Artful Attractions (23 page)

“I’m so happy to hear you say that. Now that leads me to….” He pauses and stares straight ahead his face is tense, his jaw tightened so much its bulging.

“Are you okay?” I touch his hand that’s resting on my thigh and my heart sings with appreciation at the contact. She’s needed this all week.

“I well… fuck…” he snaps, standing abruptly and stalks heavy footed over to the window. Placing both of his hands on the pane above his head.

I rest my hands in my lap tangling my fingers together. Nervous that I’ve done something bad that he’s this angry. He seemed very happy a while ago but now he’s mad. Did I say something wrong? Do something? I thought I was being sweet. Why do I care? Oh that’s right I’m in love. Love stinks!

“I’m sorry if I did something,” I whisper wistfully.

He pivots, his eyes are beat red and his face still as tense as before.

“No, no… shit… Alexis I’m sorry. I wanted to come back and…Awe shit… I dunno. Surprise you and hope you’d want to…” He jams his fingers into his dark hair, tugging on it hard. That’s got to be painful.

“Wanted to what?” I ask softly moving him forward.

“I wanted you to stay with me,” he states speedily in one breath and then sucks in deeply and exhales loud.

Stay with him? As in what? I’m not going to be his maid. I can’t cook very well and I already have a place to live. I’m not homeless. This makes zero sense.

“What do you mean…?” I drawl out word for word.

“What I mean is I like you. I want you to stay with me.” He gestures to the bed.

“You mean you want me to fuck you?” I look at him like he’s just grown two damn heads. What the hell is going on here?

“No… well… yes… Ah shit! I’m not good at this.” He stuffs his hands into his pants pockets and rocks back on his heels, biting his lip. That’s what he does when things are awkward or hard for him. I’ve learned that much so far.

“Just tell me,” I push sweetly. My heart hammering in my chest. My palms start to moisten as well as my nether regions. It’s all about the deep voice and when he cusses frustrated it booms like a deep base in my ears and vibrates through me so sexily I can’t help but love it.

“I like you. As in like you, like you. Not just find you attractive. But dating like you. And not the same stuff you do with work. I mean the real kind. I thought if I got you to do this apartment to your liking you’d… you know… want to stay?” He’s nervous and his wide eyes reveal all. He’s scared out of his ever loving mind. My poor baby. Oh shit. Not mine! Ok. Correction. Poor Brad.

“Why?” I ask my tone hitting high angelic proportions.

“Because I like you. Duh. But the work stuff, I can’t do it. I want you here without that stuff. Just you and me. I can hire you to work for the restaurant if you want to work.”

“What do you mean if? You want me to move in with you? Are you fucking crazy? I’m not a maid and I’m not a live in hooker,” I state rather rudely. My blood is starting to boil.

“Damn-it Alexis. I don’t think of you as a ‘hooker,’” he does air quotes and jams his hands back into his pockets. Resuming the nervous rocking. “You don’t have to have sex with me and all you’d have to do is clean up after yourself. I’m a grown man I can take care of my own messes. I just like you and want to live with you,” he explains like it’s not a big deal. Just like we are talking about the weather. La-de-da.

But I am freaking inside. What is he thinking? Live with him? As what, his girlfriend? A friend? And he wants me to stop working? And he basically just told me I wouldn’t have to work. What kind of shit is this? Is this a joke? He spends weeks in the obvious, no lines are crossed friend zone. And now he’s proposing we shack up. What the hell? I need to get out of here. I need some time to think. This is too much. And he’s fucking insane to all of a sudden change his mind about me. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because I’ve been nice to him. Yep, that’s it. I should have been a complete bitch and then he’d hate me and we wouldn’t be having this highly inappropriate conversation about moving in together. You move in when you’re in love and when you want to marry someone. Usually when you’ve been together for a long fucking time. Not like this.

