by Nia Arthurs
“We remained true to your idea of a group of friends learning more about Belizean history, our heritage and our culture. We thought we’d all decide on their names together so that you could be a part of the process.”
“Sounds good,” Mrs. Sharon nodded.
Drew returned, carrying a large poster board in his hands.
“Sorry about that, ladies.”
He placed the poster board on a chair and turned it so that its front faced us. It was set up like a comic book, similar to the layout that I’d shown to Drew on Tuesday, but his was a lot more organized. Our cartoon friends were drawn exactly the way I’d pictured them in my mind.
Cool.
“This is the layout board. You can look over it. Tell us what you like, what you don’t like and what you think we need to add. After you approve this part, then the real work begins.”
“I won’t take long to look it over. Just let me get my glasses.” Mrs. Freemont stood and quickly trotted out, locking the door behind her.
I moved toward the layout board for a closer look at our cartoon characters.
I laughed as I saw the ideas we’d been bantering back and forth come to life on the sheets.
“What do you think?” Drew asked.
“I think it looks fantastic.”
He seemed pleased.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well you did.”
I glanced up and noticed that he was closer than I’d initially thought. The blue of his eyes hypnotized me. It was really unfair that one man was so good-looking. He had to have a physical flaw somewhere. He probably had a birthmark on his butt or something weird like that. The King evens everyone out eventually.
“Do you want me?” Drew whispered.
“Huh?”
“Do you want it?” He said in a regular voice, “The board. I photocopied the sketches and made another that you can keep.”
Whoa, my mind was going places it shouldn’t. I really should check up on that.
“Yes. Yes. I want the board. That is exactly what I want.”
Drew gave me that strange, amused glance again and I stepped back.
“I found them!” Mrs. Sharon returned to the room, effectively bringing a new energy. “Let me see.” She stooped near to the board and appraised each sheet which formed a square of the comic book layout.
“Mm-hm,” She mumbled.
“Okay,” She stood at last, “It’s good. I’d like there to be a Mennonite character added to the main group. Maybe the kids can learn a little more about them other than the fact that they dress differently than us.”
“We can do that.” Drew agreed easily.
“Perfect. Lexi, how soon can the first episode be up on air?”
“We can get her done by next week Saturday, Ms… I mean Sharon.”
“Awesome!” She whipped out her fancy phone and started typing wildly, “I’ll call all the local radio stations. Channel Four News won’t want to post any coverage, but we don’t need them anyway.”
Mumbling as she went, Mrs. Freemont walked out of the room carrying the huge board beneath her armpit.
“Did she just say ‘radio shows’?” I breathed deeply.
Drew nudged my shoulder and my heart sped up into overdrive. “Relax, you’ll be fine.”
Did no one understand how traumatizing falling flat on your face during the offering could be?
“If only it were that simple.” I sighed.
“I’ve got your back.” Drew tapped my back gently.
My heart galloped within my chest and I took a big step back.
“I-I’ve got to go.”
“Oh,” Drew seemed disappointed, “You have an appointment?”
“No.” I admitted honestly, and then realized that an appointment was the perfect excuse to get out of here. “Yes.” I lied.
Drew regarded me strangely, but I didn’t linger. Stiffly turning my back, I treaded out of the conference room and headed straight for the elevator.
“Hey, wait up!” Drew called, following me to the elevator. Heads turned in his wake as he stepped quickly beside me. Women gave him a second glance and then a third. I understood the need to stare. The man was a testament to a Higher Being. Only a gifted Creator was capable of forming such a beautiful man. Two rocks being flung together in the cosmos certainly didn’t result in a human as fine as Drew.
“Let me ride with you.” We got in and travelled the three seconds it took to go from the first to the ground floor in tense silence. Seriously, everything about Drew was starting to get to me. I noticed the way his hair curled slight at the top of his head where his mane did the little messy hair thing. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners a little when he laughed. The way his eyebrows arched when he thought I was being stupid. The way his hands tapped against his leg when he felt awkward. The way his cologne filled my senses with the light musky scent of…
“Lexi. Lexi!”
“Huh? What?”
Drew gestured to the open floor of the lobby. “We’re here. Are you sure you’re okay.” He placed his hand to my forehead and I nearly fainted from the contact.
Drew was touching me.
I was such a nerd. What did normal people do when they had crushes? Someone should write a Dummies book for nerds.
HOW TO SURVIVE A CRUSH… FOR NERDS.
“Oh, thanks.” I stepped forward and Drew followed, moving out of the elevator doors’ way so that it could close.
“You’re welcome.” The tall, dark-haired guy kept step with me. “I guess we’ll talk more tomorrow about the backgrounds and writers and designs.”
“Sure.” I smiled as he opened the door for me and we stepped out into the warm sunshine.
“See you.” He waved and treaded to his own car.
I stepped up to Black Herbie, unlocked the alarm and opened the car with the key. I adjusted my rear-view mirrors. Drew still hadn’t left yet. I shrugged. He was probably on his phone or something. I twisted the key in the ignition and waited for my baby to turn over.
