Already Designed

by Xavier Neal

  I lean over to get a closer look at the photo on display underneath the trite headline “Levi Locks Lips”.

  Fuck….That’s me!

  My bottom jaw plummets to the ground and Henley snickers. “Thought you didn’t date actors?”

  “Ugh. I don’t.”

  “You just mouth fuck them instead?” Adrianna pokes.

  “I- But see- And then I- And then he- Of course- But-”

  The flustered ramblings cause everyone to chuckle at my expense.

  I point a sharp finger a Lani. “She abandoned me!”

  “For free liquor.”

  “You’re a bad friend.”

  “Mmm…I’m a great friend with a never ending appreciation for free shit.”

  Adrianna extends her closed fist for Lani to tap.

  They tend to be on the same side for a lot of conversations.

  An annoyed groan escapes me as I wrap my hands around the back of the loveseat. “It was a onetime thing-”

  “The date or the mouth fucking?” Maddie questions in complete seriousness.

  “We weren’t mouth fucking!”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” Henley teases. “And if you read the article or the tweets or the IG comments, the rest of the world would agree with us. You would lose by the popular vote as well as the electoral vote at this point.”

  Horror from the entire world gossiping over the first kiss I’ve had in about a year churns my stomach.

  Gonna vomit.

  Maddie shakes her head. “What were you thinking? You know the consequences of public displays. You know the penalties and persecution that come from such irresponsible actions. Do you need to be reminded of what happened when Adrianna got too drunk too early at our annual Christmas party two years ago?”

  “Mistletoe is for making out with people!” She poorly defends. “That is literally the only reason people hang it!”

  “Maybe,” Madison retorts. “But poinsettias aren’t for pulling off your panties. They are in no way, shape, or form meant to be considered an aphrodisiac.”

  My head falls in defeat.

  No. We’re not on a reality T.V. show that would easily out rank the Kardashians or Desperate Housewives of Plastic Surgery County. We don’t have scripts. We don’t have producers telling us to say shit like this….This is just us. This has been us for over two decades and I honestly hope it stays us for at least another five. I want us to be this crude and cranky when we’re wrinkly and the only thing we can eat without our fake teeth is Jell-O.

  “All of it was a onetime thing,” I announce interrupting the age old argument. Looking back up, I greet all of the eyes now on me. “It’ll never happen again. I plan to tell him that today.”

  “Like you were supposed to yesterday?” Lani’s reminder is accompanied with a smug smirk.

  Ugh. Last night the plan was to show up, politely explain why dating him isn’t an option, and then leave with dignity. How he not only got me to stay until the bar was closing, but convinced me to continuously make out with him is still a mystery. I went into the situation with a speech I had spent all evening practicing while getting dressed. Had perfect points and precedents prepared. My cons list was stacked! We’re talking Jenga high. Like all he had to do was say one wrong thing and the list of reasons from A to Z would spill over into his lap. Yet some way, some fucking how, the exact opposite happened. He…was playful. A total jackass, but in a style that made me smile and wanna mouth off in return. Plus, there’s something about him I hate saying no to. He has this inexplicable thing to him that I can’t seem to resist and kept the tiny g-string I was wearing wet all night long. No…. Of course it’s not just because he’s fucking gorgeous, and I wanna see him naked. There’s more to it than that. There has to be more to it than that. I’m not Adrianna for crying out loud.

  Henley grabs my attention again. “Kady, Levi’s currently a very hot commodity. Let’s pretend Hollywood actors are like stocks in the exchange. His prices are constantly skyrocketing. We’re talking in and out of the sheets. A week ago he was getting blown in Ryan Faulkner’s pool house by Heidi Verhoeven, the international super model who is like the face of Clara’s Culotte.”

  “Isn’t that the really expensive fancy underwear we like?”

  She nods quickly. “And on a professional note, there’s been talk over the past couple of months about him leading a new superhero franchise. He is literally the media’s favorite subject along with the recent royal engagement of Prince Kellan in Doctenn.”

  Fantastic. I loathe dealing with the spotlight yet managed to get swept off my feet by the second biggest entertainment trend on social media. See. This is totally on the cons list of dating actors. I don’t enjoy dealing with the constant attention from strangers. Not a fan of the looks or random photos. Even less of a fan of rumors and ruthless attempts to discover deep, dark information. You know though, because of who Henley is I’ve had years to master the art of being hidden in the background. I’m almost an expert at avoiding cameras and circumlocution. If we were to continue to date I’m pretty sure I could stay out of media threads….Not that I’m saying I want to give it a shot. Truth is if I really want to settle down, pop out kids, and start picking out my white picket fence, I don’t have time to gallivant around South Haven with Levi Stone. He may…possibly…be more amazing than I wanted to initially give him credit for, but he still doesn’t fit into the life plan I’ve designed. We’re not even on the same page. His focus is fun. Feeling good. Mine is progression. Moving up. We want different things…much different. Too different. Too different to set aside and date for a few months….

