Unavoidable

by Yara Greathouse

  “Nope, it’s okay.” She answers but does not look at me. She is steadily looking out at the parking lot. Staring at nothing in particular. Anything other than me, I suppose.

  “I really wanted to give you a real kiss after your win, but I couldn’t do it. Our first real kiss is not going to be a public moment. When I kiss you for the first time, it will be intimate. It will be passionate. It will be needy. Those are things that only you and I will experience. All those people have no business witnessing our private moment. And, believe me when I tell you that it will happen. I will mark your lips with all the want I have for you. It will not be tame. When I kiss you for the first time, I will assault all your senses. You are going to be happy that it’s only shared between you and me, because there are things, things that are not appropriate to mention at this moment, but things that I will do to you, intimate things that will leave you panting and wanting more.”

  I want to see her face. I move so that I crouch on the very first step and place my hands on her knees so that I can look up into her eyes. She seems startled by my movement and momentarily tenses. Her eyes are wide and her expression is showing a bit of surprise. Even in the bad light of the parking lot, I notice her cheeks blooming with red. After a few seconds I feel her relax and a sweet, shy smile spreads on her face, flashing her dimple my way.

  “Look, Brianna, I am going to attempt to do something that I have never done with anyone else, and please let’s put a lot of emphasis on the ‘never’. I need you to listen to everything I am about to say without cutting me off. I need you to be objective and don’t jump to conclusions. Agreed?”

  “I think I can accomplish that. Here take a sip.” She wrinkles her nose and gives me a little smile, points the straw at my mouth for me to drink. I take a long sip while she bites the tip of her tongue with her lips, as if she is concentrating on a very difficult task, then she takes a huge bite of that candy bar. Adorable.

  “Okay. Here is the deal. I grew up with a family that is financially strong. My parents have always tried to run my life, not letting me participate in anything that I was interested in doing. I was only allowed to do what they wanted me to do. Then, they were never there for me to show support. My father never told me he was proud of my achievements regardless of the number of good grades, trophies or medals I brought back to him. My mother was unattached, to say the least, worrying more about what she would wear for the next social occasion, instead of seeing about my wellbeing. The only one who cared for me was my grandmother, Alice. She was always there for everything I participated in. She came to visit me every Saturday when I was a kid and took the time to play games and take me out to the movies and for ice cream, but most importantly she spent time with me. We talked, baked cookies, played board games. She made me feel loved.

  “I could see her energy wavering as she was getting older. Then, one summer when I was a teenager, she gave me a guitar. We had a long talk that day. She told me that I should never settle, and that I was strong, smart and that I needed to pursue the things I wanted. She told me that the relationship between my mother and father was not the way that life should be lived. That day she shared stories about her and my grandfather’s courtship and marriage. She admitted she made many mistakes while raising my father, and by the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. She also taught me that music and lyrics can actually help to vent my frustrations and celebrate happy moments. They can help me clear my mind and do away with self-doubt. She passed away that winter, and I named my guitar after her.” There was a tear forming in Brianna’s eye, but she wouldn’t look away. She was mesmerized with my story, so I decided to continue and not ruin the moment.

  “I have a bad reputation when it comes to dating. Most of what is being said about me is probably true. I do not go out with girls more than a few times. The girls I normally meet are more concerned about sex, shopping and trying to manipulate me into doing what they want. They like to play head games. Not one of them have ever shown any interest in the things I enjoy doing. They did not want to hang out with me and my friends. It was always about their convenience. They are so…empty, they remind me of my parents and the life they lead. The life I needed to stay away from.

  “I want my life to be meaningful. I do not want to be trapped in a relationship like my parents’. I do not want to be with someone who is always nagging and telling me what to do. I want to make memories with someone special. The way my grandmother made memories with me.

  “Until now, I have never had a real interest in a girl. Until now, I did not care if they come or go. But you, Brianna, you have changed my game. You are different from them. I have an unexpected and welcomed attraction towards you. The sight of you makes me smile. Your smile makes me happy. My heart races when you are near and it pushes me to get close to you because when I’m near you I feel like that happy kid I once was. You told me that you have never been in a relationship. I respect that. So let’s stay away from the label, okay? I just want a chance to get to know you inside and out. I know you feel something when we are together, my radar is not off. I can tell. So I am putting it all out here. Things I have never shared with anyone, because I think you are worth it. Let’s be little kids together. Let us build memories together. One day at a time, here and now.”

  Somewhere during my spiel, she had finished the chocolate bar and I had gotten a hold of her hand. It was mostly soft with a few rough spots. I wanted to know the kind of hard work she did that marked her soft skin like that. I wondered if there was something I could do for her, because the thought of her hurting in any way bothered me. It was at that moment that I realized I wanted her to count me in. I wanted to take care of her. I wanted to be her everything.

