Constructing the Soul

by Annabella Michaels

  “What did you tell him?” I asked.

  Landon narrowed his eyes at me. “Why are you so curious about Akio?”

  I shrugged. “I just thought it would be a good idea to know more about the man I’ll be working with, that’s all,” I replied.

  “Funny, those were almost his exact same words when I asked him that question. Seems curious that you both were asking so many questions about each other. Makes me wonder what exactly happened during your first meeting,” Landon said, sounding suspicious.

  “Nothing happened. It was strictly business so don’t go getting any ideas, okay?” I warned.

  Landon laid a hand on his chest and gave me a look of pure innocence. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he drawled and I couldn’t help but laugh at his horrible impression of a Southern belle.

  “Uh huh, I hear you. Why don’t you quit worrying about who I’m attracted to and start telling me about your wedding plans,” I said. Landon’s eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. It took me a few seconds to replay my last words in my head and I realized what I’d basically admitted to. My shoulders slumped as I waited for Landon to say something. What he said surprised me.

  “I’m not going to give you a hard time about this. Just know that if something were to happen between the two of you, I’d be perfectly fine with it, okay? You both are extremely important to me.”

  “Thanks, but really, I don’t think anything’s going to happen. Like I told you, I’m not looking for anything right now.”

  “Okay, I get it. I won’t butt in, I just thought you should know that. When Micah and I were first starting out, we had to keep things quiet because he was worried about how Giovanni would feel about him hooking up with his brother-in-law. I don’t want you to have the same worries if something like that would happen with you two.”

  “Thanks, Landon. You’re a really good guy.” I smiled at him. “Now, can we change the subject please?” I teased and Landon laughed.

  We spent the rest of the evening talking about his wedding and catching up with each other. When I went to bed that night, I was still wearing a smile on my face. My relationship with David had only lasted a year, but it wasn’t until it ended that I realized how unsettled I’d felt throughout it all. Moving to Chicago and starting over had been the right decision for me and I was looking forward to the next chapter in my life.

  I spent all day Saturday running errands and taking care of the things I didn’t have time for during the week. I placed my clothes in the back seat of my car and then climbed in as I mentally checked off the things I’d already accomplished. I’d already been to the grocery store, the post office, had my hair cut, and picked up my dry cleaning.

  Even though I’d just bought groceries, I didn’t feel like cooking anything at home so I decided to run by Romero’s and pick something up on my way home. I was meeting some friends of mine at our favorite club and I wanted time to shower and pick out the perfect outfit to wear. I may have just been hanging out with my friends, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t look good while I did it.

  It didn’t take me long to get to Romero’s and I pulled up alongside the curb and parked. The restaurant was as busy as ever as I stepped inside, but I spotted Lauren, Giovanni’s assistant manager, across the room. She was a beautiful woman and would stand out in any crowd. She glanced up as I walked in the door and waved then motioned for me to go on back before returning her attention to the customers she’d been chatting with.

  I made my way through the crowded dining room towards the door that led into the kitchen. Caleb and Giovanni had both insisted that I be treated just like the rest of their family when I was there, and that meant going to the kitchen and helping myself to the food. They wouldn’t let me pay for anything either, but I’d long since given up on trying to argue with either one of them.

  A heavenly mixture of garlic, oregano, butter, and tomatoes had my mouth watering as I walked into the kitchen and I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. The sound of someone laughing had my eyes popping open and I found Curtis chuckling as he stirred a big pot on the stove. Curtis had been hired by Caleb and Giovanni to help with the cooking and to allow them time away from the restaurant, something that had been needed more and more once they’d adopted their daughter, Sarah.

  Curtis was a friendly guy; good looking, funny, and sweet. He was also an amazing chef, nearly as good as Caleb. I glanced over at Marco, the kitchen manager who had his back to me. I could see his shoulders shaking and knew that I had provided them both with amusement. However, I wasn’t surprised because the same thing happened every time I went there. I couldn’t help it; the smells were just too enticing.

  “Go ahead and laugh it up, guys. I can’t help it that your cooking is divine. I don’t want to gain a hundred pounds though so I savor the smell instead,” I said with a huff. Marco let out a loud bark of laughter, no longer trying to spare my feelings.

  “You are just too much.” He was grinning as he shook his head.

  “You’re not the first person to say that to me,” I replied saucily, placing my hands on my hips and arching a brow. My statement was followed by more laughter which I soon joined. I loved going there and seeing those guys. No matter what kind of mood I was in when I arrived, I always left with a smile from bantering back and forth with the two of them.

  “Are you hungry, Akio? You want me to make you a plate of your favorite?” Curtis asked. I thought about getting my usual order of fettucine Alfredo, but decided against it. I’d been blessed with a fast metabolism that allowed me to eat pretty much anything I wanted without gaining weight, a fact that my friends were all envious of, but I figured I should probably stick with something lighter that night.

  “I’m starving, but I just want a salad to take home, please,” I replied.

  “A salad? Boy, are you feeling alright?” I laughed at the bewildered look Marco was giving me.

