One Little Letter_A Bad Boy, Second Chance Romance

by Robin Edwards

  Sam wasn’t too bad to look at either. His compression top was form fitting and outlined the muscles on his upper body. By no means was Sam a young guy but he had a broad chest and very muscular arms – two areas I tended to favor on a man. He also had a small gut, but that made him much more perfect than not.

  After rolling around with Sam, I was sweaty and frankly, turned on. I wondered if he was too but God forbid I looked. Maybe just a peek?

  If she actually looked, it wouldn’t have been on purpose nor was it originally a part of her plan. Sam’s superior strength gave him a slight edge and he always ended up on top pinning her to the mat. I couldn’t help but notice when I put him in my guard by wrapping my legs around his waist, he would posture himself up to avoid any choke or arm based submissions but to me, it was hot.

  “Come on, Wily. Get your head straight. You’re close to being submitted!” Professor Felix shouted.

  “I know,” I grunted. Sam was like her kryptonite.

  “If you know, then do something!” he shouted again.

  I utilized an escape and then a counter technique that resulted in me having the upper hand. I straddled Sam’s waist from above and I leaned over him and snaked my right arm underneath his and grabbed his wrist with my left hand that made my arms form a figure 4. I then carefully bent his right arm backward and Sam tapped out quickly.

  “Alright!” Felix cheered. “There’s the win! I knew you could do it.”

  “Thank you, Professor,” I said out of breath.

  “Whew! You are good.” Sam exhaled.

  “Thank you, but so are you.” I blushed at the compliment and I suddenly felt self-conscious at the fact that I was still straddling his waist. Sam showed no signs of moving so I got off of him quickly.

  “I tried using my strength to overpower you that way and then my speed and my best strategies but you still snaked me.”

  “Thank you.” I blushed again as I brushed my bangs out of my face.

  “That’s why we call her Wily. She’s very sly. Just when you think you have her close to submitting, she pulls out the most random escapes on you and then it’s suddenly over.” Professor Felix gloated.

  “Thanks guys.”

  “Do you guys want some water? We have plenty in the office.”

  “That would be great, thank you.” Sam said.

  “Sure.” I managed to agree. I was breathing heavily before I stood up to walk to my gym bag to dry off with my towel as Sam followed. He picked up his own towel from his bag that was conveniently placed near mine.

  “So, Wily isn’t your real name?” Sam broke the ice.

  “No, it’s just what the Professor started calling me and then it caught on, now everyone calls me that. My real name is Jamie and you’re Sam right?”

  “Yeah, it’s Sam. Do you want me to call you Wily too or just Jamie?”

  I suddenly felt self-conscious again, “Well, no one calls me Wily outside of here. So it’s up to you.” I blushed as Sam smiled at me again. Damn that smile!

  “Here you go,” Professor Felix appeared as he handed each of us bottled water.

  “Thanks, Felix. I better get going, I need to get back home and freshen up. I have a meeting in a couple of hours.” Sam said as he wiped sweat from his brow.

  Alright bro, thanks for coming. You’ll call me, right?”

  “Yeah, I’ll le tyou know when I can come in for training again. I want that purple belt.”

  “Well, you definitely have been training for it.” Felix smiled.

  “Thank you, I certainly appreciate it. Jamie, it was fun meeting you. Thank you for the loss.” Sam joked as he put on his slippers, bowed and exited the building.

  That was it, it was over. I was distracted by the heat of the moment and lost what would have been my only chance. If I had only said something to keep it going.

  “Thank you for helping me out, Wily.” Professor Felix broke my train of thought.

  “Anytime, Professor. It’s good to get extra practice in especially with someone I’m not used to sparring.”

  “I knew it would be a match considering the skill level and his age versus your genius. I was very curious to see who would win in the end.” Professor Felix laughed.

  “Me, of course.” I joked back. “So, that’s Sam, huh?”

  “Wait, don’t tell me Wily actually likes what she sees?” Felix teased. “Hell must have frozen over!”

  “Well…” I shrugged.

  “So that’s it huh? Would have never guessed.”

  “Why?”

  “To be honest, I thought you played for the other team.”

  “What?” I choked on the water. “Why would you even think that?”

  “Well, because you never talked about anyone you were seeing and well you enjoyed rolling around with the guys and never giggled about it like the other girls,” Felix explained.

  “That made you think I liked women?”

  “Well, I figured since you always took the jiu jitsu seriously and avoided the other girls that you were doing it so you wouldn’t get distracted.”

  “I avoid what little women we had because they never took it seriously and we both know they were never a match for me anyway. The guys too.” I teased.

  “Well, now I know and won’t have to question it.”

  “Does he take the morning classes?” I asked.

  “Who?”

  “Sam. Does he take the morning classes?”

  “No he doesn’t. He doesn’t have time for them. He primarily does private training when he can. He has a busy schedule and if there is anyone here as well, he will either roll around with them or with me. He has attended classes before, but it’s rare. He just doesn’t have the time.” Felix said before heading back to his office.