“I…”

“Wait.” He cuts me off, holding up a finger. “Before you say no, just hear me out. Please.” He’s breathing heavy and small droplets of sweat are running down the sides of his beautiful tanned face. “I don’t need you to sleep with me. But I like your friendship and companionship. You know my life and my family. And I know this is strange and crazy. But I’ve known since the first night that I wanted you in my life…”

Now I cut him off. “You said you wanted to be friends.”

He shrugs. “What was I supposed to say Alexis? I love you, marry me and let’s grow old and have ten babies together?” he blurts.

Oh my god!

And suddenly I have the need to flee. I stand and dash out of the bedroom. He’s yelling behind me and I hit the hall and run toward the elevator just in the nick of time to have an older woman carrying her Pomeranian dog coming out of it. I bolt into the elevator and hit the door close button furiously. Fuck! I don’t have any damn money, clothes, or even shoes. Shit! Shit! And more shit! My phone is even back at Brad’s. Well I guess that’s good so he can’t call me.

The door pings open on the fourth floor and a cute older man with jet black hair steps in wearing a fancy suit. He smiles at me and I back into the corner feeling completely out of my league in a building this fancy. Level two and the door pings again opening for a tall leggy blonde in running gear, ear buds in and hair in a pony.

Ground level and they make their way out slowly and I jump around them headed for the door and right outside Brad is standing his hands on his knees bent over breathing erratically. Damn-it! He must have taken the stairs or a different elevator. Shit!

He eyes me from inside and a frown forms at that perfect mouth of his. My heart aches at the sight and I want nothing more than to help wash away the pain. But I can’t do this. This is wrong.

I meet him outside barefoot and in my white dress. He gestures for us to walk and we do in silence for a few blocks stopping in front of a building. He looks like he’s just aged ten years in the past ten minutes.

Resting his back against the wall. He says, “You don’t like me do you?” I can see his eyes well up. Oh, please don’t cry. I already feel bad enough.

“I do too like you, Brad. More than I should. But you’re asking a lot and what you said back there is creepy.” I thumb back the way we came.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He slumps and I step forward and grab his chin.

“Hey, stop it. I’m just saying this is way too fast. I need time to process,” I say lovingly gazing into his sad watery blue eyes. I want nothing more than to kiss them away.

“I’ve already waited weeks.” He pouts his lip.

I can’t resist that mouth anymore. I step closer and lean up, licking his lip. He shudders and grabs me, pressing his lips to mine. My body explodes inside and I wrap my arms around his neck pulling us together. Melting us as one. A groan bellows inside me. His lips are magical and perfect and I’ve never felt so connected to anyone in my whole life. We hold there our lips touching as one and I inhale, savoring his scent. This is the best moment of my life. I feel emotional tears of happiness threaten to break free. My heart is beating for him and I will never forget this moment for the rest of my life. This is what true love feels like. Warm and comforting. But electrifying and he’s not just kissing me he’s feeding my soul. Pulling back I realize my hands are shaking. I ball them in and out of fists to stop the trembling.

“I need to know,” he says staring lovingly with all the hope in the world into my eyes.

But I can’t agree. I have to think about it. I can’t decide right now. This is too quick.

“Give me a while.” I softly mutter and rub my fingers over his lips. He smiles and kisses the tips making my heart soar.

“I need to know Alexis. I’ll give you till Monday. And here.” He hands me my phone and cab fare. “Go home. Take the weekend. Do the girl thing and call all your friends and tell me a definite by Monday please,” he pleads strongly.

I nod. “Okay, Monday. But if I decide this isn’t going to happen you have to promise not to turn your mom or sister against me,” I add to his negotiation.

He scoffs a laugh and pulls me into a meaningful embrace. “Baby, I could never do that. They love you more than they do me.” He kisses my head.

I want to stay like this forever in his thick warm arms enveloping me, keeping me safe from the world. Why is my life so complicated? Why is he changing his mind? I don’t know but I’ve got two days to think on it.

I pull away and lean up kissing his cheek softly. “I’ll let you know soon.” I say.

He sighs and frowns watching me as I wave to him as I hail a cab and head back off into the world of fucking strange men and deciding how I feel about moving in with Brad. What a day.

The End

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Forever Attraction

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