by Tee Smith
“So?” Joanie was laughing now. “All in the name of fashion my dear, and besides, we'll have a few drinks and a dance and we'll soon warm up.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Asha shrugged. She loved her carefree attitude to life.
Later that evening, they approached the bar, where a young good looking barman was serving drinks. He gave the girls a huge smile, full of beautiful white, straight teeth.
“Good evening ladies,” the barman said in a slow deep drawl.
“Hi Xavier,” Joanie smiled back. “How have you been?”
“Keeping busy, trying to stay out of trouble, you know how is. So JoJo...who are your friends?”
“This,” she pointed to the girl on her left, “is my friend Clare. She works with me at the childcare centre and this...” Asha felt an arm come swinging around her neck, “is my beautiful housemate Asha.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you both ladies.” Xavier gave Asha a wink and flashed that award winning smile again. “What can I get you all to drink?”
The girls all ordered their drinks and made their way to a vacant table to the left of the stage. It was eight o'clock and the club was starting to fill, soon the band would come on and by then the place would be full of sweaty bodies.
Asha enjoyed these nights out with the girls. They had a few regular pubs and clubs that they visited and often caught up with a regular group of girls and guys that they knew from over the years, either through work or just going out. This was the first time at this place, but looking around, she thought she might like it here. It had a big open area, with a long bar and a stage in the middle opposite the bar. The dance floor was between the bar and stage with lots of seating on either side. Along the side wall at the opposite end of the entrance were long lush velvet curtains, with comfortable looking couches lined along the front.
Not to mention, the barman was pretty cute too. She looked over at the bar eyeing the man who had served them. He was tall, with short, scruffy dark blond hair, and a killer smile.
Some of their friends came through the door, Asha waved to them to let them know they were there and they walked over to join them at their table. Joanie had a few school friends she caught up with regularly, but Asha had not gone to school locally. She had moved to the city when she left home at seventeen. Things had not been good at home as she had never got along well with her mother. When she won a scholarship to attend university in the city, she jumped at the opportunity to move out.
The band “Midnight Connections” came on around eight-thirty and soon had the place rocking. Joanie had been right, it did not take long before she was warmed up. She got up and danced to several songs before heading to the bar for another round of drinks.
“Same again gorgeous?” Xavier asked.
Asha blushed ever so slightly, it had been a while since a good looking man had flirted with her.
“Yes please,” she smiled back at him, all the while thinking he probably flirts with all the girls.
Xavier returned a few minutes later with the round of drinks. As money was exchanged, so were a few smiles and a wink in Asha’s direction. Asha meandered her way through the crowd towards the table she shared with their group of friends. It was fast filling with empty glasses and bottles.
As the night wore on, she saw less and less of her friends as they went off to other clubs or headed off home for the evening. She spotted Joanie in the corner with some guy who had introduced himself earlier as Pat or Pete, she could not quite remember. Nor did she really care too much. Joanie had a tendency to pick up different men each time they went out. So remembering this one's name was hardly important as she would likely not see him again. It was not the kind of thing Asha did, but she figured it wasn't any of her business. If that is what Joanie wanted to do, that was up to her.
Asha started to yawn, tiredness was creeping up on her so she glanced at the time on her phone. It was nearing one in the morning. The club would be closing soon, so she wandered off to the bathroom. Her intention was to drag Joanie away when she got back so they could grab a cab home together. It had been a long week and she felt she had had enough to drink. Surely Joanie must be feeling the same. After all, it must be hard work looking after toddlers all day.
Wandering out of the bathroom not five minutes later, she looked around and could not see her friend. Joanie and Clare both seemed to have gone. She looked around feeling perplexed. It was not like Joanie to leave without at least letting her know.
“Asha,” she turned to the sound of her name being called by a deep male voice. Xavier was walking toward her. “Joanie has just now left with Pete, she asked I would make sure you got home safely.”
“Is that right is it?” Asha fumed. Great friend she was. That was always the golden rule, not to leave without your friends.
“Oh well okay then,” she pouted putting her hand on her hip. “I'll just call a cab for myself, we were going to share.” She started reaching into her purse for her phone.
“No need for that,” Xavier smiled down at her, his green eyes shining and that smile, it was mesmerising, she could look at that all day. “I'm about to knock off. I can give you a lift home, you don't live far away.”
“Ah..ah,” Asha stammered, suddenly feeling nervous. How did this stunning, perfect stranger know where she lived? “No, no its okay, I mean, I can call a cab.”
“Don't be silly,” Xavier laughed softly. “Joanie is an old friend of mine and she asked me to make sure I got you home safe, so get you home safe I will. Now come on.” He said reaching an arm around her shoulders and shuffling her towards the back of the bar where he called out his goodbyes to his co-workers before ushering Asha out the back door.
Once outside in the back parking lot, Asha was suddenly nervous once more. It was dark and she could only see two cars parked nearby.
“Which car is yours?” she asked.
Xavier chuckled quietly. “I’m on the bike, hope you don't mind riding. It might be a little chilly but you can have my jacket.” Before Asha knew what was happening, he was slipping his leather jacket onto her bare arms and holding out a helmet for her.
