He shot Jake another skeptical look and raised an eyebrow. “So where did you two meet again?”
“You know buddy, I think I hear another drink calling your name,” Jake said as he pushed him in the direction of the kitchen.
Jake was extremely self-conscious about telling anyone that he met Holly through a dating site. To say that Holly was relieved that the question was avoided was an understatement.
The evening was enjoyable, but there were certain moments when Holly felt out of place. Obviously, this was not her usual scene, and it had been a long time since she’d partied like a teenager. Everything about the ambience she was partaking in was out of her comfort zone. They only thing she could do to make herself feel somewhat relaxed was drink. Holly wasn’t shy about boozing it up to her heart’s content—shots, cocktails—anything readily available that she could get her hands on. By the time the cake was presented and the guests had broken out into the Happy Birthday song, Holly had nice a buzz going on. She woozily watched Grayson from afar. He was the most animated drunk she had ever met. He stood in front of his cake, ready to blow out the candles, and pounded on his chest like a caveman. He exemplified a true alpha male, the type of man that Holly had always veered away from.
After the candles were blown out, a group of women dressed in bikini tops and grass hula skirts, kissed Grayson on both cheeks. As this was going on, Jake stood by Holly’s side, amused by the scene before him. This wasn’t anything that he hadn’t seen before. Grayson received this type of attention everywhere he went.
Holly noticed how there weren’t any women ogling Jake as if he was her next meal ticket. Sadly, it was all about Grayson, and it was obvious that he had an enormous amount of sex appeal, far greater than Jake would ever have. Brazen chicks didn't go around throwing kisses at guys who wore flannel shirts and Coke-bottle glasses.
Maybe Holly was imagining things, but it seemed as though every time Grayson caught her gaze, he shot her the stink eye. Her intuition told her that something was off with this guy and that she needed to avoid him.
Grayson approached Jake after he made sure that Holly was out of sight. “Yo man, great party.” He chugged his beer like a can of soda and gave Jake a high-five. “What am I saying? You always throw great parties.”
Throwing parties for Grayson was as easy as a walk around the block. As long as there were hot women around, he never heard his friend complain. “Yeah. Great turn out, huh?”
Grayson moved in closer to Jake and said quietly, “So listen, that chick you invited—the red head…”
“Darlene?”
“Yeah, dude. There is something about her that I just can’t put my finger on.”
“I know. She’s great, right?”
“I don’t know, man. I just get this crazy feeling that I’ve seen her somewhere before and it’s freaking me out.”
Jake chuckled and slapped his hand down on his best friend’s shoulder. “I think you’re at the limit for alcohol intake tonight.”
“No seriously. Just watch your back, okay? I’m only looking out for you. You know how you have a history of picking crazy ass chicks.”
“Not this one,” Jake said with a reassuring smile. “I promise.”
Around two in the morning, the party came to a halt when the guests finally started trickling out the door. Holly and Jake lounged on the patio when the house had emptied and everyone went home. A traditional Hawaiian song quietly plunked out a cheerful ukulele solo from inside the house and the swaying palms on the beach sounded like the rustling of silk. They both stared out into the ocean and listened to the waves usher back and forth. The ocean that morning reminded Holly of a big velour skirt with a lacy hem of white foam.
“Honestly, I haven’t been this relaxed in a really long time,” Holly said, feeling her buzz beginning to wear off.
“Sometimes it feels good to not think about anything, but the moment.” Jake smiled back and patted her leg. “There is nothing more therapeutic to me than sitting out here and staring into the ocean for hours.”
“Yeah,” Holly said, giggling inwardly. “I could get used to this.”
Jake gazed over at Holly and that familiar dreamy look in his eyes told her his mind was occupied by something far beyond the scenery of the beach. “Darlene—”
“Yes?” Holly replied drowsily.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure, shoot.”
