Human Hieroglyphix - Dex & Leila (22 page)

"Jake!" I heard Dex exclaim before he put his hand in the small of my back and steered me to the table.  I watched as Jake and Dex shook hands before doing a man-hug with the one-thump in the middle of the back to complete it. 

I turned to look at who Jake kept turning towards.

"Caitlin?"

"Leila?"

Soon Cait and I were doing the girly version of a hug, which included a couple of bounces and some, 'Oh My Gods' after we clenched and squealed a bit.

It seems they'd just gotten there themselves and we decided to join them. 

Caitlin and I were going about a million miles an hour as I brought her up to speed on the day of Beauty, etc. 

But we were silent when Dex yelled, "Four medium habs and four ice teas," at the waitress as she was sliding by.

"You got it, gorgeous," she yelled back waving her hand over her head.

I turned wide eyes to Caitlin, who started giggling at my look.

"Don't worry, you'll love 'em," she said leaning to bump me with her shoulder.

While we were waiting for the food, Dex told Jake about the Jeep.  Caitlin turned to me with big eyes this time when Dex detailed the spray paint.

"Sucks, man," Jake rumbled.  Honest to God, I thought Dex had a deep voice but next to Caitlin's man, Dex sounded like a choir boy.

I pulled out my cell to show Caitlin the pictures of my outfits and asking for her help in creating more combinations when four plates of hot wings with four humongous ice teas hit our table.  The wings were unbelievable, done in what I thought was a honey habaneras sauce.  Not too hot and not too sweet, but wondrously tasty and messy as hell. 

I finally had to push my plate away only having eaten about half of what was on it.

I saw Caitlin do the same, but soon our men were feasting on our left overs and deeply engrossed in their conversation regarding some piece of property.

I felt Caitlin push her knee against mine under the table as she turned to me with a wink.

"Ah, baby?  I think I have about twenty girls that are really interested in taking a class at your gym, so I was wondering…"

"Fuckin' told you before, Pretty Girl, not gonna to have a bunch of tits and ass jigglin' through the gym.  No way, no how," Jake growled before turning back to Dex. 

But I saw him move his hand to capture her fingers.

"See, I told you," Caitlin leaned over and whispered.

"And he didn't beat on his chest once," I whispered back before we both started laughing.

We parted ways in the parking lot with lots of promises to get together soon and watched as Jake and Caitlin mounted his bike.  Dex handed me my helmet and helped me secure it as they rode by us, Jake giving a finger flick with a nod in our direction and Caitlin waving.

I climbed up behind Dex as he started the engine and I wiggled my way closer to him.  He reached behind and stroked my thighs with both hands before releasing the kickstand and then we were off.

It was late afternoon when Dex pulled into my driveway. 

He didn't get off the bike when I did. 

I took off the helmet and found him looking at me with a look I'd never seen before.

"Think I'm gonna take off, babe."

"Oh, okay.  Thanks for today, Dex.  I had a really good time," I said handing him the helmet I'd been wearing. 

I stood there waiting for him to get off the bike or remove his helmet so I could get my goodbye kiss, but he just nodded and did the finger flick before using his feet to back down the driveway.

That was strange, I thought as I went inside. 

It's true we had only known each other a couple of days, but I had the impression that we were kind of joined at the hip even though neither one of us had put any definitions on our time together.

I wasn't going to worry about it though. 

I had classes tomorrow and wasn't quite done with my paper on the restructuring of elementary education for special needs children.

Chapter Twenty Two

I took extra time getting ready that Monday morning after Spring Break, knowing that I was going to be stared at just as much as I would stare at someone who had completely, drastically changed the way they looked in over a week.

I wore another one of my pencil skirts, this one in a medium blue, that I paired with a black sweater that was wrapped, creating a 'vee' neckline with knee-high black boots.  I added a double strand of blue stones around my neck and my hooped earrings.  The sleeves on the sweater were belled so I didn't add any bracelets.

I loaded up my new navy blue tote with metal studs and made sure I had everything in my red crocodile handbag before moving to the garage, a half of a toasted bagel in my mouth.  I put my purse and tote in the back before getting in the driver's seat.

There was a piece of paper underneath one of my windshield wipers.

I got out and went to reach for it when my instincts told me not to touch it.

I went back into the house and grabbed a pair of kitchen tongs and a gallon size baggie before going back out to my car.  It took me three tries to capture the piece of paper with the tongs.  Mainly because I was shaking so hard, but I finally got it and put it in the baggie before sealing it and putting it on the passenger seat.

I don't remember the drive to the University because my mind was filled with the words on the paper.

"You looked better before" it said in big block letters.

I was glad I took the extra time on myself because I was right about the amount of attention I received on the way I looked.  In fact, by lunchtime it was starting to get pretty old.  I was making my way to my office and saw Carla, my T.A., waiting by my door.

"Hey, Carla," I said as I unlocked and made my way into my cramped office.  "How was your break?"

"Not as good as yours, obviously," she said giving me the once over.

"Excuse me?" I asked setting down my tote and purse before turning back to her.

"Who's your man?" Carla asked.

I stared at her for a moment and noted that she had the courtesy to blush.

"Since when do we have the kind of relationship that we talk about our love lives?" I asked quietly but firmly.

"It's just that you look entirely different after just a week," she said looking at her shoes.

"And that means, what, exactly?"

She was quiet as she stood behind the visitor chair that sat in front of my desk.

