Crossing Paths

by Melanie Stinnett

  The drive feels relaxed and easy. We talk about our work week and listen to music filtering through the car speakers. As we get closer to the event, my heart starts to race. I feel nervous, hoping everything has turned out well.

  We arrive right on time. The warm night air is perfect as we walk through the doors. Tables with bright yellow tablecloths are scattered throughout the room. Each one features a different item up for auction. Surrounding each item is a masterpiece of colorful tulips entwined with greenery and woven into curly willow branches. The centerpieces, designed by Audrey and me, will be sold tonight as spring wreaths. I take a few seconds to marvel at the beauty that Audrey and I have created. The charity is sure to benefit from our efforts.

  “Everything looks wonderful,” Liam whispers into my ear.

  “You think so?”

  He nods once as he smiles down at me. We mingle and take a look at the silent auction items. For the rest of the evening, we have little alone time. He leads me to the bar several times to ensure our drinks are full. Each time, he orders water for himself and whatever drink I prefer. I watch him as he talks with others. Although he engages them in meaningful conversations, he never leaves my side. Throughout the night, I can feel his touch. Sometimes, his hand rests across my back or on my upper arm. Other times, he lightly touches my shoulder or grips my waist. I find myself longing for his touch to linger, but he never keeps his hand steady in one place.

  Audrey, my boss, catches a glimpse of me from across the room, and she heads over with her husband to say hello. Her eyebrows rise in approval as she sees Liam with his hand placed at my waist. I introduce them to one another, and Liam says hello as he shakes her husband’s hand.

  “Caroline, do you think we could talk in private for a moment?”

  I look to Liam who is already sharing stories about fishing with Audrey’s husband. He gives me a quick glance, and he nods.

  “Sure, Audrey.”

  As we walk away, I begin to worry that something has gone wrong. Did I remember to mark each auction item? What if someone thinks the colors are too bright? We walk into a nearby hallway, and Audrey turns to me, grabbing me by my arms.

  “He is so good-looking. Are you two dating?” She smiles.

  “Oh, Liam?” I ask, confused.

  “Yes, Liam. Oh my gosh, if I wasn’t a married woman, you would have to fight me off. You better get your claws in that one!”

  I begin laughing. “You scared the crap out of me, Audrey. I thought something was wrong.”

  “No, everything is perfect. No one has said anything negative about the event. They love it all. What I really want to know is if you are dating that little bit of hotness out there.”

  “No, but maybe,” I answer, laughing again.

  “Well, turn that maybe into a yes soon. Wow!” She swipes her hand across her forehead, wiping away the fake sweat apparently caused by Liam’s hotness.

  “Okay, okay. Sheesh. Settle down, girl.”

  “Let’s get you back over there before some piranha snatches him up.”

  When we walk back into the room, Liam and Audrey’s husband are still talking. I am in awe of Liam’s ability to converse about nearly any subject as he presents himself with such charm.

  Audrey slips her arm around her husband’s waist and gives him a small hug. “Honey, don’t you think Caroline did a wonderful job?”

  “It’s better than wonderful. I know the charity is appreciative of all your work,” he says.

  “I think we should head over and buy a wreath for my mom. She’ll love what you’ve designed,” Liam comments.

  I feel my face begin to blush as Liam takes my hand in his and leads us away. This is the point in the evening when I should remind myself to be careful. Unfortunately, my mind seems to be on the losing end of this tug of war as my heart leaps from my chest when he whispers into my ear.

  “Caroline.”

  I look up at him with my mouth slightly agape.

  “They said they’ll deliver it to the house. Are you ready to head home?”

  What? It’s time to go already? “Whenever you are,” I answer.

  “I’m really more curious about what would make you happy,” he says, his hand lingering on my waist. His eyes are fixed on mine, and we stand silent, staring at each other.

