Collecting Scars (7 page)

“It was definitely hard as a teen, that’s for sure,” she sighed, as memories of her dad's loss came flooding back into her mind.

“What about your mum? Any siblings?”

“My mum and I never really got along, I was daddy's girl.”

Xavier huffed out a laugh and nodded at that.

“After we lost my dad, it never really got any better. I have one brother, Patrick. He is four years younger than me. I do love him to bits, but I don't see him as much as I would like. He texts me almost every day. Last I saw him though was when he got engaged. I went to his engagement party, my mum was there and well, let's just say it didn't end well.”

“Families huh,” Xavier lamented. “You can't pick them.”

“No, that’s for sure.”

They continued to chat over their meal, mostly about their jobs and their time spent at university. It turned out they had attended the same university, but as he was two years ahead of her so their paths had never crossed. Not that they knew of anyway. Surely she would have remembered him. After enjoying a shared dessert of chocolate mousse, Xavier paid the bill and they walked down to the beach front.

Asha was still in her work clothes and she bent down to slip off her shoes. “If I'd known I was going out tonight, I'd have dressed up.”

“You look fine the way you are,” Xavier told her as he grabbed her elbow to stop her from toppling.

She looked down at her attire, long black business pants. Boring white business-like blouse. Her long thick woollen coat over all, as it was quite chilly, coming into winter. Sensible, boring work shoes on her feet. He was obviously trying to impress her by being charming. It was working.

They walked hand-in-hand along the beach by the light of the moon, the waves rolling gently on the sand. It was beautiful. Asha could not remember the last time she felt so relaxed. Eventually, they headed back for Xavier's bike. As she buttoned up her coat to shield herself from the cold, he handed her the spare helmet.

“Thanks,” she smiled up at him, suddenly aware of his close proximity. Her breath hitched and in almost a whisper she said, “I had an awesome night.”

Xavier ran a finger ever so tenderly down the side of her face and leant closer. She could feel those butterflies in her tummy again and her skin tingled. He was going to kiss her. Oh how she wanted that kiss, so very much, she looked into his green eyes, like endless depths. Without any conscious thought, she moved closer to him too. He was so close she could feel the heat of his breath on her face. She closed her eyes in anticipation of feeling his lips on hers.

BANG! There was an enormous sound of metal on metal.

“What the hell was that?” the moment was broken, they both jumped away from each other and looked around in the dark.

“Oh shit,” came a voice in the dark.

They both turned to see what the commotion was. About twenty metres away, in the dark of the parking lot, they saw a woman get out of her car and walk towards them.

“Sorry, but I don't suppose you know who belongs to the red BMW over there do you?” They both turned to see the car in question.

“I've just backed my car right into its passenger door. I didn't see it, the lighting is so bad around here.” The woman went on frantically flapping her hands in the air. “My husband is going to kill me when he finds out.”

“Um, maybe go ask inside the cafe?” Asha offered. “It probably belongs to someone in there.”

“Yeah good point,” the anonymous woman nodded. “Thanks.”

“No problem, hope your hubby isn't to mad with you,” she called after the woman as she sauntered towards the building.

Xavier stifled a laugh. “Well, I better be getting you home. Huh?”

“Yeah,” Asha sighed, feeling disappointment that the moment that could have been was now over. “Work tomorrow.”

They both mounted the bike, Asha wrapped her arms around Xavier's middle, this time without waiting for him to pull them tighter, and then they took off into the night.

***

As they neared her house, Asha started feeling anxious as to how the night might end. They had almost had the perfect kiss, it had been a perfect moment until they had been so rudely interrupted. Damn that woman and her bad driving skills.

She had so wanted Xavier to kiss her, more than anything she had wanted in a long time. Her skin still tingled where he had run his finger down her face. What would she say when they got back to her house? She was not all that experienced in this kind of thing. Sure she had had a few boyfriends over the years, never anything serious. She was not sure she could even say she had ever been in love. Right now she did not know what she felt. She knew she felt relaxed with Xavier, but nervous at the same time. He made her heart skip a beat when he looked at her. That was something she had never experienced before. It scared the hell out of her.

