Adjournment (The Fate Series) (5 page)

You dick!

If you’re thinking I’m jumping the gun on the nickname, hang on. After I finished eating, I slid my plate away, and he began to scoop the food from my plate onto his. This is three times today people have eaten my food. But at least the first two knew me.

Now do you see it? Seriously, what a dick! He just met me. What if I have some kind of… I don’t know, something that he could get. That’s it, I’m never dating again. This is a world I want no part of.

I watch in astonishment when he raises his hand to snap his fingers at the wait staff before gesturing to his glass.

Who does that? Okay so now are we in agreement? Dick… right? I mean not even Simon would have pulled this crap with me… and he is a nightmare to be around.

His phone begins to ring just as I’m about to excuse myself from the table but he holds the “just a second finger up at me”. I haven’t had to do this in years, but I am two deep breaths away from breaking that damn finger off and ramming it down his throat.

But, no, I’m in control… I am in control. Dammit I’m doing it again. Years of hard work beginning to deteriorate right before my eyes.

I hope Lexi is having a good time with her boyfriend at our apartment while I’m stuck here with this sorry excuse for a Simon. I think I would actually take Simon over this man, and I didn’t think I would ever say that. Damn her. That’s it, next time I’m licking the fork. Why couldn’t she go out for a night on the town… or at least go to his hotel room.

It isn’t what you think, her boyfriend doesn’t live here. He’s from… oh who cares right now, I need to get out of here.

Slyly checking my watch, I try to think of excuses but nothing is coming to mind.

When did my life become so boring that Lexi decided to take it upon herself to run it for me?

Our waiter comes over with another bottle of wine and begins to pour Patrick’s first since he’s tapping the lip of his glass at the poor man while he negotiates something over the phone.

No, no please continue your business call as if I’m not here. It’s fine, really. I can just sit here wondering if anyone will notice me hit my head off the table. Oh and yes his name is Patrick not Pat, I learned that the first five minutes into this when I was lectured about using a coy pet name so soon. Oh, I have a coy pet name, but I don’t think he’s going to like it.

The waiter finishes and motions toward my glass; with a smile that says, “Please help me I’m being held against my will,” I hand it to him. He fills it half way and goes to place it back down but I raise my hand to stop him.

“Could you please fill it up?” I give him a puckered smile.

My plea causes him to snicker, and he places my glass on the table to fill it up all the way.

“May I suggest you sip while moving it so as to not spill any?” Giving me an empathetic smile, he places the rest of the bottle into the icy silver container.

This guy gets it.

Patrick is still on the phone arguing as he takes a mouthful of wine, swishing it around like he’s removing food particles from his teeth. So charming.

I pick my phone up, instantly deleting his phone number so I don’t accidently drunk text or call him.

That would be awful, what if it led to sex!?!

Of course it would lead to sex, idiot… when does a drunk dial not lead to sex?

Hmm… I wonder if he talks during sex too…

Finally he ends the call and picks up where he left off with me.

This guy talks a lot and for a woman to say that you know it has to be a lot. Wait, he’s stopped.

“Sidney?” he says… again? His tone makes me think he has said my name at least twice.

Shit.

Smile?

Speak?

Anything?

“I was—thinking about something. I’m sorry, what were you saying again?” I raise my elbows up against the table, placing my chin in my hands. Don’t worry, I’m not actually flirting, but the alternative is vomiting, and I like our waiter.

He leans forward across the table like he’s about to pounce on me.

Oh please don’t laugh in his face.

“I was wondering since this is our first night out together what you would like to do after dinner.” He makes sure to raise his eyebrows to further his hint.

Women speak sexual innuendo, too. We don’t need men to clarify it. What are the odds that twice in one day I would be hit on by people I want nothing to do with? I must have desperation written on me somewhere.

“I’m sorry, I have an early day tomorrow. I have some designs to send out, and it’s our last day of shooting. I can’t be-”

“Shooting? I’m sorry what is it that you do again?” he asks, cutting me off.

No really, I wasn’t saying anything, please interrupt me.

“I’m a makeup artist. I-”

“Oh, that’s right, you make people pretty,” he says, looking from me back to himself.

