Eventually, the music stopped, the sound of violins and piano ceased to exist. Everyone stopped, the couples around them parted, but not them. They stayed like that, as if in a trance. Eventually, Leila had been the strongest. She was the one to reluctantly pull away, her gaze solely speaking of the hardness of the gesture.
“I guess the zone is clear now.”
Chapter 4
The taste of the drink was bitter, just like his life. The brownish liquid slid down his throat, poisoning his blood and mind. He welcomed the relief, and the distraction it brought. The lights that hovered above him were blinding, like laser beams slashing through the night’s sky. His skin burnt with the sweat and radiating heat. His blood bounced with every beat that echoed through the room. He stood at one of the high balconies of the club, along with whatever girls the organizers found worthy of the VIP section.
The smell of cigars was strong there, the aromas of the hookahs the club sometimes provided was even stronger. Even over the loud music, Ethan still heard Alec’s drunken laugh in the back. With a sigh, he put out the lit tip of his cigarette. The reddish light went out as soon as it touched the cool surface of the crystal ashtray. He watched as smoke rose slowly, it danced beneath the light before disappearing altogether.
Suddenly, Ethan felt a pair of arms around him. They snaked around his torso, the slender fingers outlining every curve. He knew who it was; he had been smelling the same cheap perfume since he got there. The blond locks that suddenly tickled the exposed skin of his neck only gave out the identity of its owner further.
Slowly, Ethan turned; he faced the woman despite all the sirens that urged him not to. He ignored all the warnings and the please that went off in his head. Why wouldn’t he when the only reason he was there was to get over a certain pair of blue eyes? Ethan forced himself to pull the woman closer. His eyes bore into hers, taking in their artificial blue color. As much as he tried to lie to himself, those were not the same pair of eyes.
The woman was a beautiful African American, that would have stolen anyone’s heart, or at least their interest for the night. So why wasn’t she stealing his? Why did he remain so untouched by her beauty even after hours by her side and glasses of whiskey away?
Despite the resemblance, she’s not Leila, that’s why. An annoying voice in his head answered.
As if wanting nothing more but to prove that voice wrong, he grabbed that woman and crashed his lips to hers. Having his lips on hers was like acid, it burnt him. The kiss didn’t even last a second. To both their surprises he pushed her away almost immediately. Shock - that would be the appropriate term to describe the emotion that showed on the woman’s face.
Clearly no one had been insane enough to reject her before. He wouldn’t have had either, had they met a week ago, before his ultimate doom had returned. The woman bit her lip and frowned, searching for words- words, that he did not allow her to find. Before she even came close to that, he walked past her in a rush grabbing everyone’s attention.
He must have been drunk; there was no other logical explanation as to why he was suddenly so sensitive. Luckily, there had been a door right next to the staircase, so he didn’t have to bother with the dancing crowd as well. He was out of the club in no time.
Ethan welcomed the fresh air gladly. He wasn’t sure when he had retrieved the cigarette from the pack, but he soon found himself struggling with the lighter. He almost swore but stopped himself as the sound of footsteps appeared behind him.
“What’s wrong, man?” Alec asked.
Ethan didn’t dare to turn. He was in a dilemma about ignoring all those emotions or facing them at once. He wasn’t sure what was best for him. Clearly his plans of getting better weren’t working that well. Finally, he groaned and turned, casting his still unlit cigarette on the concrete.
“Why did she have to come back?” He was so straightforward he surprised himself too. For what seemed like minutes Alec stared at him with wide eyes and parted lips, unsure of what to say to that. “I was perfectly fine when she was gone. Does she have any idea how hard I worked to forget her? How dare she waltz back into my life?”
Anger – that was the only emotion he allowed out. He let it manifest through his words. He gave it permission to represent all those hidden emotions and thoughts. Alec still remained silent, he listened to Ethan’s words carefully, being the comfort Ethan never thought Alec would be.
“I don’t know what to do man. I can’t be the way I was with her. I can’t be angry with her. I tried, I really tried, but one look from her and it’s all gone.”
“You’re trying way too hard man.” Alec finally said with a loud sigh. “I saw you, you’re trying to mask all those memories with anger. You try blaming her for everything that happened, but let’s be honest. She’s not the only one at fault here.”
Ethan was speechless. He stared at the man in front of him, a furrow resting above his eyes. He tried to find meaning behind his words, but they were all so painfully true, that his mind simply seemed to reject them.
“You said it yourself, people were mean to her. They called her names; they doubted her capability and her intentions. Didn’t she have a right to run away? Sure, she should have done it differently, but you were both kids, man.”
Ethan didn’t know what was more shocking; the fact that Alec turned out to be that wise, or that he was showing him a side of the story Ethan never knew existed.
“What are you saying? That I should just forget it all and forgive her?” Alec shook his head.
“You should listen to her side of the story. Maybe there is more to it. Look, I don’t know Leila, but she seems like a good girl. Even if you will never be the way you were, you guys still deserve a kind of closure.” He shrugged. “And stop trying to find ways to act around her. Just be normal, stop torturing yourself.”
