing his will on me when he looked so damned good doing it. “Avery, I appreciate the offer, but I already have a mechanic. They’ll look at it on Monday.”