  She looked at our hands, with our intertwined fingers, and I felt something wet slipping between the cracks in our hold. They were tears. She looked at me and I was willing her to say the things I needed to hear. Anything other than a rejection would be welcomed. Please. Since I was not going to let go of her hand, I move my free one and using my thumb, I carefully wipe her tears away from her face. She starts to speak.

  “You have had a hard life, too, and it surprises me. I’m not going to be a coward and deny the way I feel about you. Yes, Colton. I feel it. We have an inexplicable connection. I feel it when we talk, when we touch…” She covers my free hand with hers and continues, “…A look from you sends me spinning and at times I feel like I don’t know how to act because my body and soul are beckoning to be near you.

  “Colton, there are things, complicated things about my past that I am not ready to share with anyone. I feel that honesty is important. With that said, I’m at a standstill because if I don’t tell you about those things, they may come up later and ruin everything. And if I do tell you about my past, you could be horrified by it and won’t want to be near me. So I feel that the risk is greater than the benefit. I have tried to keep away from you, but it’s hard, so damn hard!”

  “Brianna, the past is in the past. Whatever happened then, it helped to shape you into the beautiful person you are today. Why would I not want to be with you now in the present and the future due to something that is no longer a factor? One day at a time, here and now. That is all I am asking from you.” She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Her shoulders sag a little, and when her eyes open, she looks decisive and I feel a cold chill passing through my body. This is it.

  “If this…” She takes two fingers and moves them back and forth between us. “…this is going to go any further, then we need some ground rules. Number one, no questions about my past and no pushing the issue. I will decide when it is the right time to unearth all those demons. Number two, I will not demand anything from you but honesty. I want you to always be honest with me even if you think it will hurt me. I promise to always be honest with you. Number three, I have the power to call this off at any time if I feel things are becoming….difficult. Number four, don’t freaking forget about number one.
It is a deal breaker… One day at a time Colton. I have no idea what I am doing, and I hope you do not regret this decision.”

  I have a smile plastered from ear to ear. “Oh, Brianna, I will not regret it, and you definitely won’t regret it either.” I get up and pull her up with me, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. I am relieved that everything is now in order. I gently kiss her forehead and say “Now let’s talk about that ‘hanging out’ date that is not a real date. Where would you like to go?”

  Chapter 10

  Brianna

  “I can’t believe that I’m going on my very first ‘non-date’ date ever!” I tell Ciara.

  “You shouldn’t be so happy. As soon as Colton sees what you have in mind he will completely freak out and take off running.”

  “Oookay, Ms. Grumpypants, what has gotten into you?” I sit next to her on the bed.

  “I’m thinking about breaking up with Nate. I’m sort of tired of being alone most of the time. He travels a lot more than I expected him to.” She looks out the window in a wishful way. I have no idea what to tell her. It is not a situation that I have faced before. I decide to do the next best thing: I wrap my arms around her and squeeze until I feel the tightness leaving her body.

  “If he is committed to his job, then you need to let him know that the situation is not working for you. You never know, he may be tired of the traveling and maybe he has been looking for an excuse to leave that company.”

  “I really doubt it, Brianna. He seems to love his job, and he makes good money at it, so he could probably care less if I break it off. No worries, though. I’m just a little sad at the moment. It’s a difficult call to make.” She is shaking her leg in a rapid motion, which tells me she is anxious.

  “I can reschedule my outing for another day, if you want to have a girl day.” I tell her with a smile on my face so she knows I mean it.

  “Nah. I think I need a little Daddy’s love this weekend. I’m going to head to Birmingham to see my parents and some old friends. Do you want to come with?”

  “I think I will pass this time since I bought the tickets to our outing online because they were offering a discount for early purchase.”

  Ciara gets up from the bed and fixes the back of her shirt, smoothing over her jeans with her hands. “Next time, then? On that note, I think I’m going to pack my bag. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yes. There’s an arsenal of weapons spread throughout the apartment. I would feel sorry for the bastard who may attempt to break in.”

  “Girl, I have no idea what I am going to do with you!” She laughs as she walks away towards her room.

  It’s going to be a nice day today. I send Colton a quick text then I pull out a nice emerald green tank top, jean jacket, dark skinny jeans, my topsiders, and minimal jewelry. I leave everything on top of the bed and get in the shower. Once out, I comb my hair and apply smoothing leave-in conditioner. I’m wearing my hair down, but I’m bringing hair ties for later. I pack my small crossbody style purse with chapstick, wallet, the tickets and a small container of mace pepper gel. I think that should do it. I spritz a couple of times with perfume. Just as I am finishing, I hear the doorbell ring and jump in anticipation.