  Interesting.

  I wasn’t quite sure when I would see this Sam guy again but I was determined to find a way to do it. I wondered if I should ask Professor Felix for Sam’s number but in the end I decided against it because that would violate client privacy. It would be considered stalking as well and that was illegal.

  I would have to make every effort and come during the mornings in hopes that I would see him again. I wasn’t sure if he just came during the weekend mornings or if he came during the week. If he was busy as Professor Felix said, I highly doubted he came when one would normally be at work. I couldn’t take time off from my job and I couldn’t keep grilling Professor Felix more than I already have. He probably assumed it was just a passing fancy but I was serious about this. Sam was the first man in a long time that had me feeling this way and I wasn’t about to let it go that easily.

  Chapter Three

  “Jamie? Hello, Jamie? Can you hear me? Wake up!” John said as he snapped his fingers in front of my eyes.

  “God, what?” I shouted, clutching my chest in annoyance. “You scared me!”

  “Sorry, I was trying to get your attention. You kind of tuned out there, I was getting to the good part of my date last night.” John grinned.

  John and I arrived at the studio where Plus One practiced and recorded our demos and Eps. John’s father owned the studio and worked in the music industry as an audio engineer and producer for the past twenty years and believed that Plus One was talented enough to make it but was disappointed to know that it wasn’t what they wanted out of life.

  He still tried to convince them now and then, always saying it was never too late. It technically was. Plus One had been playing together for years and Jamie just joined a couple of years ago. She was twenty-eight years old and no longer at the age where she thought dreams were still possible. At least that’s how she felt lately.

  “Sorry, John. I was just thinking about things.” I sighed.

  “What about?” John asked curiously. Besides Lily, John was the only other person that I knew for years and he was the glue that kept the band together.

  He was always telling jokes and making everyone laugh often regaling the crowd with stories of the dates he wen
t on. Often being perfect for the premise of a network television pilot. Situations you did not think would ever happen, always happened to John. If he ever decided to drop his pickiness when it came to women, he would be Mr. Right for someone.

  Every three-day weekend, Plus One practiced for any upcoming shows that we had at John’s father’s studio and the following week we had a performance at the Sutton Hill Country Club again. This time it was for one of their biggest events of the year, their Fourth of July Gala.

  We couldn’t practice more often as we all had careers and some also had families to spend time with. Besides John, I was the only other badn member without a significant other or child to raise. I wasn’t sure how long the others would continue being interested in having the band and as much as I loved performing, it seemed like everyone’s priorities were starting to slowly change.

  “Oh, about the Gala. I’m kind of nervous, but I’ll be alright.” I sighed as I strummed the strings of my black Ibanez acoustic guitar.

  I was proud of my guitar, Ricky, and went to the extreme in how I took care of it and did not allow anyone to play it but I lied to John, of course. I had been thinking about Sam.

  Normally I would not be so hung up on a guy that I had just met, but there was something about him that intrigued me. I wasn’t sure if it was also his calm personality or his raw masculinity that clinched it for me but he was drop dead gorgeous.

  Not only was she finally glad that she met someone in the dojo that was at least around her maturity level but someone that did not seem like he had only one thing on his mind. She was a hypocrite, however. That was all she thought about at their practice session two weeks ago. The difference between her and the men that picked up women in bars was that she was looking for something other than a one night stand. Although, Sam would not be bad to have a one night stand with but she wanted more than that in her life.

  “I would say that there was nothing to worry about and that it was just like any other gig we have had,” John chuckled. “But, it is one of the town’s biggest events of the year and we can’t let them down. Otherwise, they may rethink us playing at their venue in the future.” John explained.

  Thank you for the vote of confidence.” I said sarcastically.

  “Sorry, but it’s true.” John shrugged.

  “We are reliable and the committee has had nothing but great experiences with us. I don’t think failing one gig will harm us, not that we will. You worry too much John.” I said.

  “We haven’t played the Gala before, besides worrying is what I do best.” John laughed.

  As John proceeded to continue his extraordinary story about his most recent date, the rest of Plus One arrived and we practiced well into the evening including coming back the rest of the weekend and several weeknights in a row. The Fourth of July Gala seemed to be approaching faster than expected and we had to be ready.

  The Fourth of July Gala was Sutton Hill’s Annual Independence Day Celebration and it was attended by all active members of the country club, the city’s elite and their families. Anyone who mattered went to the gala – politicians, local celebrities, wealthy retirees and any residents that came from old money. Anybody who’s anybody lived in Sutton Hill and you just didn’t become a part of their society, you were either born or married into it.

  Being born into Sutton Hill life was as rare as winning the lottery but even higher odds was falling in love with Sutton Hill elite and being lucky enough to live happily ever after with them. Sutton Hill residents stuck together and that included who they socialized with. If you didn’t live there, they usually did not give you the time of day no matter how attractive you were. It was almost as if they were trying to keep up their “royal” bloodlines, except they weren’t royalty.

