A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  Tom stopped to look at her, puckered his lips, and squinted his eyes. “Comfortable?”

  “Yes. I thought this would be okay for staying in.”

  “Yes, well, I guess it will do,” he said, eyeing her bare legs. He topped each drink with vermouth then stirred. Handing her a precisely made Manhattan cocktail, he raised his glass for a toast. “To us and a new beginning.”

  She hadn’t been aware that he had thoughts of a new beginning and as she sipped her strong drink, this would overtake all her focus for the evening. Wishful thoughts swirled around her head and hope began to spring from within. Maybe just maybe, he meant it when he said ‘a new beginning.’ She dreamed of the words that were presented tonight and spent the entire movie lost in the wistfulness that maybe setting an official date had put him back on course for the life she desperately dreamed of having. She smiled, giddy with optimism.

  Meanwhile, William walked back to his place dazed. Evie had left an impression on him that felt strong, like a new tattoo or a fresh scar. She had somehow already permanently marked his soul. At home, he settled down at his desk with a bowl o’noodles made in his hotpot. Even though it would be difficult, he needed to focus on his studies and not the pretty girl. Pulling his textbook out, he finished highlighting the rest of the chapter in which he would soon be tested.

  Chapter 5

  William clocked in at Manhattan Messengers on Thursday morning at ten o’clock and filled his bag with the next two hours’ worth of deliveries. He liked his job because it mixed his enjoyment for the outdoors, the excitement of the city, and required no deep thinking; he did enough of that every other day at school.

  By the time William made his first delivery of the day, Everleigh was making an egg white omelet with a mixture of chopped up vegetables. She felt healthy and happy today. Tom didn’t make love to her last night, but he did hold her during the movie. She preferred that because sometimes she didn’t enjoy sex, in fact, most of the time she didn’t. None of that mattered to her because the hope she felt for the future this morning was better than sex anyway.

  Since Tom was at work, she opened her textbook while eating and started highlighting the stuff that would be most helpful for her upcoming finals in a few weeks. An hour passed before she decided to get ready for the day. She packed her overnight bag with her dirties, locked up, and left his apartment around one. She didn’t call for the car because she decided to walk back to her home instead. This time she headed straight home though, with no detours to the park or to the coffee shop that she really wanted to stop by.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Wright.” The longtime doorman greeted her with a smile.

  “Good afternoon, Walter,” she said, always polite.

  By seven that evening, Evie reemerged from her room after a busy day of studies, dressed for dinner with her family. She didn’t bother putting on her rather large engagement ring since she wasn’t leaving the house. She wore it when she attended events and parties. She chose not to wear it to school because she wanted to blend in with the other students at the university. She hated drawing attention and the ring with a centered five carat pink diamond and another carat in diamonds on the sides did not blend in with the other students’ attire, which was much more casual. Another reason was that both Tom and she worried she might get mugged wearing a bauble like that around the city.

  The conversation always seemed to revolve around Tom and she didn’t want to talk about him. She wanted to share her passions, and what was going on with her schooling, but instead watched as her sister fidgeted—as usual.

  Everleigh didn’t get caught up in the wedding planning since she had her finals to worry about, and let her mind drifted the remainder of the meal, eventually settling on William. An unintentional smile spread across her face and it was received with much attention.

  “It’s nice to see the love that you have for Tom shine through,” her mother said, noting her daughter’s smile.

  “He’s from a good family,” her father interjected into the conversation, which was rare for him. He made comments like this as if that information held any importance.

  Her sister said nothing. The way Audrey looked at her older sister made Everleigh feel guilty. Her sister had an uncanny ability to see through her façade. Everleigh shifted uncomfortably in her chair before correcting her goofy grin into a more poised smile. “Please pass the haricots verts.” She hoped that satisfied the onlookers.

  * * *

  William finished his shift ten hours later. Exhausted, he didn’t even bother having a snack when he returned home. After a shower and quick recap through his thoughts, he was asleep.

  By eleven the following morning, William entered his first class of the day. He sat down at the desk that seemed to be made for middle school kids and stretched his long legs out in front of him. Setting his notebook down, he grabbed a pen from his bag, preferring to write his notes instead of type.

  Everleigh was seated down the hall in the History of Modern European Writers class, an accompaniment to British Literature for English Majors.

  By noon, both of their minds floated to the other and for a small flicker in time they felt connected on a more surreal level. Both turned to look out the window, hoping to dissolve the excitement now brewing inside of them as they realized they only had thirty minutes left until they reunited again.

  With haste after class, Evie made her way into Professor Lang’s class and chose a seat in the general area where she normally sat, eight rows up and in the middle. She tried to seem oblivious to William when he entered the classroom and scanned the auditorium. Attempting to play it cool, she smiled casually when he spotted her. She failed at casual. Her smile was huge, and her cheeks flushed with heat embarrassed as he worked his way up to the eighth row and the middle where one open seat still remained. She had purposely draped her sweater over the chair to insure it remained available for him.

  “May I?” William asked her, appearing calm.

  “Yes, please do.” She picked up her sweater and laid it across her lap.

