Bad Luck Charm - 2. Chapter Two

"God, I hate flying," the blond was irritated.

The getaway was way amazing. The flight there was bearable, however, the flight back was the killer. 16 hours in the air was no joke at all, even when both of us are seated in business class. Nonetheless, I'm glad we made it back home safe and sound.

"Why don't you go ahead and take a hot shower to loosen those stiff muscles?" I encouraged. He simply nodded and with a sweet kiss he walked towards the bathroom.

He's always cute when he's annoyed.

The house was filled with boxes, with covers thrown over the 50-inches flat screen TV, the couch and some other bulky items in the living and dining room in preparation for the move which would be in another 3 weeks or so.

We had decided to get a proper home instead of this bachelor pad which I’d resided for the past 3 years. As this loft had really good bones, I’d managed to snag a good deal. With the cash from this transaction, it’s sufficient for us to place the downpayment for our new place. The house was a beauty situated a distance away from downtown, right beside a bay. We fell in love with the view the moment we first saw it. It's a commitment we both felt right and readied after dating for the past 8 months.

Oh boy, who would have thought?

~~*****~~

The next few days was a nightmare with constant checks, probes and worst of all, lots of time spent with Mr. Sour-Puss-Face-Eskins.

The outburst seemed to have never happened at all. There was no form of apology, well given his snobbish attitude. Conversations were scarce. Yet here I was, seated docilely while being examined. For an unknown reason, I found myself compelled to him, something about him made me wanna look at him. I took a chance for a quick glance only to be caught by his azure gaze.

Stop being an idiot. He’s a jerk remember?

"Something wrong, or are you feeling uncomfortable?" His attention did not leave mine. His deep baritone was sexy as hell to my ears.

I wondered how he would sound like when he's having an orgas-.

"Well?" He insisted.

"N-no. Nothing." I managed to stammer, my cheeks heated from getting caught doing something not proper, like sex. "When can I be discharged?" I added in a haste.

"Probably the next day, your condition is stable, you might want to consider some rehab options."

Ok... awkward silence.

"Can I buy you dinner next Friday evening?" He mentioned in a subtle and nonchalant manner.

What?! That escalated quickly.

I might have remained silent for too long. The sound of him clearing his voice brought me out of my surprise. As I observed him, he was fidgeting around in his seat and seemed to be using immense effort to speak to me. It's kinda endearing that his face was slightly flushed pink in embarrassment as well.

"Look, I'm so sorry for shouting at you. It wasn't your fault, I had a real bad day. I’m supposed to be at my son’s track meet but I got called in for an emergency instead. At least allow me to buy you a dinner as an apology for the lash out, please," he finished in a rush. His blue eyes looked at me with plea and persuasion.

I was definitely pissed off then, but now... I couldn't seem to reject the invitation. So he got a son, and I did see the gold ring on his finger now. I guessed I didn’t pay much attention to such details before. Sigh, "Yeah... Sure I don't mind,” I couldn’t help but felt kinda dejected.

That’s what you get for crushing on the straight.

To be honest, I knew I was a goner the moment I saw his wide smile, eyes twinkled brightly with happiness. He is married!! Ok, no harm being a good ole saint I guess. Besides, it's a free meal after all.

***

Carol was nice to wheel me out to the visitor center. I’d phoned and arranged my bestie to pick me up from the hospital last night. I did not tell her what happened… yet.

"Alright sweetheart, do take good care of yourself and that nice body," I was really used to the melodious voice by now. It’s music to my ears, I couldn’t help but snicker at my own lame attempt.

"I will, thanks for everything Carol," I gave her a gracious smile as she dropped me a wink before sashaying away.

It's good to be out of this wicked place, being cooped in the room for the past 5 days were driving me nuts. There's no pity for the weak even from work, the moment I switched on my phone, I was bombarded with work emails on a constant basis, clients trying to get in touch with me, on and on... and there’s Brian; zero visits from him. Maybe some alien has abducted him, I hoped.

"Wes!" There’s my bestie girl; Betty Brendall. I waved her over while holding onto the clutches which was more of a hindrance than a help, to be honest.

Loud, joyous, bubbly and real bitchy. She was a little on the plump side, at times to make her feel good, I'd said she's voluptuous, but no... she's just plump actually. Nonetheless, she's my best girl, with the most infectious laughter on earth. The moment we first met during my freelance work as a party host when I was 15, we’d hit it off immediately. We’d our fair share of fights, but over the years our bond had grown stronger and closer.

“What the hell happened to you? Seriously,” she fussed over me.

Uh-oh, bitch mode detected.