It did and I prepared to shift into first gear.
Unfortunately, Herbie coughed and died.
“No, baby,” I coaxed my vehicle, “Don’t treat me like that. Come on.”
I switched the ignition again. Herbie sputtered and then gave out.
“Herbie,” I spoke in a firm tone. “Black Herbie Volkswagon, you will start or so help me I will turn you into compressed metal.”
Like a rebellious teenager, my warning only served to make Herbie more stubborn.
“Ugh,” I hit my palm against the steering wheel. “Why me?”
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knuckles against the window came so suddenly, I got a little scared. I turned around quickly only to behold Drew’s face floating in the center of my glass.
“Drew!” I threw the door open and it flew into Drew’s abdomen.
Oh my gosh!
I closed the door immediately and then opened it again to check on him just as he was evening out. This time, the door handle delivered a blow to his forehead. Drew dropped flat to the ground with a thump.
I climbed out of the car and rushed to his side.
“Drew! Drew! Don’t go into the light!”
He groaned, “Would you stop screaming in my ears.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and helped him to sit up, brushing the sand from his back. I rocked back on the balls of my feet, as I stooped.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little winded.”
I noticed a cut on his forehead and cringed. Feeling guilty, I rummaged through my purse for a Kleenex and dabbed at his bleeding head.
He stood and held the napkin in place by himself. I clutched my hands in front of me and stared guiltily into his eyes as I repeated my heartfelt apology.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Lexi. It was an accident.”
If it were possible for me to fade into the rocky ground, I
would. I’d gladly become a pebble for the rest of my days if only to escape the horror snaking its way through my veins.
Give the man a concussion. Smooth, Lexi.
Drew winced but removed the Kleenex from his cut. “I think it’s all better now.” He glanced down at me and squeezed my shoulder. “Are you having engine problems?”
“Oh,” I waved dismissively at Herbie. “He’s just old.”
“I can take a look if you like.”
“Sure. Look away. I’ll give you some space to make sure Herbie and I don’t accost you any more than we already have today.”
Drew grinned as I took three giant steps back.
“Okay,” Drew leaned over. From my vantage, the hood covered everything but his nicely rounded derriere. I whipped my head away from the sight. The last thing I needed right now was for Drew to catch me ogling his butt like some kind of inappropriate psychopath. The man tinkered with Herbie’s guts for a few minutes and then slammed the engine shut.
“I’m afraid your vehicle’s not going anywhere right now. Your filters are clogged. We can go get some new ones and I can change them for you.”
“No way. I don’t want to disturb your day. I can call my dad and he can deal with this.”
“It’s no problem. I can drop you to your appointment and come back and deal with this.”
“Appointment?” I echoed stupidly, “What appointment… oh.” I recalled at the last minute that I lied to get away from the captivating Drew Darcy.
He rubbed his dirty hands on his jeans and it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen in my life.
“You’re a terrible liar. Do you know that?”
“I’ve been told that before.” I admitted, swallowing uncomfortably.
Drew shook his head at me. “Come on. Direct me to the nearest auto body shop so we can get this thing running again.”
He slammed Herbie’s hood down and gestured with his head for me to follow him to his fully functioning rental vehicle. I slid in as Drew started the car and took the wheel.
“So,” He said as I directed him to turn onto the highway. “Why did you lie about having an appointment?”
Because I have a crush on you and I don’t know anything about who you are or what you believe and I sort of want to know those things before I let myself feel anything else for you.
“I don’t know.” I lied again.
Drew smirked down at me. “You really are terrible at it.”
I sunk lower into my seat.
Drew pursed his lips. “Do I make you uncomfortable?”
I glanced at his pale face. Why would he think that?
“No.”
“Oh,” He kept his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road, but his voice betrayed his sincerity. “I know you don’t like me and I’ve been in your territory a lot over the past week.”
He thought he was somehow at fault?
That’s so sweet.
It felt strange to recall that I’d only known Drew for less than a week. Normally, I didn’t warm up to men unless they were a part of my family. The really rude, arrogant man that had lambasted me about being a bad mother seemed a far cry from the cool, relaxed Drew that sat in my couch and watched my animes with me.
“No, it’s not that.” I assured him honestly, “I don’t mind having you around.” I shut my lips to keep anything more damning from escaping.
“Then why’d you lie-”
“Turn right!” I yelled and he returned his attention to the road and did as I commanded.
“Well,” he insisted when I kept silent. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”
I played with the hem of my blouse.
“I guess I …”
Thankfully, the auto shop came into view before I could say anything stupid, effectively cutting the conversation short.
Drew sent me a narrow look as if I had somehow communed with the traffic in order to time our arrival right when he expected an answer.
I could only shrug innocently.
“You’re not off the hook.” He warned before getting out of the vehicle and stepping up to the sidewalk. I followed after him and we both entered the auto shop together.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CY’s Auto Shop was a large showroom with all manner of manly car things and tools and stuffies. I could name about five items in the shop. I recognized a tire, oil, and a hammer. Everything else was foreign to me.
