by P. G. Van
“What the fish….really?”
“It’s unbelievable, and I know that kid deserved it, but I don’t want my fourteen-year-old cousin thinking that it’s okay to hurt someone physically,” I said with concern in my voice.
“How long has Reyan known your cousin?”
“Less than twenty-four hours.”
“Shut the front door!!!”
“I know. They bonded in under thirty minutes, and he was home before we came back from Meg’s school,” I complained.
“Just like you and I did,” Annie beamed.
“I know.”
“You know…this guy has morphed into someone else in the last few days.” Annie observed.
“Well, he kinda did have a near death experience just a few days ago…” I offered as an explanation.
“I kinda get it why he came for Meg…Reyan is overly protective by nature…so protective it gets annoying sometimes.”
I would love that. Wouldn’t I? Feeling protected!!
We chatted for a few more minutes, and she texted me the time and location of the restaurant in Chinatown.
I looked at Meg as she typed away on her phone. I knew she was texting with Reyan as all her friends were still at school. I looked at her happy face and could not let myself lecture her about what she had done.
I remembered what Reyan told me about being around for Meg and to not obsess about working round the clock to save money. I decided I could work an extra event and make the money I needed. I called the bar owner, explained the situation with Meg, and asked him for a night off.
Meg and I spent the rest of the day at home in my room watching TV and eating pizza for dinner. She and I made a pact about not talking about the school incident with my aunt.
“You are capable of being a normal person, Vinnie.” Meg yawned as she left my room to go to bed.
“If you say one more thing, I will make you pay for the pizza,” I warned laughing.
“Fine…it’s too bad that you can’t handle a compliment.”
“Good night!!” I hugged her.
“I had fun, Vinnie!!” Meg said smiling at me and reminded me why I loved that kid so much. I fell in love with her the day I saw her when she was only months old.
“Me too. I will take more days off and spend time with you.” I promised.
“No Vinnie, you should spend time with Reyan. I think he likes you,” she said softly.
“Time to go to bed,” I said not wanting to discuss further.
“Again…I am not in kindergarden!!” she grumbled.
“Okay…I know you are not.” I smiled remembering the cute baby I held in my hands for the first time when I was nine.
Ten minutes later, I stared at my phone debating if I should text Reyan. He helped Meg out, and I didn’t bother thanking him earlier that day.
Me: Hey…
Reyan: Hey…
Me: I will stop texting if you pretend like a copycat
Reyan: I will stop texting if you pretend like a copycat
I stopped typing and dialed his number. He answered the phone, and all I could hear was his laughter.
“What are you? A teenager?” I mocked.
“Hey, I gel well with teenagers, unlike you,” he teased right back.
His statement ticked me off, but I knew he was right so I took a deep breath and said, “Yes, I agree. Thank you for listening to Meg.”
He paused for a moment and said, “You are welcome.”
“I was upset you encouraged physical violence, but I can’t believe she has been enduring that crap for so long.”
“Meg is now the coolest kid in San Francisco,” he said victoriously.
“Yeah, yeah…whatever!!”
“Why aren’t you here tonight?” he asked softly.
“What do you mean here? Where are you?”
“I am at the bar, and I was hoping to see you,” he said casually.
“Well, someone advised me to spend more time with my cousin.”
“Well, someone here is missing you a lot,” he said in a whiny tone.
“Stop flirting with me Reyan. It’s getting old,” I snickered.
“I didn’t say I was missing you. I was talking about Dave and your boss.”
“Oh okay.” I bit my tongue for spewing.
“You haven’t taken a night off from the day you started here?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, and I guess I have to thank you for that,” I mocked.
“Your boss can’t stop praising you and is trying to figure out how to clone you.” He laughed.
I laughed and said, “I think someone figured out how to clone me, and I have two doppelgangers, one was in India and one in San Francisco somewhere.”
“Not possible,” he declared.
“I have had so many people approach me in the last year, and I am convinced I have a doppelganger.”
“Not possible,” he repeated in the same tone as before.
“Aren’t you going to ask me details before you make your declaration?”
“No, I don’t need the details. You are unique and are a true masterpiece…there cannot be a clone.”
“Flattery is not going to work on me…I am still not going on a date.”
“It's not just a date anymore. I want more than that.”
Crap!! That’s what he said in my dream.
Chapter 7
I hopped out of the cab right in front of the restaurant Annie wouldn’t stop talking about and went across the street towards the main entrance. Annie had texted me a few minutes ago that she was stuck in traffic and was ten minutes out.
Saturday night was a busy night in San Francisco, and it seemed like everyone was in a mad rush to get to their party destinations. It was my night off, and I took Meg’s advice to be a normal twenty-three-year-old and hang out with people of my age group.
I walked through the small opening in the wall to the miniature lobby of the restaurant.
“Hello, welcome. Do you have a reservation?” The woman at the front desk asked with a heavy accent.
“Yes, it’s under Annie.”
