Chapter Eight
Rocky Road
Wishing the night hadn’t ended in that manner, I took off my earrings while I walked through the lobby, my spirits dampened. The nighttime doorman, an older man, Frank, sat half asleep on his chair. As I passed by him, he didn’t even flinch.
So much for security.
Ascending in the elevator, I took off my heels and let them dangle off my fingers, still wondering what might have gone wrong. He was so intense, expertly sweeping me off my feet with romance then slaying me with his kiss.
That kiss…
I softly pressed my fingers to my lips, remembering the heat of his breath, the slippery savagery with which he tormented my senses, making me want more. I couldn’t help but let a grin creep at the corners of my mouth.
God, that man could drive me crazy.
Still hanging on the memory of my date with Tom, I pushed through my front door. Hidden behind stacks of medical books, Jen’s head popped up at the sound of my entrance. It was almost midnight and she was still at the dining table studying.
“How did your date go with Mr. ID?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
As I walked past her to my room, she eyed my dress then stood and followed me.
“Well, that’s some dress. Where did you go?” she continued to harass.
“Jen, don’t you have studying to do?”
“It can wait. Right now, I want all the details.”
Geena Salvatore slipped off my body, leaving me free to dive into a pair of obnoxiously pink, over-size pajama pants and a white tank top.
I felt like me again.
Noticing the Geena box on the floor, Jen asked, “If I’m guessing correctly here, you didn’t buy yourself that dress, did you? Seriously, Sara, you have to start talking.”
“Do we have ice cream?”
“All the flavors your achy heart desires.” She skipped away into the kitchen.
****
Plunging into a hearty bowl of rocky road, I let my taste buds drown my sour mood. Icy decadence numbed me as I slid onto our brown couch and buried my legs under a fleece blanket. Jen joined me with her own bowl of mint chocolate chip.
“I can’t believe he left you hanging,” she started.
“Me neither. The man spent a pretty penny tonight and it was all downright amazing up until the anticlimactic end downstairs.”
“Please, I’m not impressed by fancy dresses and expensive meals. Plus, after such a kiss, a gentleman would have secured a second date with you. Real dates happen on the weekends, not on Tuesday nights.”
“You’re still hung up on it being a weekday?”
“I guess it seems rushed, like he tasted the menu before deciding to order.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
“Why didn’t he say he’d see you when he got back?”
“Can’t wrap my mind around it. One minute he’s all hot for me, the next he is cold as ice. Whatever.” I slurped up the last of my rocky road and jumped to my feet. “I’m tired, babe. I have to be up for work tomorrow, and you have to finish studying for your exam.”
“I was enjoying your company. We don’t hang out that much anymore.” She followed me to the kitchen.
“You’re so busy with school and work. Our schedules are different,” I reminded her.
After I was done putting my bowl in the sink, she grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face her. “Well, come to think of it, I’m glad Mr. Anticlimactic didn’t ask you out on a date this Saturday.” The excitement on her face gave me the impression something big was happening on Saturday.
“Why?” I asked, as I quickly remembered.
“Did you forget, BFF? Saturday is my birthday and Marko is coming down for the weekend. I invited a few friends out for drinks.”
“Wait, your birthday is this Saturday?” I mocked her.
Her face scrunched into a scowl. “Shut up. You know you didn’t forget my birthday. You know how I feel about my birthday.”
I playfully tousled her curls. “Jen, no one forgets your birthday. You make sure to remind everyone months in advance.”
She gently wrapped her arms around me while she bounced on her feet. “Good. After exams this week, I’m going to be in desperate need of alcohol. Plus, I get to hang out with my best friend and you get to not worry about Icy Espresso.”
“Iced Double.”
“Same thing.”
I smiled at her, but my eyes lacked enthusiasm. “I’m going to bed,” I announced, before she could trap me into another conversation.
“Night,” she chirped as she hopped back to the dining table.
****
In the darkness, with only the moonlight shining through my window, I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I replayed the entire evening in my head. I didn’t know where things went wrong. I mean, why did I expect more? We’d met only a couple of days before. Deep inside, I knew why. I expected more because I wanted more. This man stirred things inside me that had been dormant for so long, I’d forgotten they existed.
If only Le Café Au Lait hadn’t been closed….
With a buzz, my phone startled me out of my troubling thoughts.
Who could be texting me at this hour?
I picked up my phone and smiled.
Tom: I miss your lips.
Me: Aren’t you supposed to be on a red eye to sunny California?
Tom: On the tarmac, flight leaves in 15.
Tom: I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
Me: You must travel light. You packed pretty quickly.
Tom: My bag was already in my car.
Tom: You left your perfume scent on my jacket.
Me: That’s nice.
Tom: Something wrong? Did I wake you?
Me: Actually, I was just getting ready for bed. Long day tomorrow.
Tom: I didn’t mean to disturb you. Just wanted to say goodnight.
Me: You didn’t disturb me. I miss your lips, too.
Tom: :)
Tom: I brought it with me to keep me company.
Me: Brought what?
Tom: My blazer. You left yourself imprinted on it. It’s comforting.
Me: Comforting?
Tom: Not very fond of flying.
Me: My knight afraid of flying? Not very comforting for your damsel.
Tom: :(
Me: You should take a sleeping pill.
Tom: Popped 5 already.
Me: You trying to knock out a horse?
Tom: I’m fine. It would take more than that to knock out a horse, btw.
We’re taxiing. Gotta shut off my phone. I’ll be dreaming about you.
Me: Safe flight xoxo
What the hell was that?
One minute he was Mr. Romantic, the next he was Mr. Icebox. Now he was sending me smiley faces?
I was even more confused than before. I couldn’t figure him out, but a part of me didn’t care. Knowing he was thinking about me as well eased the knot twisting in my stomach, and the burning anxiety wreaking havoc in my chest finally subsided.
A peace settled over me as my doubts dissolved. At least for the night.
I rolled to my side and faded to sleep, my mind swimming with memories of his lips.