by Nia Arthurs
“A girl friend?” he asked.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. He’s not a girl.”
Rule number two of the chase: always give the impression that you have other options and better things to do with your time.
I was a Kingdom citizen but old habits die hard.
“Oh really, what are you two doing, maybe I could tag along.”
No Charles, you’re not getting on this train that easy. “It’s personal, but…” I paused, pretending to be searching through my mental calendar for a time that I could slip him in, “I’m free next week Saturday.”
I noticed that Peyton was trying really hard to look like he wasn’t listening to our conversation.
“Are you playing games with me, Ms. Johnson?”
“I don’t have time for games, Mr. Engells.”
I heard his low chuckle and shivered because it was so darn velvety, “Next week Saturday sounds great. I’ll be in touch.”
We ended the call and as I turned to face Peyton, a full blown smile stretched across my face. He crossed his arms and smirked,
“Who’s the lucky guy?”
“His name is Charles.” I explained as I led him out of the store and locked the grill door with my key, “By the way, we’re hanging out tomorrow night.”
He observed my nightly security routine and murmured distractedly, “Oh we are?”
I peered at his face, noticing the frown lines around his lips. “What?”
“Is that all you have protecting your store?” He pointed to my key and the guard rail steel door.
“Yes,” I started walking toward his car, but realized that Peyton had not followed. I about-faced and trotted back to where he stood.
“What?” I asked, exasperated and sensing that he was about to annoy me.
“How late do you usually lock up and leave here?”
I put my hands on my hips.
“Why does it matter?”
“Answer the question, Mia.” He ordered.
I glared at him but did. “I don’t know. It depends on what I have to do. Maybe ten o’clock.”
“Mia, most stores close before nine around here.”
“Well, you really won’t like to hear that sometimes I leave after one.”
“In the morning! You can’t be serious!”
I shrugged, not comprehending the depth of his fury.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes it is.” He stated firmly, “Don’t you know how dangerous it is to be out here alone with only a steel door between you and Lord knows what else?”
“As you can see Peyton, I’ve done it before and I’m still standing. I’ll install an alarm system when the store’s on its feet. Chill out.”
But Peyton did not chill out. When he finally followed me to the car, his nose flared and his hands were fisted so tight around the steering wheel it was a wonder he didn’t break it. The atmosphere in the cab was noticeably tense.
“I’m just trying to understand how you could do something so stupid.”
Hold up. Wait one flippin’ minute. This man did not call me ‘stupid’. I know he didn’t.
“I am not stupid.”
“I never said you were,” Peyton pointed out with irritation in his voice, “I said that leaving your store so late at night alone and vulnerable was stupid.”
“Peyton Lowry, I’ve been taking care of myself since before you… turn right!” I interrupted myself. Peyton and Spencer were still getting used to the layout of Belize City, “Keep right! Yes, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I never said that you weren’t. But, thinking about all that can happen to you in the dead of night and you being so defenseless out here, it freaks me out a little. I’m sorry for yelling.”
At his apology, my heart rate returned to its normal steady rhythm and I felt the anger draining away, leaving me more tired than if I’d worked a ten hour shift with non-stop customer traffic.
“I’m sorry for getting so defensive. Mr. Rey’s tried more than once to talk to me about my security issue, but I just …” I was going to say ‘don’t have the money’, but feeling ashamed I simply said instead, “I’m working on that.”
Peyton caught the hesitation in my words but didn’t call me out on it and we lapsed into thoughtful silence for the rest of the ride. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the Queen’s Hotel and Casino in one piece and with a lot less strain in the atmosphere. Queen’s was an all in one entertainment spot in Belize. Our country is very small so the level of entertainment available here is slim, especially since Belizeans generally prefer keeping to their houses. The business had a casino to one side, a club to the other and a five story hotel ranging above. The small bowling alley and movie theatres were sequestered to one side of the huge emporium.
