A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  “Um . . . I like to read, but I guess you already figured that out from my major. I read at home, parks, bookstores, coffee shops. I enjoy writing, too.”

  “I read at the park the other day. It was blissful.” Her face glowed, remembering her two stolen hours there.

  “Sometimes you reveal the most interesting things. You read at the park the other day as if it’s the first time you’ve ever done it. You grew up in Manhattan, but don’t seem that familiar with it.”

  “I know a lot about the city. I’ve worked with charities and galleries, hospitals, and different leagues here.”

  “But I have a feeling you live in a bubble of sorts.” He saw the light disappear from her eyes so quickly that he adjusted his statement not wanting to hurt her feelings. “I don’t mean to be rude. I think the best way to get to know a city is to experience it, not just study, or talk about it.”

  “Honestly,” she said, folding her hands together on the table in front of her. “I would love to experience it more than I have. Today was a good start.” She looked into his eyes and maybe it was the bravado from the comfort she was feeling, but she held his stare without blushing and without blinking.

  William leaned closer to her ear, and whispered, “I would love to experience it with you and today was a great start.” The ferry docked.

  Knowing their time was limited, her expression softened and she tilted her head wanting the moment to last.

  He gave her the most heart-stopping smile, and asked, “Do you still have some time?”

  She licked her lips as a distraction, looking away from his piercing eyes. Peeking at her watch, she calculated the time in her head then sighed. “I need to get going.”

  William tried not to let his disappointment show, but he had trouble hiding his feelings. She didn’t like seeing him sad, but she knew their day together had to end.

  Walking to the center of Battery Park, they stopped. When she turned to face him, he lifted her bag off his shoulder and placed it onto hers. He stood so close and reacting on instinct, her hands went to his chest and stayed there as if they had known each other longer than they had. With both of their hearts racing, she said, “You gave me an amazing day. I wish I could return the favor and give you the same.”

  “Don’t underestimate yourself, Evie. My day was amazing because I got to spend it with you.” He brought her small frame to him and hugged her while burying his face into her hair. He inhaled before pulling away to ask, “I have two more places I’d like to show you. One is my favorite café near the university. It’s called Pizzeria La Cucina . Have you been there?”

  “No, it sounds yummy though. I haven’t had pizza in such a long time.”

  “I live off pizza and theirs is the best.”

  “And the other place?” She loved he had thought this through.

  “The other takes place at night. We can do both.”

  Although she knew there was nothing right in accepting his proposal, she was convinced there was nothing wrong in it either. People are selfish. Love is the most selfish emotion one can feel, she believed. Love—is that what she was feeling? No, but traces of it were blooming deep inside her heart already.

  Her pause gave William too much time to overthink and his doubts started to get away from him. He wanted to give her everything, show her everything. I mean, love is the most unselfish emotion one can feel. Is that what he was doing? Was he trying to show her his love, to give her his love?

  “Yes.”

  “What?” he asked, breaking from his inner love monologue.

  “Yes, we can do that one night. When?”

  “How about next Monday?”

  She flipped through her calendar in her mind, wanting to make this work. “What time?”

  “I work Monday afternoon, but I could meet you at eight?”

  “All right, eight then. I’ll see you Friday in class.” She took a few steps away from him heading east, but stopped and said, “Thanks again . . . for everything.”

  He waved back to her with a huge smile on his face.

  * * *

  As she made the final block to her building, she straightened her skirt. She pulled her hair tie out and replaced it with a stiff headband from her bag, trying to look appropriate and presentable.

  When William arrived home, he flicked on his small lamp and tossed his bag to the floor. He didn’t want to shower because every now and then, he got the faintest whiff of Evie from their embrace and he liked it.

  William worked a long shift on Thursday, but still managed to fit some studying in over a hot bowl o’noodles. In the morning, after a quick breakfast of cereal, he left earlier than usual, anxious to get to class.

  By his second class, he sat in his chair with his knee bouncing with nervous anticipation until Evie walked into the auditorium. She started up the steps before looking up and their eyes met. She eased down the aisle and sat right next to him. His knee stopped bouncing as his insides calmed.

  “Hi,” she said, feeling a little sassy.

  “Hi. Looking forward to Lang’s lecture today?”

  “Yes. Most definitely!” she said, sarcasm lacing her tone. “Our finals are in two weeks. Are you ready? Highlighted all you can highlight in that textbook of yours?” She laughed out loud, causing a few of the surrounding students to look over.

  “I think I’m finished with the highlighting for now.” William laughed as well, looking down at his pen, the pen she had given him.

  “We have a lot to cover today and yes, it will be on the final,” Professor Lang announced from the front of the large room. William and Evie both focused on him giving their full attention. They angled their bodies forward and prepared to take notes.

  After class, Evie whispered, “I can’t get coffee today. I’m sorry.”

  He could tell she was disappointed as much as he was, but he didn’t want her sad. “Being a bit presumptuous, aren’t you?” William said, but he couldn’t keep a straight face long enough to hold his own joke. “I’m giving you a hard time. It’s all right.”

  She chuckled. “I thought I was being rude there for a minute.”

