by Tara Oakes
“Thanks.... It’s really not necessary. I absolutely have to be going.”
Tanya is like a little chihuahua nipping at my heels, “I think it’s important to explain to you-”
I spin around. “No! I don’t need you to explain anything. Dom’s already clued me in to your... your history. I don’t need to know any more of it.”
A wickedly evil smile plays out over Tanya’s horribly vibrant red shiny lips. “Oh really? Are you sure he’s told you everything? I highly doubt that.”
Whatever small amount of patience I’ve been using to restrain myself is now gone. I point my finger at the wanton woman in front of me, “Listen, I’m sorry that things didn’t work out the way you wanted them too. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to move on, but my relationship with Dom has absolutely nothing to do with you or anything that happened between the two of you a long time ago.”
That seemed to be exactly what Tanya was waiting to hear. I can practically see her salivating at the mouth.
“You really believe that don’t you? You think your perfect little life just happened to fall right into place, don’t you.” She laughs, “For someone so smart, with your fancy school and your fancy job, you really are just a dumb little girl... a little baby. Maybe that’s why they still call you Baby V?”
Our escalating voices must have traveled far, as a security guard enters our space, “Miss. Lombardi, is everything alright?”
I turn to greet the uniformed employee, glancing down to spot his name badge.
“Yes, thank you Charles. Could you please escort this young woman from the building. And please make sure to stop at the central security desk on your way out so a picture may be taken to ensure that she will not mistakenly be admitted again.” I smile at Charles, patting his shoulder in appreciation as he gladly begins his task.
Thankfully, the floor that my new department is housed in is sparsely occupied, so there are only a few witnesses, and all employees that I’ve gone out of my way to introduce myself to over the last couple of weeks. They watch empathetically as I pass before turning their dagger eyes to the trouble maker.
In one last act of hoorah before her exile, Tanya screams out, “You should ask your boyfriend about your deep dark family secrets, kid!”
The elevator doors begin to close with me safely behind them. I can see Tanya struggling and resisting against Charles and the second security guard brought in to assist. Last I checked, they carried tasers. Hopefully they shock the bitch. She deserves it.
~*~
I scan the growing crowd for the person I am looking for. I haven’t seen Steph in a little while but I can’t imagine she looks all that different than when I’ve last seen her... minus the graduation gown. Several preppy-looking guys spot me as I enter the restaurant and I can immediately see the appeal and why Steph chose this place. She’s always been a sucker for a fresh-cut, good looking guy in an blazer. She’s had a psuedo-crush on Dom ever since meeting him four years ago. She hit the roof when she found out I’d gotten together with him- in a good way. In her own words, if she couldn’t have him, she was happy he wasn’t going to waste. I had to laugh at that one.
I’ve been feeding her details of our little tryst, and even more when it turned into something serious. She was the first person I called this afternoon after my run-in with Tanya. She was happy to lend a listening ear and even happier to offer me a night out to take my mind off of things. By the looks of this place, it would definitely offer some sort of distraction.
I see a fanatically waving hand through some of the crowd, and change my trajectory. Steph has managed to secure us a tiny little table and I gladly see not only some frozen drinks set out, but also some appetizers. The girl must have read my mind...
“V!” She leaves the comfort of her chair to meet me halfway.
Her skin is still radiating that post vacation sun-kissed island bronze that I jealously knew she would have. Although my own skin is olive colored, I’ve been so busy planning the ATH event that I haven’t been able to darken my complexion with sun-tanning. I look at my carefree friend and envy her. No guy drama, no family pressures, and no job yet to monopolize her summer.
We hug each other tightly. We were each such a big part of each other’s day-to-day routines, that it’s been quite an adjustment not to see her every morning. I squeeze her petit little frame.
“You look so fantastic!” I offer up the honest compliment.
Steph rolls her eyes, “Oh stop! Next to you, I’m chopped liver.”
Now it’s my turn to deflect a compliment. We sit at our table, pulling up our chairs to create an intimate little conversation amidst the background of mixing voices.
“I’m serious, V. You look so... different. So grown up! It’s unbelievable.”
I smile, feeling my cheeks begin to heat up and change the subject. “So how was your vacation? You barely told me anything about it.”
It was true, almost all of our email exchanges and few phone calls were devoted to my answering her questions about Dom.
She shrugs her shoulders. “Not bad. Lot’s of time lying around doing nothing, swimming...”
Her voice hitches and raises in pitch. I know her well enough to pick up on it, and I press further, “And...?”
She smirks, reaching for her drink. “And, there was this guy....”
I knew it. There’s always a guy. Steph is the very definition of boy crazy. I lean forward and arch my eyebrows high to implore her to spill the details.
Steph sips deep and long on her drink, probably weighing how much to divulge so quickly. “He was my surf instructor. His name is Alex. He’s gorgeous, built like you won’t even believe and such a great teacher.”
I laugh out loud. “Ha! I’ll bethe was.”
Steph almost spews her drink over me at that comment. But, she doesn’t deny it. She swallows her mouthful before it makes its escape, and waves her hand around.
“Enough, enough. So tell me... have you spoken to Dom yet?,” She begins the interrogation.
