When the Clock Strikes Midnight

by A L Miller

  “What other Patrick would it be?”

  “What does he want? Is he finally apologizing for being a coward? Took him long enough.”

  My eyes fall back to the phone. “No, well, I don’t know. He says he misses me and never stopped thinking about me. He wants to meet for lunch and talk but didn’t say about what.”

  Her eyes go wide, “You got to be kidding me. Hasn’t it been like 2 years? Where the hell has he been this whole time? Does he know that you moved far away from that shit town?”

  Melanie and Vivian were the only two people in my new life who knew about Patrick, but they were kind of the only two people I knew period. Sure, I had a few acquaintances in the local coffee shop I usually popped in a few times a week to write in. But no one I actually hung out or talked to as much as I did with Vivian and Melanie.

  I breathe in deeply and slowly release it as I pick my phone back up. “Yeah, I haven’t heard from him since last year when he called me drunk one time saying he was in town and wanted to come over and visit. I didn’t hear anything after that, so I took it as him having the wrong number. Figured he probably wouldn’t even remember making the call the next day. Turns out, I must have been right since he doesn’t recall me telling him that no longer live there.”

  I throw my hands up in defeat after sliding my phone in my back pocket and heading to the kitchen. I pull out a bottle of champagne and a jug of orange juice out of the fridge. “I think I need a drink now.”

  “Now you’re speaking my language. A fashion show and mimosas sound like my kind of hang out.” She takes a seat at the table as I pour her orange juice and champagne into a glass. “So, are you going to call him back? Please tell me you aren’t.”

  I take a sip of my drink. “No, I think I’ll ignore it. The past should stay in the past. What was the point of me getting away to move forward if I’m just going to revisit the past? Besides, I have no interest in seeing him. There was a time where I would have done anything for that call but not now.”

  Fourteen

  Cole

  The next few days go by fairly quickly, and I’m glad because I’ve been looking forward to tonight when I have my first date with Danny. I thought about the mystery man from the party a few times, but with texting back in forth with the Danny these last few days, I can already feel him starting to fade away. I stuff my burgundy suit away in the back of my closet since I kept being brought right back to that night every time my eyes fell on it.

  It was time to make new memories, new memories with Danny. The thought sends excitement through me. I looked forward to getting to spend enough time with him to turn them into memories. The more we talked, the more I got to know the real him, and the more I started to fall for the sweet, funny, shy and adorable man.

  I pull on my favorite pair of jeans that make my ass look phenomenal and a white Henley topped with my cream cotton sport coat left open. I step in front of the bathroom mirror while running a comb through my dark brown hair, making sure there isn’t a single hair out of place. When I’m satisfied with the image in front of me, I move back to my room to slip on a pair of shoes that match my outfit perfectly.

  A knock comes to my door and glance at my watch showing that it’s almost time for me to walk over to Danny’s place. I don’t have time for visitors or distractions right now. I open the door quickly, ready to get rid of whoever is on the other side of the door until my eyes land right into Danny’s, then move down to where he presses his bottom lip between his teeth.

  I perk up at the sight of him. “Hey, I thought I was going to come get you? You look great, by the way.” I do a once over to get a good look at his outfit and how perfectly it compliments his body. It takes everything out me not to pull him inside my apartment and suggest we order in instead. I resist the urge once I remind myself, I want to take things slow with Danny. I want every moment with him to be special. I also look forward to reaching for his hand at dinner while watching that beautiful shade of red reach those cheeks of his leading up to that perfect dimpled smile that I couldn’t get enough of. I wanted all those moments with Danny tonight, including that first kiss I hoped to receive at the end of the night. I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to touch those perfect lips of his all week long, and I wouldn’t miss my opportunity to do it tonight if the chance comes up.

  He’s wearing a tight pair of black pants that hug the shape of his slender toned thighs paired with a maroon cabled sweater with a black leather jacket over it and man he looks sinfully delicious. I lick my lips after moving my eyes up and down his body one last time before telling him to wait as I grab my keys and wallet. I knew if I asked him to come in, it would lessen our chances of making it to the restaurant. I follow him out to the parking lot and point to wear my car is. “I’m driving tonight, you can drive next time if you want.”

  He swallows hard. “Oh, so you are so sure of yourself that there will be a next time, huh? Maybe we should make it through the first date first killer.”

  I laugh at the nickname he gives me. “Yeah, well I’m a pretty confident guy. What can I say?”

  The waitress brings us our wine before taking our food order. Under the table, Danny’s leg grazes mine and desire enters his eyes, making me wish there wasn’t a table in between us. His hair falls into his face a little as he reaches across the small table to brush it back, but he pulls back in hesitation.

  “Sorry I… I’m just not used to people touching my face ever since, umm… the accident. I was just taken back a little is all.”

  He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip as he fidgets with his napkin on the table, his eyes are no longer on mine. I reach across the table, slower this time, and place my hand on top of his causing his eyes to meet mine once again. His lips turn up into a smile, and I’m just happy to see him smiling again. I return his smile with my own and close my fingers tightly around his hand, he still doesn’t pull away. The waitress brings our food, bringing me back to reality, and our hands pull apart, making room for the food. Danny takes a sip of his wine before picking up his fork to dig into his shrimp fettuccine.

