Darque Wants (6 page)

“Here.  Let me give you the little tour.”  Amber stood up, holding her lemonade, and appearing much more cognizant.  “It’s not a big place, but I like it.”  She led Mateo into the living room, and then walked around to the kitchen.  “I love the view from the fire escape window.”  She motioned outside, and Mateo could see the sun making its descent over the horizon.  He smiled and then followed her out to the dining room. 

“How long have you lived here?”  He wondered if she were a transient kind of person, or if she had established solid roots in Berkeley.

“Almost ten years now.”  Amber thought that if she lived in any place more than two years, that it qualified as being settled.

“And do you plan on staying?”  He was already trying to figure out if she would consider moving down to Big Sur, since he was so attached to the locale.

“For now.”  She shrugged nonchalantly, and then led him toward the other end of the apartment.  He admired a few of her framed photographs, and then she opened the door to her bedroom.  Mateo peeked in and saw her queen sized bed.  He had a brief glimpse of himself inside it, making love to her, but he quickly dismissed it and just stuffed his hands in his pockets, instead.

“You can probably tell that I’m rather fickle at times.  In fact, I told you earlier that you could only walk me to my door, but here I am now showing you my bedroom.”  She laughed and then closed the door, leading him back to the kitchen.  Mateo smiled mischievously, walking close behind her.  “Can I get you a drink?  We can sit out back and watch the sun set if you want.”  She figured it was the perfect segue. 

“I’d love something to drink.  What are you making?”  Mateo stood so close to Amber that she could smell drifting waves of his cologne.  It was so exciting to have him inside her apartment, even though she knew that she was opening herself up to something that could potentially break her heart. 

“I can make whatever you’d like.  But my specialty is rum and coke.  I have a collector’s edition bottle that I’ve been dying to open.”  She reached for the bottle of rum and then got out two tumbler glasses from her shelf.  She eyeballed a good glug of rum, and then added some coke from a can in the fridge.  “Ta-da.”  She handed him the glass and he smiled, holding it up in the air.

“I think this deserves a toast.”

“To?”

“To new beginnings and to healing.”  He clinked his glass against hers, and then took a long sip.

Amber took a sip from her, and then opened the fire escape door.  “There’s not much room, but I love to sit out here and just watch the sky change colors.”  She inched out and then sat down, then patted the grated surface next to her.  Mateo joined her and they sipped on their drinks, neither of them speaking for a few minutes as birds and insects emerged in the dusk.  After taking another sip of his drink, Mateo cleared his throat and frowned.

“You know, I’ve always been able to work well with Christopher.  We’ve known each other for such a long time.  It only made sense that we’d becom
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great business partners.  He was really good at letting me do my own thing, which can be tough in any kind of partnership.”  He thought back to his last unsuccessful relationship, and realized that he was now embarking on a new adventure, one that involved Amber, and one that would hopefully last much longer.

“I can relate.  I once had a partner at the dance studio, and it didn’t work out.  She tried to micro-manage everything, and I wanted to tell her that in order for this to work out for either of us, she would have to back off a little.”  Amber spoke emphatically, recalling how miserable that experience had been for her. 

“How did it end up?”  Mateo asked.

“She ended up leaving.  Moved to Brazil to do some sort of Portuguese dance troupe thing.”  Amber shook her head.  “Really, it was a blessing that she left, because it just wouldn’t have worked out between us.  Sometimes I think that it’s better for creative types to just stay on their own, you know?”  She looked at Mateo and he cocked his head in reflection.

“Well… yes and no.  I consider myself creative, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone.”  He reached for Amber’s hand and took another sip of his drink.  Amber sipped hers as, well, relishing the openness of their conversation, but not ready to take it any further. 

“Well, not to change the subject, but…”  Amber paused and started to get up from her seated position.  “I have had enough visions that point to Christopher being responsible for Jeffrey’s death.  First, I saw him out at the lake.  Then, I saw him arguing, and punching Jeffrey in the face, then with a gun.  Finally, I saw him threatening him if he didn’t retrieve a map.   I’d like to call the police department first thing in the morning.  I’m convinced now that Christopher is responsible for Jeffery’s murder, and I feel obligated to speak up.” 

