Page 12 of We're One

“That’s a fair point.” I run my hand through my hair. “I thought I could get at least one dance out of her.”

Blaze laughs. “It’s good for you to be knocked down a peg or two.”

“I could say the same for you.”

“There’s no doubt about it. I now have Courtney to humble me on a daily basis though, so I’ve already been knocked down. I have to admit it’s good. Life’s been easy for us, for the most part. Sure, we’ve had some bumps in the road, but nothing compared to what others have gone through.”

“That’s a fair point.” We lost our parents young, but we had Gramps and that kept us grounded and surrounded with love. Money was never an issue for us, and with our looks, women have always come easily. Maybe we need more of a challenge in life. Good times make weak men, and I don’t ever want to be considered weak.

“What comes next?” Blaze asks. He holds up his hand for the check and soon has it in his hand. He signs it, leaving a very generous tip. He’s ready to get home to Courtney, and I’m ready to leave now that Sia’s gone. There goes my idea of finding another woman attractive. I should’ve known from the moment I approached the woman that it was Sia. It seems no other woman can draw me in... at least for now.

“I have no idea. The entire situation is complicated. I can’t shake the feeling that I know this woman. Maybe that’s why she’s so hostile toward me.”

“Did you sleep with her at some point?” he asks. Something in my mind triggers at this question, but I still can’t place it.

“I know I’ve been with too many women, but I can’t imagine I’d forget someone like Sia. She’s so unique, so beautiful. She’s not a woman a man forgets,” I say, but I have doubts about this.

“You better figure it out quickly, because if you were with her before and forgot her, you don’t have a shot.”

“I’m well aware of that. I’ve searched my thoughts, but can’t place her. I just know I’ve seen her before. It’s driving me absolutely crazy.”

“I think women were brought into this world to drive us crazy. It’s their single most important task in life,” Blaze says.

I laugh. “Don’t let any woman hear you saying that or you’ll be brutalized. Women have many talents, and the world would be much poorer without them in it,” I tell him.

“Believe me, I know. Courtney’s incredible. My world would be a much worse place without her in it. She makes me a better person, and I’ll be forever grateful I’ve met her.”

“I’ll spend more time with Sia. I’ll figure it out. If I have to redo the entire place three times over, I’ll do it. I’ll keep her around and get her walls to come down.”

Blaze gives me a long look. “It’s so odd to see you so focused on a woman. I know this past year you’ve been saying you want something more serious. Maybe she’s the woman to get through to you... if you can manage to keep her in a room with you.” He laughs again, highly amused by all of this.

“I don’t know where to start. We’re doing the decorating in the house and that will take a while, but I want to get her out of the work world. I want to take her on some dates.”

“Are you asking for some advice, brother?” Blaze asks.

I sadly shake my head. “I might just be,” I grumble. “I have to have this woman.”

“My first piece of advice is you’re going to have to step up your game. I don’t mean you have to play games, I mean that you have to throw out the playbook and try something totally new. Maybe try being yourself. You’re a great guy and if you let the real you show, you could easily win her. When is the last time you did that?”

I lean back as I try to remember being free. It’s been so long I can’t put a date on it. I realized young who I was and how easy it was to win women over. It took all the fun out of the chase. Maybe I need this.

“It’s been so long I don’t know exactly what it’s like to be carefree. It might be a good change to live in the moment.”

“It’s exhilarating. I’ve lived my life that way for a long time. Ripping off the ties of normal society is freeing. To simply be yourself with no thought of consequences is great for the soul,” Blaze says.

“There are always consequences. We can’t throw out all of the rules.”

“We can throw out the stupid ones,” Blaze insists.

“I sort of agree with that.”

“That’s progress right there,” Blaze says. “Let’s get out of here. It’s getting too loud now.”

As we walk toward the exit, my thoughts are still whirling. I’m not one to dwell on a woman, but since meeting Sia today she’s consumed me. I do need to change my approach. Maybe I should take Blaze’s advice to heart. It can’t hurt since my usual charm is getting me nowhere.

We step outside and the cool night air feels amazing on my cheeks. I’m not drunk by any means, but the stuffy atmosphere of the club gets to me after a while. I need a long walk. Sometimes that’s the best way to clear my head.

“How serious are you about this woman?” Blaze asks.

---