Trevor
I can’t remember being more confused than I was last night. I didn’t know what happened and obviously, my sister-in-law was no more informed than I.
One minute we’re all standing around talking and laughing.
And while I was content to be part of the small group, I will admit that I was having trouble keeping my hands to myself. Shana was just too close and too beautiful. All the lies I’d told myself over the last year about how I could forget her flew out the window in that hallway. After that, I couldn’t stop myself from constantly touching her shoulder, hair, or neck.
I did try to make it not too obvious, as I was trying to hide it from Kimbra.
I won’t lie. That danger of discovery made it all the more exciting.
One of the great things about my sister-in-law is her conversational skills. I’m not sure how she and my brother will ever carry on the family name. I’m not sure she stops talking long enough for much more than wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. Then again, I don’t spend a lot of time considering my brother’s sex life, only that his wife is beyond endowed with the gift of gab.
And then Max walked up to tell me it was my turn to play pool, and all hell broke loose.
Shana went full-out mother bear. I was lost.
It was kind of sexy seeing her all shouty and poking her finger at Max. The guy’s been my friend for a few years and we’ve always gotten along, but I can see how sometimes he may come off as a bit of a pretentious ass. Then again, that wasn’t what Shana was all up in his business about.
It was when Stephen walked up that the figurative pieces of the puzzle seemed to slide into place. I don’t know what history there is between Stephen and Max—Max refused to talk about it later—but whatever it is, it does not appear to be good.
As soon as they left, I sent Shana a text, asking her what happened. I know Kimbra sent her one too. When she didn’t respond, I sent another one that ignored the giant two-ton elephant in the room and simply asked if I could still call her in the morning.
She responded to the second one, saying yes and something about credit and cars. I took a screen shot of her reply and maybe one day I’ll ask what it said. There were a few words that were merely jumbled letters and even one with symbols. As far as I know, they don’t have any intelligible meaning. Maybe one day I’ll find out. In the meantime, I sent back a smiling emoji and held out hope that in the morning she’d answer my call.
She did.
That’s why I’m now here, at one of the girliest places I’ve ever seen.
Serendipity 3.
You see, I’ve replayed the scenes from the first time Shana and I were together over and over in my head. I’ve racked my brain to come up with something special, something to show her that I want to be part of her life. As much as I try to concentrate on those things, since last night, my thoughts slip back to the way she felt against my body while pushed against the wall and the pounding of her heart under that thin blouse. I can even imagine how her ass would have felt in the palm of my hands as I lifted her...
Yes, I’m more than a little aware that for our first official date, taking her to my apartment and doing what I wanted to do last night isn’t exactly the most romantic of ideas even if I have thought about it every which way and a few ways I’ve never tried but would be more than willing to give it a go. That is why I’m meeting her at Serendipity 3.
I have two reasons for this location.
First, the name means the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way—I looked it up. The way I remember the night that led her to my bed, it was completely a series of events of chance. I don’t think it could be recreated if we tried. The other reason is that this restaurant is world-famous for its amazing hot chocolate. And even though the springtime weather is warm and sunny, I recalled something she told me.
The morning she woke in my bed, she mentioned she liked hot chocolate.
Now, as I wait, I hope she’ll think this was a fun idea and not the desperate move of a desperate man.
I take a glance at my phone. As usual, I’m early. We didn’t agree to meet for another fifteen minutes.
It’s then that my phone rings. It’s my brother.
I look around the restaurant and decide to speak quietly.
“Hey,” I say.
“What the hell happened last night?”
“Great to talk to you too.”
Duncan laughs in the easygoing way that should not be associated with someone like him. He’s this big-time businessman who makes a fortune in shipping pharmaceuticals. It was a pretty ingenious plan that he and his friend devised. The idea was that as the population ages, medications will always be necessary. The production of medications, however, is too much work, not to mention time consuming and expensive. Instead, Duncan and his friend, Mike, decided the money was in logistics. Both the manufacturers and the distributors would pay big money for efficient shipping.
A man with that much on his plate shouldn’t be laughing like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Then again, that’s one of the differences between the two of us. I’m the planner. It’s what makes me a good engineer. Constructing roads and bridges can’t be done on a whim. Apparently, starting a billion-dollar business can. Personally, I think his partner, Mike, is the true brains. Duncan is the charismatic one who keeps the investors and employees happy.
“Kimbra,” he says, “was going on this morning about Shana and her friend Stephen. It was something about them leaving the bar upset.”
“It was odd, I know. Kimbra and I spoke about it before she went home. I offered to call her a cab but being your wife, she was taken care of.”
“I’m all for her strong will. Hell, I love it,” he says. “But seriously, if she had her way, she would have come home alone via the subway.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “You know what, brother?”
“What?”
“You deserve her.”
“I’m hoping that’s a good thing.”
“It is,” I confirm. “You’ve always liked a challenge.”
“Oh, Kimbra is definitely a challenge. One I’m glad I have.”
Of course, my mind goes to Shana.
“So you don’t know what happened?” Duncan asks.
“I got the impression that my friend Max—Maximilian Cantel—and Shana’s friend Stephen have some history that isn’t good. All I know for sure is that Shana laid into Max and after they left, Max refused to talk about it. He said the weekend was about Eric, not him.”
“Hey, I’m glad you and Eric are still friends.”
I’m ready to end this conversation, but his comment has me curious. “Why wouldn’t we be? I’ve known him since college.”
“But weren’t you dating the woman he’s marrying? Isn’t she who you brought to my wedding?”
“What? No... oh, well... Um. We’re good. They’re better together. You know me...not much with the ladies.”
“That brings me to the other reason I called,” Duncan says. “Kimbra said something else about last night.”
It’s then that I look up and see Shana walking toward me. Immediately, I notice the flowing long skirt she’s wearing, and my thoughts go back to my fantasies about the hallway last night. Those damn sexy jeans would have been a problem. I’m suddenly a huge advocate for skirts and dresses.
Her smile lights up the room as she comes closer.
“Duncan,” I say, “I need to go. My date...umm, the person I’m meeting just arrived.”
“Trevor, wait. A date? Who is it? Kimbra said she was getting a feeling—”
“Bye, Duncan. Talk to you later.”
I hang up just as Shana makes it to the table, just in time to stand and pull out the chair for her.