  Both were quiet as they sat there until William finally got the nerve and attempted to start a conversation. “Hi, Evie.”

  When he said her name, it sounded romantic, and she heard the reverence in his words.

  “Hello, William.”

  They both pulled their notebooks from their bags, avoiding each other for lack of words, but delighted to be there all the same. Evie tapped her pen on her notebook then looked at William again and smiled. He’s very handsome and he smells good, she quickly assessed. I bet he has lots of girlfriends. She sighed. Smelling and looking like that, he must, she determined. This upset her, which then confused her because she didn’t understand her own feelings.

  He sat up and saw her frowning or frustrated, he didn’t know her well enough to decipher all of her expressions yet. But one thing he did know is that he would make his best efforts to learn each and every one of them. “How are you today?”

  She rearranged her face to smiling again before she responded, “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?”

  “I’m great.”

  Great? He’s great. Wow. She couldn’t recall responding to such an everyday question with great. She decided to explore further. “How is studying for finals going?”

  “Good. You know we have our paper due in another week? I think I’ve gotten all my research together to start writing. How’re you coming along?”

  “I’ve gathered most of my information, but need another trip to the library before I start writing.”

  “I’m going to the library tomorrow. We can meet up . . . if you like?”

  It seemed innocent the way he phrased the proposition, but it warmed her entire being. “Yes, I would.”

  William had always thought her eyes seemed sad when he watched her in class. But lately her eyes didn’t look sad at all. They sparked to life when he asked her to study with him.

  Not wanting to draw any attention from their neighbor
s, he whispered, “One o’clock?”

  “All right, I’ll see you in the Brit Lit section of the library tomorrow at one.”

  William also liked the way she repeated every detail of his proposal as if confirming each word in disbelief. He answered with a nod and she returned the favor. Professor Lang turned on the microphone, which meant the students had to pay attention because this lecture would be on the test.

  But Evie was too giddy to pay attention. She was distracted by her new friend and glanced at William often. As he took notes, she noticed that he had very nice penmanship; his long fingers grasped the black ink pen in his right hand. She used blue ink, but wouldn’t let his small, flawed preference for black ink be a deal breaker.

  Her mind ticked through several reasons that might excuse this small infraction. Maybe he grabbed the pen from a huge jar of pens and didn’t think about blue or black the way she did, though she still thought it was obvious that notes were meant to be taken in blue ink. Or, maybe he stole it from a waiter at a restaurant because he liked the way it glided across the receipt he had just signed. Wait a minute! Break what deal? She was shocked how casually her thoughts regarding him entered her head fifteen seconds earlier.

  William looked at her, and again she had that strange flustery-frowny expression on her face. It dashed his hopes a little, and he turned back to the professor.

  “I’m going for coffee after class,” she whispered.

  William perked up, but he wasn’t sure if she was asking him to join her for coffee or just letting him know that she’s getting coffee. It was a statement, not a question, right? Maybe she was only thinking out loud. No, she was saying that to let him know she wants him there, too. Yes, I’m sure that’s it, yes. She wants me to get coffee with her. His reply was cryptic at best. “Coffee after class?”

  Evie was confused. Is he backing my statement or agreeing to join me?

  Everyone stood up around them shuffling their stuff back into their bags. William and Evie looked at each other realizing they had been dismissed, once again oblivious to the rest of the world when they were together.

  She took a deep breath just as he exhaled as if he had been holding it for minutes. They packed their belongings without speaking to each other and stood at the same time. She gave him a sweet smile and he allowed her to cross in front of him. “After you.”

  Leading the way out of the auditorium, she walked slowly, so he could catch up. Then they matched their stride to each other.

  As he opened the door for her, she unintentionally brushed against him, making both of them smile. When the sunshine of the afternoon hit their faces, William admired Evie when she closed her eyes and smiled toward the sun. She was breathtaking.

  When she opened her eyes, she suddenly felt self-conscious. “Sorry,” she said, picking up her pace again.

  “No need to apologize. You were just enjoying the pretty day. ”

  “Yes, it is a lovely day. I think the warm weather calls for iced coffee.”

  William liked her randomness. She was unique and it made him want to try new things, too. “I think I’ll join you in that.”

  “I thought you always had double espresso, black with a scone?” Her cheeks warmed by her admission and hoped he wasn’t scared off by her observation.

  He wasn’t.

  He liked that she knew what he drank, although he didn’t know what her specialty drink was. He knew she drank coffee, but not how she liked hers—if it was a latte, espresso, macchiato, or straight. Somehow, she knew his usual down to the smallest detail of black, no sugar or cream.

  William also realized that those were the most words they had ever exchanged and their time together felt like a real beginning.

  They entered Bean There and walked to the counter together. As they perused the menu up on the wall, with an annoyed tone, Tracy asked, “The usual?”

  “No, today calls for iced coffee, please.” Evie looked to William for reassurance.

  “Same for me please,” he said, tempted by her selection.

