Loverboy
I felt satiated to my bones. Golden warmth bathed my body. Outside, a dog barked, accompanied with the shriek of a child. I was between crisp, featherlight sheets. Alarm speared through my mind. Where exactly was I?
As I stretched my arms gingerly, my knuckles bumped into a firm body. Oh, right. I drank last night, but not enough to not remember the events of a few hours past. The blonde boy with a Southern twang and a splatter of freckles had been, surprisingly, a demanding lover. “You look lonely.” It's not my best pick-up line for sure, but damn, talk about a great profit to investment ratio. I blinked as I looked around the room. Well, time to go.
The room was organized to a “T” and smelt of florals, so either loverboy had a cleaner or was cheating. The latter thought did something to my chest, my heart squeezing briefly at the thought. I wanted to lounge in the sunlight for longer, hell, I deserved it. Many apartments were shadowed by a neighboring high-rise. Thank God I was successful enough to move out of my old place, which had that problem. I was already dressed and had ordered a ride when I heard a deep voice.
“You're leaving?”
I turned, Loverboy had awoken and sat upright on the bed, I hungrily raked my eyes over his form. Tousled hair and lazy emeralds which eyed me tentatively, I went lower. A broad chest sprinkled healthily with a dusting of light hair, lower, my mind demanded, and I obliged, until I stopped at a pesky roadblock, which was the comforter bunched at his waist. A shame, the fun was good while it lasted. My phone pinged, my ride was here.
“Yeah.”
He was out of the bed in a quick rustle of sheets. “Let me get you something, for the road at least,”
“Uh, I'm fine. I need to go now.” My best friend, Alice, needed me especially today. In a few days she and her mom, Celine, would travel to Alice's father's home town, a large farming county in Texas. I would stay with them for as long as I believed I needed, then I would return to New York, alone. I let out a breath at the thought. So much work was ahead, and that was the major factor that made me allow a stranger to take me to his apartment. A hot as sin stranger. But it was still a dumb and dangerous thing to do nonetheless.
“I have to go now.” I breezed through the hallway and the living room, I was at the front door when he caught up to me.
“Hey,” for such a large hand there was little weight as it landed on my shoulder, “let me get a number at least, beautiful.”
It was corny, but my stomach tingled at the endearment. Good sex would do that to anyone. “I'm not really interested in round two.”
“Oh,”
I quickly checked my purse to make sure nothing was missing. He stood by the doorframe, thankfully, in a pair of shorts (it would've been quite a sight for the neighbors).
“Thanks for the night.”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, anytime.”
On my way back to my apartment and as I freshened up to go to Alice's, I tried to shake off the feeling of guilt. Even though I haven't done anything this reckless in a while, I have had my fair share of lovers. Maybe it was the move that had me this jittery, I decided. Yes, that definitely was the problem. Celine had always been like a second mother to me, and when mine wasn’t there she was more than willing to step up. She gave me closure, tampons, oversized cookies and boy advice. I loved her. So when she informed Alice and I of her move to Texas, which felt like a world away, I was devastated, but I understood. She needed somewhere quiet for her later years. And she had always had plans to find a quiet place to settle down.
I headed to Celine's place, a spacious apartment in the Upper East Side. The doorman to her building greeted me as I entered. “New shoes Paul?”
The man who had watched me come of age cracked a grin. “It was a birthday gift. Thanks again.” He lifted up his wrists to flash the pair of cufflinks Alice and I had gifted him last week. A silver hand crafted set.
“Anytime Paul. How's Layla and the kids?” I didn't think it was possible to dislike Paul nor his pretty wife and two adolescent kids who sometimes escorted him away during the end of his shift. He was beloved by the whole building.
“Fine, Lily's back is flaring up again. Mrs Richman sent us a new chair.”
Lily was wheelchair bound and sometimes had crippling flares. My heart warmed. “Ah, that's Celine right there. Lily's birthday is in a couple weeks right?”
“Yeah, my girl's turning thirteen. I’m going to miss her, Mrs Richman.” He said after a pause.
Dull pain radiated through me. I will too. “Thirteen’s a tough age. See you around.”
He laughed. “I hope you enjoy your stay, Miss White.”
I waved and made my way to the elevator. There were only two apartments on the Richman’s floor. The elevator doors slid open to reveal a central table which held a vase of red roses. I turned to the right and rang the doorbell which was right below the gold apartment number, 303. I wondered if Celine was just by the door as I rang, because it took her just a few quick seconds to swing it open.
“Stelle!” She cheered as she wrapped her arms around me. “You're just in time, I just ordered some food.” She sidestepped to let me in. She wore an off shoulder blouse with a matching pair of capris.
“Hey Celine.” I said weakly as I surveyed the area. Boxes were littered everywhere. I haven't been around in a few days, but how was this even possible?
I bent and gathered her into another hug. “How many things do you own?” I said into her dark bob.
She laughed, blue eyes twinkling. I stood straight, something catching my eye. A pair of large tennis shoes were neatly placed at the entrance.
“A guest?” I asked.
She nodded. “Ah, yes. Alice's cousin.”
“Oh, which one.”
She took my hand and led me into the living room. “Come meet my favorite nephew.” We sidestepped boxes until a crouched figure came into view, Alice stood beside him, pointing at the contents of the box he was hunched over.
“Estelle’s here.” Celine announced.
Alice quickly nudged her cousin. And when he turned to face me I felt all breath leave my lungs.
“Estelle, this is Dylan,” Alice said, oblivious to my wildly beating heart.
He slowly stood up, shock evident on his face. Alice gestured towards me, and Celine pulled me closer to him.
It took conscious effort to not let my jaw go slack, as I stared headlong at Loverboy.
