Chapter Fourteen
Gillian
The weekend couldn’t come soon enough. I spent my time trying to stay as busy as I could, but in the quiet hours, when work was over and there was nothing to do but sit and stare at the TV, I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not I was doing the right thing.
Lexie was right. I could get too attached. Things might not go the way I wanted them to, and if they didn’t, I’d be left hanging, thinking about what could’ve been. I stayed close to my phone as best as I could. I couldn’t keep it on me during class, but I did check it every time I got a chance.
The second the girls started dispersing, I’d run over, pull it out of my duffel bag, and turn the screen on. It didn’t take me long to realize something was wrong. Saturday morning, I woke up anxious and worried. I was starting to think that Dwayne didn’t want to talk to me. I got dressed and walked into the kitchen. There were three bowls and a pan sitting in the sink. I picked up the sponge and started scrubbing the pan, taking my time, trying to get every crevice. I had to stay busy.
I moved onto the bowls and took as long as I could, trying to keep myself distracted. I couldn’t think about him. I had to focus on the cleaning. I finished the dishes, filled up a mop bucket, and began mopping the kitchen. The floor was already perfect. The water came out clear, but I kept going, mopping underneath the cabinets, then behind the refrigerator and the stove. It didn’t take me long. By the time I was done, it was barely ten in the morning and there was nothing left to clean.
I collapsed on the couch and grabbed my laptop so I could find something to watch. I told myself it would be easy. I’d find a movie and get into it. Then I’d forget about the fact that Dwayne hadn’t called me. I settled on a romantic comedy and made some popcorn.
I couldn’t get past the credits. I kept checking down at my phone. I was going to have to call him, but I didn’t want to seem desperate. He stayed away for a reason. Still, if I didn’t call him and find out what was going on, I was going to lose it.
I dialed his number. “Hey, Gillian.”
“I hope I’m not bothering you.”
“No, I just finished working out. I’m sorry I haven’t called you.”
“Did something happen?”
“It’s your brother. He called me right before you texted to tell me that he was going to be in town.”
“That’s not so bad. Maybe we can do something together.”
“But he doesn’t want me seeing you.”
“I think we can work it. I’ll call him and pretend not to know that he’s in town. Then we’ll act like it’s the first time we’ve seen each other since the party. We’ll make it casual and act like there’s nothing between us.”
He paused for a moment, presumably to think about what I’d said. “That might work. How about we have dinner tonight, the three of us? I got my house fixed up and was thinking of cooking.”
“You cook?”
“I try. I’m not a gourmet chef, but I know some neat tricks.”
“You’ll have to show me.”
“I will. How does scampi sound?”
“Amazing.” I was starving.
“Good, call your brother and make him think it was his idea.”
“I will.”
I hung up and called Michael. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey, Michael. How are you?”
“I’m alright. I thought I’d drive up to town this weekend. What are you up to?”
“Nothing. Are you going to go see Dwayne?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. I just thought since he was in town. We should get together, the three of us tonight.”
“Maybe. I’ll have to talk to him.”
“Let me know. I am bored out of my mind here.”
“I’ll call you back.”
I rushed into my room to find my outfit. I wouldn’t be seeing Dwayne until later on that night, but I couldn’t contain myself. It had to be casual, but sexy. I spent hours trying on pants, looking at them in the mirror, matching them with shirts.
Nothing I tried on worked, my standards were too high. I grabbed my credit card and drove down to the department store. I felt guilty spending the money, but it was worth it. I wound up buying a pair of tight leggings, black pumps, and a bright red tunic top.
By the time I got to Dwayne’s house, I was so frazzled I couldn’t think straight. I looked good, but I was worried. I couldn’t let on that Dwayne and I were dating — if that’s what we were even doing. Michael would lose his mind.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Dwayne answered, stepped outside, and closed the door. “I can’t wait to rip that off you.” He dove in to kiss me.
I pulled away. “Come on. We can’t let him see.”
He followed me inside. The bare living room had been transformed into a minimalist paradise with a white sectional and a matching ottoman in the center of the room. The only decoration was a clock in the shape of a black sun hanging behind the couch where Michael was sitting.
“Hey, sis. What do you think?” He looked around the room.
“It looks wonderful. When did you move in?” I asked Dwayne.
“Last week.” I followed him into the kitchen. There was a bottle of white wine sitting next to the stove and a bowl of shelled shrimp along with a bowl of angel hair pasta. “I was just about to finish the scampi.”
“It looks wonderful.”
“You want a beer?” Michael ducked down and reached into the fridge.
“Sure,” I took one from him. “How are you liking it in Chattanooga?” I asked Dwayne.
He added some olive oil into a pan, then a pinch of garlic and turned on the heat. “I like it. It’s different living in a big city.”
“I couldn’t do it,” Michael said. “Too many people, too crowded. I need peace and quiet.”
“I felt the same way when I first moved here,” I said, “but now I couldn’t imagine living out in the boonies. There’s nothing to do, and you have to drive all the way here to go shopping for anything but food.”
“There’s a lot outside the city, too,” Dwayne said. “I’ve been dying to see the waterfalls.”
I took a drink of my beer. “It’s so beautiful out there. I haven’t been in years.”
“Maybe we could go sometime.” Dwayne added the shrimp to the pan. Michael glared at him and pounded his beer.
Dwayne let the shrimp cook, then added the white wine, salt, and red chili flakes. He picked up the pan and threw the shrimp in the air. I gasped, and he looked back with a grin. “You really know how to cook,” I said.
“Wait till you try it.”
Michael was sitting at the dining room table watching our exchange. “I’m starving, man.”
Dwayne carefully pulled the noodles out of the pan with a pair of tongs and carefully set them on plate with a healthy helping of shrimp. “There you are.”
“That looks so good.”
Michael was staring at Dwayne while Dwayne made him a plate. “Don’t get any ideas,” he whispered to me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered back.
Dwayne brought Michael his plate and sat down. He watched me twirl the noodles around my fork and take a bite. “How is it?”
The wine, lemon, and salt mixed together, creating the perfect tangy flavor. It made my tongue tingle. “It’s divine.”
He smiled. “Yeah?”
I nodded excitedly.
“You guys want to get a drink after this?” Michael asked.
“Sounds good to me.” Dwayne took a bite of shrimp.
“Where should we go?” I asked.
“There’s a club downtown I’ve been thinking of checking out,” Michael said. “You won’t even have to change.” He looked at me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He downed his beer and turned back to his plate.
Dwayne met my eyes, a look of concern on his face. I shrugged. Michael was going to have to get past it if Dwayne and I were going to keep seeing one another.