“Hey,” A young guy in the CY’s blue imprint apron greeted us. “What can I do for you today?”
“Hey,” Drew nodded at the guy, “I’m looking for fuel filters for a…” A puzzled look overcame his face. “What’s the year of your car again?”
The year the dinosaurs became extinct. I thought meanly.
“It’s a 1998.” I said instead.
“Sure, right this way.” The man seemed extra chirpy. We followed him to the back of the store where Drew stepped away to appraise the fuel filters. They kind of looked like mini oil drums.
Cute.
“So,” The guy whose name tag said ‘DUSTIN’ leaned against a display case and nodded at me. “Are you two together?”
“Ha,” I snorted, “Me and Drew? No, we’re just work partners.”
“Oh,” Dustin seemed kind of happy about that. I wasn’t sure why. “Do you like pizza?”
I narrowed my eyes at the random change in topic.
“Doesn’t everybody like pizza?” I said obviously.
Dustin found my comment funny and he laughed loudly. Drew stepped over to us with a bemused expression.
“I’ll take two of these. Thank you.”
“Sure thing.” Dustin moved to stand behind the counter, “Anything for the lady.”
“Wow,” I whispered to Drew, “They have great customer service here.”
He chuckled like I’d told a joke.
Men. Who could understand them?
Dustin rang up our purchase and I quickly handed him my money before Drew could barge his way into my business and pay for me. I caught the look of censure the raven-haired man sent my way but I only smiled in triumph.
I’m a big girl with my own money, thank you very much.
Dustin handed me back my change and told me to have a good day. I thanked him and returned the sentiment as I walked out of the store. Drew pressed the alarm and I opened my own door and slid in. As soon as his feet landed in the clean gray carpet of his car, Drew burst into laughter.
“What? What’s so funny?” I called, straining to recall if I had done or said anything embarrassing in the last few minutes.
“That guy,” Drew swiped at his eyes, “He was flirting with you.”
I snorted, “Yeah right.”
“He was,” Drew insisted. “He was trying so hard.”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on, let’s get to Black Herbie.”
But Drew refused to start the engine. “You mean you really didn’t notice all the signs?”
“What signs?”
Drew gazed at me and a grin spread across his face, “I take it back. You’re a good little actress, Lexi.”
“I’m not acting.” I folded my arms. “I think Dustin was just being friendly.”
“Mm-hm,” Drew mused better than any black person I’d heard.
“What?” I exclaimed, exasperation coloring my tone.
“A guy is never “just friendly”.” Dustin put bunny ears around the words.
“I’m a sure a lot of men would disagree with you.”
“Hasn’t your dad talked to you about this?” Drew glanced at me, “Archie told me about the shot gun and the lectures.”
“My dad made it clear that men only want one thing.” I admitted, “But he didn’t walk me through the fertile fields of flirting.”
Huh, that was a pretty good alliteration. I should write that down somewhere.
I restrained the self-pat on the shoulder, despite the fact that I deserved it.
“Fine.” Drew scoffed, “Let me lay it out for you.” He
scooted closer to me and I immediately felt butterflies.
“Step one,” Drew counted with his finger, “Extended eye contact.” He demonstrated, his blue eyes staring intently into mine. “It lets the person know that you’re interested.”
I pushed past the appeal of staring into Drew’s gorgeous eyes in order to recall if Dustin had done that to me.
“I don’t remember extensive eye contact. At least not like this.”
“That’s because he didn’t lean in to your personal space. But he was trying his best.”
“Okay,” I humored him, “what’s the next one.”
“The second step is to smile.”
“Aw, come on!” I moaned, “Smiling is considered flirting nowadays? I can’t even innocently smile at somebody without them thinking I’m trying to get with them?”
“Nope. Not unless the guy is old and even then…”
I groaned into my hands. “Let me guess. Dustin was smiling with me.”
“Yeah.” Drew pursed his lips. “A lot.”
“I don’t even want to hear the rest.” I admitted to Drew.
He laughed but honored my desire and started the car.
“Face it, he was flirting with you and you were flirting back.”
“I was not!” I protested vehemently. “I cannot flirt. Do it. Try to flirt with me right now.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
Drew shrugged, “Okay.” He winked at me as he drove and said in a deep voice, “Hey, girl can I get your-”
“Potato.” I blurted.
Drew leaned away and surveyed me strangely.
“What was that?”
“My attempt at flirting.”
“You’re joking right?”
“Nope.” I threw my hands in the air and accepted my grim fate. “I’m not a flirter. I don’t seduce; I don’t tempt; I don’t giggle.”
He slanted me a look.
“You giggle.”
“I don’t!” I insisted. “I’m physically incapable.”
“Come on.” Drew laughed, “You can’t be that bad.”
I shook my head. “I spent a lot of time reading and watching anime growing up. My social skills are practically non-existent now. And when I hang out, I’m usually with my family so I’ve skipped the whole trial and error thing with boys. I’ve never had a guy friend.”