1- Awkward Moment
SHE
RING! RING! RING!
I heard my phone ring for the third time. I rubbed my eyes and tried to open them slowly as I reached for the source of the noise that woke me up.
With heavy eyelids, I peeked to see what time it was.
6:00 AM
I sighed and forced myself to sit up.
“Get up, Nicky. Time to get your drunken ass out of bed.”
It has been the same routine for six months now.
I got up early morning, worked the whole day and night until I was too tired to think then went home, away from the public eye I dwelt in daily for eighteen hours, and then drowned myself in glasses of wine until I passed out.
Every day, since I moved out from the apartment I shared with my best friend had been like this.
Lonely and Miserable.
I know people will think it is impossible for Nicky Dei, the country’s most popular movie star, phenomenal TV personality and most in-demand endorser to be lonely. But I was.
I was never alone. I was surrounded by flocks of people each day but I was lonely.
Lonely since the day I lost the two people I cared for the most.
Sam, my handler would say. “Move on, Nicky. You’re a beautiful woman. Don’t waste yourself away to the pain of the past. Go out! Flirt! Date! Sleep with a hot guy and forget about it.”
I tried. I did but I never got past a cup of coffee with most guys.
The more I failed in dating the more I buried myself in tons of work so there was less time to screw up my already catastrophic love life.
The farthest I got anywhere with any guy was three dates with Drake.
We worked together so we were able to coordinate our schedules to sneak in a coffee date, a lunch and a dinner.
It was also practical to try to work things out with each other since we were being paired as a love team.
But when he tried to take it further, I chickened out. I wasn’t ready. He didn’t pursue it and we agreed to remain friends.
I took another deep breath and got up. I freshened up, brushed my teeth and changed into my jogging clothes.
Morning runs were one of the few things that still kept me sane so I went on them every day. I looked at my face in the mirror and sighed.
“This has got to stop, Nicky. Time to reclaim your life.” I told myself with determination.
I walked out of my unit and got in the elevator still thinking to myself when I heard the cute neighbor I saw every day but never bothered to know or speak to.
HE
Going out on my usual morning jog after my daily meditation on the rooftop, I got in the elevator and pressed the button to the ground floor. Just when the doors were closing I heard her melodious voice call out. I saw her every day but that was usually in the lobby since she lived a few floors above my unit. Lucky that I decided to spend a few more minutes meditating on the rooftop because now I get to ride her… I meant to ride with her in the elevator.
“Hold please.”
I quickly pressed the button to keep the doors open. Then she stepped in and the confined space was suddenly filled with her sweet scent of pear and freesia.
I moved to the back of the elevator as she hit the button to close the door.
“Thanks.” She said over her shoulder and I smiled.
She then turned her attention to her phone’s playlist, leaving me to appreciate the wonderful sight that is Nicky Dei.
Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, showing off the delicate skin of her neck and nape, the racerback sports top she was wearing, bared her perfect shoulders.
I fought the urge to circle my arms around her tiny waist and press her ample buttocks to my pelvis as I trailed soft, lingering, close-mouthed kisses down her nape and shoulder.
My breath hitched with just the thought of her body against mine. But, alas, to the rich and popular Nicky Dei, I am just a guy from the lobby that she saw every morning. And this was just one of those mornings.
No. This will not be just another morning.
Today, I will introduce myself and ask to jog with her instead of trailing behind her in the park like some creepy stalker.
I took a deep breath and gathered the courage to approach her. I took two steps towards her and said as calmly as possible.
“Hi, Nicky.”
She turned to face me with her radiant smile and her magnificent brown eyes lined by fans of thick eyelashes.
“Hi.” She said in her sweet voice.
“We see each other in the lobby every morning but I never got to introduce myself. I’m Richard. Richard Alden.” I stated as I reached out a hand for her to shake.
SHE
He basically just introduced himself. I looked at his handsome dimpled face as he spoke and admired his huge biceps and shoulders.
Sam’s words echoed in my head. “Sleep with a hot guy and forget about it. Sleep with a hot guy and forget about it.” Maybe, that’s just the head start I needed.
When he reached out his hand for me to shake it, I was shocked to see his shorts impressively bulging. I was initially taken aback by the situation but tried to recover by blurting out the most awkward introduction in the history of introductions.
HE
She looked down at my hand then her eyes widened and her cheeks blushed as she looked back up to my face in amusement and said. It was too late when I realized the situation she saw down South coz then her eyes already held mine in their tight mesmerizing grip.
“Nice meeting you, Richard. I see you extending your FRIENDSHIP there. Sooo... Which one do I shake?” She asked with a smirk as I wished for the earth to swallow me whole.
