by Liz Davis
Then she stripped out of her nightclothes, and got into the shower. She stayed in until the water grew lukewarm, and then she dried off and went back into the bedroom. The shower hadn’t lifted her spirits as much as she would have liked, but at least the hot water had energized her.
Once she was finished getting dressed and her hair was done, she grabbed her cell phone and dialed the number to her local car rental place. After placing the call, she headed out to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. She didn’t feel much like eating, but she knew it wasn’t a good idea to work on an empty stomach, so she toasted a piece of bread and sat down at the table to eat it.
As she was sipping her coffee, something on the surface of the table caught her eye. Realizing it was the business card that Evan had given her, she picked it up. Her thoughts flashed back to the fateful evening when they’d first met, and she remembered the sparks she’d felt when their fingers had brushed. She’d never felt an electric attraction like that with anyone else, and she knew it would probably never happen again. Moments like that came around only once, maybe twice in a lifetime, if you were really lucky.
As she set the card back down on the counter, she realized there was something greasy on the tips of her fingers, and as she looked down at them, she saw there were black smudges there. She figured he must have been working at the garage on the evening he’d towed her car because the front of the business card was all smudged with oil. Feeling a twinge of sadness, she rubbed the tips of her fingers together, dissolving the oily smudges into her skin. She didn’t know why she was pining for him so badly. They’d only known each for four days, and here she was acting like a lovesick fool. He hadn’t even been inside of her apartment, and yet there were vestiges of him here, reminding her of their short-lived time together.
Tossing the card aside, she got up from the table and walked over to the sink. She poured the remainder of her coffee out and then grabbed her purse and house keys. As she was passing by the table, her eyes were once again drawn to Evan’s business card, and she felt an irresistible urge to pick it up. Although she felt silly doing it, she brought the card up to her nose and took a deep inhale. As the scent of WD-40 entered her nostrils, she briefly closed her eyes and thought of him. Then she opened her lids once again, and set the card down. She would always associate that smell with him, and have bittersweet memories of their time together. Releasing a little sigh, she left the house and headed toward her rental car, with the scent of WD-40 still lingering in her nostrils.
* * * *
The day had been brutally long, and as Maya entered her apartment, she tossed her keys on the kitchen table and then stepped out of her shoes. After grabbing a soda from the fridge, she plopped down on the couch and began flipping through TV stations. She spent a few minutes channel surfing before finally settling on a classic old movie. As a melodic ringtone filled the air, Maya gave her phone a look of annoyance and thought about whether or not she should answer it. She really didn’t feel like being bothered right now, but she supposed she could at least glance at the display screen to see if it was someone she wanted to talk to. When she picked up the phone, she saw that the number belonged to her friend Amhara, so she hit the call answer button and offered a greeting.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?”
“Hey, sis, do you have anything going on tonight?”
Amhara, who was a beautiful Ethiopian girl, always called Maya “sis.” From the very first day they’d met, it seemed they had a special bond, and the friendship they shared was nothing short of rock-solid. “The only thing I’m doing tonight is watching a movie. Why?”
“I was thinking about going out to a club. Think you might wanna come along?”
“No thanks, I’ll pass.”
“Come on, Maya. You need to get out of that apartment and have some fun.”
“Sorry, but I’m really not in the mood. I’d rather just be alone tonight.”
“Sitting at home on a Friday night feeling sorry for yourself? Hmmm, sounds like Dylan’s been screwing you over again. When are you going to get rid of him?”
“This isn’t about Dylan.”
“You met someone else?”
“Yes, but it’s already over, so please don’t start grilling me with questions, all right?”
“Oh, okay. Well, can I at least ask what happened?”
Still feeling dejected, Maya struggled to keep her voice from wavering. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
“I really don’t feel like talking about it.”
“Okay, I won’t press you, then. But hey, the best way to get your mind off of one guy is to find another. So get your butt up off the couch and let’s go clubbing.”
“Amhara, you know I don’t do clubs. I hate being in crowded places with loud music.”
“Oh really? Then why did you go to that rock concert with me last month?”
“That was different. We went to see the Rolling Stones. No one turns down a free ticket to see them.”
“C’mon, Grandma, take a quick shower, put on some makeup, and slip into something hot, because you’re going out.”
“And what if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll have to come over and force you. And you know I’ll do it, too!”
A soft sigh of exasperation fled from Maya’s lips. “You’re not going to leave me alone until I say yes, are you?”
“Of course not. You know how I am.”
“Fine, you win, okay? I don’t know what it is about you, but somehow you always convince me to do things I’m not interested in.”
“It’s called the power of persuasion, honey. Why else do you think I have such a fantastic career in sales?” There was the sound of a house phone ringing in the background, and then Amhara said, “Shoot, my business line is ringing. I’ll pick you up in an hour, okay? See you then!”
