Page 4 of Oh Boy!
Sally
“My name is Tessa. Let me know if you need anything else.” A content sigh escapes my lips as the tattooed pixie-haired woman with striking blue eyes leaves with an empty tray. Eyes on my full plate of mini pulled pork sliders and fries, it dawns on me that I forgot to order a side salad. A wayward lock of hair escapes my ponytail, and I tuck it behind my ear. I congratulate myself for insisting that we eat al fresco at Bed Knobs & Brews rather than freeze in the air conditioning.
Tonight is a girl’s night out celebrating the completion of the intense Krav Maga class. Courtney’s last-minute suggestion as we left the dojo behind, freshly showered and ready to relax, intrigued me because of both its name and organic menu. Now that we’re here, I must admit that the cozy, rustic vibe of the unique micro-brewery/café combo fits the bill to perfection! I make a mental note to come back next week.
“You did not!” I slap my friend’s forearm. She winces, but even my sunglasses can’t hide how her face reddens with excitement that has nothing to do with the beautiful July weather.
“Sure did…” she confirms, a triumphant glimmer in her hazel eyes. Sure enough, she flashes her phone screen in front of my disbelieving eyes. Nathan Price’s digits are displayed with a picture of Barbie’s faithful boyfriend, Ken.
If she only knew! Still, my mouth goes dry.
What’s wrong with me?
I grab my IPA and take a large gulp from the small glass while doing my best to conceal my surprise. Licking the lingering foam from my lips, I feign to overlook the area code, which betrays that he lives in New York, where my next assignment is.
I’m stunned and can’t form a coherent response. I need to buy myself some time to process. I open my mouth as wide as I can and sink my teeth into my sandwich like the lady that I am.
Next, I wipe my hands with the paper napkin and high-five her. “Way to go, girl!”
“Yup, I scored big time.” She’s got it bad for this guy! Her freckles almost vanish under the color of her cheeks, which I find endearing. Clapping her hands, she leans forward, her voice low. “Guess who’s getting thoroughly fucked tonight?” She winks and squirms in her seat before attacking her appetizing Cobb salad.
“Your bluntness is refreshing.” I mean every word, although I would prefer that it be applied to a different topic. I’m lucky to have a friend like her. Funny. Outspoken. Real. Have I ever been this carefree? Sure, eons ago, before it was stolen from me. In spite of what I do these days, I can’t get over this particular unfortunate… incident.
Stop right there! Not here. Not now. Not again…
I push the negative thought to the furthest corner of my mind and listen to her recount what led to this moment. She throws her head back, and her curly red hair bounces. “Of course, he wants a piece of this!”
Clinking our beers, we both laugh at that. Mine is a bit bitter, and I’m not talking about the beer.
What did I expect from the breathtaking Nathan Price anyway? I didn’t believe a word he said to me. Elijah’s instructions were crystal clear: Getting to know one another wasn’t part of the plan, since it allegedly makes the training less effective.
“Seriously, though. What’s the worst thing that could happen?” She shrugs, munches on her salad, and rests her fork on her plate.
My left hand toys with my braided ponytail; Courtney’s question hurtles me to my past and an answer that I should have weighed less lightly when I first met Alexander McIntire through a family friend.
Didn’t Nathan stress that a dojo wasn’t a dating scene and that his intentions were honorable yesterday? I’m being unfair; technically, he didn’t lie. As of a couple of hours ago, our class was officially dismissed, and Courtney did make the first move.
My confused mind keeps replaying yesterday’s encounter. Somehow, Nathan’s gentlemanly manners didn’t ease my discomfort. He unwittingly bent the anonymity rule with his handshake.
Something about him bothered me then, and it irritated me that I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. I blame him for not giving me time to absorb the icebreaker that I ruined by hesitating. The beautiful stranger pushed me by asking me what I was afraid of. It hit too close to home. A cold sweat trickled down my spine.
That’s none of your fucking business, sir!
Seeing me freeze, he held both of his hands up in surrender, as if reading my mind, and apologized a little too late, claiming that he wanted to become a person rather than an opponent after sensing how rough the session had been on me. How perceptive! Yeah, too little, too late. Instead, I sprinted to Elijah’s side to finish the class, and nobody questioned the swap. No matter how close Courtney and I have become over the last few years, only Rupert managed to free the words from my troubled soul. And he sparked my attention with the dojo that came highly recommended by hotel staff in Denver. I’ve missed him. So much. It would be an understatement to say that last semester’s archaeological site placement coupled with The Whiskey Barrels’ gigs on the East Coast doesn’t allow much room to meet up.
“Damn, that class was challenging. Elijah was—”oblivious to my inner turmoil, Courtney averts my eyes that remain hidden beneath my shades—“something else.” Indeed. Then, she divulges that he was her first target. Wolfing down her remaining food, she thanks me for dragging her to the dojo.
“He made me think of Sam Hanna.” My sliders only half-eaten, I clue her in after she frowns. “You know, fromNCIS: Los Angeles.”
“I watched the show years ago. Apart from DiNozzo from the original series, I don’t remember the cast. He was more of a playboy like Nathan. Granted, they don’t look alike at all. Nathan’s super pale skin reminds me of Snow White.”
I burst out laughing. “Right! Innocent, pure… and tempted by the forbidden fruit that you are.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, girlfriend.” That earns me another high-five. “Anyway, it’s cool that my years of karate paid off so that we could be in the same class.” I nod in agreement.
“Sam Hanna was played by LL Cool J.”
“Ohhh, him!” We discuss the show until she shakes her head. A wicked grin crosses her face, revealing that her thoughts have drifted back to her impendingrendez-vous. “I definitely hit the jackpot when Mr. Price agreed to meet for late night drinks.” Courtney feels the need to add for the zillionth time, “He’s insanely hot.”