  “Stop adding shit to the mental pros and cons list you’re making!” Adrianna fusses loudly.

  Busted.

  “You guys, I really can’t date an actor. Social media spotlight aside? I’m not looking for Mr. Right Now. I’m looking for Mr. Right. Only he has a space on my five year plan.”

  The collective groan around the room causes me to grimace.

  Did I forget to mention I am very open about this plan with them? They all hate the idea. And just between the two of us? I think there might be a secret plot to do everything possible to destroy the well-designed check list.

  “You should stop treating your dating life like a business proposal,” Madison scolds.

  “Careful, Maddie. You’re coming awfully close to a pot, kettle situation,” Lani interjects.

  “Has it ever occurred to you the only difference between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now is you?” Henley abrasively questions. “At any point, Mr. Right could drop down to Mr. Right Now just like Mr. Right Now, could prevail when you least expect it and become Mr. Right. You’ve gotta have some wiggle room in your life, Kady. For fun. For spontaneity. For actual living. Clearly, you like Levi. How about you let go of the other bullshit and give him a real shot? I’ll teach you a few more tricks to help avoid ending up on the cover of every gossip mag, but only you can teach yourself to let your guard down.”

  God I hate it when she goes all self-help on me. Oh and the powerful elocution? Totally from years of acting. Another example of something that belongs on the con list.

  Henley reaches for her phone on the coffee table. “See Levi again today like you already planned, and if he keeps making your face do that thing it is doing right now, keep seeing him.”

  Cautiously, I ask, “What’s wrong with my face?”

  Adrianna answers, “You smile like a lunatic every time we mention him.”

  “I do not.”

  There’s a jumbled disagreement from everyone to my statement.

  Shut up! It’s just a spasm.

  My attention darts over to Lani. “Are you still coming with me?”

  She shakes her head. “Can’t. Due at the studio in like an hour. Fill in. Again.”

  “Lines?”

  “Nope. Copy and delivering last minute edits of a script to the cast of some doctor show.”

  “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for w
ork then?” Maddie asks in her authoritative tone.

  Lani gives her black yoga pants and tank top a quick glance. “I am ready.”

  “Haven’t we discussed professional attire?”

  “This is professional when you’re running around a television set for fourteen hours playing script bitch. Trust me.”

  “The key to success is dressing for the job you want not the job you have,” Madison lectures.

  Overdramatically, I gasp. “Oh no! Did I miss tea and talks with Oprah this morning?”

  My friends join me in a small laugh.

  Not as funny as they are, but sometimes I sneak a good one in.

  Madison flashes me her middle finger, a phony smirk, and folds her hands in a displeased fashion.

  I brush off the pout. “Does anyone not have plans and wanna join me?” A hopeful look fills my expression as I glance around the room. “We’re hanging out at the beach, which all of you love and Levi’s making lunch.”

  “Leaving the country,” Madison snips.

  “Lunch with my stylist,” Henley informs.

  “Are you afraid to go on a date alone?” Adrianna quickly questions. “We’re not in middle school anymore. We don’t have to use the buddy system.”

  My face falls her direction. “His best friend is in town for the weekend, and he hates the idea of him being treated like the third wheel.”

  “Yes because being foisted off is much better.” Maddie lightly laughs.

  “That’s what I’m thinkin’,” Henley mumbles under her breath.

  Adrianna playfully investigates, “Does he have a face that even whiskey wouldn’t make me wanna sit on?”

  Unexpectedly, there’s an audible sound of annoyance out of Lani.

  You heard that too?

  When our eyes all land on her, she gives her hair a ruffle, stands, and says, “I um…I should probably head in.” My mouth twitches to inquire about the noise, but she intervenes. “But you should go, Adrianna. He’s not bad to look at. Or…talk to for that matter.”

  Lani makes a swift exit that leaves us exchanging baffled expressions.

  She dates about as often as I do and to be completely honest, I’ve never seen her demonstrate even remotely jealous actions before. You, my friend, basically just witnessed a total eclipse with a blue moon. Congratulations.

  Adrianna is first to speak, “I’m in. I need to meet the man who is going to inevitably blow the cob webs off that pussy.” Her eyes shoot up to mine. “And speaking of cob webs and pussy-”

  “Your language gets progressively more vulgar as the day goes on. Have you ever realized that?” Madison immediately inserts.

  “It’s a skill.” Adrianna winks. “As I was saying before our favorite bitchy blonde rudely interrupted, you’re gonna need to shoot him a text that says we’re gonna be a little late.”