  Eventually, he turns and leads me to the car. We drive to my apartment without a word to one another as music plays softly. I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. Did he have a good time? Did he wish we could have talked more? Did he think I talked too much? By the time we pull into the parking spot, my mind is going nonstop.

  We walk together to my apartment door.

  “Thanks for tonight,” I say as I turn the key to unlock my front door.

  Leaning back against the door frame, I look up and meet his gaze. His deep brown eyes are trained on me, and my glance does little to deter him. As if in slow motion, his hand reaches up to my chin, and his lips touch my cheekbone. I have never felt a kiss so soft. It’s as if he uses only the weight of feathers to touch my tender skin. His lips linger on my cheek as his hand squeezes my arm lightly. When he pulls away, I realize I’ve been holding my breath. When he lightly brushes his thumb across my cheek, the air rushes back into my lungs. There is that lifesaving power again.

  “Are you busy tomorrow?” Liam asks, leaning in closer with his hand now at my waist.

  “Work project…I mean, no, um…no. I have a few finishing touches to put on a work project, but it won’t take long,” I say.

  “I have an extra ticket to the baseball game tomorrow afternoon. A buddy and I are going. You could come along if you want.”

  I see what looks like a little glint of hope in his eyes. How am I supposed to say no to that?

  “Sure. What time should I be ready?”

  “Noon. We can grab some food at the ballpark if you’re okay with a late lunch.”

  “Okay.”

  Liam gives me a sweet smile. “See you tomorrow. Tonight was fun.” He slowly turns and walks toward the stairs.

  I watch him as he walks away until his figure disappears behind the glass door leading to the stairwell.

  I dance straight to my room. I kick my legs and thrash my arms in an uncontrolled fashion, squealing, before I throw myself onto the bed with a ridiculous grin on my face. I can’t believe this is really happening. Am I falling for June’s brother?

  I need to find a way to tell her before this gets out of hand.

  Friday

  Caroline’s sweet blue eyes had mesmerized me all night long. If we hadn’t been in a crowded room full of other professionals, I would have given her a real kiss hours ago. But standing at her front door, I froze. I couldn’t decide what I should do. I knew my sister would be pissed if she knew we were spending time together.

  In the end, I kissed her. I kissed my sister’s best friend. Granted, it was only a kiss on the cheek—not that I didn’t want to do more, believe me. That kiss, although brief, was one of the sexiest experiences of my life. She just stood there in that beautiful dress, looking up into my eyes when my lips left her skin. I have no idea if she was waiting for me to kiss her on the lips or just waiting for a good-bye, but next time, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back.

  What’s even more unbelievable is that I invited her to a baseball game, and I don’t really have an extra ticket. I’ll have to ditch one of my friends to take her along. Eli wouldn’t be a good choice. He would never let me live down the fact that I shoved him off for a girl. James would be the more logical choice since he has a wife and kids. Maybe he won’t harp on me too much.

  I pull out my phone and lean against my car. I call James, dreading the conversation.

  “Hey, Liam. You already ducked out of your charity event?”

  “Yeah. You know those rich people. They don’t stay out too late.”

  “Well, why don’t you meet us over at Eli’s? We’re going to play some pool and have a few drinks.”

 
“Pool sounds good. See you in a bit.”

  Crap! Now, I’ll have to bring up Caroline in front of all the guys. I make the quick drive home, change into something more appropriate for a game of pool, and head to Eli’s house.

  Walking through the side gate and to the back door, I can hear the music blaring and the guys laughing. At least I’ll have a good time before I get reamed for liking a girl. I swear that sometimes I feel like I’m back in high school with these guys.

  “Dude, Liam! What’s up, man?” Oliver slaps me a quick high five.

  From the look in his eyes, I can already tell that he’s drunk. Guess he’ll be staying here tonight.

  “You guys ready to get your asses beat?” I pull a cue stick from the wall and rub chalk against the end.

  “Oh, sure. The expert has arrived. Please show us all how it’s done,” Eli jokes.

