Cuffing Season

by Danielle Allen

  I erupted with a loud laugh before covering my mouth with my free hand.

  His eyebrows shot up and he took a step back, letting my hand slip from his grasp. “Wow.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I know, I know. I have a loud laugh.”

  He nodded. “Yes, you do.” Lowering his voice, he added. “I like that.”

  “Luca! Luca!” A blonde woman ran up to him, completely ignoring the fact that I was talking to him. “Luca, I need you,” she cooed.

  I glanced over at Akila and Carlos who were both watching the entire scene play out. Carlos had a surprised expression, but Akila looked irritated.

  “I’m in the middle of a conversation, Jennifer,” Luca pointed out gently. “Give me a couple of minutes.”

  “Okay, but I need you to hurry. It’s important. Please,” she whined in a mix of baby-talk and the staccato tone of her speaking voice. She glanced at me. “She’s not even in our class.”

  “Jennifer. I said I’m in the middle of a conversation, and I will be right with you.” His voice was even and firm, but his accent thickened. He didn’t raise his voice or snap at her, but he didn’t have to.

  For the first time, Jennifer looked at me. She put her hands on her slim hips and eyed me before turning back to Luca. “Okay, I’ll be at my photo story wall.”

  Without another word she turned on her heel and stalked off.

  Luca gave me an apologetic smile. “What were we discussing before the interruption?”

  You said you liked my laugh.

  “I’m not sure,” I lied with a smile. “But I am sure I want to work with you, so I’m glad you called.”

  His face lit up. “That’s good to hear because seeing you in person confirms that you’d be perfect for the project.” He gave me a quick onceover. “I like your style.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled, debating on if I should tell him it was part of my collection. I decided to wait until we had a business meeting. “When would you be free to discuss the project in detail?”

  “A meeting was rescheduled for next week, so I have some time tomorrow. Is that too short notice for you?”

  “Tomorrow evening.” I pretended to mull it over before slowly nodding. “I think I can make myself available.”

  “Okay, I’ll contact you with the details.” He extended his hand.

  I shook it. “It’s nice to meet you and to see you in person.”

  “You, too.”

  He gave me a short nod before he walked away.

  I looked to my right. Carlos was speaking with someone about his work, but Akila was staring at me, grinning.

  I made a beeline to her and enveloped her into a hug. “Thank you. I owe you one.”

  “You are so welcome, and you don’t owe me a thing! We’re even. I just can’t wait to see what comes of this.”

  Backing away from her, I noticed how fashionable she was. “I know! I’m sending you tickets to my fashion show.”

  “Oh, that’ll be great.”

  We exchanged phone numbers and goodbyes as a couple of people were waiting to hear from her on her side of the wall.

  I made a beeline into the restroom and checked all five stalls to ensure they were empty. Pulling my cellphone out of my bag, I called Vanessa.

  “Hello,” my best friend answered on the first ring.

  “Hey! I have to tell you something. You have a minute?” I asked quietly.

  “Why are you whispering? Derrick, baby, will you go get me a bottle of water from downstairs please? Thank you. I love you.” She paused. “Okay, he’s gone. Serena what’s wrong?”

  “First and foremost, I met Luca and he’s supposed to call me later to set up a meeting for tomorrow.”

  “OHMIGOD!”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear and could still hear cheering.

  “Nessa,” I laughed, trying to get her attention. “Nessa, I don’t have much time, and I have to tell you the second thing.”

  “There’s more?! Spill it!”

  “Marcus is here—”

  “Round two!”

  “He’s here with his girlfriend.”

  There was complete silence for ten whole seconds. “What? Girlfriend?”

  “Yeah.” I looked at my reflection in the mirror, deciding to reapply my gloss. “He apparently has a girlfriend.”

  “What the hell? But you two just hooked up? And he’s been after you for months!”

  “I know. I don’t know what’s going on. And then they asked me to come over for dinner. She was like any friend of Marcus’s is a friend of mine.”

  “Either they’re angling for a threesome or she’s trying to see if Marcus is faithful.”

  “Right? I don’t know what’s going on, but I was so shocked that I couldn’t even call him out or confront him about anything.”

  “Yeah, that’s crazy. I wouldn’t have known what to say either. You were blindsided by an unknown girlfriend!”

  “That’s the thing… I ran into Jess, and she knew. She said it’s been pretty public all this semester.”

  “That sucks. I’m sorry, Serena. I was hoping he would be steady—”

  “Come on now. You know it was never going to be anything like that. He’s twenty-two. He’s apparently going to get signed to a professional contract. I was not thinking it was going to be more than what it was—a good time. My issue is with the fact that he has a girlfriend and never once mentioned her.”

  “You should cuss him out.” She lowered her voice. “I hear Derrick coming back.”

  “Oh okay, this is the last part,” I promised. “I would’ve cussed him out…but I already asked him to pose in the jacket. And Jess pointed out that since he’s getting so much attention now, I should feature him in the Simply Serena promotional shoots.”

  “Ooooooh… that’s a good idea. Remember that ad campaign you posed for with the two football players? Once they hit it big, your picture was everywhere.”