  “I got it!” I yell at Ciara. Looking through the peephole, I open the door and WOW – what a piece of eye candy I have in front of me! He looks like one of those book boyfriends I always read about. “Hi Colton! Come in!”

  Stepping over the threshold, he grabs my hand, kisses my knuckles and pulls me into a comfort filled hug. He is wearing a light green Salt Life t-shirt and baseball hat, straight leg style jeans (button fly!), and some cool sneakers in navy and white. And, yummy! He smells delicious! Can I bite him now and maybe suck a little on his neck? I better not or we are not going to make it on time to our ‘non-date’ date.

  “Hi sweet thang! I have been waiting for this moment – you look beautiful, as always.”

  So I respond in my best Southern accent, “Oh, why thank you Mr. Hensley. So glad that you approve.”

  “Brianna, you can be wearing a raggedy t-shirt and yoga pants, and I would still approve. You are always beautiful.”

  “Meh, it’s too early for mushy stuff!” I say as he chuckles, “Are you ready to go?”

  “I’m ready if you are.”

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You will see when we get there. Should I drive?” I ask and the he looks at me surprised.

  “Are you talking about your bike?”

  “No, silly. In addition to my ride-a-licious sports bike, I have a car. I drive a Mustang.”

  “Nice! How about you drive next time. I’m parked right up front. How about I’m your chauffeur today. You can refer to me as ‘Manolo’. I can also speak with an accent if it is required for the position.” He is speaking with some kind of Italian or Spanish accent, it’s so bad that I can hardly understand what he’s is saying. And he is gesturing with his hands really loudly. And that’s how I find out that Colton has a funny side. I like it.

  “How about leaving Manolo behind. There could be a terrible misunderstanding since I can barely understand him. It will be you, me and the world for the taking.” He is opening the door to his truck and I try to hop in. When I say try, I mean I’m about to start hiking up the seat as if it was a wall on a rock climbing exhibition. Dang this truck is high. I guess Colton notices my indecision and asks me if I need help. “Well, there are many ways to conquer the mountain as long as we move up, but let me try and be a little lady like for your benefit. So, yes, I would like your help, please.”

  “Very well, Ms. Gilmore.” He extends his hand so I can balance while stepping up onto the sidestep, turning around and then Colton holds my waist and literally throws me on the passenger seat, which makes me break out in a belly laugh right as I bounce back in place.

  “I was not expecting that!” I tell him.

  “I know. It kinda seemed appropriate. I wanted to hear you laugh.” He steps up onto the sidestep, takes the seatbelt and puts it in place across my body and lap. When we hear the click he is practically on my lap.

  “You smell good.” He moves my loose hair behind my ear, smiles and whispers, “I’ve been imagining what you look like inside my truck, but in those scenes you were doing very naughty things…” I feign surprise. Placing my finger on the tip of his nose I tap him.

  “The only naughty person in this truck is you. My thoughts are always pure as if I had a halo on top of my head. Maybe I could show you later all the things you should not do inside a truck. Seems you need to be taught a lesson.”

  Slowly, I move my finger from the tip of his nose, down to his upper lip and finally I place my finger in between his lips, pressing in and forcing him to open. He bites lightly and then sucks gently. This immediately has an effect on me - right between my legs. I slowly remove the finger from his mouth and place it in mine, tasting his minty mouth on my finger. He is completely absorbed in the moment and he is staring at my lips. I slowly pull my finger from my mouth and daintily blow an air kiss. “Mmm, Colton, I have been wondering what you taste like.”

  He slowly blinks. “You have woken up the Beast.” He hops down off the truck, closes the door and walks to the driver side. Meanwhile I am belly laughing again. I can’t help it.

  “You call your junk ‘the Beast’ – Seriously?”

  “Yeap. That’s the truth” he is looking at me and his eyes are laughing.

  “I need to know why!”

  “I will tell you, but this truck is the safe zone. Whatever is discussed in this truck stays in the truck!”

  “Deal!” I say giggling.

  “I call it the Beast because it has no mercy and it impales whatever is in his path without regret. I can manage a private demonstration, if you are curious.”

  “No, I will take your word on this one. That is the cheesiest thing I have ever heard!” I can’t stop laughing.

  “I know!” Then he star
ts laughing and together we head towards our non-date leaking tears of happiness.

  Colton

  “We are here!” Brianna says as she points to some kind of ranch and tells me to pull in.