“Well, you obviously know that I really like you—”
“Yes. I think the feeling is mutual.” Holly had tried to put their mind-blowing first kiss out of her mind and focus on the task at hand. Sometimes it was impossible to deny that she didn’t feel a twinge of emotion for this man. Although, she wasn’t about to let “feelings” screw everything up. For now, she would just play along.
“And I… I…” Jake mumbled. “God, this feels so juvenile.”
Holly playfully tugged at his shirt and said, “Come on, spit it out already.”
He looked down into his lap. “I don’t want to share you with anyone else,” Jake finally blurted out. “There I said it.”
Those words made Holly feel suddenly dizzy and afraid. Though the air was cool, perspiration had broken out on her skin. He wants to be exclusive. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. Dr. Adams had warned her months ago that this was bound to happen. Holly just wasn’t prepared for it to take place so soon. When she thought about it, the fact that she had some semi-real feelings going on for Jake could work in her favor. The doctor wasn’t going to be too thrilled with this new revelation. Yes, Holly knew she would be putting two people’s hearts on the line, but it had to be done.
Suddenly, the early morning air grew noticeably thinner and the temperature started rising. Holly swallowed down the lump in her throat and replied, “I’d love to be yours, Jake.”
Jake pulled Holly up out of her chair and brought her body close to his. He kissed her slowly, tempting her until she parted her lips. When she opened to him, his tongue invaded and tangled with hers. Holly heard herself sigh, felt herself melt, felt the world tilt and disappear. Jake couldn’t deny the rush of desire that hit him low in the gut every time his lips touched hers. It took every ounce of self-control to keep himself from going further.
The way Jake kissed her only made this whole experiment ten times harder for Holly, but as they say, she just needed to go with it.
***
July 20, 2013
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Request
Dear Dr. Adams,
I tried to reach you last week, but I have come to find out that you are out of the country. How are website sales since the last time we spoke? Well, as you may have already read, the dynamic of my relationship with Jake has changed. Last week, he asked me to be his girlfriend and I accepted. I know what you may be thinking—that this was not in the agreement, but I really want to see how far I can take this, “relationship.” I have a feeling that I can make this last a full year. Please share your thoughts.
XOXO
Holly
July 21, 2013
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: re: Request
Ms. Sparks, your email is quite disturbing to me. Now feelings are involved and most likely, someone is going to get hurt. Yes, on the plus side, sales have shot through the roof. Rumor has it that Matchme.com is losing clients because of our little experiment. Alas, I cannot stop you from doing what you do best. Just keep in mind that this is a huge risk and STRICTLY A JOB that I will eventually be paying you for. Don’t screw it up. Well, I must prepare for a seminar. I’m in Brazil. Many women are in need of my help.
Ta-Ta.
-Cat
***
Holly slowly eased into a relationship with Jake over the next couple of months. This worked out in her favor because she didn’t want to get
any more emotions involved than she already had. They did see each other quite often during the week, but she managed to tame her heart and label Jake as her virtual boyfriend.
One afternoon when Holly showed up at the office, Chris and Emma were reviewing videos of potential millionairesses that they had interviewed that morning.
“So we got something different for you today,” Chris mentioned.
“Someone about to blow me away with their awesomeness, I hope.”
“Well, she’s a wee bit older, but she seems like she would be a good fit,” said a very pregnant, Emma. “And she’s really attractive.”
Holly sat down in front of the television. “Okay, I’ll take a look at it.”
Emma pushed play on the remote.
“Hello. My name is Victoria Cain. I’m sixty-years old and I live in Beverly Hills, California.” Holly thought she had a real classy look for a woman in her sixties. She was blonde, had very blue eyes and a smattering of freckles over her nose. Her simple strapless, white sundress cut straight across her large bust.
“She so does not look sixty,” Holly said in disbelief. “Plastic surgery much?”
“I don’t know—” Emma pressed paused and dissected Victoria a bit more before she said, “She looked natural to me. It might be good genes.”
