Jake: I’ll catch up with y’all tonight.
He doesn’t reply.He’s either pissed, doesn’t care, or talking shit about me to the rest of the guys. I don’t really care. The only one who understands is Marshall. The other two are too busy chasing their next conquest and getting sloppy drunk.
Glancing at the clock, I realize it’s almost eleven and I need to get out of here if I’m going to make it for lunch with Charleigh. I grab my keys and run down the stairs. At least I don’t have to deal with the parents today. Since it’s the middle of the day on a Wednesday, they are at work, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I’ve been avoiding them at all costs. Not wanting them to drag me into another fight about Tonya. I don’t understand why they are so worried about it. It’s not like I’m going to look to them to support my kid. Hell, I wouldn’t even go to them for parenting advice. All they do is tell you what’s expected and what isn’t tolerated.
Looking back on my relationship with Tonya, I realize that my upbringing had a lot to do with why we failed as a couple. I acted like the spoiled brat that I am. Any time I’ve gotten into any kind of trouble my parents waved their cash around until the issue was dropped. God, I’m such a douchebag. It’s taken me way too long to realize it. But today is another day to put my feet in the right direction.
* * *
Charleigh doesn’t even cometo the door when I knock. I’m standing there, shuffling my feet, wondering if she forgot about our lunch date. There’s no way she could have forgotten. I double checked with her last night that we were on for today, and she doesn’t seem like the type of person to stand someone up.
“Come in,” Charleigh calls from somewhere in her apartment. “The doors unlocked.”
Pushing the door open, I holler back, “I’m pretty sure that’s not a smart thing to call out.”
She walks out of her bedroom in a fluffy robe and a towel wrapped around her head. Her long legs draw my attention, and I can’t help staring. Looking her over from her blue painted toes, all the way to the top of the towel, I feel incredibly lucky that she decided to give me a chance.
“Yo,” she snaps her fingers. “My eyes are up here.”
“Um, sorry.”
“I barely unlocked it five minutes ago if you were wondering.” She shakes her hair loose of the towel and her wavy hair surrounds her face. “Besides, I wasn’t expecting anyone else.”
I laugh, “I don’t think a serial killer would care if you were expecting them or not.”
“True,” she pauses. “But I don’t think they would knock at all.”
Touche. “You aren’t dressed.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I just didn’t want you to be late for work.”
“I got in late last night and slept through my alarm this morning. Let me go get dressed really quick.”
She throws the towel in an overflowing basket right outside her door. She starts untying her robe as she passes through the door but is around the corner before I assume she takes it off to put on whatever she’s wearing. A small, okay big, part of me is disappointed her robe didn’t slip to the floor sooner, but I don’t want to bethatguy. The one that is all about the physical and none of the emotional aspects of a relationship. I’m trying to be different than before, but right now she’s making that incredibly hard.
I don’t know what to do while I wait. Sitting here twiddling my thumbs doesn’t sound like a good idea. My mind will just wonder how Charleigh looks under that robe. A little tour around her apartment seems like a good way to use my time. It will give me a peek into who she is outside of the tattoo shop.
The kitchen is full of mismatched appliances, dishes and knick-knacks. My mother would have a heart attack because of that alone. Some of the dishes are older, but she has a few square modern plates sitting in the cabinet. All of the counters, and cabinets, are painted white, but they look distressed on purpose. It’s a definitely a shock from the sleek, lifeless look of my kitchen.
Opening the only cabinet that doesn’t have a glass door, I peek inside. There is a box of Fruit Loops with marshmallows. Blegh, that doesn’t even sound like a good combination. What sort of weirdo am I dating?
It feels good saying that. It’s been a long time since I’ve even considered dating anyone. Even back before I confronted Tonya about us getting back together. I didn’t want to be with anyone. I didn’t even really want to be with Tonya if I’m being honest with myself. I was just doing what I thought was the right thing to do. What my parents told me I needed to do.
Charleigh comes back into the living room while I’m getting a closer look at the art she has pinned around the mirror. She has a thing for feathers if the ones all over the pages are any indication. They draw you in, though. They are vivid, and you can see each individual piece of the feather.
“These are really good,” I say loud enough so she can hear me.
I jump when she places a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks.”
“You are like a fucking ninja,” I laugh. My words die on my lips the moment I turn around.
Charleigh is wearing a sundress with skulls all over. The perfect outfit for the date I have planned for us. It also shows off the half sleeve tattoos she has on both arms. The left side is a colorful nod toAlice in Wonderland, hats, tea cups, and clocks woven together beautifully. Her right arm has a mixture of flowers, skulls, and feathers in black with shading to tie it all together.
“I love your tattoos,” I whisper.