“It doesn’t have to be, Sandra …” Thomas didn’t have a chance to finish, she was gone and Thomas’ heart sank. How would he win the heart of this strange girl who couldn’t see him for what he really was? Did he even know who he really was anymore? He had no answers. He climbed into his Chevrolet, put it into gear and drove off to no place in particular.
Chapter Four
“So, what am I to do Roxi?” Sandra was curled up on her little single bed, a book at her side and a glass of wine on the nightstand by her bed, her nightdress bright green, her favorite color.
Roxi sounded busy, doing what, Sandra didn’t want to know. She just needed advice. A quick fix. “First of all, Sandy, ‘stop’ over-reacting and just relax for crying out loud. The man is obviously falling for you, when was the last time a guy showed up at your door with flowers?”
“Never…” Sandra realized she had never really had time for men.
“Exactly, you need to enjoy life a little more … like me … uh, wait …” Roxi sounded breathless.
“What are you doing or should I just not ask?” Sandra laughed, guessing.
“You know me too well, Sandy. I gotta go but listen … give the man a chance will ya, please. I like this guy; I think he can be good for you. He seems … genuine, uh oh … gotta go okay, bye…” Roxi hung up but Sandra had heard all she needed, Roxi could feel it too. Thomas was different, somehow. Sandra stared at the ceiling, and made a decision right there and then.
Thomas didn’t want to be drunk; instead he cradled his scotch, swirling it around in the glass, watching the liquid slosh around the edges spilling over onto his fingers.
“Want to talk about it?” Ed the barman asked, suddenly appearing in front of him, his huge hulking form casting a shadow over Thomas.
“Ah, well you know me right, Ed?”
Ed pulled up a chair and sat, “I have known you for years, Thomas, so yes, I guess I do.”
Thomas finally drank the scotch in the glass in one go and signaled for another which Ed promptly poured as he listened.
“I always told you I would never fall in love. Love is for fools, right? Well, I’m in love now and it sucks.” Thomas’ was surprised at himself for telling Ed, a man who had seen Thomas at his womanizing worse, night after night with a different woman on his arm.
Ed nodded, “Go on, Tom.”
“This girl, she’s normal. She isn’t like all the others. She teaches art at a school down the road, wears colorful, flowery dresses and reads… she doesn’t like nightclubs or drinking.” He laughed at the irony of his situation. A nightclub owner in love with a plain Jane … a teacher.
“That’s a new one, Tom….”
The night wore on, and so did Thomas’ story but Ed, being a long time friend listened as he worked and filled Thomas’ glass when it was empty, a good friend.
In the end, the only advice Ed could offer him, but probably the best advice he had ever received was, “Stop trying to be someone you are not. You know deep down who you are and what you need and right now it’s make or break. Be yourself, Thomas, even if it means rediscovering that side of you that was lost long ago.” Ed looked him in the eye, “This could be the last chance you get to ‘be you’ so take it, Tom.”
Chapter Five
Thomas was in high spirits and whistled as he pulled into the car park of Sandra’s art school once more. Things would be different today, he knew it. He ‘was’ different, he could feel it, he felt renewed, reinvigorated. He checked his watch, she would appear any minute now and then he would know for sure if he had any chance of winning her heart. He felt optimistic. The night before, he had sought out Roxi, Sandra’s best friend and found out as much information as he could on Sandra, her likes, dislikes, hobbies, favorite color, etc. She was a simple girl, as she had once told him herself and Roxi had said the best way to win her heart would be the old-fashioned way – cinema, gentlemanly treatment like opening doors, being polite and most of all giving her space to breathe. She didn’t like being smothered, at least at first. Roxi had said she had the feeling that Sandra would be all over him after a few weeks, if she liked him but if he tried to take things too quickly she would disappear and he would lose her. He understood and in fact he even began to see some similarities in himself, things he hadn’t addressed for a long time. After all, just as Ed said, he had spent his life trying to be someone else, anyone else other than himself. Thomas was a simple man. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Thomas?” It was Sandra. She looked radiant in a bright green summer dress that fit perfectly with her light brown hair, and Thomas thought she looked elf-like, stunning.
