by Audrey Storm
“Not for a fat bitch like this one who thinks that she is too good for me!” Glenn was once again moving closer to Maya.
“Listen man, I don’t want to hurt you,” the stranger said, but Glenn wouldn’t listen.
The man suddenly punched Glenn squarely in the face before he lifted him up and pinned him down on the floor with his hand on his chest. It was the kind of stuff people saw on TV with experienced MMA fighters. Maya’s jaw dropped as she looked at the scene that had just unfolded in front of her. By this time, the security guy was already at the table.
“I’m sorry, but I kind of had to do this,” the stranger said to the muscular security guard.
“I would have done the same. I saw how he was treating the lady at the counter.” The security guy picked up a now out cold Glenn and carried him out.
“Wow,” Riley said in what was supposed to be a whisper but loud enough for everyone to hear. “That was amazing.”
“Thanks, but in all fairness I was a marine so, you know. Tools of the trade,” the man said and Riley looked at Maya.
“You served our country… that makes you even more interesting,” she said. “My name is Riley Daniels. This is my best friend Maya Wells.”
“Kyle McCauley,” he said as he shook Riley’s hand and then Maya’s. “Nice to meet you both.”
“Would you do me a favor?” Riley asked and Kyle nodded. “Would you introduce yourself?” she asked and Maya shrugged.
“I thought that was what he just did,” Maya pointed out.
“I mean formally,” Riley said. “Rank and all.”
Maya sighed and shook her head.
“You don’t have to,” she said. Kyle smiled and shook his head.
“It’s fine. First Sergeant Kyle McCauley of the Fifty Forth Brigade,” Kyle said. “Reporting for duty, ma’am.”
Riley grinned widely and looked at Maya.
“If you don’t get him, I will. I don’t care what this ring on my finger says,” she walked to the end of the bar to serve another customer as Kyle looked at Maya.
“I’m sorry about that,” Maya said rubbing the back of her neck. “Can I maybe appease you with some chicken wings?”
He sat down and shrugged.
“Sounds great,” he said smiling. “But are you okay? I mean that guy…”
Maya shook her head and sighed.
“It was just the icing on the cake that was my very bad day,” she said in a low voice.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked and she shook her head.
“You just met me so I want to maintain this thing between us where you still think I am a normal person.” She reached for a chicken wing.
“I don’t think you could ever say anything that could change my mind about you,” he said. “So dish.”
Maya bit into her wing and shook her head.
“Let’s just celebrate you taking down that douche and maybe if I see you again, we can have a different talk.” Kyle nodded.
“You’re on.”
Chapter 2
Maya had not expected to have such a good time with Kyle but she did. As it turned out, meeting Kyle was the best way her crazy Thursday would have ended. She had gone from being tired and blue to being all smiles by the time they were leaving the Boomerang.
“You should probably not drive,” Kyle said when they got to the parking lot.
“You are probably right,” Maya said in a soft voice.
“Don’t worry… I can take you home,” Kyle said as he took the keys from her.
“You don’t really have to,” she said, even though her head was buzzing.
“Come on, I can see how you out of it you are,” he said as he opened the door for her.
“Are you always this nice or are you just trying to get into bed with me?” she asked and he smiled.
“Honestly, I just want to make sure you get home safely.” He opened the car door for her. “That’s all I want.”
“What if I want something more?” she wondered as she climbed into the car. “What are you even thinking about? This is crazy. You literally just met him Wells,”
Kyle climbed into the driver’s seat and looked at her.
“Buckle up,” he said as he looked at her.
Maya pulled the seatbelt and sighed when it slipped out of her hand. A smile played on Kyle’s lips.
“Here. I got it,” he said as he reached for her seatbelt. He secured it into the buckle before he started the engine. “Your address?”
“141 Woodley Lane,” she said as she felt herself getting drowsy.
“141 Woodley Lane,” he echoed. “Got it.”
*****
When Maya woke up the next morning, she didn’t remember much about the previous night. She was having flashbacks of knocking back tequila shots at the Boomerang with Riley and meeting an attractive green-eyed man who saved her from the wrath of one of the Boomerang’s drunks. She pulled her covers off and shook her head when she saw what she was wearing, a pajama shirt worn front to back. She pulled herself out of bed and noticed a note on her nightstand.
Hi Maya.
Sorry about the makeshift strait jacket but the situation last night forced me to do so. I like to consider myself a gentleman and I wouldn’t allow myself to take advantage of you at your weakest moment… I think that explains it. Anyway, I wanted to get you some breakfast but I got called away to the office. I couldn’t even get you a Starbucks coffee if I wanted to, but I will check up on you later. I promise. (I already got your number from your friend Riley).
Kyle.
Maya frowned and shook her head.
“He had to make a makeshift strait jacket?” she wondered out loud as she sat on the edge of her bed. She was still looking at the note in her hand when she heard the front door open.
“Hello?” she heard Riley’s voice calling from the door.
“In here,” Maya called out.
