by Sadie Grubor
Oscar leaned down to the side of her head and whispered. She turned and smiled widely.
No way! I come to meet someone and my best friend ends up with her! Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t look at them any longer.
"Well, there are a lot of hot ladies here tonight, just pick one." James spread his arms out like a game show model.
"Yeah, because a random wife is the safe choice," my voice saturated with sarcasm.
"Hey," Oscar called over to me, "I’ve got your next date with Jackie set up." He grinned.
"Okay," I sighed. "Give me the details tomorrow."
After a quick nod, he took Phoebe to the dance floor.
"Looks like Oscar stole your date." Lilli leaned against the bar wiping up spills.
"Shut up." I tried to be mad, but laughter took ahold of me.
Her face split into a bright as sunshine smile. The way her dark eyes glittered with humor took my breath away for a moment. I wanted to keep her laughing, even if it was at my expense.
"What’s so funny?" Dixon asked as he leaned over my shoulder.
"Your roommate thinks she’s a comedian." I wore a fake scowl. She feigned innocence.
Dixon was about to speak but his attention was caught by a tall, leggy blonde who, for the first time, was not behind the bar with Lilli.
"Hey, Dixon," Celia smiled and leaned onto the bar to talk to Lilli. Dixon groaned as Celia leaned over the bar, pushing her ass out. Her ass was nice, but I knew who’s ass was better—Lilli’s. Shaking off the thoughts of Lilli, I focused on what I needed to do.
At the end of the night James disappeared, probably with a random girl. Oscar was driving my date home. You’re welcome, Oscar. And Celia asked Dixon to drive her home, much to his shock. I ended up sitting at the bar talking to Lilli until closing.
She surprised me when she asked me about my life. "So, what’s it like running such a large company at your age? That’s a lot of responsibility."
"It’s hard. I mean every day I have to think about the fact that what I do makes a difference to over 5000 employees, not including our affiliates." I sighed taking a drink of water. Saying it out loud made the inheritance conditions a heavier burden to bear.
"I wish I could say I understand, but I’m afraid I don’t. Though, I can imagine it would be difficult."
I looked at her after she said that. It wasn’t the usual response. Most people just said they could understand, even if they couldn’t.
"You’re in school, right?"
She nodded.
"That means you work late hours and then you head to classes during the day. That’s a lot of responsibility."
"Well, I was working part time and going to school full-time," she paused for a moment, "but that didn’t work out. So now, college is part-time and work is full-time." She smiled, but it was obviously forced.
"What’s your major?"
"Literature and Journalism," she blushed. The way she half closed her eyes and pursed her lips was adorable. "Don’t make fun of me." She gave me a fake stern look. I put my hands up in surrender.
Clearly ready to change the subject, she switched topics.
"So your parents were actually...?" She let her words drift off and her brow furrowed. Her hand that was wiping down the bar slowed.
"Murdered? Yeah, I was ten" I said quietly.
"Wow, that…sucks." Her face reddened, embarrassed by her comment.
I shrugged.
"You’re right. It did suck." I smiled sadly. She bit her lip. "It also brought me closer to my aunt and uncle. I was lucky considering."
Nodding, her hands moved, deftly stacking glasses.
"Is it a requirement, as a bartender, to be a makeshift therapist or something?" I found it way too easy to talk to her.
She laughed, loudly.
"Not that I am aware of. Besides, I don’t usually get to do a lot of talking while I work. The music gets pretty loud in here." She said over her shoulder.
"So, what about your parents?"
"Oh, my parents aren’t that interesting." Shaking her head, she wiped her hands on a towel.
"Come on," I coaxed, waving my hand for her to tell me.
"My father is a retired lobster fisherman in Winter Harbor where I basically grew up."
"What about your mother?"
"Ah, the cougar." She grinned. "After two failed marriages, my mother is now living in Canada with a hockey player. Sarah designs jewelry, lives off of the alimony from her second husband and supports her boy toys career." She turned, eyes on me. "Told you…boring." She smirked. Before I could say anything, she sat up on the bar and yelled.