  We play a few games, and I school them for a while. Then, I sit back and let them berate each other. The more they drink, the more they bicker back and forth about the rules. It’s actually quite humorous. After a couple of hours, I’m debating on whether I should head home when James speaks up.

  “Alright, Eli. You win, but I’ve always been a loser at pool, so I’m not sure how good it should make you feel that you can beat me.” He places his cue stick in the holder on the wall. “Listen, guys, I gotta head out. Lindsey is expecting me to be home soon.”

  “Lindsey makes my lunch. Lindsey wants me to take over the kids’ car pool for a day. Lindsey—” Eli starts harassing James.

  I tune him out. This is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. “I’ll walk out with you. I’m beat from this week.”

  “You guys are such losers,” Oliver says, sitting on the couch.

  He’s so drunk by this point that I’m not sure he’ll be awake in two minutes. I bet he won’t even remember this conversation.

  James and I walk across the paved stones, retracing our steps to the driveway.

  “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then,” James says, walking toward his gray van.

  “Actually, I need to ask you for a favor.”

  “Sure, what do you need? Is everything okay?”

  Man, he is such a good guy. He’s always worried about everyone else, and he would do anything for anybody. I’m grateful for friends like him. This really sucks.

  “Oh, yeah, everything is fine. It’s just…well, I met this girl, and I sort of gave away your ticket to the baseball game tomorrow.”

  “You did what?”

  “Listen, if you still want to go, I can just buy us tickets and sit with her somewhere else.”

  “You’re serious! Who is this girl? Do I know her?”

  “Just a girl I met last weekend.”

  “You must think a little bit of her to start ditching your friends.”

  “I know, it’s a dick move. I took her to the charity event tonight, and when we were saying good night, it just came out. I didn’t mean to invite her.”

  “Let me guess. You were just trying to figure out another time you could hang out with her, and the baseball game was the first thing that came to mind.”

  I look up at him sheepishly.

  “Hey, I understand. When Lindsey and I met, you guys wouldn’t lay off, but I didn’t care. I knew she was it for me, so it was all worth it. I hope she’s it for you, man.” He gives me a pat on the back and begins walking away toward his van. “I do expect some payback though. Tomorrow’s game is supposed to be good.”

  “The tickets for the next game are all yours!” I shout after him.

  Although it’ll be rough not having James around to corral Eli at the game, I definitely made the right choice. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I lean my head back against the headrest and think about having another few hours with Caroline. I didn’t even ask her if she likes sports. With her beautiful body and bright eyes distracting me, I know I won’t be paying much attention to the game. The big question is, How will Eli react when I show up with Caroline instead of James?

  Friday

  Standing in the driveway of my parents’ house, I wonder how to get these flowers to my bedroom without being noticed. It reminds me of playing Mario Brothers with my brother when I was little. He always knew all the tricks, and I was stuck running right through the middle of every trap and disaster. Now, the only difference is that instead of losing fake lives, I’ll lose my sanity if my mother finds out a guy sent me flowers.

  I should have left them at the apartment since we’ll be at the lake until Sunday, but I wanted a chance to enjoy these beautiful peonies even if it is just during the brief ride between here and my place. And, okay, I’ll admit that a little reminder of the hot guy who sent them isn’t such a bad thing either.

  Grabbing my weekend bag in one hand and the vase of flowers in the other, I head for the side door. I somehow avoid interactions with human beings, but when I reach the stairs, I have to concentrate as our pet horse tries to plow me over. Okay, so he’s not a horse, but geez, could my parents have chosen a bigger dog?

  I climb the stairs to my childhood room and struggle to turn the doorknob. While trying to open my bedroom door, I realize that I probably should have left my weekend bag at the foot of the stairs. Using my hip along with the heel of my hand, it finally pops open.

