Chapter 5
Beth
I slept in on Saturday morning, and felt like a million bucks. Mad Designs was busy prepping for a last-minute masquerade ball in a few weeks and Tyson had me working overtime the past several evenings.
I went to a late morning yoga class and tried to calm my so-called inner goddess, when all the class really did was make me feel old and unbendable. The other women in the class were in their early twenties and could bend over backwards, literally. I’m not old, I’m in my late twenties, but man!
I fix myself up some lunch when my phone starts to blare “What Does the Fox Say?,” Tyson’s ring-tone.
“Please do not ask me to work.” I beg as I answer the phone.
“Wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
“No, I just feel as I’ve been only working and no playing.”
“Is Beth feeling like a dull girl?” He laughs.
“What do you want, ya jerk?” I take a bite out of my salad.
“Can’t a guy call his best gal pal and see how she’s doing?”
“You basically see me every day. I’m questioning your intentions at the moment on a Saturday.”
“Okay, so Allie is studying or something tonight…,” he starts.
“Or something? Do you not pay attention?” I cut him off as he sighs heavily.
“She just started classes for the fall and says she’s behind in reading, and I made plans for us to go to dinner, months ago for tonight. So you see, I need a date.” he finally says.
“You’re not my type.” I deadpan.
“You’re going on a date with my brother.”
“Your point?”
“Well, I’m clearly the better Maddox?” he fishes.
“You’re all right.” I shrug. “Sure, I guess I can go out with you. Can I wear my Giants jersey?”
“No, dress up.”
“So what you’re saying is that it would embarrass you if I wore my Giants jersey?”
“Beth,” he growls.
“Down boy. I’ll behave. But you’re paying.”
“Of course,” he says.
“All the drinks are on you.” I sing-song.
“Just no dancing on tables. It’s not that kind of place.”
“When have I ever?” I fake my shock.
“Don’t make me regret this.”
“Never. Pick me up at—”
“I’ll pick you up at six.”
***
Tyson was early to pick me up. When he comes to my apartment, he uses the master key, since he technically owns the building that I live in, to let himself in while I was finishing getting ready. I came out of my room and was putting a few items in my handbag when he closed a cabinet door in the kitchen, startling me. Even though subconsciously I knew it was Tyson, my mind automatically went into fight mode. I held my handbag like a baseball bat and crept around the corner, prepared to strike the intruder with a studded clutch if it came to that.
As I raise the bag higher and round the corner, Tyson stands with a glass of water frozen mid-air and a quirked eyebrow at my entrance.
“You scared the bejeezus out of me!”
He shrugs. “Death by purse? Would that have worked?”
“It wouldn’t have been death by any means, more like a battering. This handbag would have at least made you get some stitches.” I smile.
“It works for someone in our line of business. You ready?” he asks, setting the glass down in the sink.
“Let’s get this party started! Don’t worry, I’ve got my party hat in the purse.” I say as I lead the way to the front door. I look over my shoulder and with a smile he shakes his head.
***
Friday comes too soon. I’m not ready to go out with Jacob, at least not yet. While we’ve seen each other at work through the week, we haven’t had a moment alone since he’s been busy, much like I have. We’ve walked by each other in the hallways going from here to there, and he’d brush his hand against mine in passing. We’d been in meetings, sitting across from one another and our eyes would meet. But now, we’re going on an official date and I’m not entirely sure if my hormones will calm down enough.
I’m finishing my eye make-up when I hear knocking on my front door.
I take a deep breath straighten my blouse, and shake out my hands. Here goes nothing. Why am I so nervous?
As I open the door, our eyes meet. I glance down at his attire and see that he’s wearing a nice suit. Suddenly, I’m not so sure about my casual appearance.
“You look beautiful.” he says as he steps forward with his hand on my elbow and leans in to kiss me on the cheek. My heart is fluttering as he leans back. He’s acting so gentlemanly.
“I’m afraid I didn’t know what to dress for and it looks like I’m under dressed. Come on in, let me go change right quick.”
