by Hutton, CM
Sad as it was, I had to admit that Emily and Cale were a pretty awesome set. And, as friends, there was no comparison. Those two had seen me go through more than a few heartbreaks and disasters and just kept hanging in there with me. I rarely told them no, even when I knew whatever they were asking was going to be a painful undertaking.
I grabbed my phone from my bag and called Emily. “Hey, girl. Ready for tonight?”
Oh good lord, she was all chipper and excited. “Hey Em, you not even gonna say ‘hello’?”
Emily started cackling into the phone. “Um, you do know that people’s names and sometimes their faces show up on each other’s cell phones, right? Damn, how old are you?”
“Whatever, hooker. I just called to say I’m totally OUT for tonight. I’m not feeling good.” No doubt she’d know I was full of shit.
“Jennifer Marie Bailey! You are NOT cancelling on us! You’d better dope up with some good meds and have your ass ready by seven!”
Shocked at her sudden forceful tone, which I knew was making her physically shake since she never yelled, I calmly said, “Em, calm down. You sound a little crazy, girl!” I was grinning as I said that knowing she hated when anyone accused her of being crazy.
Breathing deeply into the phone, Emily said, “Jen, you’d better be just messing with me because I cannot tell Jack that you aren’t showing up. He’s way too excited about meeting you.”
See, that was just the kind of thing that a girl does not want to hear about her blind date. Eager men are creepy weird. “Em, I’ll be there, but this had better not be like last time. You knew damn good and well that dude was wearing a toupee and you and Cale just ignored it all night while I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.”
That brought on a fit of laughter from Emily and even had me chuckling. “It will be better….promise! Just be ready at seven. And dress casual. Gotta run. Cale and I are running some errands. Love ya!”
And with that, she was gone. I stood there next to my car shaking my head at Emily and myself. I must be a glutton for crap like this.
After an hour of doing laps in the pool, I was exhausted. I’d had a few too many glasses of wine the night before for that much exercise. It was going on two o’clock by the time I finished my workout and made my way home after a side trip to look for a new outfit and quick stop to pick up a few groceries.
I put everything away and laid on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cake Batter ice cream. Yeah, not the best choice after my workout, but I was wallowing in having to go on a blind date. It was my reward to myself for all the acting I’d be doing that evening.
At some point during my fat-fest and my Mark Walberg movie, I dozed off. Thankfully, I heard my phone ringing or I might have slept through my ‘hot’ date. I snorted at the thought.
My phone registered a few missed calls from Emily, stalking me of course, and a number I didn’t know. I shrugged and typed out a text to Emily.
Jen:
I’m not coming! Leave me alone, stalker.
I laughed out loud because I just loved getting her all pissy and crazy.
Emily:
Stop it, you psycho! You know you’re coming.
I was calling to see what you were wearing.
Jen:
I’m not telling. You’ll have to be surprised.
Emily:
You big cry baby. See you in two hours.
Two hours? Crap. I hadn’t realized I’d slept so long. I had to get a move on it to be ready in time to gear myself up for this thing.
I dressed in jeans and a new sleeveless, red satin shirt that hugged my curves and showed off a little cleavage and black heels. It wasn’t that I was trying to impress Jack exactly, but I did want to look nice.
I had time to sip a glass of wine before my doorbell rang. Taking a deep breath, I briefly closed my eyes then pulled the door open with a big, fake smile on my face.
“Hey, girl!” Emily was really chipper. “You look gorgeous, as usual.” She leaned into kiss my cheek and gave me a big hug.
“Stop trying to butter me up, slick! I know your game,” I whispered in her ear before she could pull away.
“Whatever. You always look good.” Em winked and turned to the side so that I could see Cale and Jack standing in the door. Hmm, well he sure was a nice piece of eye candy….damn.
Emily nudged my arm and I suddenly wondered if I had said those words out loud. I looked at Em and she was just smiling at me.
“Jen, this is Jack….Jack, this is Jen. Okay, let’s go.” She was a huge pain in my ass.
I shook his hand and to my shock, I wasn’t totally freaked out. Maybe this date wouldn’t be so bad. “Hi, Jen. I’ve heard a lot about you. Well, I’ve probably heard everything about you.” Jack smiled and nodded his head toward Emily and Cale who were hugged up at the door and staring like fools.
“Oh, I’m sure you have. It’s nice to meet you, too. Shall we go, guys,” I said as I peeked around Jack to my incredibly annoying friends.
“Yep, let’s go,” chirped Emily.
“After you…” Jack said as he made a sweeping motion with his hand. I just smiled and walked straight through my front door toward the street. I swore I heard Em doing that small little chipper clap behind my back as I walked several feet in front of everyone else. Please….
We drove to The Poseidon and sat outside under the beautiful night air, right at the edge of the ocean. I loved this restaurant and I was certain Emily knew that, which made it clear who chose our dining accommodations. Good thing I loved her like a sister or I would’ve had to cut her.
I grinned at her as we sat down at our table and she tried some innocent little look on me. I just smiled really big and shrugged letting her know I was fine with the choice. As I started to sit in my chair, I realized Jack was right behind me pulling out my chair. Really, men still do that? Hmm, nice…I guess.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to get my chair for me.” I didn’t really know how to respond.
