After hanging at the cafe for at least twenty minutes, I make my way home. The cool nip in the air doesn’t bother me too much since my body is warm from the hot liquid I just had, so I lazily make my way down an extra few blocks to the next subway station. The platform is a bit crowded, but I’m able to get through pretty easily. With my camera already packed, I reach into my bag and grab my book to start reading.
Once the train arrives, my eyes stay on the page as I use my peripheral to maneuver through the people getting on and off of the train. I don’t bother taking a seat, knowing most people need it more than I do. With my left arm wrapped around the pole to steady myself for when the train disembarks, I keep my nose in my book.
“Hey,” a male voice shouts.
Normally, I don’t bother reacting to people on the subway, but for some strange reason, my gaze lifts. My mouth gapes in astonishment as I see him; the hunk I kissed at New Year’s. The doors begin to close as he tries to get close enough to get on. It’s as if time stands still for everything except the doors. Our eyes stay locked as the train begins to move. Neither of us says anything as he tries to follow the train. His gorgeous eyes suddenly vanish from my view and my head jerks to the left, wishing they could see more of him.
Reese
I can’t believe I fucking saw her. I was starting to wonder if I’d ever see my Cinderella again. I was instantly jealous of her teeth, having her sexy lips captured between them. Blood drained quickly to my groin, giving me an instant boner and temporarily slowing me down as I tried to get back onto the train. My legs couldn’t move fast enough to get to her, and when the doors closed, I was devastated.
Everyday since our second encounter, which was three weeks ago, I’ve gone to that station at the exact same time, unless the trains are running late, hoping to see her. I don’t know if she was leaving for work or just getting home from it. It doesn’t really matter, I just need to find her.
She consumes my thoughts and dreams. I’m a guy, so yeah, my carnal urges crave her. I want nothing else but to be buried inside her. I masturbate before going to bed, dreaming that it’s her and wake up with a raging hard on that needs my fantasy to become reality.
Once I satisfy my physical needs, my mind races to discovering her name, favorite color, favorite thing to eat, was the book she was reading for school or pleasure and so much more.
“Dr. Langford?”
“Hm?” I reply as my eyes flit across the iPad while I struggle to finish making notes.
“Dr. Langford,” she repeats.
“Yes. Sorry, Mrs. Hildreth,” I reply.
“Puppy love,” she states.
“What?” I ask.
“It’s in your eyes,” Mrs. Hildreth informs. “What’s her name?”
“I…I don’t know,” I answer truthfully.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“It’s complicated,” I sigh.
“Love is complicated,” she declares.
“We only met twice,” I inform. “I’d hardly call it love.”
“You’re young, so I know you don’t recognize it as such,” she presents. “But, it is definitely love…regardless of whether you know her name or not. Soulmates from past lives who are working to find each other again.”
“Sure,” I comment, brushing it off.
“So…tell me about her as you examine Charlie,” she encourages.
“There’s nothing really to tell,” I lie, shifting on my feet.
“Come on,” Mrs. Hildreth coaxes.
“Besides, it’s not professional for me to divulge personal information with patients,” I remind.
“I’m not a patient,” Mrs. Hildreth counters.
“You know what I mean,” I state with a smile.
“Charlie doesn’t mind…do you, Charlie?” she asks.
Charlie meows and then brushes his head up against my arm.
“Hello, Charlie,” I greet, petting him. “How are you today?”
“He’s good,” Mrs. Hildreth informs. “I think he got one of the neighbor’s cats pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” I repeat. “He’s fixed.”
“That’s what I thought,” Mrs. Hildreth laughs. “Looks like the surgery didn’t take.”
“Did Dr. Manning do the procedure?” I inspect.
“No,” she confirms. “When I adopted him they said on his paperwork that he was fixed.”
“Well, we need to check…and if he’s not, would you like us to schedule it?” I check.
“Yes,” Mrs. Hildreth replies. “I don’t need any more baby mamas getting mad at me and Charlie here.”
I snicker at the phrase baby mamas coming out of Mrs. Hildreth’s mouth since she’s in her sixties or seventies.
“You’ll find her,” Mrs. Hildreth announces.
“Who?”
“Your lady friend,” she clarifies. “Love never fails.”
I smile and nod, hoping she’s right.
Harper
It’s been six weeks since I saw him at the train station. When I can, I veer from some of my daily routine and visit that stop, hoping to bump into him again. I still take a different route heading out for my morning workout class, jog, or photography journeys, but always make sure that when I go home that I take the same train at the exact same station as close to the same time as possible. I don’t get to hang around the station because of what happened the fourth time I did. A few guys tried to mess with me, but when I threatened to use the mace I have on my keychain and lied about being a black belt, they backed off. I’m not so sure it was the mace, my threat, or as much as it was the homeless man that came to my so-called rescue. Though he smelled, he wasn’t weird and didn’t try to bother me after coming to my aid. So since then, I’ve gotten to know him a little more each time I’m there.
