Pieces of Lies (16 page)

“You are concerned, now?”

He looked a bit tense, having been caught up in the moment without thinking practically. 

“Clint, I’ve been on birth control for a quite a while, don’t worry.”

His eyes darted anxiously. “But at your apartment, all those times, with condoms?”

I looked into his eyes, “I trust you now.” He looked at me and kissed me sweetly and with his whole body said, “You can trust me Norah.”

Chapter 10

Old Flames

We caused more than a few eyebrows to be raised when Clint and I walked hand in hand into the quad on Monday. I guess people really weren’t used to seeing Clint on display with a girlfriend, but it didn’t seem to bother him that people were watching us curiously. I, on the other hand, felt like I was in a fishbowl. I had been so accustomed to avoiding public attention and keeping myself hidden from watchful eyes, and now felt like I was thrust head-on into everyone’s line of sight. On one hand, it drew attention to who I was, which was potentially dangerous for me, but on the other, it felt refreshing that I could revel in this small amount of freedom this exposure provided.

With our free hands, we both carried little satchels with our lunch as we wanted to make the most of the warm sun by having our own little picnic. We picked one of the bigger trees to sit under in the cool shade. Clint sat with his back up against the trunk, while I positioned myself in between his legs, my back leaning up against his chest. We enjoyed the closeness and comfort we felt as our bodies touched. There was always a need in the way our touch ignited us.

“What did you get?” Clint asked as I reached into my satchel.

“Umm, turkey, cranberry and Swiss on rye. You?”

Clint presented me his sandwich. “Beef and that really nice tomato chutney and brie.” As I ate my sandwich with one hand, my other hand seductively rubbed up and down his thigh. His body tensed under his slacks as we both ate. “I won’t be able to stand up for quite a while if you keep doing that you know, which means you’ll have to stay down here with me, in-between my legs.”

I chuckled a bit, “Oh, I’m aware of the repercussions of my actions.” I giggled some more and Clint pulled me back towards him, hugging me tightly as I laughed.

“Damn, you do crazy things to me.” Clint’s head was buried in my hair on the back of my neck.

I whispered back to him, “But you love it.”

He stopped nuzzling into my hair and lifted his mouth to my ear, “I love you, Norah.” I turned my head so I could find his lips and gave him a deep and hungry kiss.

Looking around at the curious eyes that constantly glanced over at us, I noticed a tall, dark individual walking from group to group that stopped walking when someone pointed to me and Clint. My back straightened immediately as I recognized the figure walking over to us. I dropped my sandwich and turned to look at Clint with an expression of fear all over my face. “What’s wrong?” Clint asked immediately and he put his hand on my shoulder to comfort my distressed look.
Shit! Shit! Shit! 

My whole body clenched as the voice spoke from behind me. “You didn’t think I’d leave without saying a proper goodbye did you?” I groaned and turned my head back around to stare up at Samuel who was gazing down at me with his stunning brown eyes. Those eyes could reach into my soul with a single look. He looked very handsome in black slacks and a maroon long-sleeved shirt. Clint and I both got to our feet.

“No, I didn’t, but I hoped you would say it in a more private setting.” Clint put his arm around my waist and his hold on me tightened. Samuel’s swept black hair framed his intense dark eyes and smooth olive skin. My breathing quickened.

Clint could sense I was affected by his presence, “Who is this guy Norah?”

I shifted my head so I could see Clint’s face. “Oh, he’s an old friend from New York; he came to my show last night. Clint, this is Samuel.”

Samuel smirked and didn’t hold out his hand to shake Clint’s. “I don’t know if ‘old friend’ is the right term for ex-fiancé, but alright then.”

FUCK! Way to drop that bomb!

Clint exhaled sharply and moved so he could stand straight, allowing Samuel to take in his full stature. 

Why are men so primitive?
 

“So, this is the new guy.” Samuel eyed Clint, who didn’t take his eyes off Samuel for a second. It was weird seeing Clint look as if he wanted to beat him. He was usually so composed and now he looked like a jealous caveman.

“Yes, she’s mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “Clint, I’m not a piece of property, nobody owns me,” and then I turned to Samuel, “Yes, Clint is my boyfriend.” Samuel continued to grin, knowing he was getting under Clint’s skin. He knew I hated the possessive type.

