Page 6 of Electric Blue Love
“I’m a good student.”
Pulling out my card, I handed it to her, our fingertips touched as I held on longer than necessary. “How about you just call me if you need a refresher course.”
Winging my keysin the general direction of the kitchen counter, I kicked off my heels and growled in exasperation. And then winced as my childish voice echoed back to me in the empty apartment.
I pulled the conservative black dress up over my head and tossed it in the laundry basket still sitting in the living room filled with unfolded clean clothes. An annoying flicker of hope built inside me at the sound of multiple incoming texts. As quickly as it had built, it was gone when Tasha’s name appeared on the screen.
Tasha: Where did you go?
Tasha: Todd’s an ass. You’re hot. Don’t let him ruin your night. Come back out!
Another text appeared as I scoffed at the idea of leaving the apartment again.
Tasha: I’m staying at Lance’s tonight. Netflix and pizza when I get home tomorrow?
Me: Sounds great.
Sighing, I slumped into the couch feeling sorry for myself and irrationally angry at the world. An image of the beautiful girl in a mini-skirt and heels so high I was afraid she’d break an ankle that had sashayed around the party on Todd’s arm made me clench my jaw and I stood quickly, knowing exactly who to lash out on.
Walking back to the counter where my purse lay, I rummaged through it pulling out the business card I’d stashed this afternoon. I held it in a shaky hand and without allowing myself to think beyond dialing, I punched in the numbers on my phone.
On the third ring, my anger at Todd started to feel irrational and I breathed a sigh of relief that the man I’d late night dialed hadn’t answered. I pulled the phone away from my ear and reached to hit End as a gravelly voice answered.
“Hello?”
Fumbling, I hit the video button instead of End and with a screech I came face to face with the handsome stranger I’d left at baggage claim.
It was dark, but I could make out his face in the light from his cell and the hint of a smirk appeared as he stared back at me.
“Sexy bra, 8B. Please tell me you aren’t calling me from Tim’s place to tell me my advice worked. You could have waited until morning.”
I screeched again and sat the phone down with a clunk on the counter and stepped back covering my mostly exposed chest with both arms.
His laugh rang through the silence of my apartment and I picked up the phone and held it close to my face to keep him from seeing anything else.
“No, I amnotcalling from Todd’s apartment becauseToddis at the party with another woman. The kind of womanyoutold me not to be – ridiculously short skirt, loads of makeup, throwing herself all over him. She broke all the rules and he picked her.”
Letting out a deep breath, I finally forced myself to take a moment and chill. Court stared back at me through the screen. His mocking smile was gone, and his eyebrows pulled together with what looked like anger or concern.
“I’m sorry, were you sleeping? I should go. I am so sorry I called.”
I was ready to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head.
“Shit,I’msorry 8B.”
“8B?”
“The seat you were sitting in – on the plane.”
“Oh.” I furrowed my brow and thought back to the plane. I’d purged the minor details of the flight, like seat assignment, to memorize every word of the advice and wisdom he’d given me about Todd. Some good that had done.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, bringing my attention back to him and to the muscular bicep crooked up behind his head. He moved, the background behind him changing until light flooded around him and I could clearly see his five o’clock shadow and disheveled hair.
“Tom is an idiot,” he mumbled and sat down in a red arm chair. “Give it to me from the top.”
The alcohol and humiliation had made me vulnerable and so I did. I told him everything. I left nothing out. From the conservative, yet tight, black dress I’d worn to the way I’d sought him out and complimented Todd on a great season while standing so close my arm brushed up against his. I’d thought everything was going great. That my attention to detail was paying off and Todd was finally going to make a move.
“We were having a good time, flirting and laughing, until she brazenly came up, snaked a hand around his arm, and asked him to play flip cup,” I muttered with annoyance dripping from my voice. I wasn’t really mad at the girl. I couldn’t blame her for having good taste in men, but it still stung that he’d walked off with her and left me standing alone.