  He felt bad now. “I’m sorry. I was just joking.” He touched her arm briefly in reassurance. “I understand if you can’t go.” Leaning closer, they walked through the exit doors, and in a very low voice, he said, “Though, I do wish I could see you before next Monday.”

  He mumbled the last part, but she heard him and she liked that he spoke to her in such a seductive voice. “Me too.” She did, too. She continued walking very close to him, and said, “I have some obligations this weekend I must tend to. But, I’ll be looking forward to Monday.”

  Her words and smile helped to melt the disappointment he felt.

  She angled her head as she tapped his hand with her fingertips. “I’ll see you then. Have a nice weekend.” She turned and headed east, walking one block up to a waiting car.

  William went to Bean There, still feeling a tingle across the top of his hand where her fingers had ghosted across his skin.

  When he entered the coffee shop, he saw Tracy was working. “Do they ever give you a day off?” He joked as he approached the counter.

  She laughed, flirting, not ready to give up on him, especially not when they could share a laugh like they were. “I like to work and I need the money. Most of us don’t have daddy still supporting us.” She turned around and started on his coffee.

  “Yeah.” He managed to reply, but was unsure of what she meant by the comment. He didn't have his dad supporting him, so he figured she must have been making a general statement.

  She continued her mini-rant. “Not all of us can be as lucky as your friend. Some of us have to work for living.”

  Her comment, though said in jest, felt somewhat disrespectful toward Evie and he didn’t like that. Evie admitted she didn’t work and that was okay with him for some reason.

  William found Evie delicate in many ways and felt the need to protect her. What am I think
ing? He reined in his thoughts, focused back on his coffee, and paid Tracy. “Thanks.” Walking to his table, he was upset by the thought of someone, even someone who was nice like Tracy, taking a dig at Evie’s expense.

  He had also assumed Evie came from money before it was confirmed. It wasn't a hard assumption to ascertain when she told him she grew up in New York, but not just in New York, in Manhattan specifically. Most people can’t afford that luxury. He barely scraped by paying for his worn-down pre-war studio apartment. It wasn’t his place to judge her in a negative way because her family might have money. He also didn’t envy her for it. Everyone has their own set of problems—money just wasn’t one of hers. He decided to blow it off and read his book.

  Evie walked into Bean There on Saturday afternoon with her designer handbag draped over her shoulder. She had convinced her family she needed to get more studying done in the city and they went to the Hamptons for the weekend without her.

  She had lied. She had other things on her mind. Other things like cute, disheveled guys from Brit Lit. She had also left her phone off most of the morning to avoid their calls to join them. They were known to guilt her.

  She scanned the coffee shop before approaching the counter.

  Pleased by Evie’s bad timing, Tracy smiled all smug and said, “He’s not here right now.”

  “Who?” Evie feigned innocent.

  “We’re going to play it like this, are we?” Tracy scoffed. “Okay, what can I get for you then?”

  “A decaf mocha latte, to-go, please.”

  The place was empty, so Tracy decided to make small talk with her only customer. “I’m Tracy.”

  “Hi, I’m Evie.”

  “Do you go to Hunter College?”

  “Yes, I’m an English major.”

  “Oh, that explains a lot.”

  “What do you mean?” Evie felt like maybe she should be offended by the barista’s tone, but tried to hold off her assumption until she explained.

  “You and William. He’s also an English major.” While Tracy was making the latte, she saw Evie smile at the mention of his name, so she probed further. “You have classes together?”

  “Only one.”

  “He’s cute, don’t you think?” Tracy placed the coffee on the counter and watched Evie’s reaction.

  Evie blushed, looked down, and lied. “I hadn’t noticed.”

  Tracy knew that look and there was no way anyone wouldn’t notice how attractive William was, but since she didn’t want to make things awkward by continuing to talk about him, she dropped the subject.

  Evie set her money on the counter. “Thanks, I’ll see you soon.”

  As Evie added a dash more sugar to her hot drink, Tracy, feeling nice, said, “He was in this morning, but got his coffee to go. He had to work today.”

  Evie allowed an outward smile this time.

  Right then her phone rang. Tom. Her happy bubble dissipated as reality sank in. She debated not answering it, but decided it was best to talk to him now. “Hello?”

  “Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” he asked, not nicely, but a demand.

  “I need some space from . . .” She looked at Tracy who smiled back at her. Evie knew she needed to have this conversation in private.

  “From what? From me?”

  She rushed out the door as he yelled into the phone.

  All of her strength escaped and she wavered in her stance. “Tom, please listen to me,” she pleaded. “I apologize. I have finals and need to study. I’ve got too much on my mind right now and I don’t want to fight with you or anyone else.”

  “I can be more understanding than you give me credit for. All you have to do is talk to me. I love you, Everleigh.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “You have today to yourself for your studies. I hope that eases some of your worries. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  Evie had reviewed her obligations for the week in her planner, and although she didn’t want to upset him any further, she needed to remind him of her commitments. “Tom, I have the Latham fundraising meeting tomorrow night.”

