DARREN
IT’S BEEN ABOUT a week since I’ve heard from Kaiden and I’m beginning to think something’s wrong. What did I do? Did we move too fast?
Sitting at my computer my mind shifts into a daydream about her, but I’m soon interrupted by my receptionist.
“Good morning, Mr. Walker,'' she says slyly, “Are you ready to go over some of the notes from this morning's meeting?”
I think about putting it off so I can make a quick call to Kaiden, but I change my mind and decide I’ll hit her up later.
“Sure. Come on in, Sharice,” I gesture towards the seat in front of my desk.
“Okay, great. Let me just grab a few things before we start.”
Her heels tap against the wooden floors as she walks out of my sight. I hear her shuffle a few things around on her desk before returning back to my door. Her blazer is gone, revealing every inch of her fitted bodycon and her hair is no longer in the clip she had in a few seconds ago. I notice something’s a little different today. But I can’t quite tell if it’s the vibe she’s giving me or the new haido from yesterday's ‘sick day’ she called in for. This time she walks back into my office and reaches for the door, attempting to close it behind her, but before she does, I stop her, in efforts to avoid an HR case from hell.
“You can leave the door open. This won’t take too long,” I suggest politely. “Did you do something with your hair?” I ask but not really caring.
“Ah, so you noticed. I did. It’s a little shorter than usual but the curls hold better at this length,” she exclaims.
“I like it. It looks very nice,” I add blandly, “So, what’s first?” quickly shifting the conversation.
As she talks, I’m barely listening to anything she says. Reaching for the pen in front of me I grab a steno pad, scribbling a few keywords here and there, but nothing legible comes from that. All I keep doing is running back the night I had with Kaiden, smiling stupidly at the desk in front of me, remebering each moment of the beautiful evening. But then my happiness turns to concern, wondering why she hasn’t returned a text, a call, or anything for that matter. A few moments later Jay walks into view and Sharice rises to greet him first.
“Hey big bro!” she yells all too loudly for a office setting.
“Hey sis, how’s boss man treating you?” Jay asks.
“You know, same old, same old.” She diverts her attention towards me, smiling like I’m supposed to be apart of some inside joke, “Did you want to reconvene at a different time?” she asks hoping I say no so she can sit in on the conversation we’re about to have.
“I think that’s best. I’ll let you know when I’m ready, thank you.”
“Okay,” She says disappointedly. Just as she leaves, she hugs her brother one last time, “I’ll catch you fellas later. Oh, and before I forget, tell Momma I’m doing fine and to stop calling me so damn much.”
“So, you’re really gonna cuss in front of your boss, Sharice?” immediately scolding her.
Apologetically covering her mouth, she leaves before he lectures her anymore.
“I’Ll LeT yOu KnOw WHeN i’M rEaDy,” he mocks. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Close the door, man,” I say, visibly already over his shit.
“Damn, can I get a please!?”
“Man, close the damn door!” I yell under hushed tones.
He shuts the door and sits in the seat closest to the window by my desk.
“So, are you gonna tell me motherfucka’ or do I need to sit here and look at your pitiful face for another five minutes?”rolling my eyes, I rise from my seat to calm my nerves for what I’m about to say. “Oh shit, did Sharice fuck up?” he continues, “Damn, alright Darren, I’ll talk some sense into her because she really needs this job. Just give her chance to make it up to —.”
“Shut up! Damn. Relax, it’s not about her,” I say annoyed as hell.
“Oh well then get on with it, my guy!”
“Well if you would shut the fuck up long enough for me to say it.” I take a moment before I get too disrespectful and start again. “Okay, remember that girl I brought to our soft opening the other night?” He nods in confirmation, “Well, I haven't heard back from her, ALL WEEK,” expressing confusion.
“Damn, well, have you tried calling her or shooting her a quick text?” He suggests.
“Well, yeah, but I’m not tryna look crazy by blowing her shit up all day everyday, ya know?”
“I mean you gonna look like a simp anyways so you might as well go on head’ and do it,” he laughs amused by his statement. And my pain.
I pull out my phone, looking at the last couple of messages and decide against hitting her line again. At this point, it is what it is.
“Nah, I’m good. Besides, if she wanted to speak to me should would. But damn that was a waste of effort. “Say, busy later?”
“Depends. What you got going? Drinks?” he asks.
“For sure. Say 6 p.m.?”
“Say less, I'll meet you at TE-BAR.”
We both rise to our feet to say our goodbyes and nothing more.
Sharice rings my office number to see if I’m ready to continue our breifing, but I let her know I’m going to take off for the rest of the day due to the same ‘illness’ she had yesterday. I need to get out of here and clear my head. I look around while I hurriedly pack my things, lock up, and exit to the elevators before anyone else can speak to me.
It's a few hours later and now I have to meet Jay, when really all I wanna do is go home and get some sleep. Got’s to see it through my boy. I pull into a spot at TEBAR and go inside before I quickly change my mind and drive off. Jay is sitting at the bar with some random, looking completely uninterested, but he's a gentleman so he keeps it seemingly polite. He sees me walking up from his peripheral, double taking then shooting a concerned look over at me. Confusion covers my face, assuming he was referencing the woman he was talking to, but I quickly realize that's not the case. He gestures a sly glance over my shoulder, so I turn around slowly and see her. Nerves take over me and I no longer feel like I'm walking, more so floating on air, as my feet escape me causing me to trip over nothing at all. I stumble, never hitting the floor, but causing so much commotion that everyone looks over at me — even her. Why didn’t this motherfucka’ text me and shoot me a warning!
Looking over at her she’s smiling with secondhand embarrassment or what could be her own from seeing me here. She gestures to me to come over and I do, but not before grabbing a drink and a shot for good measure. She’s sitting in the corner and from the looks of it she’s on her own, but who knows. Who cares, just go over there. She’s wearing a pair of ripped jeans that barely come up past her navel and a simple white tee, but this doesn’t stop her from wearing heels. Her hair is rounded in a bun so high that she reaches my height as she stands to greet me.
“Hi handsome,” she says like time hasn't passed.
“Hey . . . stranger,” I say as the word stings my tongue.
She laughs as she sits, nodding her head, getting my obvious frustration. “I deserve that,” stating in agreement, “Let me explain.”