What the…

That’s it, I’m going to strangle him right here. I can see it now all over the tabloids, ‘Makeup Artist to the Stars Loses it in Fine Dining Restaurant’. Cue my career flushing down the toilet. Okay Sid, compose yourself. Breathe and don’t kill him. You are in control. Dammit not again!

For lack of argument we will keep it simple for him.

“Yes, Patrick, I—I make people pretty.” I can’t believe I just said that.

My soul feels like it just got run over by a subway train.

Are you wondering why I didn’t cancel this? It’s because I’m proving Lexi wrong. I can go out and be social and have fun… just not with this guy.

“Well babe…” Babe? Really? “I am going out of town to meet a new client. I should be back in a few days, so I’ll call you for our second date then.” He winks at me. 

Ah dammit, I forgot he has my number. Fricking Lexi!

What is—is that bile I taste? 

I take another mouthful of wine to try to relax a little before replying.

“Well, like I said I am going to be pretty busy with upcoming design work for a couple of movies that are still in the discussion stage and I-”

“Wait, you’re a makeup artist for movies?” he says it like it’s news to him.

What do you think shooting means, moron? And that fucker interrupted me again!

And made me mentally curse!

Exhale, and smile. “Yes, Patrick, I am.” I take back the dick nickname… he’s an outright asshole.

Now as I was saying…

“IWillBeBusyAndDontKnowWhenIWillBeAvailableAgain.I’llCallYou,” I say in one breath.

Yup, I did just word-combo that whole sentence. How else was I supposed to get that out?

He shrugs, lifting his phone, and begins to type something into it. I spot the waiter on his way over with the bill and grab it as soon as it hits the table. With no argument from Patrick, I pay. Yeah, I said I, there is no way I will let him pay for me, and if I wait for him to take out money for his I will have to wait even longer to leave. Flashing a happy smile to the waiter, I walk out and of course hold the door for Patrick.

Prissy bitch. I’m sure he would have held it for me if he wasn’t so into his phone.  Ha! Yeah, right.

Okay so now here it comes… the moment we have all been dreading, the kiss goodnight. In the past on terrible dates I was able to avoid kissing with awkward high fives or weird punches to the arm. Not my finest moments, I’ll confess, but I try not to count my chickens before they’re hatched… or my dates before they’re had in this case but this is just another reason why I will not be joining the dating game any time soon. It is a frightening place.

Walking out onto the sidewalk, he holds his hand up to grab a cab. As it pulls up I step forward to get in when he moves in front of me, fast, sliding his hand around my waist and securing it at the small of my back. Before I can stop what’s happening his lips smash into mine, but not in that ahhh kind of way, more like an ouch I think I’m bleeding. His free hand rushes by my cheek and forcefully grabs hold of the back of my head stopping me from pulling away while pressing his lips harder into mine. He begins to assault my tightly sealed mouth with his tongue then just as quick as it starts it’s over, and he steps back with a satisfied smile on his face.

Well I guess we know how the sex would be.

“See ya soon, babe…” He smacks me on the ass and then gets in the cab and drives away.

Umm, what just happened?

In a post-shocked stage I step out to wave down a cab to end this night while wiping any remnants off my lips.

Can I use hand sanitizer on my lips?

I vow right here, right now that this is my last date… but to be sure I should probably start collecting cats.

Getting into my cab I slump back against the seat watching the dark buildings whoosh by my window. The night is chilled, and the noise from the taxis make me feel better as we drive the streets. It’s strange that sounds of traffic slowly become white noise to a New Yorker. We don’t see the mass amount of people on the sidewalks or the insane amount of taxis.

Unless we’re late for something it all just blends into the scenery that is the city. I am truly in love with everything about this place.

So here is a little back story about me. My family and I moved here from Connecticut when I was a kid. My parents’ business had taken off, and it was smarter for us all to move. Then nine years ago I moved out on my own, when I started school for makeup artistry. That’s where I met Lexi, we were in the same classes and instantly became friends. A couple months after that Lexi decided to move out of her parents’ house in Hoboken and find a place here. I had a spare room so I offered her the space, and we have been roommates ever since.