Launching ourselves through the throng of gorgeously dressed people who were either ready for a night in the clubs or a night hitting the machines, Peyton and I finally made our way to the Bowling Room. The smell of popcorn immediately invaded our senses. Melody waved at us from an alley near the middle of the room.
“Hey!” she greeted when we walked closer and then she gave me a hug.
“Hi, Stranger, haven’t seen you in a while.” The streaming lights danced green, blue, and red hues over her twinkling expression. Spencer made my best friend really happy. She wore love like a sweet perfume.
“You’re the one that’s disappeared,” Melody gently accused, holding me at arm’s length. “As always you look stunning. How do you perfect that cat eye thing with the mascara? I tried it tonight and Spencer ended up wiping it off.” She laughed.
“It just takes practice, but you know you don’t have the patience for it so doesn’t even bug me.” I teased, “Now, are we gonna play some ball or what?”
“What do you think,” My petite friend turned to the men, “Girls against guys?”
“I just want to point out here that both Spencer and I are a part of a bowling league.” Peyton haughtily informed us. White boys have a very distinct form of trash talk.
Spencer grinned in agreement, “We are quite good.”
I laughed, “Okay first of all, that’s lame, so please don’t boast about your league-”
“Hey,” Melody protested, “I think it’s cute.”
“Thanks babe,” Spencer nodded at her.
I rolled my eyes and pointed at my deranged best friend, “She is obviously blinded by love. Your bowling league is lame. Second, Mel and I have been coming here since were kids so, be prepared to get your butts kicked. In fact, I’ll pre-order some ice for the soreness one time.”
Peyton waltzed up to me and invaded my personal space but I held firm.
“You talk a lot of smack for someone so little.”
I leaned closer until our noses touched, “I am so going to enjoy wiping that smirk off of your face.”
“Okay, okay,” Melody broke us up, “Let’s apply that energy to the game.”
Spencer drew his girlfriend close and kissed her, “For good luck,” he explained while Peyton and I teased them with gagging noises.
Melody was up first. My girl knocked six pins down on her first try and two more with the second.
“Nice one!” I high-fived her.
Spencer blew us away with a strike on his first try.
“That’s how it’s done, baby,” He called to Melody, whose wide eyes were finally seeing the truth. The rules of love don’t apply when it comes to competitions.
“Thanks babe,” She quipped, “The kid gloves are off now, just so you know.”
It was my turn. I measured the distance of the alley with my eyes, stooped down and weighed my ball.
“Gutter ball, Mia,” Peyton called out. I withheld a grin at his sorry attempt at heckling. With expert precision, I swung the ball down the smooth track and … hit a strike.
“Yes, good one.” Melody hugged me.
“Beginner’s luck,” Peyton dismissed.
/> “Hey, Peyton,” I called as he stepped up to the mouth of the alley, “Don’t embarrass yourself, ‘kay?”
He smirked at me, and let the ball fly. He hit a strike too.
Dang it. Americans took their bowling really seriously.
By the middle of the game, the guys were slightly ahead, but the girls wouldn’t be deterred.
“Want to up the stakes guys?” Melody addressed the enemy camp.
“What do you suggest,” Peyton arched an eyebrow suspiciously.
“If the girls win, you two need to take a moonlight swim in the Caribbean Sea.”
“Ooh, nice one,” I encouraged from behind Mel.
“And if we lose.” Spencer prodded.
“Then we’ll jump in.” Melody agreed.
“Wait!” I yelled, “Girl Conference!” I pulled my bestie by her jacket, “What are you doing. I just put in this weave. I’m not getting it wet.”
“Don’t worry,” she whispered back, “We got this.”
Unfortunately, Melody was wrong. We did not “got this”. By the end of the game, we were behind by six points. I needed to hit a strike and Peyton needed a gutter ball if we had any chance. Breathing deeply, I did my before-every-strike routine of weighing the ball and visualizing how deep I’d need to aim my hand.
“Hey,” Peyton ran up behind me.