  Evie noticed Tracy looking between the two of them a little confused before turning back to blend their drinks. A minute later, two iced coffees were set on the counter with a huff. William and Evie barely noticed the baristas’ annoyance because they were too caught up in each other to care.

  Evie held two fingers in the air and added to the order. “Two blueberry muffins also, please.”

  William smiled at her. “I’ll buy.”

  Evie picked up her coffee and muffin, thanked him, and headed for her favorite table. As usual, William left the change for Tracy. He walked over to his second favorite table in the place and set his coffee and muffin down next to Evie, who already had her book open and her highlighter resting in the crease of the spine. “Hope you like muffins,” She said.

  “I do.” His eyebrows went up with enthusiasm. He especially liked having muffins with her.

  “After ordering new drinks, I thought it would fun to try something else new, and scones don’t scream new start to me, but blueberry muffins do.” She laughed and William watched completely enchanted by her.

  While pulling his book and pen out, he watched as she separated the entire top of the muffin from the wrapped base and began eating that portion. He didn’t understand her muffin method and tried to dismiss the strange flaw he had discovered as inconsequential.

  William carefully peeled the wrapper down from the sides and removed the baked good. He took a bite making sure to include some of the top, bottom, and the bit in the middle. He also couldn’t help but wonder if she intended to eat the rest of the defaced muffin. Pointing at her squandered muffin, he asked, “Are you going to eat the bottom part too? That’s the best part!”

  Reading way too much into his question, she got defensive. “Do you always use black ink?”

  There was a moment of silence and staunch glares were exchanged between them before they realized they had reached an impasse. William was willing to set aside his own opinion on the matters at hand, but to his surprise, Evie wasn’t.

  Taking one last defensive stand, Evie discarded the bottom part of her muffin into a napkin and crumpled it into a disfigured mess.

  Disturbed by her waste, William shuddered then picked up his black ink pen and started writing with it in defiance.

  She rolled her eyes at the complete abuse of black ink.

  William saw the anger flash across her blue eyes as her breathing deepened. Right then, she was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  Evie watched him look at her as if she was the most interesting thing in the world. Uncomfortable in the attention and still mad, she pointed to her notebook to end the standoff. “We should get, um . . .” she started to say then blinked, breaking the trance between them. “I should get back to studying.”

  “Okay.” He was awe-struck by her, but when she blinked, he came back to reality and cleared his throat. “Yes, we should get back to, um, to studying.” He stuck the end of the pen in his mouth and turned his head back to look at his own notebook while dragging his sweating palms up and down his jean-clad thighs several times. He took one big, deep breath then resumed writing.

  Neither one of them could explain the passion they saw in the other’s eyes, but both were more than willing to return to these two particular topics of conversation—-at a later date—to find out.

  They busied themselves with their own work, but stopped occasionally to discuss a topic that Professor Lang seemed to emphasize for no apparent reason.

  A random thought popped into her head, and she realized that William wasn’t a boy at all. Yes, she referred to guys and men her age that way sometimes, not in a demeaning manner, but in the same way she called herself a girl. But now, he was different to her. He was a man. But again, that didn’t fit. That noun seemed too mature for both of them and the “boy” officially in her mind became a “guy,” settling the issue once and for all.

  She also happened to notice
his T-shirt under his unbuttoned flannel shirt clinging to his very fit chest. She took the last drink of her coffee then stood to stretch, needing to clear the dangerous detour her mind had taken.

  It felt good not having to always be talking or listening. Evie didn’t talk much these days and found the silence comforting, especially between two people becoming friends. She picked up her trash, as well as his, walked across the shop to the bin and dumped the garbage. Walking back, their eyes met and they both smiled. His smile was honest and meaningful. Hers was warm and sincere. It’s natural to feel joy when hanging out with friends, she remembered as happiness invaded every inch of her body.

  By three-thirty, she started to wrap things up, but stopped to ask, “It’s the weekend. Any plans?” This seemed like a normal question for a friend to ask another friend.

  “The library tomorrow at one, remember?” His heart sped up thinking she’d already forgotten their date.

  “Oh, yes. I wrote it in my planner already.”

  He smirked then stirred the pot by asking, “In pencil or ink?”

  “Ink, blue, to be exact.” She smiled as she said this, but he knew women well enough to know that a grin like that had hidden meaning. That was her chance to drive home a belief of hers—not a rational belief—but a belief all the same. He accepted that retort and allowed her a victory on the subject because the color of ink in her pen was not a deal breaker for him. Maybe the wasted muffin bottom, but definitely not the ink issue.

  He stood when she did and they walked out together, but Evie wanted to confirm that she would see him again. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Evie.”

  She waved good-bye and left, feeling as though she was floating. She still couldn’t get over how amorously he emphasized her name and deep down hoped that he would say it again tomorrow.

  Chapter 6

  Everleigh was expected at Tom’s for breakfast on Saturday morning. When she arrived, he didn’t greet her though she knew he heard her come in. She entered the living room and found him at the kitchen bar working on his laptop, his brow was furrowed, and his body tense. She rubbed his shoulders and tried to keep things light. “Why would you ruin a perfectly good morning with work?”