The line clicked as she hung up the phone, and Maya reluctantly got up from the couch. She really wasn’t in the mood to go out and socialize, but she’d had enough experience with broken hearts to know that wallowing in one’s own pity wasn’t the best way to heal. So she was going to make the best of things tonight, and make an effort to actually enjoy herself.
After taking a shower and doing her hair and makeup, she slipped into a little black dress with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. It reached midthigh and fit her like a glove. After slipping her feet into a pair of strappy, silver heels, she walked over to the mirror and stood in front of it to evaluate herself. She wasn’t used to seeing herself in club wear, but she had to admit that she looked pretty good. Getting out of the house and socializing would certainly do better for her self-esteem than lying around on the couch all night thinking of Evan.
After she added a bit of lip gloss to her lips, she switched off the light and left the room. As she was grabbing her jacket, she got a text from Amhara letting her know she was outside waiting in the car, so Maya grabbed her purse and headed out the door, locking it behind her. Once she reached Amhara’s Toyota, she opened the door and slid inside. Then the vehicle pulled away from the curb, heading off into the night.
* * * *
Clubbing with Amhara turned out to be more enjoyable than Maya had expected. They’d spent most of the evening dancing with each other, not for lack of men who were interested, but because they really didn’t feel like being hassled. It was just a fun girls’ night out, an opportunity for them to enjoy each other’s company and catch up on the recent events in their lives. Once they’d tired of the noisy club atmosphere, they decided to leave and head for home. As they were driving along the streets, Amhara suggested that they stop off for some coffee and pie, so they pulled into the parking lot of a little diner not far from Maya’s apartment. It was a place called Ted’s Diner, and had been Maya’s first place of employment as a waitress.
The interior of the restaurant was small and cozy, and had that casual, laid-back vibe to it. As they settled into a booth, Maya realized
how calm and quiet the diner was as opposed to the loud, vibrant atmosphere of Shorty’s Bar and Grill, where she currently worked. She did like working at Shorty’s, and she certainly made better tips, but she had to admit that there was something special about Ted’s.
After they ordered their coffee and pie, Amhara and Maya chatted a bit, sharing the current events of each of their lives. They only lived twenty minutes away from one another, but were usually too busy with work to hang out as often as they’d like. Their conversation lulled as their food arrived, and they silently enjoyed their cherry pie and coffee. Once their bellies were full, they grabbed the check and headed for the cashier so that they could pay for the meal.
As they made their way toward the front of the restaurant, Maya noticed a tall man with shoulder length hair and a lean build talking to a woman who stood in front of the cash register. Although his back was facing her, she knew without a doubt that it was Evan. The moment her eyes fell on him, she felt her body respond to his presence. She felt a dull ache in her heart, and her pulse had begun to race a little quicker.
She noticed that the female cashier was being very flirtatious with him, and she watched the woman scribble something down on a piece of paper and then rip it off the pad. Maya didn’t have to see what was written on the paper to know that it was the cashier’s phone number, and as Evan folded it up and slipped it into his pocket, she felt a pang of jealousy tear through her heart. The last bit of hope she’d been clinging to had officially died, and she knew there was little chance of getting back together with him.
The waitress walked out from around the counter, and as she came up to him, Evan bent over her petite form and gave her a hug. Watching them embrace was torturous for Maya, and her stomach tightened at the unpleasant display. She could have found some way to deal with the fact that the waitress had given him her phone number, perhaps even made up some excuse in her head to ease her mind. But this was heart wrenching in a completely different way. Hugging was reserved for people you cared about, people who meant something to you on a deeper level.
Once the hug finally came to an end, Evan offered a good-bye to the cashier and was just turning to leave when he noticed the two women standing right behind him.
“Maya?” He turned to face her.
“Hello, Evan.”
His gaze swept over her club attire, openly admiring the way that the dress clung to her body. “You look nice. Off to a party or something?”
“We went to a nightclub.” She didn’t know what else to say, but felt awkward with there just being silence between them, so she lamely added, “What about you? What are you up to?”
“Not much, just on my way home.”
“Oh.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and tugged gently on her earlobe, a nervous tick she reverted to whenever she was feeling awkward.
“Well, I gotta go. Take care, okay?” He gave her a little smile and then glanced over at Amhara to give her a nod of acknowledgment.
“Give me a call later, okay, Evan?” the waitress called after him.
“Sure thing, Tanya,” Evan said over his shoulder as he walked out the door.
As Maya and Amhara approached the cash register, Tanya flashed a smile.
“Enjoy your meal, ladies?” Her vivid, green eyes were enhanced by her jet-black hair, which was styled in a retro-looking bob.
“Yes, we did, thank you,” said Amhara, digging into her purse for her wallet.
Studying the features of her face, Maya couldn’t help noticing how good-looking Tanya was. And to top it all off, she had a sizable pair of breasts, which undoubtedly turned heads wherever she went.
The cashier took the check from Amhara and then rang up their order. “Your meal tonight comes to a total of five dollars and sixty-two cents.”
Flashing her perfect smile, Tanya took the money from Amhara, then handed her the change.