He jerked his head back slightly and said, “Of course I did. That’s what all men are supposed to do.” Okay….whatever you say.
“Well, thank you.” He seemed like a nice enough guy. I needed to chill out a little and just enjoy the evening. We stared at each other for several long seconds before Jack moved to go to his own chair.
Just then, the waiter walked up and took our drink orders. Cale didn’t order any alcohol since he was driving us…very big of him considering my memory of him in college. He was never the designated driver. The thought of those days made me smile and Jack apparently saw.
He leaned over to me and said, “Something funny? You look a little lost in your thoughts and they’re making you smile.”
“Not really. Just a memory I suddenly had.” I smiled at him and then continued to look over the menu.
“Hmm, I’m intrigued,” he softly said as he turned to his own menu. I had an unwelcome, but nice feeling running through me. His voice was sexy and soothing as he talked low where only I could hear him.
“Hey, Jen!” Emily shocked me out of the beginning of a little daydream.
“Yes, Em?” I couldn’t hide the sarcastic, snarky tone.
“You and Jack have something really big in common. He’s in advertising too.” Good lord, she was so freakin’ hyper.
Turning to look directly at Jack, I asked, “Oh yeah? Which firm?”
“Redman, Daniels & Smith. How about you?” Well, shit. Now, I was thinking about him and I did not want to be thinking about a Mr. Rylan Daniels right now, but my mind was drifting.
“JEN!” Emily’s voice shocked me back to reality. “Oh, um I work for Sullivan & Jackson so I guess we’re rivals, huh?”
“Well, I think I can handle leaving work at work. How about you?” He was right. It didn’t really matter anyway.
“Yes, please! I don’t want to think about work right now anyway.” I smiled and took a sip of my wine. I wasn’t even going to mention Rylan Daniels because that w
ould start a whole conversation that I did not want to have at the moment.
Jack winked at me and quietly said, “Good answer.” That little maneuver sent a delicious shiver through me. My night might turn out to be a really, really good night after all.
We made small talk through dinner and then left to go out to a club for a while to hear a local band. I had originally thought I would make some excuse to go home after dinner, but I had such a nice time with Jack that I was more than happy to spend a little more time with him.
He put his hand in the small of my back to guide me as we entered the club and I couldn’t help but to close my eyes for a second and soak up the feeling. I hadn’t really gone out on a real date in a while….not since Cole, who happened to be married, unbeknownst to me. That left some deep scars in me that left me feeling really stupid for not figuring him out. I mean, hell….we dated for damn near a year.
“Hey, want anything from the bar?” Jack was leaning into my back and talking so close that I could feel his lips graze my ear. I couldn’t help but to flinch and I felt him smile. I leaned back slightly against him…..pure instinct, I’m sure…..and turned my head a little.
“Maybe just some water for now, please.” I needed a clear head for the rest of the night.
His hand came around the side of my waist, but stopped before reaching all the way around. “Okay, but I really don’t want to move from where I am right now.”
I laughed and shook my head at him, still looking at him over my shoulder. “Is that right?”
“Um, hell yeah! I’m standing here with a beautiful girl so close I can almost feel her every curve and the last thing I want to do is walk away from her.” That made me laugh even though I was feeling the same way.
“Nice one! Okay, slick….forget the water….for now.” At that, his hand made its way to the front of my waist and he pulled me a little further against him.
“Slick? Really?” He still had his mouth very close to my ear.
“Yeah, sounds good for you since so far tonight you’re saying and doing all the right things. Makes me think you’re up to something.” I hoped I didn’t offend him, but I needed to put it out there that I was not some stupid little naïve girl.
“Well, all I want is to stay right where I am and enjoy hanging out with you, Jen. That okay?” His voice sounded a little harder, like he was pissed.
I felt bad, so I turned to faced him. His hand never left my waist as I spun around to see his handsome, concerned eyes staring at me. I reached up and cupped his face, not feeling the least bit awkward about it. “Hey, I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but a perfect gentleman tonight and I am having a wonderful time.”
His grip on me tightened and his other hand join the one on my lower back. He was staring at my face, especially my lips. “Thank you. I’m having an amazing time with you too, Jen.”
He had a small smile on his face and I found myself staring at his mouth. Damn.
“Jen?” Jack whispered, still staring at me.
“Yeah?”
“I need to kiss you. May I?” Oh, dear lord. Those words did funny things to me.
A slow smile crept across my face and he had one to match. “Yeah.” I whispered as he leaned in and ever so gently swept his lips across mine. It was the sweetest, softest kiss and I wanted more, but he pulled his head back and whispered “Thank you” then quickly turned me around to face out to the crowd leaving my waist locked in this arms.
I didn’t know what to think. I felt confused, maybe even a little disappointed and was glad he couldn’t see my face. The wheels in my mind were running full steam with doubt, anger, regret and a whole host of ‘baggage’ issues that continued to tie me up in knots. I made a move to loosen his grip from me so that I could stand beside him, but he didn’t budge. “Where are you going?” He asked into my ear.