Mateo got quiet and then stood up, as well.  “Does this certitude have to do with the vision you just had outside?” 

Amber nodded her head and then frowned, recalling the violent episode she witnessed between Christopher and Jeffrey. She didn’t want to recount all the details to Mateo, but she did want him to understand her conviction in the matter.

“Well, if would make you feel any better, I’ll drive you to the station.”  He raised his eyebrows and waited with anticipation for her response.

“That would imply that you would need to stay over here.”  Amber said it so matter-of-factly that Mateo laughed. 

“Well, I guess it would.”  He ran his hands through his hair and then rocked back and forth on his heels, a habit he’d picked up over the years from art-negotiations that required an unfathomable amount of patience.  “I’m harmless, and I can sleep right there on the couch.”  He narrowed his eyes and pointed at the couch.  Amber laughed.  She wanted to tell him that his suggestion was great, but a piece of her reluctant heart held her back.

“I think it might be okay.”  She tilted her head to the side, and then laughed, realizing that she had just given an incredibly vague response. 

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I can give you my Scout’s honor.  I was in Boy Scouts a long time ago.”  Mateo laughed and then followed her inside.  They set their empty glasses on the counter and then walked back out into the living room.  Amber knew that she wanted him to stay, and she also knew that she was developing strong feelings for him.  Yet she wanted to try her hardest to fight back the emotions, as she did whenever she felt like she was in a vulnerable position.

“I trust you.”  Amber looked at him with a curious smile, and then she moved closer to his side.  He held her hand in his and then leaned forward, breathing in her jasmine scented hair.  He slowly opened his mouth, and then kissed her on the lips.  She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, and then slowly pulled away.

“That was nice.”  Mateo licked his lips and then looked around her apartment, diverting from the uncomfortable awkwardness that follows a first kiss.  “I’m easy.  Just give me a blanket and the remote, and I’m good to go.”  Mateo smacked his hands together and Amber laughed.  Then she guided him back toward the couch, slapped an arm rest, and turned on the television.  Ironically, the news report was covering local stories and it happened to be about Jeffrey Holiday.

“Well speak of the devil.”  Amber handed Mateo the remote, and they both sat down on the couch.  The news reporter stood in front of a large, rustic looking building.  “Authorities say that they still don’t know what led up to the murder of Jeffrey Holiday last weekend.  Holiday was a photographer who lived outside of Berkeley, and was found dead along Salmon Creek.  His wife is now agreeing to speak to investigators.”  Amber shook her head and then took a deep breath as the television screen cut to a commercial. 

“They must be perplexed.  I can only imagine being an investigator, and trying to piece together the details.  It must be frustrating to have a case go on for days without any leads.”  Mateo leaned forward, his eyes still on the television.  “Then again, now that you’re on the case, maybe they can finally sort out some answers.”  Mateo winked and squeezed Amber’s knee.

Amber smiled and then got up from the couch.  “I hope that I can at least give Ginger some peace of mind.”  She nodded.  “Ginger is Jeffrey’s wife, and she’s got three little kids.”  Amber couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for her, and she didn’t want to give it more thought.  “I’m going to get a bath and then get ready for bed.  Are you sure that you don’t mind taking us to the station in the morning?”  Amber hoped that it wouldn’t inconvenience him. 

“It would be my pleasure.  In fact, I’ll even take us to breakfast before we go.  What do you like?” 

Amber’s eyes widened.  She loved going out to breakfast, especially in downtown Berkeley.  Her favorite waffle house was only a block from the police station.  “How about Wanda’s Waffle house down on sunset?”  She smiled, already tasting the sweet Belgian waffles soaked in creamy butter and sweet maple syrup. 