"Bill, I’m taking off now!" Lilli swung her legs over the bar, grabbed her bag and hopped to her feet.
"See ya tomorrow night!" A muffled voice came from somewhere in the empty club.
Turning, she looked at me.
"So, loser, you ready to get out of here?" Her smile was so infectious, one dimple appearing on her right cheek.
"Loser? Why am I a loser?" I slipped from the barstool.
"Well let’s see, you came here for a blind date—that you let Dixon set you up on—your blind date basically did her own thing for the night, left with your friend and then the rest of your friends ditched you. What would call that?" She raised her eyebrow and gave me that one dimpled smile.
"You’re right. I’m a loser," I laughed.
"Told you." She placed her hand to her forehead, her fingers in the shape of an L.
When we got outside, she pulled a sweatshirt out of her bag and slipped it over her head. The way her back had arched to get the shirt on, I instantly thought about taking that sweatshirt, along with the rest of her clothing, off. Her long, dark hair looked even softer as she pulled it from the collar.
"Well, goodnight Aidan and better luck on your next date." With a smile, she left me on the sidewalk in front of the club, walking down the street.
"You’re walking?" Looking around at the darkness, I thought about what could be waiting in an alley for her.
She looked back.
"I do it every night, dad," she chuckled. "I grab the bus down the block," she kept walking. "Night!"
I found my car and climbed behind the wheel. I sat for less than a minute before I darted out of the parking space and headed in the direction she was walking. There's no way I'm letting her walk the dark street or sit at a bus stop this late.
Scanning the sidewalk, I spotted a figure stumbling in the shadows between streetlamps. It was Lilli, but something, or someone, else too. A shadow draped over her back, arms encircling her shoulders. She stumbled again, causing her to drop something.
My heart raced, blood pounded in my ears. Lilli was being attacked. Brining my car to a screeching halt, it would be until later I realized I pulled onto the curb.
Jumping from the car, not bothering to shut the door, I hurried to Lilli. Grasping the back of a long dark trench coat, I yanked the figure off Lilli.
"Leave him alone!" Lilli's protest stopped me from tossing her attacker to the ground.
"Aidan, what the hell are you doing?" She reached for the man, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a bench. In the yellow light bathing the bus stop, I could see her attacker. His weathered face, dingy worn clothes, he was an old man – probably homeless. Lilli spun back to me.
"What are you doing?" Confusion wrinkled her forehead.
"I’m sorry, I thought that he was…that you were…" She caught on to my thoughts.
"Oh. No, no." She brushed by me and bent to pick up a scarf from the ground. "This is Crazy Joe. He usually lies here on the bench, but he must have found a way to get booze tonight. I found him down the street on the curb." Walking back to the bench, she smiled and laid his scarf over him. "I couldn’t leave him on the ground, so I was helping him to the bench."
Taking three steps closer to her, she turned, leaning against the bench.
"But thanks," She lightly punched my shoulder. The moment she touched me a wave of heat
rushed from my shoulder to my toes and back up through my body. She seemed to feel it too, but quickly recovered. "You’re my hero!" Placing one hand to her forehead and the other over her heart, she faked a swoon. "I'll be fine, you can head home."
"Why don’t you just let me drive you back to your apartment?" I already saw the argument on her face. "It will make me feel less guilty about leaving you standing in the dark alone."
To emphasize my point, two young men staggered down the opposite side of the street. The minute they laid eyes on Lilli I saw their grins. I stepped further into the lamps light. Catching a glimpse of me, they decided to keep walking.
"I’ve got Crazy Joe," she giggled.
"Yeah, but it doesn’t look like Crazy Joe is up to being a hero tonight," I grinned.
"Fine, but quit following me." She teased, her eyes narrowing playfully, her lips upturned revealing her dimple.
Opening the car door she paused, looking over the car.
"What kind of car is this?" She slid into the brown leather seat.