I put my fingers in my ear and chanted, “Blah, blah, blah,”
Peyton gently lowered my arms and said privately, “I know how you feel about your hair. I can show you some tips before you play.”
I glanced at him with my peripheral vision, “And Spencer’s okay with this?”
“Spencer thinks I’m throwing you off your game.” He admitted.
“So I’m just supposed to trust you.”
He shrugged.
“Fine. Lead the way.”
“Okay,” Peyton pressed into my back as he rounded my arms and adjusted my hands. He smelled really good. The scent was expensive but subtle. Just like him. Humble in the face of his wealth and success. I leaned closer to him and my grip in the holes of the bowling ball grew lax.
“Whoa,” Peyton’s sharp reflexes gripped the ball before it crushed both of our toes. “Careful there. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you just tried to sabotage me.”
“Like you’re sabotaging me now?”
“What?” Peyton sputtered.
“Oh yeah, thought I wouldn’t figure out that you’re trying to charm me? Too bad; it’s not working. Step back. I can do this on my own.”
Amused, Peyton backed off and returned to the enemy camp where he fist-bumped Spencer. I ignored him and focused on perfecting my throw, arcing my swing until I let the ball free and … hit a strike. Almost. We all watched the lone pin sway this way and that.
“Come on, come on,” I urged the pin, wishing that I could blow on it from here.
Unfortunately, the pin remained standing. Though I caught it on my second try, the points of the two try strike only tied the game. I was not surprised when Peyton stepped up to the alley and delivered a strong stroke, winning the match for the Guys.
Annoying man.
“Are you girls ready for a midnight swim?” Spencer teased after high-fiving Peyton.
I glared at Melody as we dejectedly walked out of the building to the park next door, conveniently located in front of the sea. The black waters tossed and turned and I cringed as I thought of what it would do to my hair. Spencer led us to the end of the pier and surveyed the dark depths with a frown.
“How about an amendment?” Spencer suggested. “Since none of us have towels or a change of clothes.”
“I’m okay with that.” Peyton agreed readily, “What do you have in mind?”
Spencer observed our sad faces, “I’ll trade the Sea swim for a kiss.”
Melody smirked and strolled over to her man, without hesitation, she planted a big one on his lips. “You would have gotten that for free,” She admitted as he wiped the lip gloss off.
Peyton shifted uncomfortably, “You don’t have to do it, Mia.”
“Shut up,” I quieted him, grabbing his face between my cold hands, I brought his face down to mine and planted a harsh kiss on his lips.
“Done,” I intoned, as though that action was completely sterile and impersonal. “I’m hungry. Anyone else?”
Melody and Spencer stared at me with amazed gazes, while Peyton responded awkwardly, “Yeah, I could eat.”
I offered a tight-lipped smile and trotted off of the pier.
I kissed him for my hair. I did it for my hair. I chanted to myself as the group struggled to return to its lighthearted banter. Unfortunately, the buzzing in my chest said that maybe that kiss came from a more internal place.
CHAPTER SIX
As much as I tried to deny it, kissing Peyton was a huge mistake. The action threw a damper on my entire weekend. I couldn’t stop beating myself about my choice to lean over and plant one on his lips. Our non-date on Saturday was canceled, obviously and I avoided the Reyes household like the plague that weekend until my obligatory attendance at our weekly Kingdom gathering. Sitting beside him during the Holy Ghost Gym Sunday morning service was probably the most awkward event of all. I excused myself once more from the Reyes family Sunday dinner and locked my door so that I wouldn’t have to think about life. I was crushing on Charles. Charles, beautiful, black Charles was the man that should be getting these reactions from my traitorous body. Not Peyton. Peyton is my older brother. Peyton is my older brother.
You didn’t kiss him like a brother, my Brain had fun shoving that one in my face.