“Thanks, ladies, and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Maya could feel Tanya’s eyes on them as they walked out of the restaurant, and she didn’t have to turn around to know that the waitress was sizing her up. Tanya wanted Evan, no doubt about it. But as fine as Evan was, what woman wouldn’t be attracted to him?
As soon as they were outside, Amhara turned to her and said, “Okay, now you know you’re gonna have to give me the lowdown, right?”
As they headed to Amhara’s car, Maya began to tell the story of how it all happened. But she found that as she was talking, she didn’t even feel as if she were really there anymore. It was as if something inside of her had gone on autopilot, and her mouth was simply moving on its own accord, without the help of her brain. Maya found that she wasn’t aware of very much at all, and as the numbness set in, she willfully let it take over.
Chapter 6
Nearly two weeks had passed since Maya’s run-in with Evan at the diner, and for the first few days after it happened, she found herself obsessively replaying the moment in her head. She knew it did no good to keep thinking about it, but she figured there must have been something inside of her that enjoyed the torture, because she just couldn’t seem to stop reliving it. But little by little, her feelings began to lessen, and her thoughts of him eventually became less frequent.
She’d finally come to the conclusion that pining over a man she couldn’t have was a complete waste of time, so she quit daydreaming about what could have been and concentrated instead on improving her life. Whenever extra shifts were offered at the restaurant, she took them, and she also found a yoga class that was taught only a few blocks away from her apartment. She knew her heart wasn’t going to heal overnight, but it certainly made things a little easier when she kept herself busy.
Earlier that morning, she’d received a phone call from the repair shop letting her know that her Honda was ready, so after securing a ride out there with Amhara, they’d taken a drive to go pick up her car.
As they pulled into the parking lot of the car repair shop, Maya realized that she had a bad case of the stomach flutters and inwardly chastised herself for being so nervous. Weeks had gone by since they’d parted ways, so why did she still feel so helplessly lovesick?
After thanking Amhara for the ride, Maya waved good-bye and headed for the office, preparing herself mentally along the way. She had to play it cool, and let him know that she was living life just fine without him.
As she entered the office, she saw Gary direct his gaze toward her and offer her a smile.
“Hello there.”
She returned his smile with one of her own. “I received a call earlier this morning that my car was ready for pick up.”
“Yeah, I remember you. Your name is Maya, and you own the blue hatchback, right?”
“Yep.”
“It’s all ready. Just follow me into the garage, and you can talk to Evan.”
She hated the way her heart tightened just from the sound of his name, and she knew it would be a challenge to mask the emotions she was feeling. Once they were in the garage, Gary called out to his nephew and waved him over. As he headed their way, Maya noticed that her body was starting to heat up, and that was when she realized that any efforts she’d made to ease him out of her system had been completely futile. The feelings she had for him had set up a home inside of her, and they weren’t making a departure anytime soon.
“Hello, Maya.”
She didn’t like the way his voice sounded. It was so flat and businesslike.
“Hi, Evan.” She kept her face stoic, struggling to keep her desire for him concealed.
She didn’t know how great of a job she was doing, though, because inside she was thinking, why the hell does he have to look so damn good?
“Sorry it took so long. It was supposed to only take a couple of days, but there was a delay on the shipment for one of the parts that I needed. Anyways, I replaced the rod bearings, and I also tightened those brakes up for you, so you shouldn’t have any more problems.”
Her eyes
drifted to his mouth, and she thought back to the first time they’d kissed. She could still remember the taste he’d left upon her lips.
“Great, thanks a lot. So how much do I owe you?”
He walked over to a counter where the shop computer was located, and typed in her info to bring up her account. “The brakes cost eighty, and the rod bearings usually cost five, but I was able to knock two hundred bucks off of that price, so what you’re looking at here is a total of three hundred eighty dollars and sixty-two cents.”
Digging into her purse, she retrieved her credit card and gave it to him. After he ran it through, he hit the print button on the computer and copied out a receipt.
“You really didn’t have to give me that discount, you know. I could have paid the full amount.”
He pulled his shoulders into a little shrug. “No problem. I said I was going to give you the discount, and I like to stick to my word, so that’s what I did.”
“Well, thank you. I really do appreciate it, Evan.”
“No big deal, I was happy to do it.”
As her lips pulled into a smile, she noticed his gaze lower to rest on her dimples. She knew that he liked them, and found herself wondering what went through his mind whenever he looked at them. For a few brief moments, it seemed as if he were looking at her in that special way that he used to, and she began to hope that he would lean down and kiss her or say something that would express his feelings for her. Then this terrible rift that had grown between them would be gone, but none of that happened. And, as suddenly as that look of tenderness had appeared, it was gone.
Tearing his gaze from her face, he said, “Well, your car is all set, so I’ll take you to it.”
He motioned for her to follow him, and they headed toward where her Honda was located. Once they reached it, she opened the door and slid behind the wheel. Tossing her purse onto the seat, she saw that her keys were already in the ignition.