I tried to play it off by giving her my million dollar smile, but I didn’t think she’s buying it at this precise moment. “Do not make me hit you, even when you look like shit,” her hands steady on her hip taking on an intimidating stance.

“Hey, that’s rude. Well….. I got into an accident, no biggie,” I kinda shrugged.

“The first phone call I get from you, missing in action for the past week is to pick you up in the hospital. So do not tell me it’s no biggie.” She continued to glare at me before adding, “This is about Brian isn’t it?”

“It’s over between us,” I said simply.

She gave out a dramatic sigh, “Oh well, blondie number 4 bites the dust.”

“He cheated,” I told her bluntly.

Her demeanor softens and placed a hand on my shoulder, “Are you okay, honest please.”

I took a moment to reflect on my emotions. Did I truly love Brian? I thought I am in love, but I’d never gotten those butterflies in the stomach when we went on dates and I hardly missed him. But he was always there, around me, maybe it was a relationship born from convenience. I did not think adding sex into the equation would make a good judgment. Sex was good, but I didn’t think it pulled my heartstrings or something, I definitely did not feel closer to him, even after sex.

“Honestly, I feel just fine, angry probably but definitely not heartbroken,” I told her. “In fact, I’m ready to move on. Guess you can’t be sad over something that isn’t there in the first place.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You know-” I nudged her to signal her to shut her mouth as Dr. Eskins approached us. “Ouch, my boobs hurt,” she said harshly while giving her racks a quick rub.

Looking at him, she introduced herself, “Hi Doc, I’m Betty, a friend of Wes over here.”

“I’m John Eskins, please to meet you,” he gave Betty an awkward handshake before turning his attention to me with a small smile.

After a second of appraising the doctor, she battled her eyelashes and smirked, “Well, you must be blondie number-” this time round, I nudged her harder. Glaring at me, she threatened with a finger, “Keep doing that and I’m gonna make you pay for it if these goods can’t deliver,” she gestured towards her boobs again.

John eyed the both of us with interest, trying to suppress a laugh.

I feigned innocence at Betty, “Why don’t you get the car over, I can’t really walk such long distance to the parking lot.”

Giving me an exaggerated eye roll, she left for the car, “Nice meeting you, Doc,” she chimed.

What a drama queen.

“The pleasure is mine,” the doctor replied politely. Once Betty was out of earshot, he continued with a straight face, “Can I please have your number?”

“Um sure I can program it into your phone now if you don’t mind,” he’s already passing his phone to me. “There, done,” I handed the phone back.

Both of us stood there unsure of what to do. “Thanks for patching me up,” I tried. I gave him a smile as earnest as I could muster. Which is true, without him I’d probably have ended up in a much worse situation. “And I’m sorry that you had to miss your son’s track event.” Good job, nice and genuine.

“Don’t blame yourself for it, it’s not your fault at all,” he reassured me.

More silence. I could definitely cut the tension with a knife.

As on cue, Betty arrived with her car. “That’s my ride.” He nodded and proceeded to help me get seated in it. The clutches was stored in the car boot.

Leaning against the window, he spoke with a genuine smile, “I’ll contact you again. Be safe and take care.”

“Thanks John, and bye.” I gave him a smile of my own too.

With a wave, he returned back to the hospital. The ride was in silence until Betty decided to start speaking again, “Soooo……,” arching an eyebrow while taking a quick look at me before returning to the road.

“He’s married… with a kid.” I stated, no point sugar coating this. “Well, he’s buying me a dinner on Friday evening as an apology for some outburst he directed towards me.”

“So it’s date then,” she concluded. She seemed to have decided something with a few self-imposed nods before speaking, “Impress him.”

I couldn’t help it but roll my eyes at her, “I’m not stupid Betty, I’ll be a fool to get myself in this deep shit.”

“But he’s a damn good package deal though,” she sighed, “All the goodies are always taken.”

I agreed.

 ***

For some reason, I was nervous.

It’s not a date!

I’d a dinner appointment with John Eskins which I’d promised. After a quick shower, I took a look at the clothes I had laid out on my bed; a white cotton button down with the sleeves folded and a form fitting black chinos. It was casual looking, I was worried I’d be underdressed for the venue since I had no idea where we would be heading.

John had dropped me a call during his lunch hour, “Hey Wes, what’s your home address?”

“Why don’t you drop me the postal code for the dinner venue, I don’t mind meeting you there,” I offered, hoping to make this dinner less date-ish.

He took a moment before he countered, “It’s no problem, really. Besides, this dinner is supposed to be an apology from me, please let me do this.”

