Forgotten Yesterday (3 page)

“Thanks, Colin, I appreciate the offer. But I’m still in school and I don’t think the hours would work out with my classes.”

“You’re going full-time?”

“Yep, that’s why I only work three days on the weekends.”

“Well, the position is part-time and on weekends. If you’re interested, let me know. We’re planning to start interviewing on Monday.”

“I’ll think about it,” I tell him flattered, but know I won’t be taking him up on the offer. I like having my flexible days to get schoolwork done. Not to mention the mountain of laundry. 

“Let me know,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets, eyes roaming around the room one more time. “You’re good to go for the night. Thanks again for closing.”

“You’re welcome.”

He goes back to the office, leaving me alone in the room surrounded by wood and leather.

Staring at the white linens, I’m immobilized and mesmerized by Table 32. The table carried so much weight when seated with a particular patron. Brent flipped on a switch to my past–—a past that I already stowed away.

Shaking my head, I don’t allow myself to linger too long on any of those thoughts. I dash back to the kitchen, clock out for the night, and meander toward the door that leads to the basement break room.

Someone bumps my shoulder from the right.

“Whoa,” Brian chuckles as he exits the freezer, catching me. “I gotcha.”

Stumbling a little, I right myself and pull my arm from his grasp. “Thanks. Sorry.”
What is wrong with me?
It feels like he came out of nowhere. I must be out of it.

“Don’t worry about it.” He wipes his hands on his apron. “So, I’m almost done here. You still up for a drink?”

Sweeping away a few strands of hair away from my cheeks, I nod. “Yeah. A drink sounds good.”

“I’ll only be another ten to fifteen minutes. Do you mind waiting a little longer?”

“No, not at all. I’m going to go down and change first. I’ll meet you up front.”

I scoot around him and make my way down the steps to the employee break room. Pulling out my bag from one of the lockers, I change into the fitted sweater and skinny jeans I brought with me. It’s not the ideal outfit for a night out, but it’s late, nearing one in the morning, and I wasn’t expecting to go out in the first place.

Dressed and ready to go, I shrug into my jacket and carry myself up the steps and take a seat on the bench in the front lobby. Having some time to spare, I pull out my phone and respond to Cody’s email.

Sure, turkey sounds good. Count me in. And yes, I got your gift last week. Thank you so much. Sorry, I should have called. Got caught up with exams. I love a Shakespeare quote, especially a fierce one. I’ll call you later. Remind me to tell you who I ran into tonight. You’ll never guess. Tell Shauna and Dragon hi.

Ruby

Slipping my phone into my pocket, I lean back against the carved wood wall that adorns the lobby. I close my eyes, noticing the steak aroma more acutely.

What a night.

I’m so exhausted and could really use a cup of coffee.

~Past~

Letting go of his coffee cup, Brent reached his hand across the table and slowly slid his fingers over the top of my own. I flipped my hand, so our palms were touching. My heart leapt in my chest as his magnetic eyes pierced into mine.

There was a conversation happening in the space of silence. No words were being said aloud, but we were “talking” and I could see our futures coming together. Everything was lining up and happening for a reason—his life and mine, fated. It all seemed so easy.

“I’m really happy,” I whispered.

“So am I.”

Pushing back my chair, I got up and made my way around the small table to stand next to him. I bent at the waist and kissed him sweetly on his enticing lips, while running my fingers through the hair on the side of his head. One of his hands rested on my hip while the other tenderly palmed my cheek. The whole world could have been rioting and it wouldn’t have mattered to me. I was lost in Brent—in us.

Disconnecting, Brent touched his forehead to mine.

“By the way, I can taste your tea,” he teased.

“And you taste like chocolate,” I snarked back. “You ordered one of those chick drinks again, didn’t you?”

“So what?” He playfully tapped me on my behind. “I like them. And look who’s talking. Since when do you drink tea, Miss I’ll-have-a-vanilla-soy-latte? Don’t tell me you’ve been watching those sappy Jane Austen movies again. Are you going to have an accent soon, too?”