Xavier turned the bike into the driveway of her home. She quickly dismounted and he killed the engine. Pulling her helmet off she handed it back to him, then leant over and planted a kiss on Xavier's cheek. “Thank you, Xavier.”

“Thank you,” he smiled. “See you soon yeah?”

“I'd like that --Good night”

He watched as she walked to the door and waited until she was inside before starting his engine. Asha leant against the door and listened to his bike roar up her street, she heard him take the corner and thunder up the road. She stayed, listening until she could not hear him anymore. Then she floated off to her room, for a shower and bed.

She was almost asleep when her phone pinged next to her.

X- Can't wait til next time. Good-night beautiful X

Chapter 8

FEELING LIKE SHE WAS ON cloud nine, Asha drifted into work the next morning. Gemma rushed into her office after her, quickly closing the door.

“What's going on?” she demanded.

“Nothing...why do you ask?” Asha asked coyly.

“Oh don't give me that, look at you,” Gemma gestured to her. “You saw him last night didn't you?”

“Maybe,” she tried to hide her smile but found it almost impossible.

“You did, you did,” Gemma started bouncing around. “So what happened?”

“Well, he picked me up on my way home from work and whisked me off to a little cafe out by the beach.”

“Oh that’s so romantic,” she swooned. “And?” she drew the word out in question.

“And nothing, then he took me home, we said our goodbyes and he left.”

“So is he an awesome kisser?”

“We didn't kiss.”

Gemma stood aghast. “Wha? Why not?”

Asha chuckled at her friend's reaction. “We almost did, then there was this woman who crashed her car and well, the moment was gone.”

“Someone crashed their car?” she narrowed her eyes.

“Oh it was nothing serious, just a bingle, but bad timing is all.”

“Hmm, so, when are you seeing him again?”

“Don't know, we haven’t made any plans.”

“Asha!”

“But he did send me this,” Asha handed Gemma her phone with the text message Xavier had sent last night displayed on the screen.

“Oh...I think I'm in love with him,” Gemma placed a hand over her heart and slumped against the wall.

“Go on with you girl,” Asha swatted her friend with her hand. “Get back to work.”

“Okay, but any more texts, anything I need to know okay?”

“Yes Gem, now work, before you get us both fired,” she laughed and Gemma retreated back to the front of the building.

Asha had a new patient that day. It was a sixty-two-year-old man with a brain tumour. He and his wife needed an extensive care-plan drawn up. It was time consuming, but she was grateful for the distraction. When lunchtime came around, she popped down the street to pick something up. Pulling her phone out of her handbag, she noticed she had several missed calls from her brother and a text message from Xavier. She would worry about Patrick later. Deciding instead to check her messages.

X- Hey, been thinking about you, want to catch up again tomorrow night?

That made her smile, of course she wanted to catch up with him tomorrow night.

A- Hey yourself, yes, I would love too, what did you have in mind?

X- I don't know, maybe a few drinks after you finish work?

A- Sure, want me to meet you at the club?

X- how about I come past your work and pick you up?

Oh, Gemma would have a field day with this.

A- Yeah, that could work. I usually finish around five

Even as she sent the message off, she knew that wasn't true, she almost always worked late. But she would make sure she finished at five if Xavier was coming to pick her up.

X- see you at five tomorrow night then X.

She could hardly wait, time was going to drag until she saw him again. Climbing into bed with her book that evening, Xavier was the only thing on her mind. There was no way she could focus on reading.  Just as she started drifting off to sleep her phone pinged.

X- Good night gorgeous, can't wait to see you tomorrow X

It was then she remembered she was meant to call Patrick back. Oops. Oh well, he could wait.

A- Good night x

***

As expected Gemma was almost as excited about Asha's date with Xavier as she was. All day she bopped around, more cheery than normal. It was an average day. John came in for his care review, as well as a few other regulars.