  “I fly out to Chicago for the expansion project on Monday, but I’ll be back on Tuesday.” She already knew about his trip. She always wrote down his events in her planner. She liked to be prepared. “I’ll see you Tuesday then. Let’s do lunch and change things up,” he said.

  “Yeah, let’s go crazy and do lunch—” The words left her mouth before she could stop them.

  “Everleigh, you know how I feel about sarcasm.” His reminder was firm.

  She did know how he felt about sarcasm. As long as it was him and not her, he was good with it, but she held that sarcastic thought inside.

  “Lunch on Tuesday, Tom.”

  She hung up and dropped the phone back into her purse.

  She was quick to shake the feelings Tom had instilled in her as she strolled along the busy avenue back toward her home, having trained herself to release the anger and fear and focus on the happy. It was the only way she could survive. There was no other option or she would lose everything and everyone that meant anything to her.

  It was a beautiful evening and she felt hungry, not having eaten anything since the chef was given the weekend off. She now stood in front of Pizzeria La Cucina and decided she’d grab a pizza to take home with her. She knew William wanted to introduce her to the place, but she decided she’d be more relaxed on Monday if she knew what she was getting into.

  When Evie approached, the hostess asked, “Table for one?”

  She’d never eaten in a restaurant alone before, but fought against her nerves, and said, “Yes, table for one.” It felt good to make a decision all on her own and so spontaneous. She felt emboldened as she followed the hostess to a table in the front corner against the window.

  As Evie read over the topping options, she decided on the Margherita pizza. She also ordered a glass of wine to go with it. After sipping, she smiled, savoring the taste of the rich, red wine as it settled into her body. Sitting back, she relaxed into her chair.

  While waiting for her food, she enjoyed the people watching her table by the window afforded. This simple activity was exhilarating and she started to feel like her own person for the first time in a very long time.

  It was early for most diners, just gone six o’clock, but a guy in a helmet and sunglasses walked in alarming Evie. His face was covered in dirt, but the hostess didn’t appear fazed at all by the man and greeted him. He must be a regular, so Evie turned to look out the window, not giving him anymore of her attention.

  William removed his helmet and mask and ran his hands through his hair, lifting the flattened locks. Looking around, he saw Evie sitting there and smiled as he strode toward her with confidence.

  When she glanced at the man, she recognized his smile in an instant. She had thought about it often enough and it made her smile in return realizing the fortune of seeing William here tonight. “Hello, what brings you here?”

  She wanted to stand and hug him, but instead she sipped her wine for courage and replied, “A trusted friend’s recommendation. I hear it’s the best pizza in town.”

  The waitress brought Evie’s pizza to the table at the same time the hostess handed William his box. They laughed at the coincidence. “If you’re not in a hurry, you can join me.” The wine had gone to her head. She was shocked by her behavior, yet didn’t feel bad for wanting to spend more time with him.

  He looked down at his clothes, feeling dirty from his day on the streets and embarrassed. “I don’t think I’m really dressed appropriately for a restaurant. I was getting mine to take home.”

  “Maybe I can get mine to go . . . and join you?” She really was speaking without thinking now.

  William was surprised by the offer. “I’d like that very much.”

  “It’s all settled then.” Evie’s sense of freedom from her family and Tom was growing stronger with each decision she made on her own.

  Chapter 8


  They walked out of the restaurant and stopped on the sidewalk. Evie was quiet as she waited for him to direct her, watching as he unlocked the chain around his bike. “Do you want to take a cab and meet me there?”

  “No, I’m good walking with you unless you’d rather ride your bike back? Is it far?”

  He strapped her bag and then the boxes to his bike and pushed it on foot. “I’d prefer to walk with you, but it’s a long walk. You sure you’re okay with that?”

  They walked the first few blocks content to listen to the bustling noises of the street around them.

  Evie started a conversation. “You worked all day?”

  “Yes, ten hours.” He looked down at his dirty clothes. He wanted the attention off himself, so he asked, “What’ve you been up to?”

  “I studied and ran some errands.” She didn’t mention stopping into Bean There in hopes of ‘running’ into him, and steered clear of the fact that she lied to her family to stay in the city alone for the weekend. But they did talk about their favorite authors and libraries they liked to study in.

  “Here we are,” he announced, pointing at his building.

  She looked up and saw the building. It was a bit rundown, but had some charm to the exterior. “Although we live in different parts of the city, it doesn’t feel that far from my house.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, it feels closer than I’m sure it is. I don’t walk as much as I’d like.”

  “That’s the beauty of New York. It’s all these different worlds meshed together. But quite honestly, I can’t even afford to walk on the street two blocks from here,” he said, joking. He picked his bike up and led her through the building door and halfway up the first set of stairs. He stopped to warn her. “I’m sorry, my place is small and probably not up to your—”

  “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you trust me enough to bring me here.” She gave him a reassuring smile as he led her to his second floor studio. He attached his bike to the railing outside his door, removed her bag and the pizza boxes, and then unlocked the deadbolt, gesturing for her to walk in first. She entered holding her handbag in front of her and stood in the middle of the room. William closed the door and watched her intently. He was in awe of her beauty and the vulnerability she showed almost as if she didn’t know what she should be doing or how she should react.