  He slips each forkful slowly into his mouth as if he is savoring each bite and my eyes never leave him as the fork comes in contact with his delicate pink tongue. He pauses when he catches my gaze on him. “Do you usually like to watch people when they eat like a creeper?”

  I laugh. “Not typically, no. I guess you just make it look so interesting. Also, you seem to be enjoying it way more than I’m enjoying mine. I don’t think I’ve ever had food make me moan before.”

  I don’t have to wait long for that blush I enjoy so much to appear on his cheeks. I don’t even think he realized how adorable he was. He didn’t once look down at his plate when he talked to me like he did the first time we ate together and he didn’t try and avoid eye contact like he would when he passed me at our apartment complex or ran into me at the grocery store while shielding his face and tugging down his beanie. He didn’t even wear a beanie this time and the fact that he felt so comfortable and confident around me to not feel the need to cover his face made me smile.

  I ate my dinner as slowly as I could, buying myself more time here with him. I wanted to keep him wrapped up in our conversation as long as I could. He didn’t seem in much of a rush to leave himself. I didn’t reach for his hand the rest of the time, but I thought about it every time he sat his hands down on the table in front of me as his face lit up from laughter when I would say something he thought was funny.

  Fifteen

  Danny

  Cole was amazing to look at on any given day, but I couldn’t quite put into words what seeing him in those jeans and sport coat did to me. All eyes were on him as we moved together through the restaurant. I didn’t wear my beanie today, I didn’t even think to wear it. It would have messed up my hair that Melanie managed to style so perfectly. I hate to ruin her work of art and then have her yell at me for it later. I laugh inside at the thought at how easy it was to get Melanie
all angry and flustered.

  Vivian didn’t understand why I was friends with Melanie. But tonight, when she was helping me get all perfect for my date while making me feel better after a call from Patrick, was a reminder as to exactly why I remained her friend. Sure, she pissed me off sometimes, but she was a great friend when she needed to be. She was there in a drop of a hat when I needed her. No, she wasn’t Vivian, but she was the next best thing.

  The chair makes a scratchy sound against the restaurant floor as Cole pulls out my chair for me. I always wondered if Cole was the chair pulling out and car door opening kind of guy on a date. Tonight I had my answer as soon as he parked, he told me to wait right there and rushed over to my side of the car to open my door. The thoughtfulness sent a sudden warmth through me. He reached for my hand and pulled me toward the restaurant. I didn’t even remember walking inside because all I could focus was the touch of his hand pressed against mine as he rubbed circles into my palm with his thumb, sending shivers down my spine.

  Gosh, the things this guy did to me. It was enough to weaken my knees, almost sending me straight to the floor. Cole takes the seat across from me as the waitress asks us what we would like to drink. Cole orders a glass of white wine and I order the same. I don’t plan on drinking much tonight because I want to remember every moment of our first date. I didn’t want to rush through dinner, and I could tell he didn’t. I was enjoying his company way too much, and I knew I would enjoy it a lot more if we weren’t public. But I wasn’t sure if he was ready to take our date that far yet. It was way too soon for that, wasn’t it? It’s just so hard to resist him when already knowing what it’s like to be with him. Tiny sparks shot through me every time his hands touched my skin that night at the party. It was definitely the kind of fireworks I needed to start my New year.

  We say no to dessert, and I reach for the check but he shoves my hand away like he did at brunch a week ago. I shake my head in disagreement. “You got our food last time, let me get it this time.”

  He releases his grip on the check as he sighs, “all right, but I’m getting it next time then.”

  My heart skips a beat at the thought of there being a next time. When we reach the apartment, he walks me to the front of my door. We stand there just smiling at one another without saying anything. I shy away at his gaze and my eyes move to my feet. He tilts my face up, placing his finger under my chin. My breath hitches as his face gets closer to mine. My heart is pounding against my chest when his lips touch mine as if it is happening for the very first time.

  In a way, it is. This is the first time Cole is kissing me as Danny and not the mysterious stranger from the New Year’s Eve party. This was the real me he was kissing and not some person hiding behind a mask.

  His lips move against mine, and when I feel his tongue against my lips, my mouth opens for him. My tongue wraps around his, and he presses my body against my apartment door. His hands are digging into my hips and without thinking I rock my hips, pressing my body tightly against his, making his body respond to mine. We pull our mouths away, gasping for air and his hands remain on my hips as his eyes melt into mine.

  His eyes are full of lust and desire, desire that I caused. If I didn’t have the evidence standing right in front of me, I would have never believed I could have that kind of effect on someone. As much as I don’t want to open the door behind me to go inside, I know if I don’t do it right now, I’ll start kissing him again without being able to stop this time. I almost want to ask him to come in, but I know it’s too soon even though it doesn’t feel like it is.

  The grip of his hands loosened around my hips, and I sag my body against the door while reaching for my keys from my pocket to open it. “Well, I had a really nice time tonight Cole, thank you for taking me to dinner.”

  He places his right hand on my cheek and places a quick kiss to my lips. “You’re very welcome, goodnight Danny.”