Five o'clock seemed so far away.

Asha phoned Patrick when she found a quiet moment. He didn't have much to say. Went on about how their mother was worried and she had not been to visit her for ages. When was she coming home for a visit? All the usual stuff he wanted to know.

As five o'clock finally neared Asha, ducked into the staff bathroom to change her clothes. She didn't want to be going out in her work clothes again. She squeezed herself into a pair of tight skinny jeans and a fitted top which made her small chest look a little bigger. Eyeing herself in the mirror she decided she didn't look too bad. As always, she finished her outfit off with and a pair of tall boots. If there was one thing Asha had a weakness for, it was boots. The bottom of her wardrobe was bursting with various different pairs of boots, in almost every colour and style. Knee highs, ankle boots, suede, leather whatever she liked the look of. As she didn't drive she figured she might as well have good walking attire. That was her excuse anyway.

Grabbing her coat she walked out to the waiting area. Xavier was leaning on the front counter chatting with Gemma. He stopped when he saw her, his eyes lit up.

“Hey,” he smiled at her.

“Hey you,” she grinned back. “Ready to go?”

“Ready as I'll ever be,” she replied.

Xavier stretched an arm around her back and directed them to the door.

“Have fun kids,” Gemma called out. “Don't forget it's a school night.”

Xavier laughed. Asha loved that sound. His bike was parked just outside the glass doors and when they reached it he handed her a helmet. He climbed on and started the bike while she fiddled around getting ready. Then she climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.  As they zoomed off out of the car park, Asha turned to see Gemma standing by the door waving wistfully. Poor ol' Gem, she was such a hopeless romantic. Asha hoped one day she would find the man of her dreams.

***

Ten minutes in their journey, Xavier pulled into a narrow road and brought the bike to a stop, he helped Asha climb off, before alighting himself.

“What is this place?” she asked looking up at the old building with the broken neon light above it. It read 'Polly's Dollhouse' the 'e' on the end was falling off. Asha was a little confused, it looked somewhat dodgy and it was in a rough part of town. After they had gone out together to such a gorgeous little cafe, she really didn't understand.

“I want you to keep an open mind okay?” Xavier smiled at her. “You will love this place and there is someone here I want you to meet.”

“Okay,” she answered tentatively, her mind swirling with what that could possibly mean as they walked towards the doors.

Big, heavy wooden doors marked the entrance to the building. Xavier grabbed the handle of one and gave a push and the door swung inwards. Grabbing her hand he pulled her inside right behind him. A security guard in uniform stood near the entrance and gave Xavier a friendly nod. So he must come here often Asha noted.

Once inside Asha took a look around. The area was dimly lit, with long velvet drapes hanging from the tall windows. It reminded her of Xavier’s club, but was not open like his. Scanning the building she could see there were smaller rooms running off the main room, which held a well-stocked bar. Big beautiful crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, but the lights were dimmed giving it an alluring ambience. She could hear soft music playing somewhere in the background. A grand piano stood beside a small dance floor. Were those stripper poles she could see next to the dance floor? Oh, my goodness what is this place?

Whilst they stood taking in their surroundings two young women came rushing out of a room giggling. Both dressed in sexy lingerie. Had Xavier brought her to some kind of sex club? Asha's skin started to pebble with goose bumps. She was not okay with this. What impression had she possibly given him that he would think she would want to come to a place like this? He obviously had the wrong idea about her. Her stomach was coiling into knots and she was about to turn tail and run for the door. She shook her hand free but Xavier reached out and grasped it as if he knew what she was thinking.

“Xavier, my beautiful boy,” came a sultry voice, from somewhere behind them. They both spun around and Xavier dropped her hand and held his arms out while an older woman came charging into them.  Asha guessed to be in her sixties.

She wore a long flowing velvet and lace dress and large chunky jewellery, a long velvet scarf held back a mop of flaming red hair. Images of a fortune teller looking into a crystal ball flooded into Asha's mind.