by J. S. Cooper
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm glad to hear that."
I was so done with this event. If Birdy wasn't here with me, I would have just stood up and left the building. Just then I felt the hairs on the back of my neck go up. I felt like someone was staring at me. I turned to my right and I turned to my left, but it was so dark in the corners of the room that I couldn't see anyone. And I guess everyone else in the bar was probably staring at all the people speed dating. I mean, how much of a loser did you have to be to speed date?
I was beginning to realize that you had to be a really big loser.
"So, girl, what's your name?"
"Olivia. You?"
"John."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, John."
"Yeah. I assume it would be."
"Okay."
"You know, I don't normally date black girls, but you're pretty hot. I'd take you on a date."
"Okay. And I should be flattered by that?" My voice rising and I was starting to get angry, but this ignoramus was not worth getting upset with. I didn't need him getting on my nerves.
"Yeah. Where would you like to go?"
"Nowhere with you. Sorry." I said and sat back, rolling my eyes. Did this dude really think his 55-year-old crusty racist self had a chance with me? Hell no. I was glad to hear the bell go again and was praying for the event to finish quickly. The only nice guy of the night had been Brandon and I was still debating whether or not I was going to check his name on the box. Did I want to go on a second date with him? Was he that nice, or was he just nice in comparison to the other guys?
I wasn't sure, but as Birdy and I were waiting for the event to officially end, Brandon walked up to me.
"Hey there, Olivia." He gave me a warm smile.
"Hi."
"Would you like a drink?"
"Here, now?"
"Yeah. I don't think we have to go if we don't want to. It'd be nice to continue our conversation."
"Are you sure you want to have a drink with me now in front of all the other women, won't they get jealous?"
"You're the only woman that I had any sort of attraction to, the only one that seemed to actually have a bit of a brain."
"Oh, no. Don't say that! This is my friend Birdy. And she might be a little bit upset to hear that."
"It's okay.” Birdy giggled. "I'm not the smartest tool in the shed. I know that."
"Birdy, don't say that about yourself!"
"Hey, I'm not really that bothered. I got big boobs and blonde hair. Lots of guys love me."
"Oh, Birdy." I laughed and looked over at Brandon who was still smiling.
"So how about that drink?" he asked.
"I don't know. I did come with my friend."
Birdy gave me a gentle push. "Girlfriend, you go and have that drink. I got plenty of guys that want to get a drink with me. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? I asked her, surprised. “I didn't know we had plans tomorrow."
"Well, we should grab brunch so we could talk about how our evening went tonight."
"Okay, Birdy, I'll let you know. I might have to meet up with Derrick and Tyler, but maybe you can join us."
"Oh, that sounds good to me." She smiled and then walked away over to the tall black guy that I'd been talking to earlier, the R&B singer, DJ Malcolm or whatever his name had been.
"So that's your friend, huh?" Brandon looked at me with a small smile. "You guys seem a little bit different."
"Yeah. We're slightly different, but we work together and that's how we got to know each other. She’s a really cool person. I think when she's drunk, she doesn't seem as cool, though. She seems more ditzy."
"No, I can see how she'd be kind of cool. She's just not my kind of cool. Shall we go to the bar, then?" He put his arm around my shoulder and led me over to the bar. "So, Olivia, tell me a bit more about yourself."
"Sure. What would you like to know?"
"I don't know. Why did you come to this event? And when's the last time you had a boyfriend?"
"I came because Birdy asked me to, and it's been a while since I had a boyfriend. What about you? When's the last time you had a girlfriend?"
"My girlfriend and I broke up about six months ago." He shrugged. "It was okay. We only dated for about six months, anyway. She ended up moving down to LA because she wants to be an actress."
"That's really cool. Sad for you, but cool for her."
"Yeah. You know, these things happen." He leaned in closer to me. "You have got the most beautiful brown eyes. Did you know that?"
"Wow. Thank you. I appreciate the compliment." I smiled at him. Happy that he was paying me so much attention.
A loud voice interrupted us. "Hey, what's going on here?"
I turned around and my jaw dropped as I saw Tyler standing there, a wicked grin on his face.
"Oh, Olivia. It's so good to see you. What a small world this is that we both came to the same bar to get a drink."
"Tyler, what are you doing here?" I glared at him. "You should be out with Derrick."
"Derrick's out with Tiffany."
"Okay. But why are you here?"
"I told you I'm here to get a drink."
"But why are you at this bar?" I tried to keep my voice down instead of getting yelling because I didn't want Brandon to think I was absolutely crazy.
"Hey, is there something going on between you two?" Brandon interrupted us looking back and forth at our faces. "Do you guys know each other? Is this your ex?”
"No, this my brother's best friend, Tyler. He's in town from Florida. He’s staying with me and wanted to go out tonight. I told him I couldn't hang out because I was going to go to a speed-dating event. And it looks like he just miraculously happened to go for a drink at the same bar that the speed-dating event is being held at. Even though this bar is 30 minutes away from my house. Even though there are multiple bars down the street from my house. What a small world this is, huh, Tyler?"