“Hi, Sandra.” He said, unsure of how to start the conversation off but Sandra sensed his unease and took the lead.
Sandra looked bemused, “Where’s your car?”
“I got rid of it. I never really liked it anyway if the truth be told.” Thomas shrugged and smiled.
Sandra laughed, “You sold your sports car and replaced it with a moped?” She shook her head, laughing and Thomas laughed with her, enjoying the release of nervous energy. “Yep, I decided it was time I explored the real Thomas, you know, the one that likes …”
“Mopeds?” Sandra asked, smiling.
“Yes, the one that likes mopeds!” He laughed again. Things were going well and Sandra was so beautiful today, so sweet.
Sandra stood, waiting for him to say what he had come to say and Thomas forced it out, “Anyway, I just stopped by to see if you wanted to go for a coffee sometime.”
Sandra’s eyes lit up and she beamed at him, a hand reaching up to play with her hair, wrapping it around her fingers, and Thomas watched, feeling a sense of joy welling up within him. “Sure, I would love to, Thomas, name the time and the place and I’ll be there.”
“How about Joe Joe’s on Green Avenue?” Thomas offered.
“Yeah, I like that place, it’s nice.”
Thomas smiled, “Tomorrow at 14:00?”
“Tomorrow at 14:00.” Sandra said, smiling and looking Thomas over, admiringly. She seemed to like his new style of dress, jeans and t-shirt. It was an unassuming style and Sandra appeared to approve of it, just as Roxi had said she would.
Thomas bade her farewell, waved and rode off slowly on his Moped, smiling all the way back to his apartment. Things were looking up.
Chapter Six
Sandra watched Thomas as he sipped his coffee, the cream leaving a line on his top lip and she laughed softly over the top of her own coffee. She couldn’t believe it but she felt a little nervous, like a school girl on her first date. She had dated men before, and had boyfriends but it had been years since Sandra had taken a guy seriously and she knew she was serious about Thomas. All the signs were there. He had changed, seemingly for her and she was impressed. Thomas was becoming the guy she caught glimpses of that night in his club, weeks earlier, a real gentleman.
“I was thinking of growing a real one.” Thomas said, posing with his coffee mustache, lips pouting like a model.
“No, don’t do it!” Sandra said, “Seriously, it wouldn’t suit you. You have a baby-face.”
Thomas looked surprised, “A baby-face?”
“Yes, you may be twice my age but you don’t look it!” Sandra laughed, patting his arm playfully.
“Thanks and thanks … I think.” He said, smiling.
She caught Thomas watching her with that look in his eyes again, a look of passion, of desire and she recognized the feeling that was obviously overwhelming him as it was her. Could it be that they were falling in love? They hardly knew each other but the more time she spent with him, the more she was sure that Thomas was someone she could spend her life with and she was sure he felt the same.
When it was time to leave, Thomas got up to go, a sad look in his eyes.
“It was nice seeing you again, Sandra.” Thomas said, holding out his hand.
Sandra took his hand and smiled, at him, a warm smile. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Thomas?”
She said, enjoying the quizzical look that appeared on his face.
Thomas looked at her, “Hmmm, no, not that I know of. Or …?”
“Look in your hand.” Sandra said, removing her hand from his.
Thomas opened his hand and saw that Sandra had put her phone number on a small piece of paper for him. “You’re going to need that, Thomas.” Sandra said, winking at him playfully. “Call me, okay?”
Thomas smiled broadly, pleased that she finally trusted him enough to give him her phone number.
“I will, and very soon.”
“You better!” Sandra threatened him playfully.