We drive through the city, and I watch as people are walking everywhere—taxis pulling in and out of lanes to let people out or to pick up others waving them down. When the taxi pulls up to the apartment I notice ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON upstairs. I pay the driver and step out onto the quiet street, looking around for signs of life.

Our street isn’t usually this eerily quiet. I could walk away, or jump back in the taxi and go… anywhere but here until she goes to bed. 

Just as the thought enters my head I see her waiting in the window. Is she waiting for me?

Did she see me? 

If I leave now it will only make it worse when I get back.

With hesitant steps I walk onto the curb and watch her open the window to lean out. I can’t actually see her expression but I can guess it.

I open my mouth to shout, “Be right up,” but she cuts me off. 

What is it with people tonight?

“Do you know what that bastard said to me?” she says loud enough that everyone in our neighborhood can hear.

No doubt they are probably leaning an ear in to find out what he said… gossips!

“No Lex, I—I have no idea what that bastard said to you,” I reply. 

I can see she isn’t going to just wait until I come up to tell me since that would be way more personal.

“He told me that when he and his wife get their divorce finalized he would love to further our relationship!” 

Nope, why would we want that to remain personal?

Did I just hear someone gasp?

After looking around quickly to see someone who isn’t there, I turn back to her in shock. Did she say him and his wife?

“Wait,” I say, shaking my head and my hands.

“Which part did I lose you at, Sid? The wife? The divorce? Or the furthering of the relationship that he thinks will happen AFTER. HE. TOLD. ME. HE. HAD. A. WIFE.?” She screams into the night.

Oh the neighbors are getting a show tonight!

“Kick his ass to the curb!” I hear some woman yell.

Yet another reason why I love the city. It’s social media up close. You just air out your thoughts or problems, most of the time people yell back, “Shut up,” but sometimes it’s more helpful. Such as tonight. I wonder what happened before I got home. Maybe she scared everyone into silence, and that’s why it feels like a ghost town on this street.

I quickly glance back and forth from her to the front door where Stanley, our doorman, is standing, waiting for me to come in. With one more look at her I take off up the steps toward the door. Smiling nervously, I run past him down the main hall toward the elevator.

“Oh Sidney, you missed a good night tonight!” he yells behind me.

“So I hear… did anyone think to shut her up?” I yell back with a smile as I make my way up to the sliding wooden doors that are closed. I look up at the needle to see which floor the elevator is on and it’s all the way to the right.

Damn… top. 

“Now why would we do that?” He laughs from behind me.

Giving him a reluctant smirk, I decide to take the steps, and swing the door to the stairwell open, taking the steps two at a time until I hit our floor.

Oh it’s fifth by the way. I should have waited for the elevator but I thought this would be faster. Now I have to rush so she doesn’t yell anything more to our wondering neighbors. The fact that no one has silenced her yet means they are interested.

With a heavy foot I finally make it to our landing. My lungs are burning from their short workout, and my feet are screaming in my shoes.

Heels! Who runs up the stairs in heels?

I burst through the stairwell door gasping for every bit of oxygen my lungs are willing to take in and that’s when I see her waiting in the doorway to our apartment. Her arms crossed, the bottle of cleaning solution clutched in her tight grip. Straightening myself up I try to even out my breathing before letting go of the white knuckled grip I have on the door to begin what I think looks like a graceful walk toward her but probably resembles more of a zombie shuffle. My mouth and throat are dry but the burn in my lungs is slowly starting to subside.

I should probably go back to the gym…

Reaching out for the bottle of bleach as I drag myself to her, I yank it from her hands so she doesn’t spray or beat me with it.

Oh yeah, Lexi cleans when she is upset. Not that our apartment needs it much since we are hardly here, but when she gets upset it’s deep cleaning time. 

Placing the bottle on the ground, I wrap my arms around her.

“What a dick,” I offer. It seems to be the theme of the night.

I take her arm and we walk into the apartment as her tears start to fall and soon she is freaking out, crying, and talking and yelling faster than I can understand through her tears and anger.