  “Yeah. I know.” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “And as mad as I am that he’d cheat on his girlfriend with me, I can’t stop thinking about how it would get a lot of attention if I used him. So, I’m conflicted.”

  “The moment he did what he did without telling you the whole story, he used you. So, you are allowed to use him in your campaign. He owes you.”

  “Good point.” I sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry. Go back to your husband. I’m going to use the restroom and then find Jess.”

  “Don’t apologize. Call whenever. I mean, we are probably having sex in the next few minutes, so give us an hour and then call anytime.”

  Laughing, I said goodbye to my best friend and then locked myself in the bathroom stall furthest away from the door.

  Although jumpsuits and rompers were cute, the absurdity of having to strip naked to go to the bathroom was always a struggle. Before I could maneuver out of my jumpsuit, I jumped at the sound of women loudly entering the restroom.

  “…with Luca?” the first woman questioned irritably.

  Hearing his name and that distinctly familiar voice caused me to listen closer.

  “I’m not sure, but it wasn’t like he was talking to her for that long,” the second female voice answered. “He’s been moving around the room, making small talk and answering questions. I haven’t really seen him talk to anyone for more than a quick minute. Well, except for…”

  “Except for that one girl who was all in Luca’s face. Do you know her?”

  “I know of her, but I don’t know her. She’s pretty popular though. I’m pretty sure her name is Serena.”

  With one foot in and one foot out of my jumpsuit, I froze as she said my name.

  “I highly doubt she’s Luca’s type,” the first woman commented rudely. “Did you see those hips? She’s like a size twelve, and her hair is a big poof.”

  “Jennifer!” The other woman admonished with a giggle. “So, why are you worried about her?”

  Jennifer? Jennifer? The skinny blonde?

  “Bec
ause he actually had the audacity to brush me off while he was talking to her,” Jennifer shouted. “I have dibs on him. I’ve been playing the long game for him. Do you know what I had to do to get into his seminar?”

  “Bitch, of course I know! I wrote your writing samples!”

  Jennifer laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. It’s been so long since I was in school. I never would’ve been able to do that shit without you. But that’s what I’m saying—I did what it took to get in that class because I needed face-to-face time with him. He’s hot, single, and rich. That’s what I’m looking for in a man.”

  “Who isn’t?”

  “Exactly. And that’s why I need to keep the vultures away from him. And that Serena girl has vulture written all over her.”

  “Maybe they were talking business or she’s buying one of the photographs? And besides, you said that he was into you and that you two had a connection. A conversation with someone else isn’t going to change that. So, what’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal is that she was all over him, and she’s probably trying to fuck him. And the fact that he would turn me away to continue speaking with her just rubbed me the wrong way.” She paused. “The slutty way she was hanging all over him…yeah, she’s trying to fuck him.”

  “Jennifer!” The second woman let out a laugh. “They talked for a couple of minutes. I think you need to calm down a bit.”

  “I won’t calm down until I seal the deal with him. If I would’ve had sex with him already, I wouldn’t be worried about anyone else. I would have him eating out the palm of my hand…amongst other things.”

  “Jennifer!” The second woman let out a laugh. “This is way too much information.”

  “So tonight, I will be the last one to leave, and I will be leaving with him. Thanks for driving my car back to my place. I’ll tell him I need a ride because you left without me and then once we’re alone in his car, one thing will definitely lead to another.”

  “You are so bad, Jenny!”

  “I’m so bad, but I’m so good,” she giggled. “So, if you see anyone talking to him and being flirty, let me know. And especially keep an eye on that Serena girl.”

  They giggled as they left the bathroom.

  After doing my business and washing my hands, I exited the restroom with a smirk.

  I had a quick introduction with Luca, and it has people talking already? I laughed to myself. They are really going to lose their shit when they see he’s going to use me in his next project.

  “What are you smiling about?” Marcus asked, seeming to appear from nowhere.

  “Why do you keep easing out of the shadows?” I looked around before adding, “And what the actual fuck?”

  “I was going to tell you.”

  I made a face. “When? And don’t you think that’s something I deserved to know before I accepted your invitation to go out?”

  “But you wouldn’t have gone out with me if I would’ve told you then. I planned to tell you before we…” He licked his lips and smiled. “But one thing led to another.”

  I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. “You have some nerve. I can’t believe you’d put me in this awkward ass situation. I should go tell her right now. She has a right to know.”

  “Oh, she already knows, and she’s cool with it.”

  “What?”

  He gave me an apologetic look. “Listen, we have an open relationship, and that only works if we’re safe and if we’re honest with each other.”

  I felt like I was in an alternate dimension or the seventh circle of hell.

  “What the fuck?” I hissed. “So, you remembered to get permission from your girlfriend, but you didn’t bother to let me know? You basically made me some sort of side chick?!”

  “I was going to tell you.” He moved his head to stay in my line of sight as I rolled my eyes. “I swear to God I was going to tell you. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not good enough,” I grumbled as I started to walk away.

  “I’ll model your jacket.”

  I stopped.