“I didn’t see you at the show last night Clint, that’s kind of unsupportive for a ‘boyfriend’ don’t you think?”

Ummm.

Clint looked like he was fuming but remained restrained. “That’s none of your business Samuel,” I snapped back, defending Clint. Clint looked pleased, even though I spoke for him. I guess that gave him some kind of reassurance. 

Samuel brushed his hand through his hair, a sign I knew as frustration, but then he returned to giving me his best smoldering look that silently made my insides rumble with fire. He saw my mouth curl, my breathing quicken and he grinned broadly, satisfied by my reaction. Damn, I didn’t want to be obvious, but I couldn’t help but still feel our connection.
Did I just give him a sign that it was OK to pursue me? I hope not.

“It was great seeing you again, ah, Norah. Am sure we’ll catch up again soon.” Samuel leaned in to hug me goodbye but Clint stepped in front of him.

“You’ve said your goodbye.” I glared at Clint, annoyed that he was refusing to let Samuel approach me.

“He is my friend Clint,” and I pushed past Clint and opened my arms, giving Samuel a soft hug. “Thank you for coming last night. It was great to see you. Have a safe trip home, OK,” and I broke our embrace and stepped back.

Samuel had a pleased look on his face, “I’ll be seeing you.” He eyed me seductively and then he glanced over at Clint whose fists were wound up like balls.

“I don’t think so,” Clint murmured.

“Yeah sure, right Clint,” Samuel noted, and walked off, returning the way he came.

As he did, he passed Josh on his way over to us. He eyed Samuel in recognition and came over to stand next to me. “Hey, isn’t that the guy from last night?” Josh looked at me and then looked at Clint, whose arm was firmly around my waist.

“You know Samuel?” Clint asked, directing the question to Josh.

Josh’s head turned back around to where he saw Samuel and something clicked in his head, his eyes bulging, “That was your fiancé?”

“Ex-fiancé,” I corrected.

Josh’s eyes glared. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize him last night from the pictures you had shown me.” Clint cleared his throat.

Josh turned back to me and paused before he spoke, remembering Clint was standing right next to me, “He should not be here Norah, you know that,” and my eyes widened.

“It’s not like I asked him to come, he just showed up. He’s leaving now, so there is nothing to worry about.” My statement had a different meaning to both Clint and Josh and yet they knew exactly what it meant. The mood shifted from tense to awkward, so I grabbed my book bag, ready to take off. “I have to get to class so I will see you both later.”

Clint approached me, looked at Josh, hesitated, but spoke, “Look, I was hoping to make it up to you for not coming to your show, can I come over tonight?” It felt weird making plans with Clint in front of Josh.

“Um, around nine alright, I have a few things to do beforehand.” He looked at me in wonder but didn’t press any further.

“I can’t wait,” he said and kissed me on the cheek. Josh’s eyes looked away as Clint’s kiss slowly reached my mouth.

I was grateful to get away from that whole scene and was looking forward to catching up with Tess in my next class for web design. When I walked in, I saw Tess with her head down reading her cell phone. She had on very vintage-looking yellow and cream shirt dress with a tan belt that cinched the dress at the waist. Her head shot up as students started filing in and when she saw me, she closed her phone quickly and stuffed it into her brown leather messenger bag and turned her attention back to her laptop. When I sat down next to her, she immediately began to talk, “Hey sorry again for my quick exit at your show. My roommate has one of those dramatic kind of relationships where every little argument is a crisis.”

I smiled warmly at Tess. “Absolutely no problem at all, I’m just happy you were there.” I reached into my oversized bag and pulled out a number of note pads and my laptop.

“So did Clint make an appearance after I left? I know you told me that things have been a bit up in the air with him.” The memory of Clint turning up in the rain, professing his love and our hot and heavy love making session on the couch sprang to my mind. My heart fluttered.

“Yes, he eventually turned up, and we resolved our lingering issues about our dating status.”

Tess turned back to her laptop as the art professor made an appearance. “So you two are in a serious relationship then?”