I laughed. “It’s okay, Brent,” I teased with a mock British accent. “No reason to get all defensive. You can have a
foo foo
drink every once in a while.”

“Damn right I can.”

He kissed me again, with more force than the last time and his tongue passionately met with mine as we made-out in the middle of the coffee shop. I released my mouth from his and licked my lips.

“I’ve decided that you should get that drink more often,” I uttered.

“Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

“Because when you kiss me, it’s delicious.”

He nipped at my jaw. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Brent pulled me down and I fell into his lap, giggling. His arms wrapped around my waist as I playfully struggled to get up.

“I’m never letting you go,” he breathed into my ear. “You’re stuck with me.”

“But what about when you have class? You plan to keep me on your lap the entire lecture?”

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“Great. That would be interesting. I’m sure your professors wouldn’t mind either.”

“Who cares what they think.”

Whirling in his lap, I laid my arms over his shoulders, bent my elbows, and entwined my fingers into his thick, dark hair. He squeezed me tighter when I tilted my head forward to touch his.

“I don’t think I ever want you to let me go,” I mused softly in the space between us.

“Then I never will.”

~Present~

“You ready to go?” Brian asks, startling me a little.

My heart sinks when I see his smiling face.

Brian exudes nothing but excitement and anticipation and all I feel is…not the same as him. There’s a saying that timing is everything, but my life’s clock must be broken.

How can I have fun with him while Brent is on the edges of my mind?
I worked so hard, letting him go, creating a life without him, and now he’s in my thoughts once again.

Sighing, I stand up and adjust my bag over my shoulder. I button my jacket and push myself forward, forcing myself to bury away all my thoughts of Brent, once again.
This night has nothing to do with him.

“Yep. I’m ready,” I say, struggling really hard to mean it.

“Let’s go get a cab.”

Brian leads the way to the door and holds it open as we exit into the cold evening. The street lamps twinkle and the neighboring bars are pumping out music. Over-intoxicated people litter the sidewalks, talking louder than necessary. Women rub their bare arms and cackle loudly down the block.

Brian steps to the curb and raises his hand, signaling for a cab. I wait a little behind him, pushing my hands into my pockets.

“Do you think it will be crowded?” I ask conversationally.

“Yeah, it always is on Fridays.”

Brian whistles, attempting to hail a cab, but they’re all full. We wait and wait. Finally, we stalk one as it’s letting out some customers, snagging it before a group of tipsy women sneak in.

“Wrigley Field,” Brian says to the cab driver, shutting the door behind him.

Settling into the seat, I zone out the window, observing the lights on the buildings. The car starts to drive and Brian’s hand reaches out to touch mine. Alerted, I snap in his direction.

“Hey,” he laughs. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Sorry, I was just zoning out a little. Long night.”

“Yep, it was. But now to it’s time to kick back a little and have some fun.”

“Yeah,” I drone. “Sure. Fun.”

Brian winks at me and then takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. I offer a forced, tight-lipped smile in an effort to match the mood. It’s no use. I feel nothing that I should right now. There are no butterflies. There’s no excitement or anticipation about my hand in his. My fingers may be covered in a pair of knit gloves, but I know that’s not the problem. Poor Brian just got cock blocked by Brent, and I’m unable to fight it.
What a mess in my head.

We silently make the rest of the trip north, our hands together the whole time. With each block, I try to force Brent’s hair, eyes, mouth, grin, dimples, and everything about him out of my head. Even when Brian’s hand squeezes mine, as a show of affection, it’s not able to bring me to where I am. Right here, with Brian.

Pulling up to the corner of the block, where the Wrigley sign is lit up bright, we get out of the cab and walk toward the bar’s entrance. There’s a line to get in. Brian edges up to the man attending the door, with me beside him, and they exchange a few words. I don’t hear anything they’re saying because the hoots and howls from the inebriated patrons from within the bar echo loudly out into the street.

“Charles says he can’t let anyone in right now,” Brian shouts to me. “But as soon as a few people leave, we’re in next.”