And with that, Alec walked back into the club leaving him prey to his own thoughts.
*****
Ethan’s hangover had been rough. It was like walking on broken glass, every step was painful, and it came with several unwanted side effects. Despite the dizziness and the constant taste of bile that invaded his mouth, he still walked through the halls of his corporation with Susan in toe. The sound of her heels was by far the most annoying thing he had heard all morning. It was constant and high-pitched, echoing though his skull like hundreds of mistuned trumpets.
“How much did you have to drink last night?” Had he told her of his little derail the night before? Nope. But that was Susan, she could read someone like an open book.
“Should I be honest?” he rose a brow as he shoved both hands into his front pockets.
“Just fix that tie.” she said with a sigh just as they reached the front door of the conference room.
“Yes, boss.”
He loved the friendship he had on with Susan. It made office work easier. People might have already guessed it, but he hated office work. That had been one of the many reasons why he chose not to get entangled in his father’s family business. But, as life goes, even restaurants have a side filled with paperwork and deals.
Inside, Leila had been sitting with her assistant, her eyes skimming through the files she had at hand. Seeing her there made his stomach flip. He was reminded of everything Alec had said and of all the thoughts that he had on his own.
Ethan took a deep breath and walked in, his face looking unphased. His presence had been noticed almost immediately, they both stopped what they were doing and stood up. They both smiled and greeted him. In that moment, he couldn’t help but notice how tired Leila looked. Her hair had been un-styled, her natural curls sprawled past her shoulders, her eyes were dull with darker circles beneath the thin layer of makeup she had on.
As her business partner, he should have been glad for knowing she was working hard. But, as the guy that still clearly cared about her, he couldn’t help but wish she would take it easy.
“Since everyone is here, shall we begin?”
Ethan didn
’t answer, instead he nodded while he slipped into the leather chair in the head of the table. The projector was already on, the blue light slashed through the air to create an image on the opposite wall. Ethan had heard a bit of the main highlights from Susan, but he was still excited to know what the details were.
Dining in a Museum.
The title read above the different pictures that had been colorfully displayed beneath. The title had been only a small introduction to a long subject about the new concept their restaurant was supposed to follow. Leila talked for about an hour about the benefits of going with the theme. Indeed, the concept had been used before, and Leila clearly admitted to it too. But the way they were going to do it was going to be a whole different experience. Not only was it going to be more affordable than most high- end restaurants, but it was going to be a cultural manifestation none had seen in that area.
Ethan waited patiently to see the end, and although it took him a bit of time to admit it, he was extremely proud of Leila. Unlike him, she had started everything from zero. She had no one to support her, no helping hand to reach out to when things got tough. She became someone with her own will and hard work. She proved everyone wrong and came to stand above them.
By the time she was done Ethan had a few ideas on what they should change and what was worth keeping. The overall plan was excellent, it needed a little polishing, but this was his job. Leila had done her part, and she had done it more than well.
“Great. Than we just need to hire a planner and we are good to go.” Ethan smiled. “You did a great job!
His voice was tender and so was his eyes. They betrayed him, exposing themselves freely to the pair of blue eyes that looked at him from beyond the long black lashes.
“About that, I kind of looked into a few planners already. I gave a few calls and arranged some meetings for today. If you want to come, the first meeting is in a few hours.”
Ethan nodded and looked at Susan, silently asking if there was anything urgent on his agenda. His secretary shook her head.
“Well, I guess we have some field work to do.” Ethan said as he stood up.
*****
By the time they had finished it was night. The sun had set a long time ago, nothing but a little red paint remained across the sky. Leila and Ethan were silent; driving down the empty lane, listening to whatever old jam was on the radio. None of them had said a thing while alone, their conversations died as soon as they stepped out of any of the offices they visited.
Ethan had opened his mouth to speak a couple of times, but he had closed it just as soon. He couldn’t find the right topic to open. He wanted to follow Alec’s advice so badly, but how exactly?
“How about we stop at that pizza place, down the street?” He found himself asking. “We didn’t eat anything all day.”
Leila was silent for a second, she seemed to weigh the options. He didn’t blame her, he had done that as well. Eventually, she answered:
“Sure.”
The answer had been brief, but enough of a reason to make him step on the gas. His car was literally sprinting down the street, snaking through the few other vehicles like it owned the place. Back in the days, Ethan loved high speed. Of course, he later gave up, only after he lost a friend to high speed. Of course, the bad habit disappeared, but the skills he gained during those sinful days were handy even in such banal situations.
A fifteen-minute ride turned into a five-minute one.
“God! It looks the same! Does the pizza taste the same?” Leila asked as she unbuckled her belt.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been here in a while.”
Ethan refrained from adding more details. Like the fact that he had stopped coming there because it was their place back in the day. Although he hadn’t provided the detail, he knew she understood him right away. It wasn’t like they couldn’t read each other like an open book.