Thomas nodded, smiled and then turned and walked out of the coffee shop, leaving Sandra sitting alone, pleased with how their mini-date had turned out. Thomas was like a new man. She couldn’t believe the transformation he had gone through in just several weeks. He had gone from being a cocky, arrogant nightclub owner to being a polite, gentle nightclub owner who liked the simple things in life, just like her. She hoped it would last and wasn’t just some trick to get her into bed. Time would tell.
Over the next few days, Thomas didn’t call her and she began to grow worried. Had she done something wrong? Had she put too much pressure on him, driven him away? In reality, Thomas wanted to call her but didn’t. He was following Roxi’s advice about not smothering her, but unbeknownst to him he was driving Sandra insane with worry, it also made her realize that perhaps she ‘was’ already in love with Thomas…
Chapter Seven
Over the next few weeks, Thomas and Sandra grew ever closer the more they saw each other and love began to blossom in the air. A night out to the cinema arranged by Thomas saw them almost share their first kiss but Thomas held back, unwilling to go too far and lose everything he had worked so hard to gain with Sandra. In the meantime, Sandra found herself more attracted to Thomas than ever and became confused as to why Thomas hadn’t tried to kiss her or make a move in any sense other than to simply hold her hand. One night after dinner at his place, Sandra leant in and kissed Thomas, initiating a steamy encounter that led them to the edge of sex but Sandra held back this time, and Thomas confused, began to have worries of his own.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked, breathlessly. His face clouded with concern.
Sandra allowed her head drop back onto the cushion, and let out a long sigh, “Thomas, I love you but there is one thing I don’t like about you.”
What’s that?” Thomas asked, and lifted her head so he could look deep into her brown eyes, searching for answers.
Sandra shifted and sat up underneath Thomas, pulling her dress down over her body and legs once more before continuing, “You own a nightclub, and I won’t be the wife of a nightclub owner, I just won’t. I told you before; I don’t want that kind of life. You may be taking a break now but what happens when you go back?” Sandra said her face creasing in worry, little lines forming on her forehead and Thomas kissed her gently and laughed.
“Is that it?” Thomas smiled and continued, “If that’s how you feel I’ll no longer have anything to do with the place okay?”
“Really, you can just do that?” Sandra searched his eyes, looking for sincerity and she found it.
Thomas nodded, “Yes, why not. I’m the owner, I do what I want. I’ll sell the place, give it away, whatever. I’m done with that life now Sandra.” Thomas said, kissing her once more, this time more passionately and Sandra kissed him back, their urgings returning once more as passion returned with a vengeance.
“I love you, Thomas.” Sandra gasped as Thomas slid her dress up over her head.
As he made his way down her shuddering body, Thomas told her that he loved her too before making love to her for the first time. They made love again and again, their pent up desire finally released after weeks of being withheld from one another and together they both cried out in throes of ecstasy, as close to euphoria as they would ever get.
In the morning, Sandra awoke to find Thomas gone; the space where he had lain the previous night, cold and empty and Sandra wondered where he could have gone. Perhaps he was making breakfast? Slipping into one of Thomas’ dressing gowns, Sandra made her way into the kitchen but there was no sign of Thomas. He was nowhere to be found in the apartment, so Sandra assumed he had gone out to get something and would be back shortly.
She explored his home, attempting to get a better idea of this man she had fallen in love with. His place was pristine, and everything was in its place, neat and tidy which Sandra liked, it was a good sign. When they finally moved in together, she knew he wouldn’t be the type of man to lounge around expecting her to do all the work. In the corner by his phone there were weights and a running machine. That’s why he is so buff.
As she passed the answering machine she saw that Thomas had one new message. Curiosity got the better of her and she pushed the button to listen to it.
“Hey Tom, this is Rob. I’m just calling to make sure you remembered our meeting at the club tomorrow at noon. Everything has been set up as you asked and the girls are meeting us here. Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.”
The message was from the day before.
Sandra froze. The club? A meeting? Sandra checked her watch, it was just after noon. That’s where Thomas had gone – his nightclub. What an arsehole!