And I tilted my head at the question, “Yes, yes we are,” and as the professor spoke, Tess quickly jotted something down in her notebook and then turned it so I could see her writing. It said, ‘and Josh?’ 

I wrote back, ‘Maybe someday. Who knows.’

It was close to 8.30pm when I finally got home that evening. I had been in the library till after 6pm and then I went to the gun range. When I walked into my apartment, I halted immediately from the shock of what I had walked in on. I gasped because I was so taken aback I couldn’t put words together. It was just one surprise after another.

Positioned throughout all the rooms in my apartment, were at least two dozen large flower arrangements, all modern in design, all with blue and purple Singapore orchids. 

Fuck Samuel, fuck, fuck, and fuck.
What is he doing? 

My eyes darted all over the room, taking in the spectacular and overwhelming display. A lone card rested on my kitchen bench. I picked it up, read it and sighed,
‘Something to look forward to, again.’
I swallowed hard as his memory played around in my heart. I knew exactly what Samuel was doing right now, what he was making me remember. How could I possibly forget? It was one of the happiest and one of the saddest memories of my life. These flowers, the room; it was just like the night Samuel had proposed to me. 

Suddenly I was transported back to that cool night in late February. Samuel had text me on my cell to sneak away and over to his place. It was late at night when I found myself creeping into his Manhattan apartment, using the door code he had given me months beforehand.

As I crept into his apartment, sensor lights illuminated the whole room and I found myself surrounded in wall to wall blue and purple Singapore orchids, my favorite flower. I gasped. It was breathtaking. The lights then suddenly dimmed, which then brought to life the tea light candles that were scattered all around the floor, trailing from room to room. It was incredibly beautiful. “What is all this?” I said, as I felt Samuel come up behind me and squeeze me in a huge bear hug.

“It’s a romantic gesture, can’t you tell?”

I blushed. He was standing behind me, his arms moved and connected at my stomach and he drew me into his body so his face was near my ear.

“I have something to ask you,” he whispered.

I breathed heavily. I wanted so badly to take off his clothes and make love to him. We had been stranded on third base for a year. I had waited such a long time to take that next step with Samuel, but he was convinced the only way we would win my dad over was if he respected me enough to wait until it was the proper moment, which, at the time seemed ridiculous since we didn’t live in the 1800s. Samuel however, was sure that we were being watched, and he knew our sneaking around to see each other wasn’t a secret. The last thing he wanted to do was disrespect my father by not making an honest woman out of me. Both families had turned a blind eye because they thought our infatuation with one another would burn out, but time only made it burn brighter.

“You are without a doubt the most beautiful creature I have ever known, inside and out. Your very presence makes me dizzy and weak.” I smiled hearing his sweet words and closed my eyes as he continued to serenade my ears. “You have no idea how special you are. When you walk into a room, it lights up. You are fragile but strong, smart and funny, sweet and very, very sexy. It is impossible not to love you. I’ve loved you since the moment you crashed into me outside the stairs of NYU.”

I pulled out his embrace so I could turn and face him. “I am happy you think so highly of me. I’d start to wonder if you didn’t. I feel the same way about you too, you know that.”

Samuel brushed the strands of hair away from my face, but he did it slowly, taking his time, studying my neck and the wisps of hair as he placed them back with the others. His hands were warm and gentle. “Seriously Samuel, why so romantic tonight? I’m not complaining, but this is pretty out of the ordinary, even for you. Can’t we do something else instead?”  I began to lift his shirt that was tucked into his black slacks.

He pushed my hands away. “We have the rest of our lives to make love.”

I raised my eyebrows. “My, you sound sure of yourself. I think you over estimate how much time we might have to keep this relationship going; I mean if we get caught…”

Samuel put his finger to my lips to stop me talking. “I think we will have all the time in the world,” and then he dropped to one knee.

The candle light flickered off his face as my head came to terms with what was happening. My heart exploded and I started crying. Samuel looked up at me on bended knee, one arm resting on his knee, the other in his pocket. He smiled up at me with gentle loving eyes and spoke, “I know you are not one for words. You prefer what people do to what people say. I know you look for the real meaning through actions, but I need to say this because my words are my actions, and I know, that you know, I’ve proved every single one.”