by E. L. Todd
“Yeah, I think so. But I look terrible.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I really do.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Can I come in?”
“Wait…”
My hand was on the doorknob but I didn’t turn it. “What?”
Her humor disappeared and all that was left was a grand sense of vulnerability. “Volt, don’t laugh at me.”
My hand gripped the doorknob, and I felt sympathy wash through me. “I would never do that.”
“Because I don’t look anything like those girls you see in bars and clubs.”
“Maybe that’s not a bad thing.” I kept talking to her through the door.
“No, it definitely is.”
My hand hadn’t left the doorknob. “Can I come in now?”
“I guess…”
Now I pictured the dress so tight on her body it showed every flaw rather than every highlight. It was stupid of me to suggest this idea and make her feel insecure. I tried to help, but instead, I made it worse.
I walked inside and tried to keep my face expressionless, so she wouldn’t see my true reaction. Telling a girl she didn’t look good in something automatically sent you to douchebag hell. And since I put her in this position to begin with, I deserved to go there.
But when I looked at her, all my fears disappeared.
The dress molded to her body like it was made for her. It hugged her slender waistline, giving her an hourglass shape that was so prominent my mouth went dry. Her tits fit into the sweetheart cups, pushing them together and forming a subtle line of cleavage. She had petite shoulders, well rounded with glowing skin. Her collarbone was defined just below her neck, and the hollow of her throat formed when she moved slightly. The dress stopped just above her knee, and even though her feet were flat on the floor, her legs still looked toned and her ass perky.
She stared at her image in the full body mirror, and instead of being impressed by what she saw, she seemed mortified. “I look stupid as hell.”
“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “You look hot.”
“Shut up.” She pulled her hair over one shoulder, trying to use it as a shield to hide herself from view.
“You do. Are you looking in a broken mirror?”
She fidgeted in place and didn’t meet my gaze.
“What’s exactly wrong with it?”
“It’s just really tight, and I don’t have a hard body.”
“Okay… I haven’t heard that term since the eighties.”
“Well, it’s a perfect description for the situation.”
Was this woman totally blind? “Tayz, you look like a damn fine woman.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’d totally be all over you if I spotted you across the room.”
“When you first saw me, you ignored me,” she countered.
“Well, yeah. But I’d already decided to hook up with those two other chicks.”
She shook her head like she didn’t believe me.
“I’m telling you, every guy will be looking at you tonight. You can have your pick of the crop.”
“I don’t want to give them the wrong impression.”
“Then don’t. Be yourself.”
Her fingers moved through her soft hair.
“You want to find Prince Charming? Well, you don’t have to. Now he’ll come to you.”
She finally stopped touching her hair and turned to me. “You swear I don’t look stupid in this?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die, never stick a needle in my eye.”
“Wait… What?”
That was my own version of the vow. “I’d rather die than stick a needle in my eye, so that’s how I say it. But the meaning is the same. I’m not yanking your chain.”
“Really?” Up until this point, I’d never seen a needy side to her. She was usually confident, sometimes awkward, but never desperate. It was as if she needed my absolute approval before she’d leave the house.
I grabbed both of her shoulders, noticing how soft they were, and positioned her to face me. “Absolutely.” I held up one hand to her, my pinky extended. “Pinky promise.”
When she glanced at my hand, she smiled. All her teeth were on display, and it was one of those smiles that reached all the way to her eyes. She didn’t always do this, just on rare occasions. “Pinky promise.” She interlocked our pinkies together and we shook.
I felt my own mouth stretch into a wide grin. I loved seeing that confidence in her eyes, knowing I wouldn’t lie to her—not with a pinky promise. “Now let’s go out and get laid.”
***
We sat together on a couch, our drinks in hand. Her legs were crossed, and I found myself glancing at her toned thighs more than looking around the lounge for my next catch.
Heads turned her way the second they noticed her, and their eyes hardly left her face. Heads were turning my way too, followed by the sounds of high-pitched giggles.
Taylor eyed a guy in the corner. He wore jeans with a dark blue t-shirt. He was on the thinner side, without the same kind of muscle tone I possessed. It surprised me she was checking him out considering he wasn’t the most handsome man in the room.
Well, besides myself.
“I think he’s cute.” She nodded in his direction then sipped her drink.
“Really?” I couldn’t hide my disdain. “You’re way out of his league.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s, like, a hundred and twenty pounds. His clothes look like they’re from a thrift store, and his watch looks like a toy. What do you see in him?”
“I’ve been watching him, and he smiles a lot. When he talks to his friends, he’s usually laughing. He seems like a good guy. You know, the kind that’s a loyal friend and a good man.”
She gauged all of that just from watching him? “But are you attracted to him?”
“He’s cute. I mean, he’s no Brad Pitt, but I’m not looking for Brad Pitt.”
“Every woman is looking for Brad Pitt.”
“Looks are the least important trait to me. I told you that.”
