Page 57 of Champagne Kisses
“I fucked up, bro. The market was down that day and I lashed out. She’s notmytype, but she seems perfectly nice.”
"I don't give a fuck if she's not your type! She ismygirlfriend, and she was there because Iaskedher to be. Because I'mseriousabout Maya!" I didn't realize how mad I still was at Cory until I was yelling at him. Knowing he was in the wrong, he doesn't try to interrupt.
"How serious are we talking, bro?" he asks quietly. I can't believe this asshole has the nerve to question me.
"I don't know…Serious!" Cory looks at me doubtfully and I shout back, "Reallyserious!" Not my finest argument. I may need to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to make Cory understand. I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"I love her. Like,reallylove her. I haven't bought a ring or anything," I hear Cory gasp over the phone. "But I think I might buy her a ring eventually. Assuming we get back together." For a while, there's just silence from Cory's side of the line. Then—
"Damn. Adam! Why didn't you let me know it was so serious? Maya could be mysistersome day?!" I smile at that thought. Things are tough now, but Maya in my bed, by my side, with my family? It all sounds amazing. I lower my hackles slightly since he actually sounds sincere.
"I assumed it was obvious when I brought her to meet Mom, Dad, and all my asshole brothers," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I suppose Cory has no frame of reference, since I've never brought a woman home before. Before Maya, I never let a woman stay over; now I'm contemplating forever with a woman I've known less than three months. Not that I care, butthat's not exactly the norm. Cory clears his throat, sounding embarrassed even over the phone.
"Again…I'm sorry, bro. I'll be sure to apologize in person at Mom & Dad's party, OK?" Assuming she's there…
“Well…Don’t let it happen again. I plan to be with Maya long-term, and I don’t need any of your so-called helpful comments.”
“Understood.”
Even though I’ve patched things up with Cory, I'm still not ready to face Maya. If I'm being honest, it hurts that she doesn’t already know how I feel about her, that she doesn’t trust me. I haven't stopped texting her, though; I can’t go cold turkey when it comes to that woman. But I've kept my distance, and I know she's noticed.
I take another sip of my Jack & Coke and try to shake my gloomy thoughts. A tall brunette with fake boobs wearing nothing but a g-string and pasties practically slithers into my lap and bats her eyelash extensions at me.
“Hey, big boy. Why so glum?” She gyrates in my lap as she speaks. She looks like one of the countless women I wasted time with before Maya.
“No reason. Just taking a break from the bachelor party festivities.” I nod my head towards Bryan and she giggles.
“Oh, I see." She grinds even harder on my lap, probably thinking she's found her marks for the night. "Well, if you boys are looking to take this party to the next level, me and a few other girls can come to your room and turn that frown upside down.” She winks for emphasis and I turn away to hide my cringe.
What the hell am I doing here? I've never had any trouble getting a woman into her birthday suit, and the women in here have one goal: separate you from as much of your cash as possible by any means necessary. I'm not dumb enough or drunk enough to invite one to my room. Especially not when only one woman is worth my attention, and I'm the idiot keeping her at arms length.
I politely excuse myself and walk over to let Bryan know I have a headache—which is true, despite the hard time the guys try to give me. They're so blasted on whiskey and Dos Equis®, they can hardly stand. No way they make it through Bryan's "Hangover"-themed bar crawl at this rate. I push my way out of the club and head back to the hotel.
Thirty minutes later, I've showered, taken two Excedrin, and ordered room service to soak up the liquor currently giving me the spins. I sit on the edge of the bed and grab my cell. I might be a bit drunk, but this call can’t wait. After four rings, I hear her sleep-scratchy voice on the line.
“...Mmm. Hello?” Damn. She sounds half asleep. Maybe I shouldn’t have called at – I look at my watch – one in the morning. I totally forgot about time zones.
“Oh shoot. I didn’t mean to wake you, Maya.” I hear a gasp and then fumbling, like she almost dropped the phone.
“Adam! Uh, no, no. It’s fine. I just fell asleep on the couch. What’s up?”
“I know it’s been a minute…I just had to hear your voice.” I hear her sigh and my chest immediately tightens.
“You could have talked to me when I called before.” I can hear the hurt in her voice. Hurt that I put there.
“I know, babe. I’m sorry. I just needed some time to sort things out.” God, I sound like such a jerk.
"And have you?" she whispers. "Have you sorted things out?"
"I have. That's why I had to call…I missed you." I hear her breath catch, but she stays silent.
“Hmmm.” She seems pissed. Why wouldn't she be after I basically ghosted her at the first sign of trouble? Maybe I should've begged to get back together in person rather than over the phone in the middle of the night. She interrupts my thoughts before I can spiral into full-blown heartbreak.
“I was actually going to try calling you again. I just wanted you to know I started seeing someone.” My heart plummets to my stomach. Of course she was seeing someone! Could I be any more of a bonehead for waiting so long to make up with her? I fail miserably at keeping the disappointment out of my voice.
“Oh really? How long have you been seeing each other?” My migraine graduates from splitting to stabbing and I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I feel really good about it.” She actually sounds excited about this guy! If I could go back in time and uninvent phones to prevent this conversation, I would.