  He pulls away before going across the hall to his door; I just stand there like an idiot watching him as he fumbles with his keys before walking inside. He shoots me a wink before closing the door behind him. The door slamming shut snaps me out of the daze he has left me in, and I open the door to my own apartment before heading inside. My phone buzzes in my pocket and when I retrieve it, there on the screen is a text from Cole.

  Cole: Miss you already, can I see you again tomorrow? Or is that too soon?

  Me: No, tomorrow is perfect.

  Cole: Good, because I can’t wait to kiss you again.

  Me: Well, feel free to do to whenever you want.

  Five minutes go by and he doesn’t say anything. I start to worry that I said the wrong thing and scared him away. Maybe I came off to eager. Damn, why did I have to go and say that?

  I pick my phone up and still no new message from Cole. Yeah, maybe he just fell asleep. A knock comes to my door, sending me sitting straight up in my chair. I sure hope that’s not Melanie right now, can’t she wait until tomorrow for an update on how my first date with Cole went?

  I pull open the door expecting to see Melanie standing in front of me, but my eyes go wide to Cole standing there instead. He’s in sweatpants and a grey t-shirt. Man does he look mouthwatering; but why is he here? My thoughts go back to the last message I sent him telling him he can kiss me anytime he wanted.

  He rubs his hands together, blowing warm air from his mouth into them. “I thought I would come by to give you one more kiss before I went to bed. You did mention I could kiss you whenever I wanted and I man do I want.”

  I chuckle. “Oh… umm… yeah… I did say that, didn’t I?”

  Before I can say another word, his mouth is on mine while his fingers slide into my hair, drawing me closer to him. His hand is sliding into my shirt just like earlier and just like before I don’t push him away even though I know I should. I won’t be able to pull away this time. No, every time I had a taste of this man, I craved more. He was becoming an addiction that I never wanted to quit.

  I run my hands into his shirt, feeling every ridge of muscles sculpted into his perfect stomach. Man, did I crave to have him his naked body pressing against mine. One thing I didn’t get from that quick hook up at the party with him. The next time I knew I would take my time exploring every part of him. Based on this kiss, I know there will be a next time. He pulls his mouth from mine while pulling his hands from under my shirt. He licks his lips. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep after that, but that is definitely a great way to end a date.”

  I smirk. “I know a way to make it better,” I say before slipping my hand in the front of his sweatpants, feeling the hardness of his erection beneath my hand.

  I caused that, I did that to him.

  Sixteen

  Cole

  My mouth was on him as soon I could get it on him. I paced back and forth around my door the moment that text came through with him telling me to kiss him anytime I wanted to, and I wanted to kiss him in that exact moment. I’m sure he didn’t mean for me to come pounding at his door at eleven at night, but his words were going off in my head like a broken record, and they wouldn’t stop until my mouth was touching his again.

  I throw on some sweatpants and a shirt before heading back over to his door. I don’t even bother with shoes which I regretted once the cold of the floor went straight through my socks as I stepped outside. I didn’t care though. I knock on his door not expecting him to answer so quickly, but man am I glad he did.

  He has a curious expression on his face and he laughs once I tell him why I’m here. Before either of us can say much more, I crash my mouth against his. His scent wraps around me like a beacon, his coconut shampoo almost has me pulling away from him. Wait, what are the chances he has the same shampoo as the stranger from the party? And, why do I keep calling James stranger when I know his real name now? Maybe it’s because even though I have a name, he still is just a stranger and I don’t know if that is ever his real name. It’s just a coincidence Cole, don’t think too much into it.


  I go back to the sinking into the intensity of the kiss and caress his tongue with mine. I’m not sure I can pull away, but I know I need to. I want so badly to break the first date rules and pull him into his apartment, straight to his room. It takes everything out of me to pull away, but when I do I almost dive back in for more. When he suggests a way to make our date better and follows it up by putting his hands in my pants, I almost lose all the restraint I had left, which wasn’t much.

  I shake my head before pulling his hand from my pants. “I want to, god Danny do I want to, but we can’t. I want to do this right. I really like you, so I’m going to say goodnight and head back to my place before I push you onto your couch and take you right now with the door left wide open. I’ll see you tomorrow for our second date.”

  He is still just standing there staring at the obvious bulge in my sweatpants while licking his lips. I tilt his face up to meet mine and press a kiss to his temple. “Goodnight, Danny.”

  I feel his eyes on me again as I head back to my place. I almost collapse my body against the door once I enter my apartment, trying to recover from that kiss. Now I get all those cheesy songs about having shaky legs and weak knees and shit.

  Tomorrow, could not come fast enough. I was already planning our next date in my head. I shoot him a text real quick, asking what type of movies he likes, and he answers quickly.

  Danny: Romantic comedies, horror movies, pretty much everything.

  Me: Great, I’ll buy our tickets tonight that way we can head that way after lunch, that is if you want to start our date that early.

  Danny: Yeah, lunch and a movie sounds good. I’m free all day tomorrow.

  Me: Great, let’s go with a romantic comedy then. See you tomorrow beautiful.

  Danny: Goodnight, handsome.