“They mean the most to me.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said with a laugh. “You’ve made that clear.” She sipped her drink and continued to watch Skinny Boy. “How do I talk to him?”
“You’re going to hit on him?” I asked incredulously.
“Yeah. Why not?”
“Because you’re way out of his league. I’ll put it into terms that you can understand. He’s Pluto and you’re the sun.”
“You don’t even know him. How can I be out of his league?”
“I can just tell.”
“Well, who do you like?”
I hadn’t been paying much attention, actually. “Uh, not sure.” I scanned the bar and found a group of pretty girls in the corner. They were staring at me, probably hoping I’d make a move on one of them—or all of them.
“I think I’m going to talk to him.” She set her drink down on the table. “What should I say?”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. She was going to walk up to the guy looking like a bombshell, and he was going to pass out. Guys like that never got hit on by girls like her. “Honestly, you don’t need to say much.”
“Should I make a joke?”
“Just say hi.” Trust me. That was all she needed to say.
“Alright. Wish me luck.”
I would but she didn’t need it.
She rose from the couch and adjusted her dress. Then she slowly walked over to where he stood in his circle of friends. Her hips swayed as she moved, and she had the grace of a queen. I never noticed the way she walked before, but then again, I’d never seen her in heels. Her long brown hair trailed behind her back and looked delicious against her fair skin. She had a few freckles on the back of her shoulders. They looked like kisses from the sun.
Skinny Boy turned his gaze on her, and the moment he took her in, he couldn’t hi
de his surprise—and his pleasure. He held his beer in his hand and didn’t take a drink. All of his focus was pinpointed on the perfect woman right before him.
I watched them talk to each other, and within a few moments, he laughed at something she said. They were both smiling, hitting it off right from the beginning.
I sat on the couch alone and suddenly felt out of place. I spent most of my time in solitude because that was how I preferred to live. Just being with my own thoughts was enough entertainment. But once Taylor walked away, I felt a new sensation of loneliness. It was different than it ever was before. Somehow, I felt colder.
The cushion beside me dipped when someone took the vacated spot. It was a young blonde with green eyes and fair skin. She wore a short dress that revealed things that should be hidden. “Hi. You look like you need another drink.”
I turned to her and realized I’d seen her before—only I hadn’t. I’d seen a million of her. Just like everyone else in the crowd, she blended into the background. She wasn’t unique. She wasn’t special.
She wasn’t memorable.
***
“How’s work?” Mom passed me the bowl of potatoes.
“Good. About the same.” I scooped the potatoes onto my plate and passed the bowl to Connor, my younger brother.
Conner served himself before he set the bowl on the table.
“What about you?” I dug into my roast and marveled at the flavor. Mom had always been a good cook, and I hardly ever had home cooked meals. I lived off protein bars and protein shakes because I never took the time to figure out how to work a stove.
“Things are great,” she said. “The shop is slowing down for the holidays, but that just means I have more time off.” My mom owned a wedding dress boutique. She sold dresses to future brides and loved every aspect of her job.
“Maybe you guys should take a trip,” I suggested. “Enjoy the down time.”
“I wish,” she said. “Your father is way too busy at school.”
“I’m putting out fires all over the place,” Dad said after he took a few bites. “I love Bristol Academy, but the parents run the show more than I do.”
I immediately thought of Taylor but decided not to mention her. If I mentioned any woman, my mom would jump down my throat. Ever since my last relationship fell apart, my mom had been anxiously waiting for me to find someone new. She knew I was going to propose, and she was so disappointed when it didn’t work out. “The beginning of the school year is difficult.”
“Not only difficult,” Dad said. “I have this new teacher who seemed promising in the beginning, but the parents keep complaining about her. The students say she’s all over the place and it’s hard to follow what she’s teaching. And she gives out too many projects that takes time away from the schoolwork of their other classes.”
I stopped eating. Taylor immediately came into my mind again, and I hoped he wasn’t referring to her. She was working her ass off. “What does she teach?”
“Science.”
Damn.
“She came through Teach For America, and since her resume was so impressive, I decided to give her a chance and forget her lack of experience…but that was a mistake. I may have to replace her after winter break.”
This couldn’t be happening. “Dad, maybe she’s trying something new with the kids. You know, challenging them.”
“Well, they aren’t learning.”
“How would you know that unless you tested them?”
“I am, actually. Unannounced, I’m going to give out an exam that covers everything they should have learned up to this point. If those scores don’t compete with the students of the previous year, she’s gone.”
My appetite disappeared completely.
“She’s a very nice woman and seems passionate about her subject, but I can’t keep taking these complaints from the parents. Since it’s a private school, they hold all the power.” He wiped his plate clean then sipped his wine. His hairline was starting to recede and his sweater vest was the same one he usually wore to school. We had some similar features, but we looked nothing alike. Conner, on the other hand, was the spitting image of him.
Now I wanted to get the hell out of there and go to Taylor. I had to do something to stop this. Even though I’d never seen her in action, I knew she was a good teacher. She didn’t work for the paychecks. She worked to enrich lives. “Thanks for dinner, Mom. It’s delicious.”
