Be My December(15)

 

“I’ll have you know that I’m not petrified of you.”

 

His brow rose curiously. “Riiggght.” Over exaggeration dripped from his words. “That’s why you have barely said two words to me.” He took off around the corner and disappeared from sight.

 

What the hell?

 

My stubbornness and desire to prove him wrong shot through me like a cannon. I could have a conversation with this guy. Couldn’t I? He made it as clear as the night sky above that he wasn’t taking me to his apartment tonight so that was one thing I didn’t have to worry about. I mumbled obscenities under my breath and took off with a rush to find where this annoying yet intriguing stranger had run off to.

 

I inhaled sharply the moment he came into view as I turned the corner. He leaned against the red brick wall, arms crossed strongly across his chest, his eyes focused solely on me and where I would appear. He looked like a freaking poster boy of intimidating good looks and devilish intentions.

 

My eyes shot up to the neon sign flashing above my head, Joe’s Place. I shot him a look, and he nudged his head in the direction of the door leading into the 50’s inspired diner. Well this wasn’t how I thought my night would end. I swallowed my frustration and entered through the doors, making my way toward the far corner and sliding into an empty booth. When I realized I wasn’t being followed, I searched the diner and found my stranger leaning over the counter talking closely to a middle aged woman with almost black hair and a cute pink frilly dress covering her body. It looked like she had stepped out of Happy Days.

 

I fumbled through my clutch in search of my phone. I was in desperate need of a distraction, something, anything to pull me away from staring across the diner like a complete fool at a man who I had no clue about. Pulling out a couple of twenty dollar bills, tissues and my lip gloss, my fingers finally grabbed hold of my phone. Three unread message icons flashed before me.

 

Tori: I am so proud of you leaving with Mr. Get in my panties. Happy Birthday!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I shook my head at my best friend’s clear lack of people skills.

 

Message two.

 

Tori: I love this city. I love strip clubs. I love the man I am going to fuck tonight. I love yooooooooooooooooooou.

 

 

 

 

 

Message three.

 

Unknown number: I’d say it’s great to see you back in town, but then I’d be lying.

 

 

 

 

 

I gasped loudly, my body shuddered as a familiar feeling incapacitated me. My eyes continued to bounce over the words that tormented me from the confines of my phone. With a painful stab, my heart stopped with every letter, with every stomach churning word laid out before me. I read the message over and over again, like a sick and twisted need to allow it to further consume me. I didn’t understand this, my number was private. No one knew I was back in town. I sat back against the leather of the booth. Suddenly, I felt like the world was watching me, scrutinizing me, waiting in the darkness to take me in. My eyes darted and dodged around the busy diner. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t shut down. Not here. Not with him walking toward me, looking at me so all consuming.

 

“What’s wrong?” He pulled his wallet and phone from his pocket, placing them on the table between us, and slid in across from me.

 

“This place seems cool.” I darted away from his question desperate to change the subject and hoping he would follow suit. Exhaustion was hitting me at an alarming rate, and I craved the security my hotel room and bed would provide. The thought of actually having a conversation with this man felt exhausting yet seemed somewhat necessary. “I didn’t know this place existed.”

 

We were interrupted by the arrival of the same lady from the counter. She looked between me and Crawford, seriously what kind of name was Crawford, and smiled widely, her cheeks flushing. I swear I even heard her sigh. She leaned over toward me and a plate was placed in front of me, containing a lush looking piece of chocolate cake with mountains of snow white whipped cream towering sky high. My mouth watered at the sight. My head bounced between looking at the amazingness in front of me, the lovely lady whose nametag told me her name was Carole, and the man grinning across from me. Talk about confused. Carole turned on her heel and crossed the diner, giving us one last look over her shoulder.

 

“What’s this?” I asked breathlessly.

 

“You need to eat cake on your birthday.”

 

“You bought me cake?” I stated, astonished beyond belief.

 

“So it seems.” He fired a wink toward me before digging into the piece of cake that sat on the table in front of him, a moan of delight escaping his lips. I stared at him completely overwhelmed and at a loss for words. His eyes left the cake and met mine and a perfect smirk flitted over his lips. “You need to pick up the fork and put it in the cake and then eat it. It's delicious, my aunt knows how to bake a mean cake.”