"The Audi E Tron." Closing the door, I hurried to my door and slipped behind the wheel.
"So, what's that?" She looked over the car's brown, white and gray interior.
"It's one of their electric concept cars." Starting up the car, I put it in gear and gently backed down from the curb.
Lilli snorted.
"What?" I stole a quick glance at her shaking her head and then turned back to the road.
"I didn't picture you as the environmentally cautious type."
Even with my eyes focused on the road and traffic in front of us, I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Are you laughing at me?" I faked hurt.
"No. Not at all. In fact, it's quite refreshing to see a guy not trying to make up for lacking in other areas for a change."
I hit the break a bit too roughly at the stoplight. "I don't know if I should be insulted or thank you for the compliment."
She nodded. "Compliment." Though, it sounded more like a question than a confirmation of her meaning.
The stoplight changed to green. The rest of the drive was full of pleasant conversation before we reached her and Dixon's apartment building.
"Thanks for the ride." She grabbed the handle and opened the door.
"Lilli?" I blurted.
"Yeah?" One of her long, dark wash jean covered legs stretched out of the car, but she turned to look back at me.
My mind went blank. I didn't have anything to say. I just didn't like the idea of her getting out of the car.
"Sleep well. I mean, good night."
"You too." With a smile she was out of the car, door closing behind her.
Grumbling at my idiotic prepubescent boy behavior, I pulled away from the building and into the throng of traffic back to my apartment.
Chapter Four
Family Dinner's and Discussions
Aidan
Tonight was my date with Jackie, courtesy of Oscar. Choosing an upscale Italian restaurant downtown, I figured a good impression may help my cause. Having arrived first, I sat at the table taking in the Tuscan feel of the restaurant. The real grape vines growing up the wall next to the bar, the stone walls and white trim all provided for atmosphere.
Jackie arrived on the heels of the hostess. Her light brown hair hung in loose waves to her shoulders. Her large eyes were a soft caramel color. Standing, I introduced myself. On closer inspection, her features were long and thin. Not severely so, but, with her large eyes, it was a bit odd looking. Regardless of appearance, her personality was pleasant. She was polite, listened and didn't shy away from the conversation. I made a couple of attempts at humor but it seemed lost on her. After twenty minutes, I found myself distracted and comparing her to the qualities I believed I wanted. She wasn’t quite fitting the checklist I wasn't even aware I'd made.
When Jackie smiled, there was something missing for me. Our hands brushed when we both reached for the bottle of wine and, again, something was lacking. Jackie was nice and sweet, almost flawless. Somewhere deep inside, I yearned for her to call me a Loser or tease me. What the hell was wrong with me?
After the second bottle of wine, I found a flaw. Jackie drank one too many glasses and became another woman. She excused herself for the ladies room and upon return moved her chair next to mine. She sat so close, leaning into my side, whispering dirty things in my ear.
"I'm not wearing any panties." Spittle landed on my cheek as she whisp-slurred.
"Well, that's good to know." Reaching for my water, I put the glass to my lips.
"They're right here." Black lace dangled from her finger in my face.
I choked on my water, snatching the panties from her finger. "Jackie, I think we should probably get going."
"Why?" She pouted. "I'm a big fan of public displays." She leaned into the side of my face, her hot breath washing over my ear. "I could slip under the long white table cloth and no one would notice." She palmed my crotch.
Startling me, my knee banged against the table. Jackie giggled and started sliding down in her seat under the table. As I was about to reach for her, she smacked her head of the wooden table.
"Ow, damn it!" Grabbing her forehead, she groaned.
The wine bottle fell over, silverware and plates rattled. The entire restaurant turned their attention towards the commotion. In shock, I apologized and quickly paid the bill. Once out of the restaurant, I gave my ticket to one valet and asked the other to hail a taxi.
"Don't you want to ask me back to your place?" Her arms slid over my shoulders. She licked her thin lips and leaned forward, bringing her face close to mine.