  The night of the celebration, we loaded our van with guitars, mic sets, amplifiers, drum kit and the rest of the equipment before we took off for the half hour drive to the country club’s banquet hall. We made sure we wore coordinated outfits shaded in the colors of crème and tan.

  When we arrived at the club’s parking lot, it took us a few moments to do some final readiness checks before we went inside to set up. By the time we arrived, the Gala had already began. Most of the affluent residents were already there and the wealthiest and most endowed residents the city had to offer were also some of the richest in the country. They had a lot of influence so it was imperative that we impress the crowd. It could mean more opportunities in the future.

  The celebration was in full swing and the lively ecosystem was a sight to be remembered. Waiters and waitresses floating around carrying trays of hors d’oeuvres that couldn’t be pronounced, bottles of champagne and wine and background music with an upbeat tempo that echoed throughout the building. The event was followed by the city’s annual fireworks display when the sun set and the stars came out.

  If the rumors were true, the country club spent more than $100,000 on this event alone. Anyone who had attended in the past would not have been surprised as the venue always looked beautiful and mesmerizing.

  The club members were mainly networking and chatting away with each other about their investment portfolio, the amount of their charitable giving and golf handicap numbers. Sometimes they even mentioned where their vacation houses were and what they did in the Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard. They occasionally listened to the music playing and would dance under the dim lights. Plus One’s only job was to provide the musical entertainment whether or not the attendees heard.

  As the afternoon into early evening wore on, the Gala was hopping and the band was rocking. Every member of the band had a part in how the songs we performed were written because we wanted the songs to have lyrics we and the audience could all identify with. It was called authentic showmanship, John explained. The more that the band members related to what they sang, the better the performance that was given.

  Lead vocals were the perfect role for me and although I did not grow up with natural vocal ability, with years of hard work and practice I was able to improve and identify the type of music that enhanced the quality of my voice. It also helped my confidence in getting accustomed to being the center of attention and in the limelight.

  During my first show with the band, I had panicked last minute and Lily had to be the lead singer that night instead of on keyboard and backup vocals. As time went on, it got easier for me and I started to have fun doing it. It grew to be like therapy for me and I eventually developed an excitement for upcoming gigs and couldn’t stop thinking about it at that point. The adrenaline I felt while we played was an addiction and I constantly craved it. It was such a rush when I finally realized what being valued and worthy felt like.

  ‘Parents with children,

  Husbands with wives.

  People who dream,

  For the rest of their lives…’

  Paradise Lost was a song I personally wrote and I was glad that the rest of the band was able to identify with it and thus able to perform it at one of our gigs. I wrote the lyrics during one of the more darker moments in my life and the song had special meaning to me more than anything else we played because it reminded me of Sutton Hill, a place where one could be free. If only.

  Hitting the last high note of the song, Paradise Lost, as I strummed the final chord on my guitar. We heard faint clapping throughout the venue that quickly was overtaken by conversations that must have been far more interesting. We decided to take the opportunity to call for a 2nd intermission and announced to the audience, the ones that actually paid attention, that we would return after a fifteen minute break.

  I made a beeline for the refreshment table to quench my thirst and alleviate my mild dehydration. I needed to cool down, I was drenched with sweat. I grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it down quickly.

  After feeling refreshed, I took the opportunity to look around the banquet hall and background music played while conversation and laughter could be heard throughout the room.

  Words like a bear mar
ket, portfolio and hedge fund were echoing and these were terms that I had no familiarity with. A lot of vibrant activity was happening and I relished in the thought about how I loved being a part of something with purpose instead of my usual humdrum life. I just wished I had a way to be a part of the conversations and excitement but I couldn’t. I didn’t know anything about what they talked about. I didn’t belong here.

  Groups of people were animated in their behavior and I wondered what else they discussed. Was it about some being merger? I doubted I even knew what a merger was.

  I did not know what it was but I was fascinated by it and wanted to find out. I loved being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of conversation, debates, music and the dancing. I loved it all.

  “Tough crowd.” a familiar voice said from behind.

  Surprised, I turned around quickly to see a man I recognized all too well standing there with a slight smile. His eyes were the same mesmerizing blue.

  “I, uh yeah. Hi, Sam.” I said flustered and started to push the runaway strands of hair away from my face. Fixing my hair was an uncontrollable habit I had developed whenever I was uncomfortable or nervous.

  “Jamie right?” Sam asked.

  “Yeah, you got it.”

  “Jamie what?”

  “Oh, it’s Jamie Winters.”

  “Mine’s Ellis by the way. Sam Ellis.” He said smiling as he held out his hand to shake mine again. He continued to look directly at me, making me feel all too self-conscious again.

  Sam was several inches taller in height and he had a natural maleness and athleticism that contrasted his toothy grin. He seemed like the kind of guy that wasn’t aware of how attractive he was. He wore a white button down dress shirt, black suit and matching dark grey and black striped tie. Entirely different from the form fitting outfit he wore at the dojo. I wondered why he was at the event.