I shake my head, finding no reason to respond with words that may not be heard. Brian drapes his arm around my shoulder and I tense at its implications—frozen in place, unwilling to move. With great focus, I tell my body to like his touch. It’s not working. All I want to do is get away.

Pulling out of Brian’s arm, I step in front of him so we’re face-to-face. This night isn’t going to work. I can tell he’s going to be making moves until closing time, which isn’t a bad thing, but tonight I’m emotionally and physically spent. In one meeting, one sighting, Brent has drained me. Our random reunion has done more to me than I thought.

I play with the ends of my hair. “I think I’m actually just going to go home.”

“Oh really? Is it too loud? We can go somewhere else if you want.”

“No, it’s not that,” I say truthfully and then continue with a half lie, “I’m just really tired.”

“Well, come in and have a drink. I’m sure it’ll wake you up.”

“I would, but really I’m beat.” I shove my hands in my pockets and out of his reach. “I’m so sorry.”

His hand reaches out, resting on my shoulder. “You sure? Does my breath stink or something.”

I laugh a little at his humor. “No, it’s not that at all. Honestly, I’m just done for the night, I think.”

“I get it.” He nods. “Let me take you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I can ride in a cab by myself” I kid. “Plus, don’t you live in the neighborhood? There’s no reason for you to ride with me.”

“Well…” He steps away from the bar’s entrance, ushering me to the edge of the street with his hand on my back. “Let me at least get you a cab.”

“Thanks.”

It takes a few minutes, but eventually Brian’s able to get a cab to pull over. He opens the door and I apologize once again for calling our evening short. Telling the cab driver my address, I scoot into the backseat and Brian closes the door when I’m settled in. We wave goodbye through the window.

I feel terrible about how everything played out and that Brian got the short end of the stick. However, staying and pretending all night wouldn’t have been beneficial for either one of us. Eventually, he would have tried to kiss me and there was no way I could kiss him back, not like he should be. Because right now, every thought I have is being oppressed by one person. Even when I close my eyes, all I can see are Brent’s steely green ones, pinning me back to a place I left behind.

I wish they wouldn’t.  

Four

After taking a quick shower, to wash off the nightly grime, I dry out my hair and dress for bed. It’s nearly half past two in the morning by the time my head hits the pillow.
I’m exhausted.
Welcoming the darkness behind my eyelids, I relax and look forward to a good night’s sleep. I hope to wake in the morning, to a new day, with tonight nothing more than another yesterday.

~~~*~~~

“Happy Birthday,” Brent said, sliding a small wrapped box across the restaurant table.

I picked it up, pulled off the gold paper and opened the long rectangular blue box. Inside, held in place by the padded interior, was a white gold chain with a small round ruby pendant attached.

“Brent,” I gasped. “It’s beautiful.”

“I thought you needed one. I’ve never seen you wear a ruby before.”

“I’ve never had one before.” My index finger lightly skimmed along the gem’s crimson facets. “You didn’t need to do this. It’s kind of too much.”

“I wanted to.”

“Thank you.” I touch it again. “I love it.”

“Put it on,” he encouraged.

Delicately, my fingers released the necklace from the box and I watched in awe as it glinted in the candlelit room of the restaurant. Undoing the clasp, I took each end behind my neck and connected it once again, letting the red gemstone fall just below my collarbone.

“How does it look?” I asked, framing it with the hair over my shoulders.

“It looks really nice on you. Rubies suit you.”

Brent’s eyes glanced at the sparkly jewelry a few times, but kept returning to my own. He glowed with admiration and I was in heaven.

“You ready to go?” he questioned, hands clasped in front of him.

“Yeah, I am.”

Rising from his seat, Brent set his napkin down on the white linen. He came around the table, pulled out my chair and helped me into my jacket. We meandered hand in hand out of the Italian bistro, into the cool night. He hailed a cab and opened the door when it came to a stop, allowing us to get in. As we made our way back to the dorms, I stared into the dark abyss of Lake Michigan, a complete divergence to the lights of the city to our right.