I doubted I could really weasel a way out of this situation. Hence, I caved and gave him my address.

“I’ll be there at 7 in the evening, is that alright for you?” He asked and I gave him my acknowledgment. After a few more pleasantries, he ended the call.

Maybe I should ask him about the dress code?

A moment of deliberation passed, and I’d decided to go along my original outfit. As I walked towards my shoe cabinet, I wondered where is the stack of the limited edition Blu-ray DVDs collection I’d on the shelf.

Taking a few minutes to tour around my place, I realized a few other things were missing as well. I guessed Brian took those items with him. Not that I cared, I was glad to avoid contact with him altogether, at least it’s a clean break. If I lost a few possessions, then so be it.

As for Brian... after Betty dropped me off at home, she left almost immediately stating that she needed to be somewhere to run some errands. I didn’t question her much on her activities. I did find a handwritten note on the fridge left by Brian. The gist of it; he’d decided we were not meant for each other, he thanked me for everything, packed up and left for good. What an ass, he cheated. I definitely felt insulted.

I’d chosen to put on a pair of dark brown loafers when the doorbell rang. I pressed the button allowing him to access the lift which would bring him directly to my loft unit.

It’s just dinner, don’t be anxious. Breathe.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and waited for him. Less than a minute, the elevator pinged announcing his arrival. I’d lost myself momentarily checking him out. He was dressed in a long navy blue shirt with black jeans that snugged his package nicely, paired off with a pair of black dress shoes.

He took a step out and greeted, “Hi Wes, I hope you are ready,” smiling at me radiantly. God, he looked dashing, how could I ever resist such temptation when it’s placed so blatantly in front of me for my consumption.

Dammit! Remember, deep breaths.

***

We arrived at a pretty decent restaurant located just on the outskirts of the town, about a 30 minutes drive from downtown. If I were to use a word to describe this place; it’d be rustic. The building seemed to undergo a major renovation. The windows were full-length glasses, with water features at the entrance. The roof was made with straws or something which reminded me of a cottage hut. The color tones used were earthy; lots of brown, beige, dark maroon and warm white. The seats placed strategically across the dining hall were dark brown leather. Classic chandeliers were hung from the ceiling a few meters apart casting off a dim orange glow giving the restaurant a soft ambiance. The vibe was cozy and warm. I loved it immediately.

The waitress greeted us promptly before bringing us to our designated table which was situated at the end of the main hall, just beside one of the glass windows overseeing the lake at the back of the restaurant. A simple scented candle was placed on our square table, topped with dark red table cloth. The smell emanated was woodsy with just a tinge of cinnamon. “I’ll come back in awhile with your orders,” the waitress smiled at the both of us and headed off attending to other customers.

“Wow, this place is magnificent,” I said, a brief eye contact was established before I shy away.

Why is his stare so intense? I tried to be more casual and less uncomfortable. Forcing myself, I glanced back at him.

“I chanced upon this place a few years back,” he looked sort of solemn as he reminisced. “I was feeling down and decided to go for a drive, nowhere in particular… and I found this place. I fell in love instantly,” he added chuckling at himself while he spoke.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere turned intimate. I was at a lost, the conversation was kinda left open-ended. Deep breath...

“What... happened?” I asked unsure of myself.

He seemed to be in a reverie. Before he’d managed to tell his tale, we were interrupted by the waitress, “Alright gentlemen, what can I get for you this evening?” Her name was Leah, as stated on her tag. I welcomed the interlude.

“I’ll have the grilled tenderloin, medium, with salad and home fries please,” he answered in a polite manner. “What about you?” He turned his attention towards me.

“Can I have the same as well?” I inquired.

“Sure not a problem,” Leah replied in an overly cheery tone. “How about some beverages?”

“Shall we have some red wine to go along?” Once again his gaze was focused on me, slightly amused. I couldn’t help but felt allured.

“Sure I don’t mind,” I added softly.

“Okay, coming right up!” She poured us some iced water before heading to place our orders with the kitchen.

After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat before he spoke in a soft voice, “Wes, thank you for accepting this invite. I really appreciate it, and it’s good to be out once in awhile.” He gave a courteous smile.

The familiar intimate setting returned. Maybe it’s his vulnerability, or the way he trusted me, getting lost in his blue eyes, my heartbeat accelerated and my lips began to parch. It felt like we were caressing each other with the connection we had established. The tension was so palpable I shuddered involuntarily.