I hold up my phone screen to her to indicate the two unread text messages awaiting me, “Nope. I don’t know what to say to him right now. I just... want to let it breathe a bit.”I take a sip of my drink before I add, “I was going to call him tonight, but after that whole thing with Tanya today... I just can’t think straight.”
Steph nods, offering her support as well as a small plate of vegetable wontons. I gladly accept both.
“What do you think she meant by deep, dark family secrets?” Steph wonders.
I nod my head back and forth, crunching on my snack. “I have absolutely no idea. Part of me is thinking that she’s just a bitter, washed-up, ex, but there was something in her eyes. Something cold and determined. She looked like she really had something that she was sitting on, you know. Not just trying to rattle my cage.”
I reach for another wonton, “I don’t know. My head hurts from thinking about it. Enough of Tanya, enough of Dom, I just want to have a good time like we used to. Before my life got so complicated.”
Steph smiles and holds up her glass to gently collide with my own. I lift my half-full slushy drink and clink my glass to hers as she proposes a toast.
“To girl’s night.”
~*~
The drinks are flowing and the appetizer plates are picked clean. Steph and I are engaged in hysterics as she recounts how Conrad was stung by a jellyfish on their vacation and the very hot, very sexy, and very male lifeguard had to pee on his leg. My sides are aching and sore from the repetitive laughter. Just when I think I can’t bear anymore before landing on the floor, Steph proceeds to tell me that she has now nicknamed Conrad “Golden boy.”
She offers to show me the video, but I shy away from her phone screen. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look Conrad in the eye again if I watch that.
“You know…,” Steph begins as she puts the unwatched video on her phone back into it’s hiding place, “Conrad was really pissed when he found ou
t you have a boyfriend.”
I look at my friend in shock, “What?”
She nods. “Um hmm. He has a little thing for you. I guess he was holding out hope that he’d have a shot.” She shrugs her shoulders.
I widen my eyes in shock. Wow. I don’t know what to say to that. “Steph... that’s so weird for me to even think of. Why would he have a thing for me?”
My dearest friend shakes her head, “You are like the quintessential hot little innocent girl next door. You show me one guy that doesn’t have a thing for you. You could have any guy here if you wanted. Seriously.”
Her drinks must be getting to her, as she has no idea what she’s talking about.
“All right, genius, if that’s true, then why was I a virgin for so long?”I tilt my glass out to her to emphasize the irony in the situation.
Steph leans forward, close, her forearms crossed on the table as if she’s about to reveal some confidential secret, “Because you... are one of the few truly die-hard romantics that waited for the right one.”
I roll my eyes at her revelation. “Look what good it did. I’ve got a boyfriend who likes to control every little situation, especially if I’m in it, not to mention his crazy ex liar-wanna-be baby-mamma. Maybe I should have just done what every other girl does and just pick a bad boy.” I scan the room, my eyes landing on the first insanely attractive age appropriate guy I see.
“That one. Why couldn’t I have just found him a few months ago?” I swirl the remaining liquid in my glass, pondering the simplicity of the statement. Could it have been that easy? Could I have fallen for someone else instead of Dom if life had taken my down any detour other than the path I chose?
Stephanie laughs. “He looks cute, but he looks a little... empty between the ears. I’ll bet he plays some kind of sport that involves a ball... that made contact with his head one too many times. He’s not your type.”
I balk at the assessment, “I do not have a type. I’m an equal opportunity person.”
We both laugh at the thought. Well I guess I have some sort of a type... I mean conversation is an important thing. I need the other person to at least be able to keep up. I watch my mystery man from across the room.
“You would have gotten tired of him before the first date was even over, I’m sure of it,” Steph states matter-of-factly.
I place my glass down on the cardboard-circle of a coaster, “Wanna bet?”
She eyes me, judging my seriousness. I lay out the terms.
“I’ll go see for myself. If a) he is a contact sport athlete, and b) he sticks to mono-syllable words when he speaks... you win and I pay the bill tonight.”
Steph sticks out her hand, “Deal.”
We shake, officially marking the beginning of the bet. I straighten my top and skirt, throw some lip gloss on, fluff out my hair and plot a course for my target. He’s a bigger sort of guy, not as muscular as Dom, but definitely has some strength behind his size. His light blond hair hangs shaggy in a carefree way around his ears. Dark rinse jeans, untucked light blue button-down dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up mid-forearm. I don’t know what Steph was talking about... he could’ve been my type.
“Excuse me...” I interrupt the group of three. “Do you have a younger sister named Audrey?”
I bat my eyelashes sweetly while addressing the object of my fictional conquest. The conversation within the group dies down to allow him to answer with his friends showing interest in the exchange.
“Uh... no. I have a younger brother, though. He’s only eighteen though, so I doubt you know him.”
I put on my best expression of disappointment, “Oh no. I’m so sorry. You looked so familiar. I could have sworn you were my old college roommates brother. It’s uncanny... you really look like just like him. Sorry again.”
Random thoughts of my actual roommate’s older brother swirl in my mind. I try hard to suppress the thoughts of Conrad laying on a beach, crawling away from the lifeguard lowering his shorts to administer the urine-based first aid, with laughter threatening to ruin my plan, here.