“Um hang on, just wait a minute,” Asha said backing up. “No one said anything about getting on a death trap with someone I don't even know! What even is this?” her voice was rising without her intention and she knew she was sounding panicked.
Now he was really laughing.
“And what’s so funny about that?” Asha demanded, bringing her hand to her hip again.
“You sound just like my mum,” Xavier laughed shaking his head “death trap seriously,” he muttered to himself.
Asha folded her arms across her chest. “I appreciate you trying to be the knight in shining armour here, but I'd sooner catch a cab,” she started pulling his jacket back down her arms, immediately feeling the cold air hitting her skin once more.
“Oh come on, lighten up...live a little. Life's too short don't you know?”
“I do know just how short life is and I don’t want to make it any shorter by running around town on the back of a motorbike with someone I don't even know.”
She handed him back his jacket, wished him a good night, turned on her heel and started off into the darkness.
“Ok suit yourself,” Xavier called after her.
As she walked, she fished around in her handbag for her phone to call a cab. Staring at the screen, she couldn't believe it. Damn, why did the battery always go flat when you needed it most? It was a long walk home and it was late, dark and cold. 'Live a little' Xavier had said. 'Life’s too short' well didn’t she know that. In her line of work? Dealing with death on a daily basis? She knew only too well that life could be cut short when people had a lot of living still to do.
Slowly she turned around and started back across the club car park. Xavier stood leaning against his bike, arms folded across his broad chest. In the shadows, she could see he was tall with broad shoulders, he looked like he was quite muscular, and the dim lights from
the club shone in his green eyes.
As she approached he looked at her amused.
“Change your mind Ashy-girl?”
Asha cringed, she hated people calling her that.
“My phone is flat, I ah...I wondered if maybe you could give me a lift?
Xavier showed those pearly whites again. “It would be my pleasure. Here...” he said, again slipping his jacket over her shoulders before popping the helmet onto her head and tightening the strap under her chin.
Chapter 3
“SO YOU AND XAVE HUH?” Joanie said flopping down on the couch beside Asha the next morning.
“Oh yeah, thanks for dumping me and setting me up like that,” Asha replied sarcastically before rolling her eyes.
Joanie nudged her with her elbow. “Well...spill,” she said expectantly with a mischievous grin.
“Nothing to tell Joanie,” Asha sighed. She kind of wished there was. “He dropped me off home is all, he was the perfect gentleman, which is more than I could say for some...'friends','' she said making air-quotes with her fingers.
“Well you do have to admit, he is pretty cute hey?”
Asha could feel her cheeks warming, “that may be so but I don't need setting up and if you think he's so cute why don't you go after him?”
“Well my dear,” Joanie flung an arm around Asha's shoulders. “I think you do need 'setting up',” Joanie copied Asha's air-quotes. “We've shared this house for what, a year now? I’ve not seen you go out with one single guy in all that time.”
“Well I'm busy,” Asha defended. “I have a career! Do you know how hard I’ve had to work to get to where I am? Seriously?”
“Oh c'mon! What’s wrong with having a little fun? You're such a party pooper,” she pouted, before snatching the TV remote from the coffee table in front of her and proceeding to flick through the channels.
“Whatever,” sighed Asha mostly to herself, she didn't see why she should have to explain herself.
Deep down she knew her friend was right. It had been a long time since she'd had a boyfriend. In fact, it had been a long time since she had even been out on a date. But she really did not feel she was missing out. Her life was full. She had her career. She went out most Friday nights. There would always be time down the track. She always felt she would meet someone when the time was right. What was the rush anyway?
***
Sunday morning rolled around and as always, Joanie's parents did too. Asha had been called into work a clinical shift, as often happened on a weekend when one of the nurses had a big night out and called in sick the next morning. Asha didn't mind working a shift in the clinic. As a coordinator, most of her days were spent talking to people, either patients, doctors, specialists or other staff members. Always on the phone, emailing or writing reports. It felt good to do a clinical shift every so often, plus it kept her skills current, which was important.
She was just rushing down the footpath when Frank stepped in front of her. Oh great, she just really did not have time to deal with him.
“Sorry Frank,” she rushed out. “No time to stop and chat, I have to get into work.”
“I can see that,” Frank said eyeing her up and down in her pink scrubs. “How 'bout I give you a lift?”
Asha looked around helplessly for a second, trying to think of an excuse. Work was only two blocks away. Ten minutes if she walked fast, but she was already running late.
“C'mon girl I haven’t got all day,” Frank prompted.
“Oh okay, thanks, Frank.” Asha relented, it was only two blocks, what’s the worst that could happen?
She climbed into the passenger seat of Franks red Volvo station wagon. The heaters had been on and it was nice and warm. As Frank drove her the two blocks to work, he didn't say much, which Asha was thankful for. She thanked him when she arrived and hopped out of the car, and gave him a wave before heading towards the front sliding doors of the clinic.
The Arnolds were there today for Mrs Arnold’s chemotherapy session. She was such a sweet lady and as always Mr Arnold stayed with her the entire time. He was always holding her hand, comforting her and asking Asha questions every step of the way.