"I guess it is, Olivia, I guess it is. So, do you think we can pick up where we left last night?"
"What are you talking about?" I looked at him with a frown. "What happened last night?”
"That kiss." He grinned. "That hot, steaming, sexy kiss. Do you think we can pick up and continue? I know that I’d very much like that, so how about it?"
Chapter 12
Tyler
* * *
"Hey, so who was that guy?" I asked Olivia as the guy she was talking with walked away angrily. "Someone you work with?" I had to keep my face composed. I knew it was a guy she'd gone on a speed date with because I'd seen them chatting at the table.
"No, it was not a guy that I work with!" Olivia looked at me furiously. "How dare you come up to us and interrupt our conversation? That was a guy I just met at the event, and I really thought he was nice and I think he really liked me. and you just ruined that!"
"How did I ruin that? I just came to say hello."
"Because he thought we had something." She waved a hand between us.
"Why would he think we had something?"
"Because you just said we kissed last night."
"Well, that's the truth, isn't it?"
"Tyler, how dare you!"
"How dare I what? Tell the truth? Would you rather I lie?"
"I don't need you to lie," she flustered, "but you didn't have to bring it up in the first place."
"I think I did have to bring it up in the first place." I grinned at her. "I don't want this guy thinking he has a chance with you."
"What do you mean, you don't want him thinking he has a chance with me? He does have a chance with me, that's why I was talking to him!"
"You can do much better than him, girl."
"What do you mean? He was a nice guy."
"Ah, he didn't seem that nice to me."
"How would you know? You've never even spoken to him."
"Trust me, guys know these things."
"What do you mean, guys know these things?"
"I mean, guys know these t
hings. I can tell when a guy's a good guy and when a guy's a bad guy."
"You and Derrick have thought every single guy that's ever been interested in me has been a bad guy. Every guy in the world is not a bad guy, you know."
"I'm not saying every guy in the world is a bad guy. I'm just saying that the guys you seem to be attracted to are bad guys."
"So, you're calling yourself a bad guy?"
"Hmm," I smiled at her wildly, "are you saying you're attracted to me then?"
"Oh, Tyler, just whatever. I'm going to go."
"Wait, we haven't had a drink yet." I put my arm around her shoulder. "Come on, Olivia, let me get you a drink. Let me make it up to you."
"I don't want you to make it up to me. I just want you to leave me alone. I told you that this was a girls’ night out."
"Yeah, but that doesn't really seem to be the case, does it?" I frowned at her. "You said it was a girls’ night and I believed you, but then I come here and I see you chatting with some guy. Hmm, seems like you didn't care about it being a girls’ night when he came along."
"Because it was a girls’ night out to meet guys. I can't meet a guy if another guy is around."
"Who told you that bunk?"
"Everyone knows it's true. Guys are not going to approach girls that have other guys there."
"Well, if a guy's got charisma and confidence, he will."
"What does charisma have to do with anything?" She shook her head. "You are so annoying, Tyler."
"Aww, was I annoying when you were kissing me last night?" I leaned up closer to her and kissed the side of her neck.
"What are you doing?" She appeared even more flustered now and pushed me away. "Tyler, I think I'm going to leave before I say or do anything that will get me arrested."
"Well, well. What are you planning on doing, Olivia?" I looked at her with a smirk. "Nothing too naughty, I hope."
"You know what, Tyler? You're just too much."
"Too much for you to handle?"
"No, you're not too much for me to handle. I can handle pretty much anything."
"Really? So, you think you can handle me?"
"Yes, I can."
"You can handle all of my BC?" She burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" I asked her, taken aback. I hadn't expected to see her laughing at that comment.
"Do you know what BC means, Tyler?"
"I'm pretty sure I know what BC means, I'm the one that said it to you."
"BC means black cock, Tyler, not big cock." She laughed again. “Ever heard of BBC?” She winked.
"Oh, oops." I ran my hands through my hair. "Okay, I can see where I messed up there, but you know what? I don't think you'd be disappointed if you came home with me tonight."
"Um, Tyler, you're the one that's coming home with me. You're staying at my place. But if you want to get a hotel room or something, I won't say no."
"No, I'm quite happy staying with you, thank you." I smiled, "So how's about that drink?"
"Tyler, I don't think it's a good idea." She shook her head firmly. "Look, okay, the kiss last night was nice, but there's nothing more that can come from that."
"What do you mean, there's nothing more that can come from that?"
"You're Derrick's best friend. You're also a player."
"Wait, wait, wait. I'm not a player. I told you that."
"Okay, you're not a player, but you're really not in a serious relationship with anyone, are you?"
"No."
"And I don't think you've been in a serious relationship with anyone, at least for the last two years, have you?"
"No."
"You've just been all about work. Even Derrick said he hasn't really seen you."
I paused then, not knowing what to say. "My job is important to me, Olivia. I thought you understood that."