I wanted to say ‘stop playing your bullshit games with me and get the hell off’ but thought better of it. I mean, he didn’t ask to make out with me or sleep with me. He asked for a kiss and that is what he got. I was being stupid and now I needed to say something normal and appear unaffected.
“I just need to go to the restroom.” I smiled. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Like hell, I would.
“Oh, okay. I think it is over in that corner.” Jack was pointing to the far left. I hadn’t even seen where Em and Cale had gone. They found a few friends when we walked in and took off. My suspicion was that they were trying to give Jack and me a little time alone and were probably skulking around watching us.
I gave a half smile and walked off. I thought he was about to follow me, but when I looked back he just kind of nodded his head like he understood that I didn’t need a chaperone.
I needed to get the hell out of there. I’d only know this guy for a few hours and I was getting a weird about him….needing him, to be exact. Time to go.
I went into the bathroom and contemplated my escape. The bathrooms were down a skinny hall and there was a door at the end of the hall that led somewhere out of the building. I just hoped it wasn’t like a fire door with a friggin’ alarm. That’d be just my luck.
I peeked out and didn’t see Jack, Em or Cale anywhere. I crept to the door and search for any bright red warning signs on it, but didn’t see any. I slowly opened it and was met with the cool outside air in the back of the club. I sighed in relief. Step one down.
Now, I needed to get a cab before the search party started. I would text Emily once I was inbound to chateaux Bailey.
I walked around the front of the building and by the grace of God, there were about five or six cabbies sitting on the street, obviously waiting for all the drunks. I knocked on the first guy’s window and he motioned for me to get in.
I couldn’t move fast enough. I shut the door and spouted off my address as I looked over my shoulder toward the club. I gasped for a second….was that Rylan I just saw? No way. There was no way that stuffed shirt prick would be at a club. I was totally paranoid. That’s what happens when you do stupid shit like I do.
I shook my head and faced forward, sliding down in the seat a bit. Step two down.
I pulled out my phone and texted Emily. I needed to make this good.
Jen:
Hey. I’m headed home. Not feeling well.
I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks for tonight.
Tell Jack it was nice to meet him.
I gave myself a mental pat on the back. Nicely done, Jen. I really was so full of myself.
I got all the way home and still hadn’t heard from Emily. I started thinking she was either super pissed at me and was on her way to my house to kick my ass or she hadn’t seen her text yet.
I chose the latter. I felt bad leaving Jack there alone, but I needed to…that’s all there was. I guess I could have said good bye, but he would have seen the look in my eyes that screamed disappointment, hurt, fear and just about any other emotion that comes with years of crappy relationships. Best to cut and run.
I changed out of my clothes and took a hot bath. I made sure to secure my front door so that even Emily and Cale couldn’t get in. I was afraid they might show up here with Jack and I’d get an ass chewing from all three.
They both had keys to my place, but I had an extra security lock put in last year that had no key hole on the opposite side. Best two hundred bucks I’d ever spent.
After a long soak, I got my jammies on and crawled into bed. I just wanted to forget the evening….well most of it. I enjoyed dinner and our conversation. I should have left after that like I’d planned. Then, I wouldn’t be feeling so yucky right now. I would have a nice memory to hang on to.
As I lay there staring at the ceiling, I heard my phone buzz. Well, here we go….
Emily:
You should have found me and
told me what happened that
made you run. You know I would
have understood. Jack doesn’t.
She was right. Jack doesn’t know m
e at all and I should have at least attempted to say good bye.
Jen:
I’m sorry for upsetting him.
It wasn’t a good match. I should
have said good bye. You’re right.
I’m sorry. I appreciate you trying
to play matchmaker, but I’m done
okay?
Emily:
I’m not sure who you are trying to convince,
me or you, but you are full of crap and
you know it. You two were great tonight.
What happened?
Jen:
Nothing. He’s a really nice guy.
I’m not sure he was that in to me,
Em. Let it go. I have.
Night. Love ya.
Emily:
You are so full of shit, girl.
But, I’ll let it go….for now.
Night. Love you, too.
I sat there staring at my phone for a long time, just thinking. Things were great for a while tonight. But, I felt myself getting pulled in and he wasn’t exactly responding the same way. I’ve been down that road too many times to think this would be any different. As shitty as I was feeling right now about upsetting my best friends and Jack, it was for the best ….for everyone.
I put my phone on my bedside table, turned out the light and crawled deeper under the covers. I wasn’t sleepy, but tried to force myself to relax and get some rest.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been laying there when I heard my phone buzz again. I almost didn’t look at it, not prepared for another guilt trip from Em. But, curiosity got the better of me and I looked. I didn’t recognize the number, but I immediately knew who sent it.
Chapter 4 – Rylan
I hated the weekends. I’d much rather be working and staying busy. I especially hated Saturday nights, but decided I’d go out with friends to hear a local band they were friends with. It was a decent club, but not exactly my ‘thing’ anymore.
I’d gone for a long run after I woke up and then spent half the day cleaning up around my house and doing a little work. It had been a pretty productive day, but I needed to get out and have a little fun.