“This way please.” I was surprised that the woman was going to seat me even when Annie, Chloe, Eddie, and Neel were still on their way. I didn’t know where Reyan was, and I didn’t want to ask Annie about him. It had been two days since I saw him. The last time I saw him was the day Meg broke the kid’s nose at school, and I was so angry with him.
“I can wait in the lobby for my group.”
“Oh…no problem.” She smiled politely.
I smiled and looked in the direction we were headed, and Reyan was sitting at the table looking right at me. My heart started drumming as soon as our eyes met and my lips automatically curved up in a smile. He stood up as I approached him, and it was the first time I had seen him in a setting that was outside the bar or my driveway. He looked extremely casual in a black-fitted polo shirt and slim-fitting jeans. His hair was messy as if he ran his fingers through it after he took off his helmet; that uncaring easy look was what set him apart from all other men in the city that cared too much about being metropolitan.
He reached out and put his arms around me and brushed his lips against my cheek. It was as if he knew he had this strange effect on me.
“Have you been avoiding me?” he whispered.
“Like I stand a chance even if I wanted to hide from you, considering I have your agent in the same house,” I said laughing.
“I love Meg. She is such a tough cookie,” he said affectionately.
“Yup…after that nose-breaking episode, she is having a totally different high school experience,” I said feeling happy for Meg.
Reyan laughed, and I caught my breath when I saw the pure joy in his eyes that were sending other messages to me.
“We are finally here!!” Annie whined as she walked towards us ten minutes later with the rest of the gang right behind her.
“If you hadn’t pulled over to lecture me, we would have gotten her
e on time,” Neel mocked as he sat next to Reyan.
“Annie, what was the lecture about?” Reyan asked curiously.
“Speak up Neel!!” Annie glowered.
“Remember the chick Annie tried to set you up with?” Neel asked looking at Reyan and added, “I asked Annie if she would have that chick be my fake girlfriend for a weekend?”
“What? Why?” It was my turn to be surprised.
Annie spoke up before anyone could respond. “Hang on!! Before we go there, let me remind you that this was the girl I set Reyan up to meet earlier this week, and he told her to her face that he wasn’t interested in her…she is my coworker Reyan…how could you?”
“Why would you do that to her Reyan?” I asked looking at him.
He leaned closer and whispered. “You know why.”
“What?...I...” I shuddered at the intensity in his eyes and shut myself up. Annie thankfully interjected and said, “He was just plain rude to her, and now Mr. Neel here wants her to be his fake girlfriend for his brother’s wedding weekend.”
“Dude, you got to tell them,” Eddie chimed in.
“I know I need to tell my parents that they will eventually have a son-in-law and not a daughter-in-law, but this is not the right time,” Neel objected.
“There’s never a right time,” Reyan declared.
I listened to the group talk about different people and how they were forced to come out of the closet, and it was worse than they had anticipated. All along, I saw how Neel was more concerned about his parents and their feelings rather than how they would react when he did tell them.
“Neel, I’ll do it!!” I declared halting all debates. There was dead silence at the table for a moment as the group looked at me in disbelief.
“For real Vinnie?” Neel asked in disbelief.
“Yup. I am making an exception for you Neel, and we need to discuss terms and conditions,” I winked at him.
“Vinnie, do not encourage him,” Chloe jumped in.
“Chloe, when he is ready to tell his parents, he will figure out a way to tell them. Right Neel?” I encouraged.
“Yes, you’re an angel Vinnie!!!” Neel reached to his side and planted a kiss on my cheek.
“Naa, just your fake girlfriend for now,” I said putting my arm around him.
I could tell the group did not like that I offered to help out Neel during his brother’s wedding, but only Reyan’s reaction registered with me. I caught a glimpse of his surprise when I initially spoke up, but I could not decipher his reaction to my offer to Neel.
I chose to ignore him and his reaction and enjoy the conversations at the table. Chloe ordered the food for the table while she showed off her amateur Cantonese skills.
The food was amazing and intimidating at the same time. When a bowl of fried dried red chiles showed up, I looked around the table wondering if it was some kind of joke. I was relieved to find extremely well-flavored pieces of chicken with the right amount of heat under the heap of dried chiles.
I was on my third bite of the house cold noodles when I felt the tickle in my throat and the loss of sensation on my tongue. I licked my lips and realized that the inside of my mouth was numb, and I knew I was having a reaction to something. I was muddling through various reasons as to what was happening with me when I felt Reyan’s palm on me knee.
“Let’s get you some fresh air,” he whispered leaning in.
Shit!! What’s happening?
“Be right back guys,” he nodded at the rest of the gang as he led me to the back of the restaurant. I followed him through the kitchen to the back door. I figured the group visited the place so often that it bothered no one that we were walking through the kitchen.
“Reyan…I can’t feel my mouth,” I managed to utter as we stepped into the fresh air.
“I could tell and trust me the fresh air will help. Can I check what is going on with you?” he asked softly.
I nodded unable to speak as he placed his palm gently on my cheek. He handed me the bottle of water he had grabbed on our way out from the kitchen.
“You will be fine, take a sip,” he said bringing the bottle to my lips.