When I was reborn into the Kingdom, I promised the King that I would be different. Everything that I used to do I now strove to do the opposite. The old Mia wouldn’t have been flustered by a measly kiss. She had done much worse in much more public places. But still, ugh, I can’t believe I did that. Peyton’s lips were the first that mine had engaged with in almost five years.
I hope ya’ll are seeing why this is such a big deal right now.
On Monday morning as I opened the store, I felt a bit more grounded. I’d spent the night before rationalizing the kiss, and came to the conclusion that it was one little blip in the grander scale of my life. I was fully committed to the S.S. Charles and no handsome white iceberg would be sinking my Titanic. After lifting the shades on the windows, I synced my speakers with my phone and got out my broom and mop, shaking to the Praise tunes. I heard the clack of the door opening and closing and peeked out from the backroom to see who had entered. A burly guy dressed in a simple blue uniform strode into my store. He didn’t browse. He didn’t even introduce himself. He simply stood at the door, cordially opening it for the few stragglers that made their way into Mia’s Designs.
I contemplated calling the police but since the man wasn’t threatening me, I wasn’t sure what I would tell them. Summoning up the courage, I waited until at least two witnesses, I mean customers, were situated in the store at one time before I walked up to the Hispanic man.
“Excuse me. Hi, I’m the owner of Mia’s Designs. Who are you?”
“Soy Estefan. Es security guard,” he explained in broken English.
I twittered awkwardly, “Sir, you must have the wrong place. I didn’t contract a security guard.”
He walked outside, looked up and then walked back in. “Es Mia Design. Bien.”
Okay, unless I’d randomly ordered a bouncer and forgotten about it, this man was crazy. What was the right etiquette here? I certainly didn’t have any money for a security guard right now. Wait… security guard… Peyton! Ugh, that irritating, nosy, rich guy gave me a bouncer. I knew exactly who had commissioned poor Estafan. I pulled out my phone and dialed the nuthead but he didn’t answer. I was so peeved, I had half a mind to storm Peyton’s office and give him a piece of my mind. My responsibility to the customers milling about held my anger in check for the next half an hour, but as soon as the last buyer cleared the store, I locked it, informing Estefan that
he could stay or go.
Estefan chose to remain and I waited on the corner until a bus stopped by. The fifteen minutes it took to arrive at Peyton’s office was enough time for me to recall all the reasons why I originally did not like him. By the time I got off the crowded city bus, I stormed into the lobby of the Thurnton building. I knew that Spencer and Peyton had set up a temporary office on the second floor and flew up the stairs, stomping on each one like an elephant to temper my rage.
“Excuse me, you can’t go in there,” I heard the slim middle-aged temp call when I burst through the office doors and stormed to the door marked “Lowry”, but I ignored her and thrust open the door. Ignoring the fact that Peyton was on the phone and his receptionist was about to have a coronary, I planted myself in front of his desk. Noting my thunderous expression, Peyton wrapped up the call and informed his secretary that everything was okay.
But things were definitely not okay.
“Can I help you?”
“Oh, don’t be so smug,” I paced, “You had no right to hire a security guard without my permission.”
Standing and looking totally unruffled, Peyton said, “He’s not just any guard. He’s with an elite team that works out of Mexico.”
My jaw dropped, “You can’t just buy me a guard from Mexico. That’s insane!”
He lumbered around his desk and stood dangerously close to me, “I didn’t buy a person. I bought your protection. Most girls would be touched.”
“Do you seriously believe that other women enjoy the meddling of men?”
He placed his hands in his pockets. “They do when the man meddled because he cared.”
“So stop caring.”
Now Peyton looked annoyed, “It’s not safe to be alone at those hours of the night. I’m your friend and I’m trying to keep you safe. Why can’t you just say thank you!”
“I’m not going to be grateful for something that I didn’t ask for. I don’t need your charity, Peyton.”
He gritted his teeth, “Dang it, woman! Why are you so stubborn!”
“Knock, knock,”
We both swung our heads at the same to see who dared interrupt us. Spencer’s dark head popped just so into view, using the door as a body shield.