  Personally, I knew Marcus was wrong for not telling me. Professionally, I knew Marcus would be a huge deal and bring Simply Serena additional attention. So, even though I knew I should’ve just found someone else to model the jacket, I turned back toward him.

  “I’ll model your jacket,” he repeated apologetically.

  Glaring at him, I stepped a bit closer. “I’m not having dinner with you and your girlfriend. We’re both—hell, all three of us—are going to pretend like what happened between us didn’t happen.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to forgive me and take me up on my offer?” He smiled, and his bright teeth glowed white.

  “I’ll text you the time and date of the shoot when that time comes. Outside of that, don’t send me any more text messages.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t date men with girlfriends.”

  I walked off without waiting for him to say anything else.

  “Serena!” Jessica called, still standing near the Sweatpants Season exhibit. She ran up to me and hissed, “First and foremost, what was that with Marcus?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Nothing. Just him agreeing to model the jacket.”

  “Ah! Good! But even more exciting… I saw you talking to Luca earlier. Tell me everything!”

  I wanted to tell her, but I knew it wasn’t a good idea. Jessica Morgan was a great person and so much fun to hang out with, but she wasn’t great with secrets.

  “He remembered my face from the project,” I answered.

  “Ah!” She bounced on her heels. “That’s awesome! Maybe he’ll want to work with you. I’m sure he sees a lot of faces so if he remembered yours, that means you stood out to him. I love it!” She grabbed my arm and her eyes widened. “If you work with him and Marcus, Simply Serena will blow up. Mark my words. You get those two on board with you, you’ll be the talk of the town!”

  Chapter Three

  The heel of my black boots made a soft rapping noise against the wood paneling of the upscale restaurant as I was seated at a table. Nerves and excitement swirled inside me as I anticipated Luca’s arrival. I hadn’t talked to him since we said goodbye when I left the showcase Friday night. He texted me the address to District, his favorite restaurant, on Saturday morning. So, for ten minutes, I sat in my black and grey herringbone skirt and formfitting white shirt waiting for him to arrive.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t like anything while you wait?” the waitress asked me for the second time.

  “I’m sure. I don’t want to risk getting anything on my top before my meeting,” I admitted with a smile.

  “Understood,” she nodded. “It’s a very cute outfit!”

  “Thank you. It’s from the Simply Serena Collection.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  My smile grew. “Well!” I dug into my black leather bag and pulled out my card and a flyer for the fashion show. “You should come. The show is two weeks from today. There are still a few tickets available online.”

  “Thanks!” She read the flyer before slipping both cards into her pocket. “I’m going to check this out.”

  “You should! I look forward to seeing you there.”

  As she walked away, I turned my head in time to catch a glimpse of a man making his way toward me.

  “Oh, hey!” I greeted Luca as he approached.

  “Serena Brooks.” His accent seemed more pronounced as he said my name. He reached out for my hand and I gave it to him. With sincerity, he looked deep into my eyes. “I’m sorry I’m late. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

  Giving his hand a comforting squeeze, I smiled. “No, you’re fine. I haven’t been waiting long. You’re only five minutes late.”

  “I’ll make it up to you.” He let my hand slip from his as he took the seat across from me. “Thank you for meeting me.”

  “It’s an honor. Working with you is a dream come true.”

 
; “The honor is mine. You’re even more beautiful in person,” he acknowledged without the least bit of sexual interest.

  “Thank you. You, too.”

  He averted his eyes shyly for a second before changing the subject.

  We made small talk for a few minutes until the waitress came to take our order. I ordered a black bean burger and fries. He ordered a steak with a side of asparagus.

  Luca handed the waitress our menus. “Thank you.” After she walked away, his eyes met mine. “So, you’re a vegetarian?”

  “Nope. I just like the taste of black bean burgers more than actual burgers.”

  His eyes widened. “What?”

  I laughed. “Yes! Why does that weird people out?”

  “Because that makes no sense.”

  “You make no sense. You ordered a steak and substituted the baked potato for asparagus.” I lifted my arms in confusion. “Do you have an aversion to potatoes?”

  He chuckled. “No. But I have something in a few weeks that I’m trying to get ready for.”

  I tilted my head to the side and eyed him suspiciously. “Well, now you have to tell me about this mystery potato-free thing you’re doing.”

  His shoulders shook as he laughed harder. “It’s…” His voice trailed off as he collected himself. “It’s a thing.”

  “Luca Romano has secrets.” I picked up my water glass and sipped. “Give me three guesses.”

  “Go for it.”

  “And you promise you’ll tell me if I’m right?”

  He licked his lips. “I promise.”

  “You’re going to an adult prom and you want to fit into your tux?

  His eyebrows furrowed as he looked around in disbelief. “What? No!”

  “You’re going to a nudist colony and you want to make sure your six-pack is standing out?”

  The amusement was evident in his face. “No.”

  I shrugged. “So, basically, you’re a monster who hates carbohydrates? Got it.”

  Letting a laugh slip out, he asked, “What is wrong with you?”

  “Not a thing.” I paused. “Because I eat carbs.”

  “Are you going to keep giving me shit until I tell you?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. Because not eating carbs deserves an explanation.”