“So, since you stood me up for breakfast, I thought I would bring breakfast to you,” Riley said and Maya sighed.
“Did I have breakfast plans with everyone this morning?” she wondered as Riley walked up to the entrance of her bedroom and stood leaning against the door frame.
“I brought breakfast burritos, bagels and coffee… and why are you wearing your pajama shirt like that?” Riley asked as she looked at her best friend.
“Apparently I tried to rape my knight in shining armor last night so he had to do this to make sure I didn’t have my way with him,” Maya said trying hard to hide her embarrassment. “All because of the tequila you forced on me last night by the way.”
“Oh sweetie,” Riley said frowning. “It’s not my fault that you are a light weight and you did need some liquid courage to…you know.”
“Actually, Riley. I don’t. Just get me out of this damn shirt,” Maya said.
Riley walked up to where Maya was and began undoing the buttons of her pajama shirt.
“So, it is obvious that Kyle likes you,” Riley started as Maya walked to her closet and grabbed a t-shirt. “I mean, he brought you home and obviously he cares about you. I mean, he stayed the night and never did a thing to you.”
“I brought a stranger into my house. That was silly,” Maya pointed out a she put on a bathrobe over her t-shirt.
“Actually, he was…is no stranger. I told you that he has been at the bar a number of times and he is always checking you out,” Riley said smiling.
“And the reason you never mentioned him was…what, exactly?” Maya asked.
“Well, I did but you have always been very adamant that you were not ready for any kind of relationship. Casual or otherwise.”
“Wait, so all those times you were trying to hook me up with someone it was Kyle?” Maya asked as she looked at Riley and she nodded. “Wow. Have I been that shallow?”
“I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to move on. I mean, that last one was a disaster,” Riley said. “In not so many words…but remember, I went through the same thin
g before I met Drew?”
Maya nodded. If ever there were two people who made her believe that she still had a shot at a good, happy relationship, it was Riley and her new husband Andrew. The two had been dating for years before they finally decided to make it official and even through all the issues they’d had, everything had still worked out for the better. They might have had their weird fights but they always worked everything out.
“Just how much did I have to drink last night anyway?” Maya asked as they walked into the kitchen where Riley had placed the breakfast on the counter.
“Well, maybe an entire bottle of wine and half a bottle of tequila,” Riley said in a guilty voice.
“Half a bottle of tequila?” Maya asked as she put her phone on the counter. She picked up a burrito and then looked up at Riley, frowning. “You told me we were only going to do a few shots….half a bottle?” She shook her head. “No wonder I don’t remember anything about last night.” She took a bite of her burrito and Riley reached for a bagel. She was saying something but Maya was not really paying attention. All she could think about was the previous night. Why would Kyle, a man who barely knew her decide to just stay as long as he did just to make sure she was okay? Could it have been maybe that this was the universe’s way of telling her that she’d found her match or something of the sort? Her heart was racing as she took another bite of her burrito.
“Bring any coffee?” Maya asked, still a little out of it.
“I got some started as soon as I walked in.” Riley turned around and grabbed two cups before she poured them both coffee. “I’m surprised you didn’t smell it as soon as you walked in. You usually have such a great nose for these things.”
Maya shrugged and looked at Riley.
“Half a bottle of tequila can do that to you,” she said and Riley rolled her eyes.
“Oh my God, you are worse than Drew. I said I am sorry and I really do mean it,” she said before she faked a pout. “But I was being the friend that you were to me that day I thought Drew was cheating on me with that brunette.”
“You were tripping then. You needed to get drunk,” Maya said as she looked at her. “Drew would never even look at another woman…I mean look at you. You are perfect in every sense of the word.”
Riley smiled and took a sip of her coffee just as Maya’s phone vibrated against the counter.
“Oh my God….just what the hell happened last night?” Maya wondered as she looked at her phone.
After talking to you last night and having to leave you in a rush this morning, I can’t help but think that I owe you dinner.
That had been the text that had just come in from Kyle.
“What? What’s wrong?” Riley asked.
“According to this text that just came in from Kyle, he loved talking to me,” Maya said. “He wants to have dinner with me.”
“Say yes!” Riley squealed excitedly.
“I don’t remember talking to him. About anything,” Maya said. “All I remember is him taking that guy out before he took my keys and drove me home. The next thing I know was waking up in a strait jacket.”
Riley barely had enough time to reply before another text came in.
I was thinking tonight. I really do hope that works with you because I am dying to see you.
“What did he say?” Riley asked.
“He wants to have dinner tonight,” Maya said in a soft voice.
“Then. Say. Yes.” Riley shrugged as she took another bite of her bagel. “I really don’t see what the big deal is though.”
“The big deal is that I have no idea what I said last night and apparently, those words made someone want to see me again.”
Riley shrugged again.
“So?” she asked and Maya shook her head.
“So? I am screwed in like seven different ways.”
“Sweetie, someone saw you at your absolute worst and for some reason he still wants to see you again.” She held her coffee cup in her hands and sighed loudly. “He sounds like a keeper.”