"Perhaps, another night." A taxi pulled up next to us and I helped Jackie climb into the back. After the taxi pulled away, I stared at the taillights. What the hell was wrong with me? She was prime material to get laid and I sent her home. These conditions are messing with me.
The valet arrived with my car. After giving them both a large tip, I headed for the sanctuary of home. But not before I made a call.
"Speak to me," Oscar answered.
"What the fuck was that Oz?"
He couldn't hold in his laughter. He couldn't even speak.
"Oh, is this a joke to you?" My anger boiled, causing my voice to rise.
"Did you get her drunk?" he snorted.
"I hate you!" Hanging up on him, I ignored his attempts to call me back.
Halfway home my phone rang again. Before I could silence it, I saw Viola's name on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Hey, honey. How are you doing?" Aunt Vi asked, concern filled her voice.
"I’m good. What’s up?"
"I can’t just call you to see how you are?"
"At 9 o'clock at night, Viola?"
"Listen, family and friends are coming to dinner tomorrow night. I would like for you to come," she said.
"Who’s coming?" Suspicion crept over me.
"Oh, you know…the McConnell’s." She said their name so quick, I almost laughed.
"I see."
Turning into the parking garage, I let silence work on Vi, waiting for her to reveal her plot. It didn't take long. I was parking in my reserved space when she finally cracked.
"Aidan, I think it would be nice for you to come and see Elora. You two haven’t seen each other since you were kids." Now she was getting to the point.
"Viola, Elora is a socialite snob. You and I both know that." I sighed, dropping my head back against the cushion of the driver's seat. Elora was always attractive, but was a prudish and I hadn’t had time for that over the past years. She was also a huge socialite and concerned with everything status.
"Be polite Aidan. Besides you haven’t seen her in years. She could be different and you know it," Viola argued.
With a mini montage of my past dating attempts, I dejectedly accepted this plan.
"What time?"
"Seven. Thank you, Aidan!" She almost sang.
"I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."
Finally home, I vegetated in front of the TV with a glass of bourbon before passing out on the couch.
My cell phone woke me the next morning—Dixon.
"Hey man," I groaned as I tried to stretch the kinks out of my body.
"Time to get up, dude!"
"You are way too happy. I guess you finally got some." Still half-asleep, I sat up and rubbed my face.
"A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell."
"Ah, so that means you're going to tell me all the details. I bet she’s a screamer." Standing, I walked toward the kitchen. Coffee, I need coffee.
"You're a sick man, my friend, but I like it! I like it a lot!" He laughed.
"So, why are you calling and waking me up so early?"
"Oh shit, yeah, come over for the game. I already called Oz and he’s heading over in a few."
"Alright let me get caffeinated and dressed. I'll have to leave to have dinner with my aunt and uncle tonight, so I can’t stay all afternoon."
"Sure, sure…get your ass in gear."
"Hey, you care if I call James?"
"Nah, call that bastard too," he chuckled.
"Later." I tossed my phone onto the kitchen counter and prayed there was coffee in the cabinet.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After an afternoon of sports, beer, chips and subs at Dixon’s place, I took off to my aunt and uncles house. Arriving around six, so I could clean up before dinner, I found my cousin Maggie sitting in the living room.
"Hey, little lady." Leaning in, I kissed her cheek.
"Aidan," she wrapped her hands around my neck and squeezed. "Mom said you would be here for dinner, but I figured you would bail since it's the McConnell’s." She wrinkled her nose.
"Nah, Aunt Vi knows, I can’t say no to her."
I ruffled her bright red hair.
"Hey! I was having an awesome hair day, jerk!" Laughing, I headed upstairs to clean up before dinner.
Once showered and dressed, I descended back downstairs. Maggie wasn’t in the living room any longer; female voices filtered from the kitchen, so I headed in that direction.
Maggie was propped up on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. I could remember when her legs wouldn’t even reach the first bar on those stools. It was hard to believe she was going to be fifteen soon.