The first five times I saw the homeless man, he was just sitting on a bench in the back, minding his own business. He never begged for money and didn’t have a cup out or anything like that. I know I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, but to me, he doesn’t seem like one since he stood up for me.
“Hey, Allen,” I greet, sitting down next to him.
“Hey, Harper,” he returns with a smile.
“I brought you something,” I say, extending my right hand.
“You shouldn’t have,” he replies, taking the lemonade and bag that has a sandwich and danish. “But, thank you.”
I usually get him a black coffee, his favorite, but decided to change it up a little since today is a little warmer than usual for the middle of a New York March.
“Don’t argue with me,” I tease.
“You…never,” he laughs. Allen gulps down half of the lemonade. “It tastes different this time.”
“It’s almost spring,” I remind. “So, they add lavender to it. Don’t you like it?”
“No,I love it,” he praises.
“Good,” I giggle. “I’ll make sure to get it again next time.”
“Yes, please,” Allen encourages, munching on his sandwich. “So, have you found him yet?”
“No,” I sigh.
“Part of me wants you to find him,” Allen shares, taking a huge bite. He chews for about ten seconds and then swallows a little. “But, part of me doesn’t.”
“What? Why?” I ask with a laugh.
“If you find him, you’ll forget all about me,” Allen returns with a grinning mouthful of food.
“I could never forget you,” I say with a smile.
“I know,” Allen replies confidently. “So, what can you give me to identify him?”
“Why?”
“Well, I might have seen him and most likely will again. And, if I do, I can tell him something for you,” Allen offers.
“Aww. You’d do that for me?” I ask, touched by his gesture.
“Of course,” Allen confirms. “You take good care of me.” He holds up the last bit of his sandwich.
“I don’t know,” I return nervously.
“
What do you not know? You want to find him, right?” Allen checks.
“Yeah.”
“Well, what’s the problem then?” he searches.
“I kind of like the mystery behind it all,” I confess.
“Clues are good for a mystery,” Allen suggests.
“True,” I agree.
“So?” Allen checks after about a minute.
“So, I don’t know,” I say.
“Worried that the reality isn’t as grand as the fantasy?” Allen asks.
“Kind of,” I sigh.
“You women make it more complicated than it needs to be,” he states.
“Complicated can be fun,” I return with a devious smile.
“Yes. But, it can also be a pain in the ass,” Allen goads.
“True,” I reply.
Reese
I’m starting to lose hope. It’s been eight weeks since we saw each other at the train station. I’ve gone every day and haven’t found her and I’m starting to think that it was just a coincidence that we ran into each other. The guys and I have even been back to the club a few times, but I haven’t seen her there either.
I do my best to distract myself at work, at the gym or with the guys, because I know it’s not completely healthy that she consumes as much of my thoughts and desires. I don’t notice other women unless they possibly look like my Cinderella. When I’ve gone up to a few of them, thinking they were her, I was instantly disappointed. The women seemed excited that I stopped them, but not so happy when I walk away without a word or explanation.
“Why are we going back to this place again?” Gabe whines.
“Because…” Carter replies. “Reese is in love.”
“I’m not in love,” I challenge, scratching my beard.
“Yeah, you are,” Logan states. “It’s okay. We know how you get.”
“How do I get?” I ask.
“You get one taste of a woman and you’re hooked,” Carter shares. “You don’t see any other chick until things end with the one you want.”
“That’s not true,” I counter.
“Yeah, it is,” Gabe laughs. “The last two months, you haven’t even made eye contact with another woman.”
“Yes, I have,” I argue. “I look directly at my patients and their owners.”
“They don’t count,” Logan presents.
“Sure they do,” I counter.
“I was referring to potential chicks to date or fuck,” Logan reiterates.
“Whatever,” I huff, despite my crumbling opposition.
“It’s okay, man,” Carter soothes. “We get it. It’s just funny since you’ve only kissed her at New Year’s and haven’t seen her since.”
“I have seen her,” I mention.
“What? When?” Carter asks.
“It was about a month after the party. I had gotten off the train for work and saw her getting on,” I explain. “We saw each other, but I haven’t seen her since.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Logan asks.
“Because you’d make fun of me,” I inform.
“No, we wouldn’t,” Carter replies.
“I would,” Gabe states.
“We know you would,” Logan replies. “But you weren’t included in the we.”
“Why don’t you put out flyers around the station?” Gabe teases. “I’m sure she’d see them and would contact you.”
“Ass,” I hiss.
“It kind of makes sense,” Logan defends.
“Maybe you could talk to one of the station workers,” Carter suggests. “Is there anyone who’s regularly there each time you get off for work.”
“You said get off,” Gabe laughs.
“Mature,” I reply unimpressed.
Normally, I would laugh at Gabe’s vulgarity, but not today. I’m too stressed out with not being able to find Cinderella.
“There are thousands of people that go through that station each morning,” I remind. “There’s no way in hell a worker would remember or recognize her,” I comment.
“You never know,” Logan returns. “She could be friendly with someone there.”