Maya took a sip of her coffee just as her phone vibrated again.
The only thing keeping me sane in this meeting right now is hoping you will say yes. If it helps, I am a whizz in the kitchen.
Maya looked up and her best friend had her hands clasped together looking at her doe eyed. She took a long deep breath and began typing, letting her heart instead of her head guide her hands.
Dinner sounds great.
That was it. She could not turn back and undo anything now. She had committed herself to having dinner with a man she had known for all of five minutes.
Chapter 3
Dressing for her body was something Maya was still struggling with. Through the years, she’d had to deal with the way people looked at her as a heavy woman. Until recently, it had been a struggle to get anything to wear. Things got better when designers began making plus size wear but even then, she was still trying hard to feel comfortable in what she wore. For that evening, she had chosen a blue floral wrap around dress. She loved how good it looked on her, showing off all her curves and contours, and her perfect cleavage too. She had on a pair of black suede peep toe heels. When she finally got to his place, her heart was racing. It was not just the fact that she was nervous but also how big his place was. At the back of her mind, she could not help but wonder how many people were once there…was she doing the right thing being there? Was she moving too fast? Was Kyle the right man to take this step with?
Her mind was working harder and faster than usual. She tried taking slow long deep breaths as she pressed the doorbell. It only took a few minutes before Kyle opened the door.
“Hey you,” he said in a soft voice. His eyes ran down her body and she blushed.
“Hey yourself.” He was looking a little too formal for the date but she was not complaining. She looked at his fitting pants and ash grey shirt that blended perfectly with his green eyes and full brown hair. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to give her a quick hug.
“You look amazing,” he whispered into her hair and she smiled.
“Thank you,” she said as he pulled away. “I brought wine. I was not sure if you are more of a red or white person so I just went with red. You never really go wrong with a Merlot.”
“Yeah, it’s apparently a thirty dollar bottle that is made like a hundred dollar one,” he pointed out and she nodded.
“I’ve only had it once before and I thought you might like it,” she said and he smiled back at her.
“It will go perfect with the rib-eye steak I have prepared for us,” he said as he ushered her into the house. As soon as they walked in, her eyes could not help but wander at the brown monochromatic indoors.
“You have a great place here,” she said in a soft voice.
“Thanks.”
“And big too…huge actually.” They were now walking into the kitchen where she could smell the obviously well marinated steak.
“Four bedrooms,” he said as he uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses of wine. He forced out a laugh. “And to think that at some point I actually thought the space wouldn’t be enough.”
“Why? Did you have like six kids or something?” she asked and he shook his head.
“Not six but the wife always wanted more kids,” he started.
“Wait, wife?” Maya asked and he nodded. “You’re married?”
He looked at her and frowned as he handed her one of the glasses.
“Divorced. Remember, I told you about this?” he asked and she shook her head. “Wow, but you seemed so coherent as we talked and…”
“My friend Riley says that I am a very sober drunk. Whatever the hell that means,” Maya said, her cheeks flushing as she realized what was happening. She had actually heard that side of the story before and she didn’t remember a thing.
“Damn it, Riley,” she thought as she took a sip of her wine.
“Guess you took a shot too many, right?” Kyle asked and she nodded.
“I think the wine was to blame. I mean, I practically drank the whole bottle.”
He smiled and shrugged.
“I know a couple of other people with the same characteristics. I can’t say that this is new.” He took a long sip of his wine.
“So, would it be too much to ask if you told me about your family?” she asked and he shook his head.
“You remember my name, right? Kyle McCauley?” he asked and she rolled her eyes.
“I was not that out of it,” she said in a cynical tone.
“Just kidding.” He took another long sip of his wine before he took a long deep breath. “When I was still a private in the military, I was married to a woman I thought I would grow old with, her name was Leila. But after doing a few tours I noticed something was a little off with her. The way she was talking to me, the way she answered my calls…everything was just too strange.” He took another sip.
“What changed? What happened?” she asked as she leaned against the kitchen counter.
“One day I was on a Skype call with my daughter Ellie and she told me that her mother was out with Uncle Saul.”
Maya could tell that this was a sore spot for him. He suddenly went silent and then sighed after a long minute. She wanted to ask who Saul was but she knew that he would tell her soon enough.
“Saul was my…is my cousin. More like a brother really. He used to take care of my family when I was away. I should have known that he took care of more than just the obvious,” he said and she bit her lower lip. She wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing but at the same time, the atmosphere was a little too tense for her taste. The silence was killing her.
“I’m sorry,” she said but he shrugged.
“I’m better without her,” he said. “I mean, I miss my kids but I guess there isn’t much I can do about it.”
“Kids,” she echoed and he nodded. He walked her to the living room and picked up one of the photos on a table. “Ellie’s seven now and her brother Edgar, we call him Eddie…he is five. They were five and three when we divorced.”
“And are they…your ex-wife and Saul….” Maya started before he shook his head.
“You want to know if they are still together,” he said and she nodded. “They’re not. She got someone else.”