As the evening progressed, we got more comfortable and got to know each other better, somehow conversations flowed easier. We talked about our professions; what made me joined the ranks of banking and what inspired him to be a surgeon, hobbies; the both of us are avid fans of tennis. Somehow we talked about plans to arrange a hitting session but nothing was confirmed yet. I realized I was beginning to really enjoy myself this evening.

I’d to admit, this was turning into a fantastic night; good food, good wine, good company. After the splendid meal and check were paid with a generous tip from John, we decided it was time to call it a night. However, before we stood to leave our table, I thought it’d be polite to give proper thanks.

I initiated, “John, it has been a great night. Thank you for this dinner, I have enjoyed myself very much,” I added a smile.

He took a minute to look at me, rubbing his right hand at the back of his neck, “You are much welcome. I have been quite withdrawn lately, thank you for the company,” he smiled back.

The ride back was a comfortable silence, both of us deep in thoughts of our own. It’s a surprise how the vibe between us had changed so quickly. Just two hours ago, the tension caused by the awkwardness could suffocate me, and yet… now the feel of familiarity was almost tangible.

“John… why don’t you head out more often? I mean I’m sure your wife and child would love that.” Curiosity got the best of me.

He didn’t reply immediately and seemed to be in a turmoil. “I… do not have a wife.”

That got my attention and interest. I tilted a little to face him. “What do you mean, I saw your ring the other day.”

Oh shit, busted. I confessed checking him out. Idiot!!

His lips tugged slightly ghosting a fleeting smile. “I’m not married, that ring’s a gimmick, it’s supposed to keep people away from asking or hitting on me.” He seemed embarrassed at the admission. Well not that I could blame him for being good looking. “I don’t usually do this with patients or colleagues but somehow you’re different…” he trailed off.

I felt flattered by his confession, “What about the child you mentioned?” I probed further. I couldn’t help the excitement bubbling in my guts.

I was greeted by another moment of silence. The only sound was the soft engine emitting from the vehicle. I was unsure if I managed to hit a scar which he would be uncomfortable talking about it. “Sorry that I asked, it’s oka--”

John interrupted me softly, “He belongs to my sister, who had passed away 5 years ago, in a car accident together with her husband. I tried to be there for him and provided for him as much as I could. He lives with my parents.” His usual bright blue eyes darkened with sorrow.

“Oh…” I was lost for words. That explained the outburst in the hospital. “I’m sorry,” I decided to risk a chance and continued, “My ex cheated on me, I just wanna get out of there soonest possible. I’m not usually reckless.”

He placed his hand over mine, in a soft voice he asked, “Are you okay?”

Deep breath…

“Yes. It’s a relationship out of convenience, I’m surprisingly alright.” I said as honest as I could. “And what makes you think I play for your team?" gesturing towards the clasped hands.

He chuckled, chasing away the shadows, “You were checking me out without a care in the world, even Carol noticed.”

“Oh…”

The rest of the journey was quiet, however, his hand remained on mine. It somehow felt comfortable and domestic. As he pulled into my driveway, I felt tense all of a sudden, clueless on how to proceed from here. “Thanks for tonight.” Well, that’s a good start.

After he put the vehicle to park mode, he turned towards me gazing into my hazel brown eyes. The things left unsaid spoke volumes as I held my breath.

His removed his hand and began to caress my cheek, sliding it to the crevice of my neck. Slowly, his face hovered just inches from mine. My gaze traveled to his slightly parted lips that looked so inviting, so tantalizing. I could feel his warm breath tickled my face. The tension in the air was so suffocating, making it harder to breathe by the seconds. Throwing caution to the wind, I licked my lips and inched forward pressing myself onto the succulent lips which I had fantasized since meeting him. The feeling was indescribable. How could anyone derived such pleasure from a mere kiss? I pulled him into an embrace wanting the contact to be as close as possible. He slid his tongue across my lower lip, nibbling me softly, probing, as I moaned he deepened the kiss. We dueled and explored each other, basking in pure bliss and lust, feeding off the sexual energy of each other. With the need to breathe, we broke apart. I looked at him smiling widely while gasping for air, our pupils dilated from the excitement and electricity, realizing he was as affected as I was.

Placing both of my hands on his sturdy chest, “That’s… amazing.” I took another deep breath and sigh in contentment while trying to curb the lust that was building within me.

“Can I see you again?” His blue eyes full of tenderness, urge, lust and love.

I gave him another peck and unbuckled the seatbelt. “I’ll call you,” I turned and gave him a wave before I entered the elevator to my apartment.

I couldn’t help the infectious smile splitting my face apart nor I could stop myself from having a bounce in each step that I took.

Hello, blondie number 5.