She had five patients all up this day. All requiring various forms of chemotherapy to be administered. The Reinolds Centre was only a day clinic, so if any patients needed overnight care they were transferred to the hospital, which was on the same grounds. Luckily no one needed to be transferred today.
When her shift finished at six o'clock she set off for home. As she neared the last corner before her street, she felt a strange feeling wash over her. The kind you get when you feel someone is watching you, and goosebumps prickled her skin. Looking over her shoulder, she saw no one around. The streets were quiet and empty.
Lights were on in the nearby houses and the scent of home cooking filled the air. She wished she was a good cook. Sadly most of her meals consisted of something from the local grocer's freezer section unless Mary brought them something to eat.
Without warning, a black van came whizzing past. She felt the rush of cold air it left in its wake. Momentarily stunned, she stood motionless as she watched it slow and turn into her street. She was sure that it was the same one from last week that had slowed down to watch her as she was walking home and it gave her the creeps.
“Probably just someone that lives nearby,” she told herself, but still she could not shake that gut instinct that there was something wrong about it.
***
The week passed like every other. Friday night came around and as usual, the girls were planning a big night out. Asha went along, but her heart wasn't in it. When did her life get so dreary? She used to love going out, but these days, it had started feeling like a chore.
Xavier was serving at the bar again and gave her a friendly greeting. Asha made a mental note, not to get caught out again, so as not to find herself in the same position as last week. It was times like this she wished she drove.
Her dad along with his best mate had been killed in a horrific car accident when she was thirteen. It was then she swore she would never drive. The entire family was devastated. Her mum had turned to alcohol and brought home many men. It was obviously her way of coping, but Asha hated her for it.
Asha glanced at the time and found it was only around ten, early for a Friday night. But she decided she had enough and figured she'd order one last drink before heading off for the night.
As she approached the bar, Xavier was already pouring her next drink as he already knew what she wanted. So, he'd been paying attention. Didn’t that gave her a little thrill.
“Last one thanks, Xavier. I'm going to head off soon.”
“That’s a shame,” Xavier frowned. “Not wanting a lift home again tonight then?”
“No not tonight, thanks,” she smiled. She had to admit, the ride home with Xavier had not been as bad as she had expected. Maybe a bit awkward at first, not knowing where to put her hands to hang on, but he had reached around to her, grabbed her wrists and firmly placed her hands around his middle. She had been right about him being muscular. She had enjoyed holding onto him so much that when they pulled into her drive, she almost wished she lived further away so she could hold onto him for longer.
“What about Tuesday night?” Xavier raised an eyebrow in question.
“What about it?” Asha raised her eyebrow back at him.
“Would you like to come out with me? I mean I ah, have a thing, a work thing and need a date for the evening. Would you like to come? Be my date?”
He was asking her for a date? Asha was flattered but really, did she have time for dating? Was he really interested in dating her? Or was this just Joanie putting him up to it? They were obviously friends after all.
“I um...no,” a million thoughts ran through her head. “I don't think I can, sorry Xavier,” he looked a little surprised, she was not sure if it was genuine or he was mocking her.
“Oh, I'm sorry I didn’t think you were seeing anyone, ah aw
kward.” Xavier huffed out a laugh.
“No, no, nothing like that. I'm not seeing anyone.” Now she felt awkward. “Thanks for asking me, it's just I.....ah I... I'm um, not really up for dating anyone at the moment.”
“It's only dinner, I’m not asking you to marry me Ashy-girl,” he laughed quietly, causing Asha to blush. Maybe she had overreacted. Why couldn't the ground open up and swallow you when you needed it too?
“I’m sure there are plenty girls here that would love to have dinner with you,” she said looking around at all the girls in the club, many of whom she had noticed at least trying to flirt with him on both occasions she had come in here.
“Maybe,” he laughed softly, eyes twinkling. “Shame, though,” he shook his head. “Good night Asha.”
“Good night,” she gave him what she hoped was a cute smile, before heading back to her table to finish her drink and head home.
***
Asha worked again on Sunday. This time, she managed to get out the door early enough to avoid Frank. When she arrived home, she found Mary had brought quiche and left it in the fridge for her and Joanie. Some home-cooked food to get her through another busy week.
On Tuesday night, just as she was finishing replying to her last emails for the day, Gemma poked her head around the corner.
“Grab your coat and come out for dinner with me Asha?”
“Sure, why not? Where are we going?”
“Thought we'd try out that new bar and grill down the road,” Gemma smiled rubbing her stomach. “Don't know about you, but I'm starving.”
It had been a long day and not having to think too hard about dinner sounded like a great idea. Not having to walk home in the cold, also a plus. Gemma would be more than happy to drop her home after dinner.
As they were shown to their seats at the bar and grill, Asha noticed they had been lucky enough to get one of only two tables left. Being new, everyone in town was checking this place out. They had just ordered a bottle of Chardonnay when Asha looked up and caught sight of Xavier sitting with a large group of people a few tables over. He had a pretty young blonde woman sitting beside him. Asha noticed she kept leaning into his side and smiling at him, batting her long eyelashes.