“I think you’re wearing too much clothing.” he mumbles as he walks past me with a smirk.
“Har. Har.” I quip as I close the door. “So you’ve donned a suit. What kind of place are we going to? Really should have asked that earlier, ah.”
“To be perfectly honest, we could both show up in garbage bags. But if you insist on changing, we’re going to Kokkari. I hope you like Greek.” He smiles as he sits down on my love seat.
“I do. Okay, I’ll be right back then.” I say, heading towards my bedroom and straight into my closet.
“Let me know if you need any help!” Jacob shouts from the other room as I do my best to ignore him, which is hard since his presence takes over a room.
We were seated in the main room at the restaurant at an open chef’s table, surrounded by others. Even though the restaurant is a popular location on a Friday evening, we are shown to our table immediately. The lighting is toned down and there is music quietly strumming from speakers in the ceiling somewhere. I was a little shocked that Jacob didn’t go for the private dining option that this particular restaurant offers, but also glad to not be completely alone with him either. After taking a glance at the menu, I don’t know how the hell I will be able to order any of the items as they aren’t in English. Jacob must feel my apprehension as I keep flipping the menu around and reaches across the table to catch my attention.
“I can translate if you would prefer?” he offers quietly.
I nod my head and look down at my place setting. “I don’t understand why only random words are in English.” I mumble.
“It’s for the authenticity, what kind of meat would you like? There’s fish, steak, chicken, lamb and pork.” he says quietly.
“Lamb, please?” I ask.
“Chops, rack or kabobs?”
“Chops?”
He laughs. “Do you like lemon?”
“Yes. I love lemons! You should see all my cleaning products in the kitchen, lemon scented everything!” I exclaim.
“One thing at a time. Let’s do dinner and then I’ll look under your sink.” He winks at me as he schools his entertained expression.
I blush at his innuendo, and suddenly my thoughts have gone running wild with him pressing me against the top of the table.
“Do you like potatoes?”
“I do, but not if they are French fries.”
“You don’t like French fries?” he asks, as if the statement was foolish.
“Not really my thing.” I shrug.
“I think we’re going to have to end our evening here.” He pauses with a smile and then continues. “Do you want a salad or soup?”
“Salad, please. Something simple.”
“Allergic to nuts at all?”
“Only yours.” I smirk.
“That’s not what I recall.” he retorts with confidence.
Jacob
We ease into a comfortable conversation, when suddenly my cell phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Ignoring it for several moments seemed fine, as I continue to silence the phone from the button on the side, apologizing for the rude interruption. Soon my thigh starts to feel numb from all the vibrating. I note several missed calls from my cousin, which was just weird, since he never calls. He didn’t leave any messages or send any texts so I continue to ignore him. He was just probably annoyed with me because I was boring while we were in Atlantic City and was likely calling to rub it in my face on how much pussy he got.
I turn my phone on mute and direct my full attention back to Beth, who is recounting a story from one of the family dinners when she and my brother were in their final year of college.
Since the day that Tyson brought her home and declared her as family, since hers basically turned their back on her, I’ve been interested in her. The main problem with that was the fact that I had always thought that my brother and her had something going on without telling any of us, because who in their right mind would be just friends with someone who was as undeniably gorgeous as she is. Either way, I had to look at her as if she was off-limits, and she was until my brothers engagement party.
Our salads were delivered and in between bites we talked about work, about life, and then about family. She had a way of dealing with my mother, and for that I was in awe of her. While she spoke highly of Satan, she also was able to get her digs in where appropriate. While we’ve had many conversations over the years, simple date-appropriate conversation was easy with her, and for that I like her even more. The last decent conversation that I had with the opposite sex was with the photographer that I dated. Topics between Maddie and me were generally work related, and I’m shocked that our tryst lasted as long as it did. That’s not to say neither of us dipped in other pools. I would hook up whenever the need felt it had to be met. Maddie would only date other women and, while she never brought them into the bedroom, she would be highly descriptive about her escapades with them. So much so that I often wished she would have brought them into the mix. Our relationship lacked substance; I like to think that we were purely in a physical relationship. Other than small, mostly work-related conversations here and there, I really had no idea who she was.