  This room has changed many times over the years while I was growing up, but since I left, it’s become my mom’s personal shrine. Pillows are propped up against the headboard, framed pictures from high school are scattered on every available surface, and my desk chair is set askew as if I’m about to sit down and begin my homework.

  I set the flowers down on my nightstand and step back to admire them for a moment. As I let a smile spread across my face, I hear the front door open followed by the sound of Addison’s heels. Why can’t she wear sensible shoes? I close the door to my room before I head back downstairs, lugging my bag out to Addison’s car.

  Soon after, we’re on the road, driving through the winding curves that lead to the cabin near the lake. As we pull in, I catch a glimpse of my favorite spot—a blue-and-white hammock in the shade. I brought my e-reader full of new books, so I can relax and enjoy my time. Funny enough, these weekends typically consist of the three of us doing completely different things, and we usually come together only for meals. The quiet time between us is something I treasure.

  When we arrive, everyone seems tired, so we eat a quick sandwich and head off to bed.

  Saturday

  Early in the morning, I hear my mom outside. Slipping on some comfortable jean shorts, worn flip-flops, and a graphic tee that says something about being a Texan, I head straight to the hammock. Mom pulls out several pallets of flowers from the back of Addison’s car, and then she begins planting them in the gardens around the cabin. A few minutes later, Addison heads down to the lake with a towel, wearing a bright pink designer cover-up over her swimsuit and some flip-flops.

  This moment is perfection.

  I get situated in the hammock, starting where I left off on my most recent read. About a chapter in, I’m caught in the middle of a really steamy scene. Feeling a little awkward, I look over to make sure my mom is still tending to her flowers, and then I keep reading. These two random strangers have never met before, and over the span of two days, they can see into each other’s souls, feeling what the other feels. He can completely destroy her resolve with one touch of his fingertips to her cheek. Do scenes like this actually play out in real life? It sounds insane, but it also sounds beautiful. I want a beginning like that. I want powerful emotion and genuine desire. Just as the scene is starting to reach its climax, my phone begins to ring.

  “Thanks for ruining my reading moment, Caroline,” I say, faking disdain.

  “Oh, shut up. You know talking to me is more exciting than reading one of your love stories.”

  “Alright, are you trying to piss me off or what?”

  “He asked me out again.”

  “What are you talking about? Oh, the guy from
work who took you to the charity event? He must really be into you. So, are you going out with him next weekend?”

  “No, he wants to take me to a baseball game today.”

  I laugh so hard that I almost fall out of the hammock. “You’re going to a baseball game? That’ll be a riot. Wait, what about your brother?”

  “I already called my brother to tell him that I’ll have to see him tomorrow. This guy is seriously hot, June. I can’t turn him down. I know I have hated sports in the past, but surely, I can get through one baseball game. And, you never know, maybe I just haven’t given sports a fair try before. Maybe I’ll have fun.”

  “You crack me up, Caroline. Just go and have a good time. Be ready to spill it when I see you at my parents’ on Sunday night. I want serious details.”

  “Alright. Think peaceful thoughts about me today.”

  “Okay, weirdo. See you tomorrow.”

  I hang up the phone, laughing to myself. My best friend is nuts, but it’s kind of nice to see her nervous about a guy. Maybe she’s finally found someone who can settle her wild side. Maybe we’ll both find love. I finish reading my steamy love scene, and eventually, I fall asleep in the shade of the trees.

  Saturday

  There’s no way I’m getting any work done before the game. I resort to working out because I need something to do while I wait for noon to roll around. I’m hoping exercise will relax my nerves. I spend an hour and a half swimming in the pool. Then, after changing my clothes in the locker room, I head home.

  My legs feel like Jell-O as I walk up the stairs to the apartment. I wonder how much walking I will have to do this afternoon. I have never been to a baseball game, so I don’t have a clue what the ballpark is like. I didn’t mention to Liam that I’m not into sports at all. Hopefully, he won’t pick up on the fact that I know nothing about baseball.