Play.
“I’ve only been married once and I have one adopted child who is now full grown.”
Pause.
Holly perked up like a sleeping snake when she heard the word, adopted. “I think I like her already.”
Play.
“I’ve been divorced for twenty-two years and I have never met anyone who I truly felt was worth starting a relationship with since my ex-husband. Of course, I date. I’ve just never been serious with a man since my twenties. Honestly, I think I just meet all the wrong type of men. I’m tired of being single and I would prefer to spend my golden-years with a companion. That’s why I’m coming to you.”
Pause.
“You know she’d be snatched up in a second,” Emma mentioned.
Play.
“I think I’m a good catch. I work out. I have my own business. I’m of healthy mind, body and soul. I just don’t understand why I can’t meet a decent man. Possibly, it could be because of my age.”
Stop.
“So what do you think?” Chris asked as he switched off the television.
Holly contemplated her thoughts for a moment. “Yeah, I like her. She’d be a good edition.”
“So you’re going to call her?” Emma asked.
“Sure. I’ll get to her as soon as I can.”
After some idle office chit-chat with her budding assistants, Holly got Victoria Cain on the phone.
“Victoria, hi. It’s Holly Sparks from Quality not Quantity.”
“Oh. Hello there.” She sounded sophisticated. “I’m surprised to hear from you so soon.”
“Well, I just reviewed your interview tape and I think you’d be a fabulous fit here. We can definitely help you. Can you come by the office so we can talk?”
“This is wonderful news,” Victoria said with a squeal. “I’d love to stop by. How about this afternoon?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you sometime later then.”
After Holly hung up, Emma stopped by her desk with a stack of resumes. “I know how much you are trying to avoid the unavoidable, but you need to look these over before I go on maternity leave.”
It was true. Holly was less than thrilled with the reality of Emma leaving her job for months to come. As much as she wished she could have changed things, she couldn’t fight the inevitable.
Holly accepted the stack of resumes and said with a heavy sigh, “Yeah, sure.”
“Chris will help you pick someone to temporarily take my place. It won’t be as bad as you make it out to be.”
“Just hurry up and have that baby, so you can get back to work.” She winked at Emma teasingly.
By mid-afternoon, Victoria Cain strolled into the office. She was very classy looking, definitely a well-bred woman and as neat and graceful as a professional runway model. Her golden blonde hair was tied back in a fashionable ponytail and the long-sleeved, red dress she wore clung to her body in all the right places. Holly could understand why she would intimidate men. Victoria gave off the impression that she was as perfect as the red polish on her toenails.
Victoria sat down in front of Holly’s desk and said with a smile, “Unfortunately, something came up at the last minute and I’ll have to make this meeting brief. With the holiday season coming up, I’m swamped. I’ll be going out of town for a few weeks.”
“Where to?” Holly asked.
“Spain for business, not pleasure.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m an artist. My paintings sell in over five different countries and I have my own gallery in New York.” Victoria placed her red Michael Kors purse in her lap and held onto it like a football player about to run with the ball. “Anyway, I have heard exceptional things about you and your company. I’m rather intrigued and I’d really like to know how this whole process works. Essentially, what kind of men you can line up for me.” Victoria’s cell phone rang and she didn’t hesitate pulling it out of her purse and answering it.
“Do you need a minute?” Holly asked, somewhat put off by her inconsideration.
Victoria held up a finger, signaling Holly to hold on for a moment. “Yes, I get that. I’ll be there soon.” She hung up and slipped the phone back into her purse. “I do apologize. I have to make this meeting shorter than I intended. I have a plane to catch. Do you suppose we could have an official meeting at my home in a few weeks? It would be much easier for me.”
Holly doubted this woman seriousness for joining the club, but digressed. “Of course. Whenever you feel you are ready.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll be in touch with you when I get back. I do apologize again for being in such a rush.”