“You know, there was a place just like this back in England. I used to go there every week. It kind of felt like home.” She smiled as she slid into the chair next to the window.
Ethan meant to say something, but the figure that soon appeared next to them stopped him from doing so. Ethan turned, and to his utter surprise, he came to realize that the man next to them wasn’t just any waiter, but the same man that had been there for years now.
He was older now, with grey hair and a long beard that was by far not the best thing to showcase in a restaurant. His eyes were just as Ethan remembered, brown and curious. The man looked between them, his eyes sparkling with recognition.
“I remember you!” he said, as he pointed the two menus between them. “You used to be regulars here.”
Ethan didn’t know if he should be surprised by the old man’s memory or flattered that he had such an impact on people. Either way, Ethan smiled and stood up to shake hands with the man.
“You guys stopped coming by. I thought you broke up.” he said without hesitation, clearly speaking his mind. “I’m glad to see I was mistaken. You two look good together.”
Ethan and Leila looked at one another, both agreeing that simply going with the man’s statement was far better than correcting him. So, with that agreement in mind, Ethan thanked the man and took the menus from his hand.
By the time the old man was gone, Ethan and Leila had sunken into a thick silence. They looked at the different dishes silently, feeling the pressure of the words that had been previously spoken.
“By the way, did you know I tried to go vegan?” It was completely out of the bloom, but Leila’s question had been more than welcomed.
Ethan lowered the booklet and looked at her with surprise.
“There is no way you would have succeeded. You love meat way too much.” He snorted.
“I said I tried.” she shrugged with a chuckle. “I gave up in two weeks, went straight for a double burger.”
That small confession turned into ten other ones. For hours they stayed at that table, sharing stories that had occurred though the years. Neither of them felt time pass, the laughs and giggles made it all seem so short.
If anyone would have taken a picture of them, it would have looked the same way it did all those years ago. For the night, none of them cared of the bitterness they had tasted, nor of the anger they had once held, it hadn’t been voluntary or planned, but somehow, their hearts won over and their minds allowed them to have one silent night together.
Chapter 5
Ethan smiled sadly as he brushed the long mane of his horse. The sun burnt his skin, but he came to ignore the heat his mind constantly focusing on the task at hand. He had been sitting there for about an hour, ever since the vet had left. He couldn't bring himself to stand up, not when he was aware of the fate that lay in front of his loyal friend.
That had been his first horse. It had been among the very reasons that lead to his dream of owning a ranch. Tornado, typical as his name was, had been his friend. It had been the relief that Ethan found during hardships, the distractions in stressful days, and most of all, the starter point of an achieved dream.
At the back of his mind, he remembered the day he met Tornado for the first time. His mother had taken him to ride for the first time. He fell in love with it almost instantly. The memories were so vivid, Ethan could swear he felt the smell of the lavender field that grew around Tornado's first home. His instructor's commands and his mother's encouragement were all echoing in the back of his head, but not as loud as the sound of Tornado's gallop.
Ethan sighed and placed a kiss on his horse's mane. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the other horses running, the help he had hired carried buckets of water their way, making sure to detour his way around him. Ethan had given clear instructions that he was not to be bothered.
He owed the old man some alone time under the blazing sun, with the soft breeze singing the sad song of their final goodbyes. In less than twenty-four hours Tornado was going to give his last breath. It was either that, or days and days of pain and misery. As much as he
wanted to, Ethan wasn't going to be that selfish.
With a groan, he stood up to grab some carrots. Before he even got a chance to make a step towards the barn, he heard a familiar voice that made him stop right in his track.
“Ethan!” the voice came from behind him.
With one swift move, he turned on his heel and came face to face with Leila. She was standing by the white fence; her hand guided her sunglasses up her forehead and on her head, pulling the framing strands of hair with it. Her eyes were bright; their shines taking him by surprise, making his heart skip a beat.
“Leila, what are you doing here?” He asked, the surprise he felt not failing to show through his voice.
“I came to drop by some files. I need your signature by tomorrow.” She raised a hand, fluttering the files in the air.
Suddenly, as if she saw it for the first time, she moved closer, the smile on her lips dropping almost immediately. She looked between the laying horse and him, unspoken words lingering on her parted lips.
“Is that Tornado?” She asked as she dropped her purse and blazer on the ground. A gust of dust emerged from the spot where it had fallen, the particles raising high in the air.
“Yea. He got this thing- “Ethan began, unable to find the exact words the doctor had used. “I have to euthanize him.”
Having Leila there finally felt a thousand times better. It was good to have someone there that knew Tornado almost as well as he did. He watched as she knelt beside the horse, her hand moving to pat the long mane that Ethan had just combed through. Suddenly, Ethan remembered a day in his past, back to when things were much simpler.
He had just moved into the ranch, his horse collection had been small, not even close to the race horse business he now had going. He had just met Leila, in fact it was just the first time she visited him. She was wearing that blue dress he used to love so much. He remembered vividly how she met Tornado for the first time, how excited she had been to finally be able to climb on a horse.
The Cowboy One Page 4