"I do understand that, but if we hook up, what then? You live in Florida, I'm here in California. And you work all the time so you can't even visit me."
"So, you've been thinking about what would happen if we did decide to date?" My mood brightened. "That makes me happy."
"No, no," she interrupted me quickly, "I haven't been thinking about what it would be like if we were to date. I was just saying—Oh, I don't know what I was saying."
"I think you like me, Olivia."
"I don't like you."
“You don't like me? Not even a teensy weensy, little bit?" I held her hand and brought her closer to me. "Are you sure about that? Your heartbeat seems to be racing right now."
"Tyler," she licked her lips nervously and looked into my eyes, "this isn't a good idea."
"Is it a bad idea, though?"
"Yes. Yes. It's a very bad idea."
"I don't think it's a bad idea. I don't think it's a bad idea at all."
Chapter 13
Olivia
* * *
I looked into Tyler’s dazzling blue eyes, the cocky self-assured smile on his face, his floppy blonde hair. What he was doing here? Why had he come to the bar? Was it really a coincidence? I didn't think so. He'd obviously looked for speed dating events and found me. But why? Did he not want me to be happy? Or was it because he just wanted me for himself?
I felt a tingle in my stomach as I realized that the sexual chemistry I'd felt for him all these years wasn't just one-sided. I could see it in his eyes. Tyler wanted me as well. It was a good feeling, a special feeling, a feeling that I'd longed for for so many years. And yet as I stood next to him, my hand resting lightly on his chest, a shiver of fear ran through me. Fear of the unknown, fear of what was to come next, fear of what would happen if we let ourselves enjoy this moment for what it was.
"Hey, Olivia, why are you looking so serious? Tonight's meant to be fun. I didn't want to bring you down." Tyler’s expression was suddenly very earnest. "Look, if you really want me to go, I'll go. Promise."
I looked at his face and at his lips, the lips that had touched me and kissed me so sweetly the day before. And I knew that I didn't want him to go. "Tyler, you can stay. I just—I just don't know what we should do. This is a really awkward, weird situation."
"Is it, though?" He cocked his head to the side. "What's awkward about it? What's weird about it?"
I gave him a look. "Are you seriously asking me what's awkward about this situation?"
"Come on now, Olivia. It's only awkward if we allow it to be awkward. Look, I want to tell you something." He paused. "I don't know if it's my place to tell you, but I need to tell you."
"What's that? What did you want to tell me?"
"Don't get upset. Okay?"
"I'm not going to get upset. What are you talking about?"
"I think your brother is really serious about Tiffany."
"You have got to be joking!" I almost screamed. "There is no way that Derrick is serious about Tiffany. She is such a ditz!"
"You know what? That's your opinion, Olivia. But he likes her, and she likes him. And I think it could be something serious."
"They've been with each other for one day. Come on, now. How is that going to be serious?" I rolled my eyes. "Are you joking?"
"Look, I don't want you to get upset, and I don't know what's going to happen, obviously. But you know what? Derrick's going with it. He likes her, and he's going to do what he wants."
"What do you mean he's going to do what he wants?" I frowned.
"I mean that just because you don't like Tiffany doesn't mean he's not going to date her."
"Okay. So?"
"So if you're worried about what Derrick will think about us dating then maybe you shouldn't be. Maybe you should be living your life for you. And I should be living my life for me. We could really have something special here."
"Tyler, I don't want to burst your bubble, but you've been here one day. And we had one kiss. That's nothing special."
"That kiss was special, Olivia, even if you don't want to admit it. I know that."
"I mean, it was okay."
" I think you know it was a lot more
than okay."
"Oh, my gosh. We're not going to get into this okay discussion again, are we?" I groaned. "I can't do that again."
"Well, we don't have to. Let's get a drink."
"Fine. You can buy me one drink, and then we leave."
"Okay. Where'd you want to go afterwards?"
"I don't know. Home?"
His eyes lit up. "Hey, I'd be down for going home, too. Bow chicka bow wow."
I slapped my forehead. "You did not just say bow chicka bow wow, did you?"
He laughed. "I know. I know. Bad joke. I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"Hey, Olivia, can I tell you something?" Tyler asked me quietly as we waited for the bartender to notice us.
"Yeah. You can always tell me anything. What is it?"
"It's this poem that makes me think of you."
"A poem that makes you think of me? Go on then. I'm listening."
"Did you ever read Robert Frost in school?"
"Yeah, I read him. I don't really remember much of his stuff."
"Well, do you know the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?"
"No, I don't know that poem."
"Well, I want you to listen to it, and I want you to really pay attention to the words. Okay?"
"Okay. Sure. Go ahead."
"Okay." He cleared his throat and then looked a little bit sheepish. "I hope I don't get any of the words wrong."
"It's okay. I won't know if you do anyway," I pointed out.
"Okay. Well, here it goes. It's ‘The Road Not Taken,’ and it's by Robert Frost. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth, then took the other, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear, though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