She left Holly feeling that there was no way this woman would ever be able to commit herself to a matchmaking service. Victoria’s priorities were focused on her career, not finding love.
***
Todd finally felt it was the right time for Holly to meet his boyfriend. The two were setting the table for dinner at Todd’s apartment as they waited on Blake’s arrival.
“You’re totally going to dig this guy,” Todd said as he methodically placed three blue Ikea plates on his second hand kitchen table that years ago, out of desperation, he had swapped his collection of two-dollar bills to pay for.
The one-bedroom apartment was tiny with a few pieces of furniture here and there. There was an air-conditioner in the window, a gas heater in the back, and doors that opened up to a balcony that overlooked the street. The place had not been maintained in years due to Todd’s dire financial situation: the cabinets and tiles on the floor were cracked and missing pieces, and the paint on the walls had begun to peel off.
“What did you make for dinner? It smells amazing.” On the stale apartment air, the scent of fried food was pungent and mouthwatering—a heavy fragrance that only came with something battered and cooked in a hell of a lot of grease.
“Fish and chips. I told you, he’s British, so I want to make him feel like he’s at home,” Todd said, pouring the contents of instant lemonade into a pitcher of water. “Since he’s always the one cooking for me, I need to do something special for him.”
Holly snatched a cracker from the tray on the table and took a bite. “Uh—since when did you learn how to cook?”
Todd rolled his eyes and said, “Hello! Of course I can’t cook! That’s why I went to this super secret restaurant, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
“Oh well, in that case, your secret is safe with me,” Holly was amused, knowing that this was typical sneaky Todd behavior. “Care to tell me where you two met again? I know you were lying to me the first time I asked.”
“Gaydate.com. That website you’re on doesn’t cater to my kind, so I had to look
elsewhere. We are playing it off as though we met randomly when I delivered an eBay package. Please don’t mention anything of it.”
“All right, all right, I get it.”
There was a knock on the door like thunder.
“Oh my God! He’s here,” Todd said, frantically. “I’m so going into panic mode right now. I don’t know if I’m really ready for this. Help!”
Holly slowly massaged Todd’s shoulders and replied, “Breathe, Todd. Just breathe.”
Todd patted down his hair, straightened out his collar, and headed toward the door with Holly trailing behind him. Blake waited with a smile as he clutched a bouquet of colorful flowers close to his chest. Physically, he was the complete opposite of Todd. Blake was burly, somewhere over six-feet, blond, had very bright blue eyes and wore a neatly trimmed beard. He also had thick and unruly eyebrows.
“Blake, sweetie.” Todd kissed him on the cheek. “So glad you made it. Please come in.”
“These are for you, love,” Blake said in a heavy accent. He stared adoringly into Todd’s eyes as he handed him the flowers.
“Oh, these are just gorgeous.” Todd sniffed the bouquet as if it was some kind of an alluring perfume.
Blake instantly recognized the woman standing behind Todd. “Oh my God.” He covered like mouth as if a secret had slipped out. “Are you thee Holly Sparks?”
“The one and only,” she answered a bit uncomfortably.
“And my very best friend,” Todd chimed in.
Blake delicately took Holly’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you. And let me say that I’m infatuated with your blog, and so into what’s going on with you and “J” right now.”
As the three proceeded to the dinner table, Holly replied, “Wow, Todd. I love your boyfriend already.”
“Uh—hands off, honey,” Todd teased.
“I really wanted to sign up on that dating website you’re on, but I guess it’s a no switch hitter zone.”
“I know. I totally was just saying that,” Todd said, wanting to get off the subject. “Let’s have a drink, shall we?”
Holly took mental notes on the way Todd and Blake interacted with each other. It was easy to spot who the female was in the relationship. Although, Blake was as manly looking as they come, he had a very motherly side to him. At random moments he would fix Todd’s hair, dust-off his shirt or fix his collar. Todd completely took to this like a pig to mud.
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