I don’t get this feeling from Beth. I know more about Beth than I knew in the entire span of whatever the relationship was with Maddie.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the screen of my phone lighting up through my slacks. Again, ignoring the call, I put my arms on the table and lean towards Beth.
“What are we doing Jake?” she asks suddenly, shortening my name again.
“We’re two people, interested in one another, having dinner and conversation.”
“And then what?”
“And then there’s two options. One, we say goodnight and I kiss you at the door.”
“The other option?” she asks breathlessly.
“You invite me in and the rest we can make up as we go.”
Sly, not too creepy, but with the blush creeping up her chest, the perfect amount of seduction.
I watch as Beth takes a deep breath, avoids my eyes and pretends to mess with something in her lap. When her eyes meet mine again, there’s heat there. She’s excited, she’s enthralled and she is definitely game.
“Holy shit! Aren’t you one of the Maddox brothers?” A young, possibly early 20’s blonde comes bouncing up to the table, breaking the moment.
I clear my throat, look worriedly at Beth and reply, “Yes, I am.”
“I knew it! One of my friends modeled for you guys and she may or may not have snuck a picture of you. I knew it was you because you are hard to miss, and then your face was all over one of those entertainment shows last week on some red carpet thing. Omigod, I can’t wait to tell her that I saw you, met you! Can I get a selfie?” she asks.
“I’m sorry. I’m on a date, and I’d rather not.” I apologize politely.
“Oh shit, I’m an idiot. Sorry. Like really though, it was so nice to see you and talk to you and omigod everything!” she gushes.
“Thank you.” I say, trying to feign niceness.
“No, thank you.” Blondie wiggles her fingers at me and walks off.
I take a deep breath and look to Beth, who is covering her mouth, trying to stop herself from laughing. “I’m sorry about that. That really never happened before.”
“That’s what happens when you go to those company events.” She laughs.
“I guess. You know me though; I’d rather not do those public events.”
“Why are you now listening to your mother and going? It’s not like she has any control in the company anymore since Ty took over.”
“She’s still my mother, or as much of one as she can be or pretend to be. Plus, I knew you were bringing surfer boy.”
Our dinner arrives and by the instant look on Beth’s face, I can tell she isn’t impressed with her dish as she takes a bite. In fact, it isn’t even the dish that I ordered her. I look at my plate, and note that my dinner is not what I ordered as well. I signal to the waiter nearby and ask him to review our dinner ticket and take the plates from our table.
“I think that was fish.” she leans in and whispers, shaking her head a little. “I don’t like cooked fish. It brings back memories of my old pet fish.”
“Can you eat sushi?” I ask as she nods. “You’re ridiculous. Wouldn’t that remind you of your old pet fish?”
“No, well, yes. But he somehow got fried in the sun from his bowl breaking while I was out of town and the sunlight from the window basically grilled him, so yeah. Can’t eat cooked fish. Raw fish makes me think of him as alive.” She smiles.
“That’s too much.” I smirk at her, catch her eye and wink.
Her face turns red and she looks away, fixating on the floor.
Moments later our order is brought to us. The waiter mistakenly places my plate in front of Beth and as soon as he leaves, we switch plates with a smile on our faces. I wait for her to take her first bite to begin my own food.
She sighs in happiness as she chews with her eyes closed and soon I dig into my own meal. Mid-meal, loud noises come from the front of the restaurant, and several voices fill the space. The ceilings being as high as they are, doesn’t help dampen the sounds but actually creates an echo and the lack of decor on the walls makes it so several voices become so loud, it ruins the ambiance of the room. Clinking and cheers erupt and our previously low voices are now slightly more raised to compete with the loud party that is sitting at one end of the dining room.
Feeling regret that this date has had one thing after another happen, just honest human mistakes, I want to press rewind on the evening and start over.
Luckily, Beth seems to not notice the series of interruptions aside from the mistake of our meals, or she’s a good actress.