“What are the odds of that?” I quip.
“Probably slim,” Carter says. “But, anything is possible…even if the odds are slim in your favor.”
“Thanks, Mr. Physics,” I tease.
“Happy to help keep your hopes up,” Carter replies with a grin.
“What’s her name?” Logan asks.
“Don’t know,” I return.
“You didn’t get it on New Year’s?” Logan checks.
“Nope,” I confirm. “We were too busy kissing…and then, she was suddenly gone.”
“Man’s on a mission,”Carter comments.
“I’m on a mission,” Gabe interjects. “On a mission to get laid.”
“Shocking,” Carter replies.
“Don’t hate the player,” Gabe states. “Just hate the game.”
“You aren’t a player,” Logan jabs. “You’re on the sidelines most of the time by your own default.”
“Am not,” Gabe argues. “You boys are on the sidelines. You’ve put yourselves there…especially you, Reese.”
I roll my eyes even though Gabe is right.
“What?” Gabe asks. “It’s true. You could have been getting some all this time while you look for her. It’s not like you two were or are dating.”
“He does have a point,” Carter supports.
“I bet she’s already forgotten about you,” Gabe adds.
“Don’t be a dick,” Carter says. “Just because you’ve been having trouble getting some.”
“I haven’t had trouble,” Gabe shouts, walking away.
Logan, Carter, and I look back and forth at each other for a few beats, smiling at the jab.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find her again,” Logan encourages.
“That’s what Mrs. Hildreth says,” I share.
“Who?” Logan checks.
“One of the patient’s owners from the hospital,” I reply.
“You saw her a second time,” Carter reminds. “So, the odds are definitely more in your favor that you actually see her again.”
Harper
“Harper,” Ayris hollers from outside the room.
“What?” I reply as I get out of the shower.
“I have an emergency meeting at the office,” she shares, barging into the bathroom.
This is typical behavior for all of the girls in the apartment, so her seeing me naked is nothing new.
“So?” I say, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around me.
“So, I will love you forever if you can do me a huge favor,” Ayris states.
“What do you need?” I ask, getting a second towel for my hair.
“Mr. Darcy is supposed to have his checkup today and I really don’t want to cancel,” she informs.
“Why not?” I ask. “It’s not like you haven’t rescheduled before.”
“I know,” she sighs, grabbing the deodorant and handing it to me when I reach for it.
“Then?” I coax.
“I called,” Ayris explains. “The problem is that they’re booked solid for the next three months.”
“So?”
“So, with the way that his insurance is, it can’t wait three months,” Ayris replies. “Besides, it’s not like you have anything to do.”
“Ouch,” I reply with a pout.
“Oh, stop it,” she directs. “You know what I mean.”
“Do I?” I goad playfully.
“Come on,” Ayris whines. “You know I love you. It’s just that you’ve got more flexibility than the rest of us since you work from home.”
“So, you do admit that I work?” I check with a grin.
“Yes,” she huffs. “I acknowledge that you do work, making a good living from the comfort of our couch…which I’m jealous of…but I need your help for this.”
“You’re not jealous,” I tease. “You love the drama that comes with yo
ur job.”
“True,” she confirms. “But, I really don’t want to have to be paying out of pocket for the appointment if I don’t have to.”
“Got your eye on some new shoes?” I goad.
“No,” she returns.
I study her for a second to see if she’s telling the truth. “What time is the appointment?” I check.
“Ten-thirty,” she replies.
“What time is it now?” I ask.
“It’s only eight-thirty,” she states, looking at her phone. “Shit, I’m already late.”
“Sure,” I agree. “I’ve got plenty of time to finish getting ready.”
“Great!” she shouts. “I love you.” Ayris wraps her arms around my shoulders.
“Love you too,” I reply, patting her arm. “Now, get out of my way so I can finish getting ready.”
“You’re the best,” she says, darting out of the bathroom.
“And, you’re running late,” I tease.
“Shit!” Ayris exclaims. There’s commotion somewhere in the apartment. “See you later,” Ayris says with her voice sounding more distant.
“See you later,” I yell.
Mr. Darcy hangs out with me in my room as I get dressed. Ayris got him about a month after the four of us started living together in this apartment three years ago. We had just graduated college and we have been practically inseparable since, unless we’re at work or naked with a man.
Mr. Darcy has a sweet temperament, acting more like a dog sometimes than an actual cat. He loves to snuggle, be petted, and plays most of the time he’s awake. He’s definitely spoiled by the four of us, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
When it comes time to leave, Mr. Darcy happily climbs inside his crate. He’s never really minded it and likes to hide in it some days. The two of us make our way down to the station just two blocks from our building, only having to wait for the train for about three minutes. A few children seem interested when they see the crate, peering in from a distance.
Ten minutes later, I exit the train and stop over to see Allen.
“Hey, cutie,” Allen greets when I’m a few feet away.
“Hey, yourself,” I reply with a smile.
“Who’s your friend?” Allen asks.