“Reyan…what’s happening?” I asked after I took a sip of water.
He gently wiped off the extra moisture from my lips.
“Do you feel my fingers on your lips?” His voice was husky but very low.
“Yes…what are you doing?” My body shuddered to his touch and the intensity in his voice. He dipped his finger into my mouth and flicked the tip of his finger on my tongue.
“You feel my finger?” he asked casually.
“Yes,” I mumbled as he took his finger out of my mouth.
“I think you will be fine, but I need to do one more thing to make sure you are not having a food allergy.”
“I think I am allergic to something, Reyan,” I said concerned about the numbness.
“No, I am pretty sure you are not, and I need to do one final test. I need you to follow my lead, and I can make sure you are fine.”
“How will I know what to do?” I asked not sure what to expect.
“Trust me, you will. Promise me you won’t knee my balls.” He smiled looking into my eyes.
“Why would…” My words dove back into my throat as Reyan leaned forward and wrapped his arm around my waist. His cologne was the first thing to hit my senses and then I felt his lips on mine. His lips brushed against my lips in a slow and sensual fashion. I gasped as his palm came up to cup my cheek to deepen the kiss.
The blood pounded in my ears and my heart banged away in my chest, and all I could do was flatten my palm on his chest. My rational side tried to push him away from me, but the other side of me I had kept tamed for years took over. I felt his tight chest through the thin material of his shirt, and my arm curved around him as his tongue gently made its way past my lips.
I involuntarily moaned when he took my bottom lip between his teeth and tugged on it. I felt captivated by my own need and as he caressed my lips with his, I tasted liberation on him. My mind fought the moment that was drowning me, but something stronger took over and I had no control over my own actions. When he released my lips and looked at me with a wicked smile, I knew something was off.
“Reyan, what was that for?” I said shaking my head.
“That was because I couldn’t keep my hands off you.”
“Did you have anything to do with that reaction I had a few minutes ago?” I sneered.
“I had nothing to do with that, but I took…” he started to say.
“Took advantage?” I glared at him and tried to push him away, but he was too quick for me.
“I didn’t get the feeling that you were fighting me,” he taunted.
I tried to wiggle out of his embrace and refused to dignify his statement with a response.
“Vinnie, why are you fighting this?” His voice was rough but smooth.
“There is nothing to fight,” I snapped.
Reyan chuckled, softening the tension that had built up and brought his lips closer. I stiffened my lips expecting him to kiss me again, but instead he took his lips to my jawline and planted a flurry of light kisses.
“Your breath quickens every time I get close to you, and I know you want me as much as I want you.”
“Dream on!!!”
“Kiss me then!!” he said firmly.
“What crap? Why would I do that?”
“If it means nothing to you, kiss me and tell me you are not affected by it,” he challenged.
“It’s the oldest trick in the book, and I am not falling for it.”
“Free yourself then--hurt me,” he said stubbornly.
“Are you some kind of psychopath? I am not going to hurt you.”
“I dare you to either hurt me or...” he gritted.
“Or what?” I continued to wiggle trying to get out of his hold, but I knew it was a futile effort. He had a stronger hold on my resolve than on my body.
At that moment, all I cou
ld think about was to reach up and take my lips to his longing lips. I knew I had something for Reyan, especially after my steamy dream the other night, but I wasn’t willing to give in to my temptations. I had too much going on and a goal to work towards, and he would be a distraction.
A huge distraction!!
“Reyan, please. You don’t understand...” I said softly.
“Try me!!”
“Fine, can we talk later?”
“Will you let me take you home tonight?” he asked instantly.
“Yes, you can give me a ride home.”
He planted a kiss on my cheek before releasing me. I felt an immediate longing to be held by him as soon as my arms were free.
“Let’s go back in.” He took my hand in his and led me back inside.
“You are not a very romantic guy are you?” I mocked.
He stopped short making me run into him from behind.
“What the...?”
“You just kissed me next to a dumpster,” I reminded him.
“Well, I blame you for making me behave irrationally.”
“Very funny,” I mocked.
We walked back into the restaurant hand in hand, and the group looked up grinning at us as if they knew everything that had happened between us.
“I was wondering if you eloped with my girlfriend. Glad you decided to bring her back,” Neel teased.
“Fake girlfriend dude,” Reyan retorted without a hitch.
“Where did you guys go?” Chloe asked curiously.
“I had a tingling feeling in my mouth, and I needed fresh air,” I said casually.
“That’s an expected reaction. The Szechuan peppercorns tend to numb your mouth for a short period of time.”
“I had no idea,” I stepped on Reyan’s foot under the table and added, “I seriously thought I was having an allergic reaction.”
“It’s a standard first-time reaction, and it was just a little too eventful for you,” Annie winked.
A change in topic was in order. “Neel, when is your brother’s wedding?” I asked ignoring Reyan’s scorching stare.
“In a few weeks.”
“Where is the wedding?” I asked with excitement.
“It’s on our farm in Northern California.”
“Why is the wedding on a farm?” Chloe asked for clarification.