“Thank you, dear,” she said.
Conner was quiet, eating in silence.
“Anything else new besides work?” Mom asked. She didn’t bluntly say what she meant, but when her tone changed, I knew exactly what she was getting at.
“No. My life is pretty boring.” I drank my wine to mask my unease.
“So…no one special in your life?” Mom stared at her plate and tried to act casual.
I loved my mom and respected her, but I wish she would get off my ass. “No one serious.”
“Dear.” Dad gave her a gentle look. “Volt will settle down when he’s ready.”
Thank you, Dad.
Mom stopped eating and placed her fork on the plate.
That wasn’t a good sign.
“It just seems like you haven’t bounced back.” Now Mom looked me in the eye, turning into the protective and intrusive mother that she was. “You’re different, and I’m just concerned. Your father and I are always here to talk.”
It was difficult to stay annoyed when she seemed so sincere. “Mom, I’m fine.”
“But you aren’t,” she whispered. “I hate her for what she’s done to you. That hopeful look in your eyes isn’t there anymore. You’re just…darker. I miss the man you used to be. You were carefree, easygoing, and happy…”
I hadn’t been happy in a long time. And I wondered if I ever was happy. Stupidity had blinded me, and I was in a relationship that never truly existed. I was simply in love with a woman—who didn’t love me back. “Mom, I appreciate your concern. I really do. But I’m fine. I’m not rushing into another relationship until I find the right woman.” I was a terminal bachelor, and I was happy with that fate. I’d have fun flings that would last throughout weekends and trips, but nothing beyond that. But how could I ever say something like that to my mom? That I’d given up on love forever.
My parents got married young, but they’ve been happy ever since. They hardly ever fought, and when they did, it didn’t last long. After being together for over thirty years, they still made eyes at each other over the table. Their youth and beauty had faded away years ago, but love and respect had grown in equal measure. They had a partnership based on honesty and loyalty.
And sometimes that gave me hope.
“Well, I’m happy to hear you’re still actively searching for Mrs. Right,” Mom said. “I thought you were just…passing time.” She took a bite of her broccoli before she pushed her food around, avoiding the awkward subject of my sex life.
I wasn’t a total dick. I felt bad for lying to my mom, but I couldn’t lay out the truth like I did to other people. And the one excuse I made was Connor. He had a good head on his shoulders, actively dated and brought different women around. One day, he would get married and pop out a few kids.
So, my parents would have grandchildren.
And I was off the hook.
***
“Hey.” Derek walked inside my office without knocking. He usually announced his presence with the quick pace of his feet against the hardwood floor as he approached my door. My secretary’s pointless attempts to stop him were also an indication.
“What’s up?” Instead of working like I should have been, I was trying to crack a Rubik’s cube. Whenever I had a daunting amount of stuff to do, I became overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. That’s when I busted this little toy out. It distracted me enough to clear my thoughts and start over.
“Dude, you haven’t cracked that yet?”
“It’s not exactly easy.”
“I could do that in five
minutes.”
I stopped twisting the different sides around. “Yeah? I’d pay serious money to see that.”
“Then you’re on.”
I tossed the cube to him.
With a cocky grin on his face, he started randomly twisting the sides to align the correct color sections. His grin slowly started to fade away as the puzzle grew more complicated. When he reversed his progress and put himself in an even more difficult situation, that smile dropped altogether.
His irritated silence become my victory song.
“Whatever.” He tossed it back. “It’s a stupid toy anyway.”
“You’re lucky I’m not going to make you pay me.”
“Better not. You know I’m broke.”
“What’s up?” I tossed the cube in my desk and stood. “Want to get lunch?”
“Starving. I’m craving sushi.”
“I’m down.” He and I left the building together and settled into the restaurant after a short wait. We ordered our food and made small talk about work before our plates finally arrived.
I used my chopsticks to pick up balls of rice and place them into my mouth.
“You’ve been hanging out with Tayz a lot.”
I grabbed a roll and dipped it into the spicy sauce before I plopped it into my mouth. “Yeah, I see her around.”
“But you hang out with her a lot,” he pressed. “Are you sleeping with her?”
“No.” I glanced at my watch to see how much longer I had on my lunch break. “If I had slept with her, I doubt I’d still be talking to her.”
“Then what do you guys do together all the time? Any time we’re together, the two of you are huddled into a corner.”
“We’re friends.” It didn’t feel weird saying that, not like it used to. She really was just a platonic friend, someone I hung out with. “We have a lot in common and we have the same sense of humor.”
Instead of stuffing his face, he hung on to every word. “But you sleep with everybody. Why haven’t you slept with this one?”
I hadn’t slept with everybody. Natalie was another woman who’d never graced my bed—because that would be weird. There were a few rules I never broke. And one of them was screwing your friend’s sister unless you were in love with her. “Actually, I did try to go for it a while ago, but she turned me down.”