The guy switches his beer bottle between hands, using his now free palm to place on my turning shoulder as I pretend to make an exit, “No please... let me at least buy you a drink. You came all the way over here.”
His friends nod to us and casually abandon their buddy. So far so good. No signs of brain damage, “I’m Ryan. So what school was it that had you rooming with my younger sister?”
“St. Barts. In Connecticut.” I offer as he orders two beers from a passing waiter.
His forehead furrows, eyes looking up while his mind processes the information, “Do they have a division two football team? I think we played them.”
Strike one. He’s a football player.
I shake my head, “No, we were an all girls school. No football. I’m V, by the way.”
His eyes widen in excitement, “Like the letter? That’s so cool! It must be so easy to remember your name.”
Ah crap. Strike two. I begin to accept that I will be paying the tab for girl’s night. The song switches to a generic upbeat club theme.
My new friend’s head perks up, “I love this song. Come on... we have to dance!”
Uhh... dancing wasn’t part of the plan. His movements become animated, head bopping around to the beat. Surprisingly, he can keep the beat... his arms jutting out in multiple directions, threatening anyone who enters his space. I keep what I believe to be a safe distance, but join in his fun. Just when I think he’s displayed all of his erratic dance skills, he crosses his ankles, points his fingers into the air and twirls Michael Jackson-style. I let my good-natured laughs ring out. Ryan is a good sport and he steps up his game. It’s not long before his John Travolta-inspired moves show themselves.
The crowd now notices his half-comedy, half dance-off routine and cheer him on. I add my own clapping and whistling to the mix. This kids a good sport. I look around, searching for my table as I have lost my sense of direction from all the twirling. It takes me almost a full minute to locate her, but she’s not alone anymore. Her companion has his back to me, but I can tell he’s handsome. I don’t know what it is that gives him away... maybe it’s his posture, the way he carries himself.
Steph seems delighted to be with him. The waiter approaches them and I see Steph’s guest hand him the leather billfold from our dinner. So he’s got manners, too. I tear my eyes from them back to Ryan who is now busy showcasing his square dancing skills with another goofball. I decide it’s safer for me to exit discreetly than try to interrupt their budding bro-mance to say goodbye.
I head back through the crowd to my shared table to meet Steph’s new mystery man. As I close in, she sees my approach and her visible excitement grows. I clear my throat, preparing to introduce myself. With two feet left to go, I stop in my tracks. I know that scent, that cologne.
Dom turns in his chair, greeting me.
“Hey babe. Nice dance moves.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I step back on my heels, stunned. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine seeing Dom here. My lips scramble to find some movement that remotely resembles speaking. He stands, mischievous grin plastered on his perfect face, and pulls me to him. My lips don’t need to worry about finding words. They find his lips, instead. I may still be damn mad at him for his lecture and jumping to conclusions about that night with E.J., not to mention I’m still pretty pissed about now being a target on Tanya’s radar thanks to being involved with him, but it momentarily all melts away from the heat of his tongue.
Crap. This man messes with me. I haven’t seen him in days, haven’t spoken to him in almost as long. I’ve been so blinded by muted rage that I hadn’t let myself acknowledge how much I’ve missed him. His body is reminding me of it, now, though... melting into mine.
Sounds slowly return into focus and I hear a deep sigh from my left, reminding me that we have an audience. I tear myself away from my man, not one to rub it in Steph’s face. She’s left sitting, wa
tching starry-eyed in envy, no doubt, missing her surf instructor.
“Um. What are you doing here?,” I ask him, trying to avoid his lust filled eyes.
He pulls me in closer, “If you had bothered to read your messages, or answer your calls, or respond to my emails... you would have seen that I was coming home today.”
Point well played.
“Well, if you hadn’t been such a jerk, I wouldn’t have been so pissed at you where I would be avoiding your messages, calls, or e-mails.” I make my case.
Dom rolls his eyes playfully. I notice the subtle movement of his fingers over my backside.
“You two even make arguing look sexy. I’ve got to get out of here and make a long distance call,” Steph grabs her handbag and keys.
Dom gives her a peck on the cheek before she turns and squeezes me tight, whispering in my ear, “That’s why you waited,V.”
She makes her way toward the exit, before I call out, “Surf’s up!”
~*~
The cool night air breezes over me as my loose hair flops in the wind. The sky is clear tonight as I aim my head to watch the moving stars above. Soft music Is playing through the car speakers as we drive along. I feel the bare flesh of my legs burning under Dom’s eyes as he alternates between them and the road. I break the conversational silence.
“How did you know where to find me?” I’m almost afraid to know the answer.
He grins, fingers tapping the leather bound steering wheel thoughtfully, “I have my ways.”
I scoff at the reply, “I’m sure you do. Care to tell me where we’re going?”
His grin only widens.
“It’s on a need to know basis. Right now, I only need to know how bad you’ve missed me deep inside you.”
I swallow hard. There are no words to fully describe, in detail, how my body has longed for him. The only feelings that could even rival it, were the ones of anger when he accused me of meeting E.J. The two opposing sides are doing battle right now.