  “I feel fine, I promise,” I assured him. “I’m going out with some friends tonight. I’ll be dancing and drinking and none of that goes well with a full stomach.”

  “Ahhh, a night out on the town, huh? Maybe you could talk Curtis into going out sometime. I keep telling him he needs to get out more, meet a guy his age that he could have fun with. He’s too young to be working so hard all the time.” Marco raised his voice on that last part as he stared pointedly at the younger man. I could tell by the way Curtis rolled his eyes, that it was an argument they’d had on more than one occasion.

  “I go out, but I have responsibilities here too,” Curtis interjected.

  “G and Caleb would give you any night off you wanted so don’t use that as an excuse. Besides, when’s the last time you went out?” Marco challenged. I figured it would be best to keep my mouth shut so I did just that, letting my eyes dart back and forth between them as if I were watching a tennis match. Curtis mumbled something, but it was too low for me to hear.

  “What was that?” Marco asked, not letting it go.

  “I said three months ago, okay? Are you happy now?” Curtis exclaimed, sounding exasperated.

  “Oh my God! Why?” I said before I could stop myself. I couldn’t imagine going that long without going out and having a good time. Maybe Marco had a point; Curtis was much too young to be staying at home every night. Especially if he didn’t have a sexy man waiting for him there.

  Curtis’s shoulders slumped. “I went out a few months ago and met a guy. He was funny and nice and built like a god. We had a great time, spent an amazing night together, and I thought we really connected, you know? He asked for my number the next morning and said he wanted to see me again, but he never called. I haven’t really felt like going out since then.”

  “I’m sorry, man,” Marco said sympathetically. “I never would’ve given you such a hard time if I’d known. I just want you to be happy.”

  “I know that and I appreciate it,” Curtis said with a shy smile.

  “I know you’re working tonight, but why
don’t you and I go out the next time you’re off,” I offered. Curtis was a cool guy and I knew he’d have fun with my friends. Maybe a night of hanging out and dancing our asses off would get his mind off that guy.

  “That’s a great idea!” Marco exclaimed excitedly. “You two should double date. You could each pick a guy for the other one, that way there’s no pressure to find a date for yourself. Great suggestion, Akio.” I whipped my head in his direction, not quite sure what had just happened and found him smiling smugly. My eyes narrowed at him. The older man was shrewder than I’d realized because he’d just put me in a position that he knew I wouldn’t be able to back out of. At least not without hurting Curtis’s feelings and there was no way I’d do that.

  “That would be awesome!” Curtis said, sounding excited. “I’m sure you’ll pick someone great and with you there, it won’t feel as awkward as a lot of blind dates can be.” My mouth was still slack as he turned his attention back to the stove and began stirring whatever was in the pot. “I’m off on Monday. Is that enough time for you to find someone for me?” he said over his shoulder.

  “Sure,” I said in a daze. Marco handed me a to-go bag and I blessed him with one of my most heated glares, but he just clapped me on the shoulder and chuckled to himself.

  “I’m looking forward to this, Akio. Thanks a lot for thinking of it,” Curtis said as I opened the door.

  “No problem,” I murmured. I could still hear Marco’s quiet laughter as the door swung shut. What in the hell have I just gotten myself into?

  “Hey, Akio! Let us in,” I heard Travis yell right before someone started banging loudly on my door. I raced to open it before one of my neighbors called the building manager to complain.

  “You do remember that I have neighbors, right?” I said by way of greeting. I held the door open as my three friends brushed past me into my apartment.

  “How could we forget? She was eyeing us through the crack in her door the whole time,” Garrett responded, rolling his eyes.

  “So, you just had to poke the bear and start banging on my door?” I asked. I shut the door and then followed them into the living room, watching as they made themselves at home.

  Travis was blond, blue-eyed, and a notorious flirt. He had broad shoulders, sculpted arms, and a six-pack of abs that made all the boys salivate. He’d been captain of his high school baseball and basketball teams and had started out playing for the college. Travis soon discovered that he had interests beyond sports though and, against his father’s wishes, had quit the team and pursued a major in physical therapy instead. Other than his career and friendship with the three of us, he didn’t take anything very seriously and as far as I could remember, had never left the bar alone when we went out.

  Garrett had dark brown hair that was cut shorter on the sides and longer on the top and beautiful gray eyes that shone out from behind the thick black frames he wore. He was the dreamer of our group. He majored in literature, but instead of becoming a teacher like both of his parents, he’d decided to try his hand at writing. Garrett quickly became very successful as a contemporary gay romance author and had recently published the final book in his third series.

  Jasper was the quietest of the four of us. He had been an art major in college and while many of the art students dressed in an emo style, as if they were playing a part, it was clear that the way he dressed was simply an extension of his personality. Black jeans and t-shirt, black Converse shoes that he had decorated with a silver permanent marker, and leather cuffs around each wrist. He was a tiny wisp of a guy and we were all very protective of him. He’d come a long way over the years in opening up to us, but we knew that there was a lot he kept hidden. Shortly before graduation, Jasper got a job as a tattoo artist and was hoping to open his own shop one day.