Mateo snapped his fingers.  “Perfect.  As long as they brew coffee, I’m happy.”  He smiled and then looked fondly at Amber, who was trying to decide what she should do next.  She wanted to just climb on the couch and kiss him, but she told herself that she needed to play it cool.  She didn’t want him to think that she was easy.  It was bad enough she had caved in to letting him sleep on her couch.

“Well, I’m heading in.  If you need anything, let me know.”  Amber opened her closet and pulled out a crochet afghan and an extra pillow.  She handed them to Mateo and drew the curtains in the living room.  Then she waved goodnight and headed into her room, where she sat on the edge of her bed and wondered what the next day would bring.  After resting a few minutes, she ran her bath water and lit a candle.  She dimmed the lights and climbed in, sliding under the water until only her head popped out from under the bubbles.  Then she closed her eyes, and tried no to picture either Christopher or Jeffrey. 

She recalled the first moment that she saw Mateo at Bethany’s house.  It was amusing to her that in such a short period of time they had managed to exchange so much information about their lives, and that as she lied naked in her bath, he lied wrapped in an afghan on her couch.  After a long soak, Amber got out and slid on her silk pajamas.  She peeled back the covers on her bed and then got underneath them, wondering the entire time what Mateo was thinking.  Meanwhile, Brodi curled up at the edge of her bed and fell asleep.

After several feeble attempts to close her eyes and fall asleep, Amber got up and swung her legs on the edge of her bed. “I’ll just go out and say Hi.”  Amber spoke quietly to herself and then decided to go out and check on Mateo.  Maybe he needed an extra blanket, or maybe he felt like having something to eat form the kitchen.  She threw on her robe and then headed out, expectant as a child on Christmas morning.

Mateo bolted upright when he saw her come out.  “Everything okay?”  He rubbed his eyes and squinted in the darkness.  Amber walked toward the couch and then stood in front of him.

“Yes, I’m fine.  I just wanted to check on you and see if you needed anything.”  She played with the tie around her waist out of nervousness.

“I’m fine.  This is one comfortable couch.”  He smiled in the dimly lit room and then reached out for Amber’s arm.  “Come here,” he whispered.

Amber inched closer and then leaned into his chest as he pulled her against his body.  He ran his hands down her arm and then softly over her leg.  She felt a quiver run down her spine and she sighed.  It felt so good to be in a man’s arms.  He pulled her hair away from her face and then stoked her cheek with his finger.  Amber stared in his eyes and then they kissed, holding each other in a strong embrace that Amber didn’t want to end. 

“You know, Mateo…I really like you being here.”  Amber whispered in his ear and then got up gracefully from the couch.  She turned around after looking at him one last time, and then went back in her room.  She climbed back in her bed and then pulled the covers up to her chin.  It was the perfect way to end an eventful day, and she looked forward to finally getting some real rest.  She closed her eyes and thought of Mateo, then slowly drifted off to sleep.

When the sun peeked through the curtains in the morning, Amber rolled over in bed, anxious for her day.  She wanted to be prepared for her arrival at the police station, and she was also curious to see how Mateo slept in the living room.  She peeked her head out and noticed that he wasn’t on the couch, so she called his name. He didn’t answer, so she walked out and saw a note on the living room table:

Be back in a few minutes. 

Hope you slept well.

~Mateo

She picked up the note and then went back in her bedroom.  She figured she must have slept deeply the night before because she didn’t even hear him open the creaky front door of her apartment.  She headed into the bathroom, showered, and then rummaged in her closet for something to wear.  She decided on her favorite embroidered tunic with a pair of turquoise leggings.  She slid on a cute pair of flats and then picked up her large, amethyst ring.  She believed that it had powerful healing properties and that she could benefit from its powers today, especially, so she put it on her ring finger and then opened the bedroom door.

As soon as she stepped out of her bedroom, she heard the door open, and Mateo entered with a brightly colored bouquet of flowers.  He smiled and handed them to Amber, who covered her mouth to conceal her surprise and excitement.  “You left the apartment to get me flowers?”  She was totally awed by his gesture, and her face spoke a thousand words.