"Is there anything else you needed to discuss with me?"

"No, Dr. McCarthy," she mumbled.

"I'll see you at the 3 o'clock, then," I said, sitting behind my desk and watched as she nodded then left.

I picked up my office phone and called the Grantham P.D. and explained about the note I had on my car this morning.  They suggested that I come down and file a claim just to have it on record in case there was any further trouble.

I checked my cellphone and saw I had a couple of texts from Marianne and Crystal, but nothing from Dex.  Oh well, he must be busy, I thought.

I went to the fast food place on campus and grabbed a burger with a diet drink and went back to my office to work on my paper, but my office seemed stuffy.  I was trying to open one of the windows when I heard a long slow wolf whistle coming from my open door.  I looked over my shoulder and it was Evan leaning casually against the door frame, but his eyes behind his smeared glasses were staring at my ass.

"Hello, Evan," I said quickly turning around and dusting off my hands as I returned to my chair.

"Leila," he said softly moving to sit in the chair in front of my desk.  I raised my eyebrows at his presumption that he could just waltz into my office and make himself comfortable.

"As you can see, Evan, I'm kind of busy here.  Is there something I can help you with?" I asked sharply.

"I thought we might have dinner together sometime," he said in that awful lisping voice.  I was beginning to feel real revulsion for this bonehead, as Dex had called him.

"I believe we discussed this at the concert the other night.  Evan, I'm seeing someone.  That makes me not available to have dinner with you."  I hated to be so blunt, but he wasn't getting the message.

"Oh well, another time, perhaps," he mumbled not making any move to leave.  I glanced from my hamburger to him while wondering what I could do to get this ass-hat to go away and I saw that his eyes were glued to my breasts.

Oh, hell to the no, as Dex would say.

"It's time for you to leave my office, Evan," I stated firmly.

"Okay, then.  See you later, Leila," he said, finally standing to go.

I just nodded and bent back over my laptop trying to pick up where I'd left off.

On Tuesday, I got a call from my colleague Emily to ask if we were still on for dinner on Tuesday night.  Something that we had been doing every Tuesday night since we had both been awarded professorships. 

It was interesting that Emily actually asked if we could eat at Henry's.  That was a first since Enrique's used to be her only choice.

 I was glad to hear she was changing.

I arrived there a bit before her and saw that Dirk was behind the bar.  I stowed my jean jacket on a stool and ordered a glass of red wine.

"Leila, right?"

"Yeah, Dirk.  It's me, the three drink wonder," I said with a rueful smile.

"Haven't seen you in a while."

"Well, truthfully, Dirk, I'm just now recovering from my hang over of the other night."

He laughed and I laughed along with him.

I felt a tug on my arm and it was Emily.

"See you later, Dirk."

"Sure thing, gorgeous."

Emily and I were standing at the hostess station waiting to be seated when she turned and gave me a head to toe scrutiny.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"What was what all about?"

"The bit with the bartender.  Are you trying to break more hearts?"

"Excuse me?" I said, actually I found myself asking that question more and more over the last couple of days. 

Did I used to be such a freaking
doormat
that people felt they could ask me the most outrageous questions and I'd answer?

I scanned the restaurant and saw Gloria.  I waved and she held up a finger before making her way over.

"Hey, Leila," she said, giving me a one-armed hug.

"Nice to see you, Gloria.  Have anything open in your section tonight?"

"Looks like seventeen is just being bussed.  Go ahead and seat yourselves when Hector's done, okay?"

"So, what, you're like a regular customer here now?" I heard Emily say but I didn't respond as I watched Hector finish wiping.

"Did you have a good break?" I asked Em as we looked over our menus.

"It was fun.  Looks like you did exactly what you said you were going to do," I heard her say.  Had Emily's voice always been so nasally and condescending?

"Hey, Leila, anything to drink?" Gloria asked.

"I'm good, thanks.  Thanks for the help with the…"

"Oh, honey, don't thank me. That’s just what girlfriends do, right?"

"I'll have a glass of the house white wine," Emily announced loudly, deliberately interrupting my conversation with Gloria.

"Okay, and would you care to hear the specials?" Gloria asked, turning back into the professional waitress that she was.

We had just gotten our main course when Emily's cell started bleeping.  I don't think I'd ever even heard Emily's phone go off before.  She stared at the text before storing it back into her purse.

"Looks like we're about to have company," she said casually picking up her fork.

"Really? Who?"  I asked flaking off another wonderful piece of salmon.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," she said in a sing song voice.

Note to self:  Will not be joining Emily for Tuesday night dinners going forward.

I felt someone standing at our table before I chanced a glance, thinking it would Gloria.

But it wasn't.

It was Evan.

"Hello, Emily.  Hello, Leila.  Mind if I join you?" the ass-hat had the nerve to ask.

"Sure," Emily chimed with a smile on her face.

"Sorry, Evan, we're almost done with our meal." I said firmly.

Emily shot me a glance and made a move to kick me under the table.

"Emily Hill, I swear to God that if you
kick me
under the table, you are going to be in a
world of hurt
.  You get me?"

I watched as Emily just stared at me with her jaw clenched.

"Actually, Evan, I was just leaving," I said grabbing my purse and my jean jacket.  "You can have my seat.  See you around, Em."

I found Gloria at the bar, placing a drink order and gave her enough money for the meal with a nice tip.  We shared a hug and I made my way to the garage across the street.