  The four of us had met as freshmen at the University of Chicago and became fast friends. Looking at us, it seemed unlikely that the four of us would’ve become friends, but somehow, we’d just clicked and there wasn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other.

  “Mrs. Stevenson always seems creepy the way she watches you,” Travis replied, pulling me from my thoughts as he plopped down on my couch and threw his feet up on the coffee table.

  “You should try being nice,” I suggested, leaning down to swat his feet off the furniture.

  “Why? Because that’s worked so well for you?” Jasper raised a brow at me, daring me to argue, but I shrugged my shoulders instead.

  He had a point really. I’d tried to get along with the older lady when I’d first moved in, bringing her mail to her when I went down to get my own and offering to pick stuff up for her from the grocery store. She’d always just stare at me though, not saying a word, and nothing I did had made her warm up to me.

  Eventually I’d stopped trying, resigned to the fact that we were just not meant to get along, but I still hated it and couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she wasn’t just lonely. In the four years since I’d moved in, I’d never seen anyone stop by to visit her.

  “Where are we headed tonight?” I asked, making my way into the kitchen and pulling a bottle of water from the fridge.

  “Lush-Us!” my friends answered in unison, making me laugh. I wasn’t surprised by their response. Chicago offered a great night life, but Lush-Us was by far our favorite club. The bartenders were friendly, the male dancers were sexy, and the drinks went down way too smooth. I was in the mood to dance that night so I quickly agreed.

  I went to my bedroom and grabbed a jacket from my closet, pausing to check myself in the mirror one last time. I’d chosen to wear a tight pair of red jeans that I’d recently purchased because I liked the way they showed off my ass and a tight black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up part way. A pair of black boots completed the ensemble. My friends often teased me about what they referred to as my “runway requirements,” but I didn’t think I was that bad. I simply preferred to look my best no matter what the occasion. When I looked good, I felt good and on that particular night, I was feeling fabulous.

  I played around with my hair for a moment, trying to get an errant strand to lie where it should, but no matter what I tried, it immediately flopped back down. I had just given up with a sigh when I noticed movement behind me in the mirror. Garrett stood in the doorway of my room, his hands shoved in his pockets as he stared at me. I turned to him with my hands on my hips.

  “If you’re here to give me hell about my fashion sense, you can stop right there. It takes work to look this good,” I said, moving my hands down my body. I waited for Garrett’s laugh, but it never came. His eyes followed the movement of my hands and he swallowed hard.

  “You…you do look good, very good,” he stuttered. Perhaps it was the low lighting of my bedroom, but it looked like he was blushing and I had no idea why.

  “Oh! Well, thanks,” I responded lamely. “You okay, buddy? Is something wrong? Do you have writer’s block again? Because I’d be willing to talk it out with you, I think I was pretty helpful last time,” I said with a smirk. Garrett laughed that time and I felt my shoulders relax. I hated to see my friends upset.

  “My characters are talking to me just fine, thank you, and if I remember correctly, I vetoed your suggestion that my character who was a teacher have an orgy with the male students in his class,” Garrett said, shaking his head.

  “I said it should be after school hours,” I tossed back at him with mock indignation. I hadn’t been serious about my suggestion, but I knew that talking with him about his characters would help Garrett to get ideas flowing and it worked because two weeks later he called to let me now that he’d finished his novel.

  “It would have been unethical and my character was a nice guy,” he explained with an exasperated shake of his head.

  “It would’ve been fucking hot though,” I said, wagging my brows at him.

  “Yeah, it really would have.” Garrett laughed and I joined him. I was glad to see him looking more relaxed than he had been a few moments before. I
pulled my jacket on as I stepped closer to him. I had to look up since he was taller than me.

  “Seriously though, are you okay? You’ve been acting strange lately and I’m starting to worry. You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

  “Yeah, I know, Akio. Nothing’s wrong though and I’m fine. I’ve just had some things on my mind, but it’s nothing to worry about, I promise,” he assured me. I tilted my head and studied his face for any signs of distress, but the smile that spread across his face let me know that whatever was on his mind wasn’t something bad.

  “Alright, I believe you, but promise me that you’ll tell me if you need anything,” I demanded, poking my finger into his chest.

  “I promise,” Garrett said with a chuckle. I felt him stiffen slightly when I threw my arms around him and pulled him in for a hug, but seconds later his arms wrapped around me as he hugged me back. Landon was my best friend, but I had a history with the three men in my apartment and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

  Throughout college, the four of us had seen each other through all-night study sessions before exams, crushes on boys, heartaches over those same boys, and more drunken nights than I cared to remember. The fact that we had each shown our vulnerability to the group and no one had walked away had sealed the bond between us. We knew that no matter what was going on in our lives, or where life may lead us, all we had to do was pick up the phone and the others would come running. It was hard to find that kind of loyalty in the world and I didn’t think any of us took that for granted.

  “Are you two about finished with your love fest because Jasper and I would like to get to the club sometime tonight. Some of us want to get laid, you know,” Travis teased from the doorway.

  “Shut up, asshole,” Garrett said pulling away from me, but there was no heat in his words.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” I told Travis as we filed out of my room. “Have you ever left a night at the clubs without getting laid?”