Sandra threw on her clothes tearfully, furious with herself for falling for Thomas’ lies. He had been so sincere, so convincing. She couldn’t believe she had fallen for it. He had gotten what he wanted and now he was there …at the club.
She wouldn’t take it lying down. Oh no. She decided to go to the club and confront him. She would pick Roxi up on the way as backup just in case. Storming through the front door without closing it, Sandra called Roxi and had her meet her outside her house, they had work to do…
“What the hell?” Roxi yelled down the phone.
“Just get ready, I’m taking you with me … we are gonna tell that sonnofabitch just what I think of him!” Sandra said fighting back more tears as she put her car into gear and reversed out of Thomas’ driveway at high speed.
Thomas smiled and raised his glass in toast to the two young ladies in front of him,
“Here’s to your future, ladies!”
They all raised their glasses in a toast before partaking of the most expensive champagne Thomas stocked in his nightclub. Thomas finished the glass and smiled broadly at the girls, “So, shall we …”
He was cut off abruptly by a screech and turned to find Sandra standing in the doorway, hair uncombed and bird nest-like and eyes smudged and stained with mascara where she had been crying.
The people at the table were silent and Rob nudged Thomas, urging him to do something quickly. Thomas, let his head hang for a moment before standing and approaching Sandra, “Hey, baby. What are you doing here?”
Sandra screamed at him, “You liar, I found the message on your answer machine about the meeting here. Why?”
“Wait, you don’t understand…” Thomas spluttered approaching her, arms outstretched but Sandra ran from him, bursting into tears “You lied to me, Thomas. You promised me…”
Thomas followed her into the street outside but Sandra had jumped into her car and Roxi, at the wheel flipped Thomas the bird before putting her foot down and taking off at speed.
“Wait, you got it wrong!” Thomas yelled at the top of his voice but they were gone.
Jumping onto his moped, he started it and pushed it as fast as it would go, in pursuit of Sandra’s beat up old car. Luckily it wasn’t that fast and Thomas was able to pull up alongside it for a moment, his moped wobbling as he sought to get nearer to Sandra’s window, “Sandra … listen …to…me!”
“Get lost, a-hole!” Roxi screamed at him her voice shrill with anger.
“Damn it!” Thomas knew it was no good, they were pulling away.
Just as he was attempting one last time to get close to them, the parked car in front began to pull out into the road and Thomas, slow to react, hit the c
ar’s rear bumper at speed and bounced off the back window of the car before sliding motionless to the ground.
Thomas was in and out of consciousness, and his leg was throbbing incessantly. It may have been broken but he didn’t care. All he could think about was Sandra.
“Thomas? Are you okay?” It was Sandra, she had come back for him.
“My leg, I think it’s broken.” Thomas winced in pain.
By now a small crowd was gathering around them but Thomas didn’t care about the pain or his leg. He needed to tell her.
“Sandra, what did you think I was doing back there?”
Sandra looked confused. “You lied to me, Thomas. You told me you were done with that place but there you were with your club and your … your women.” She began to get up again but Thomas wouldn’t let go of her arm.
“You got it wrong, Sandra. Let me explain.” Thomas pleaded, trying to focus through the pain but it was hard.
“No, Thomas. It’s over. We’re over.” Sandra wrenched her arm away from him and turned to go.
Thomas yelled at her, knowing he didn’t have much time.
“Those women were the lucky new owners of my nightclub, Sandra!” Sandra stopped but didn’t turn and Thomas saw Roxi looking surprised standing side by side with other bystanders who had come to watch the show.
“I sold the club to them there and then at a knockdown price. It’s over, the club is over… not us …we are only just beginning, Sandra.” Thomas laid back his head resting against the solid tarmac that was digging into his skull but he didn’t care.
“I’m opening an art gallery on West Boulevard just down the block from my apartment and I’m going to need some help …”
Sandra spun around and ran to him then, and they embraced right there in the road as the crowd watched on and Roxi snapped her gum once more, a bemused expression on her beautiful face.
Misty Nights: A Short Romance Page 2