  My eyebrows lift in suspicion.

  “We’re gonna swing by my favorite salon. Get you an Italian wax.”

  “What’s an Italian wax?” Henley asks what I’m thinking.

  “It’s a pussy wax that hurts so bad you have to treat yourself to some Gelato afterward.”

  The three of us erupt into laughter while shaking our heads at her.

  See why staying friends with them until we die has to be on my life plan?

  **

  Adrianna hits me with a look of disapproval. “He just left his front door unlocked? Who is this fucking trusting?”

  “Trusting? We had to pass through two security check points and key in a code to get through his front gate.”

  It’s not that complicated to get into our neighborhood, but then again we don’t live directly against the beach nor do we live this close to the esteemed South Haven Island.

  Something deep inside of me pushes to defend him. “He knew when we were coming, Adrianna. I texted him. He told me they were going to try to catch a few waves, so he’d leave the door unlocked.”

  She folds her arms across her chest. “We should steal something. Prove a point.”

  “That we can’t be trusted?”

  “That you shouldn’t let a random chick you tongue wrestled the night before just escort herself into your million dollar mansion.”

  Feeling frustration build, I give my wavy hair a ruffle, and plead, “Could you just…take your crazy down two notches? At least until we’ve had lunch.”

  Her grin grows lopsided. “You must be into this guy. He got a second date-”

  “That you watched Henley bully me into.”

  “You waxed-”

  “Which gelato did not help.”

  “And now you’re asking me to be on my best behavior.” The slow nod of approval is frightening. “Definitely gotta meet the guys who are dick slaying my best friends.”

  My appalment is immediately bypassed. She opens the white front door instantly introducing us to a breathtaking sight.

  Whoa.

  There are two steps that lower you to the vast living room and open kitchen. The wall to the left contains a ridiculously large flat screen T.V. along with low level built in bookshelves, while to the right is the open kitchen being separated by a white island bar. Just on the other side is a hallway and a curved staircase. Directly in front of us are floor to ceiling windows exposing the captivating ocean in all its glory.

  Doesn’t matter how much I hate the damn thing, it still looks absolutely beautiful from here.

  Adrianna casually saunters towards the patio door on the far side of the kitchen. I quickly follow behind admiring the nautical theme decor. His dark navy blue couches are decorated with white throw pillows that tie in nicely with the lamps. It’s devoid of artwork like I expect a bachelor pad to be, but there are numerous family photos plastered all around.

  Definitely giving myself a tour of this place later.

  We step out onto the patio, which flows like an extension of the house’s glass design. The area is boxed in with a glass railing and is home to an entire outdoor living space, including a kitchen.

  My eyes barely have time to drink in the setting before they’re being beckoned to the beautiful vision exiting the water.

  Good God almighty….

  Levi starts to exit the water with his surf board tucked underneath his arm. Droplets of water cling to his bare chest and abs for dear life, igniting every instinct in me to dry him with my tongue. Sunlight shines down like a spotlight highlighting the muscle definition at his waist. He gives his wet blonde locks a tussle and the whimper that falls from my parted lips is in high def.

  Adrianna mutters under her breath, “I heard that.”

  Pretty sure astronauts in space could’ve heard that.

  Calen jogs to catch up to him giving my best friend a decent view of his body as well. “At least Lani’s got a good reason to be huffy. He looks good almost naked.”

  We tried to talk to her again about the unusual noise she made, but she is sticking to the bullshit story about having phlegm in her throat.

  My hands nervously toy with my wristlet. The strings to the top of my two-piece swimsuit. The sides of my black maxi dress that are covering it.

  It’s just a second date. A supervised date at that. It’ll be a casual lunch, hopefully away from photographers, and then he’ll be out of my system. Erased from the “maybe” margins I spent time scribbling him into.

  His wet shorts slip a smidgen lower.

  Probably be out of my system. Most likely. Possibly. Um…no comment.

  The moment Levi is up the patio stairs he completely disregards his board to crash our lips together. His fingertips anchor themselves to the nape of my neck and his tongue sweetly swirls around mine, sweeping away previous protests about this being wrong.

  Geez, I hate how everything about Levi Stone feels right…almost too right.

  His lips slide away at the same time he lightly presses our foreheads together. “I’ve been waiting to do that all damn day.”

  The compliment causes me to bashfully smile.

&n
bsp; “Is that why you were surfing like shit?” Calen adjusts both boards to lean against the glass. “Haven’t seen you crash that many times since college.”

  Levi’s eyes stay planted in mine. “What can I say? Kady has a way of keeping me off balance….”

  See. Actors. Perfect lines.