8. Noah
NOAH
Unknown
Sorry I couldn’t do lunch today. Are you free for dinner tonight?
Holy fucking shit.
I quickly pull up the company's database and search for recent applications until I find hers. I double-check the number just to make sure it’s one hundred percent hers.
It is. Holy shit. What the fuck do I do?
“What’s up?”
I completely forgot that Jeremy was sitting on the couch in my office.
He’s been silent for the last half hour, and he seems to blend into the shadows.
Jeremy is my only cousin on my dad’s side of the family.
His dad is my dad’s twin. When my mom died, I barely kept in contact with anyone from her side of the family…
Barely kept in contact with anyone. It was just Jeremy and me.
Because our fathers are twins, we look like we could be brothers. He’s a bit slimmer than I am, but only an inch shorter. He keeps his hair shorter than mine, and his eyes are more of a golden hazel, whereas mine are brown. He got those from the woman we do not speak about.
“Remember that girl I told you about earlier? The one who interviewed for the team.”
“Yeah?”
“I had asked her to lunch, but she denied me.”
“Yeah, you told me that already, and I have to say again that I already love this woman for turning your ass down,” he laughs as he stands and stretches, then walks behind my desk to stand next to me.
“She just texted me.”
I hand him my phone, and he studies the words with a raised brow.
“You sure it’s her?”
“Yep. Double checked her application.”
“Shit. But what happened with the last chick? That ended suddenly. You sure you want another obsession already? What was her name? Angela?”
My stomach sours at the mention of her name. Angela Rayes. She was the closest substitute for my little rabbit…Almost.
“I think she’s now with that friend of hers. Marco, I think.”
“Damn. So, what’s this new chick look like? Let me guess…” he laughs as he holds up a hand and starts counting off the traits. “Long, strawberry blonde hair. Green eyes. Short…Am I right?”
I roll my eyes in response as I quickly save her number, and he smacks me on the back.
“Jesus, dude. When people say someone has a type, you took that literally. You couldn’t differentiate your past relationships in a lineup. I guess you still haven’t found the one, huh?”
“You never know,” I say simply with a shrug.
“What? Never mind. Okay, did you text her back?”
“No, not yet.”
“Jesus Christ, you suck at this. Give me your phone.”
“No.”
“Noah.”
“Jeremy,” I parrot back in a teasing tone.
“Just ask her what time to pick her up,” he says as he sits down on the edge of my desk.
I quickly type out the message and click send. I stare at my screen, watching each fucking pixel on the display, waiting for it to shift.
Noah
What time can I pick you up?
Unread
“She hasn’t read it yet,” I mumble quietly, but Jeremy just laughs.
“It’s been five seconds. Jesus, how have you gotten with so many women over the years?”
I open my mouth to say something sarcastic, but he cuts me off with his own response.
“Oh, wait. I forgot, women like the brooding, mysterious type. Or do you have a magic dick as well?” he laughs and nudges me, but I hardly hear him.
I saw my screen in my peripherals. The faintest shift of lighting in the pixels alerted me.
Noah
What time can I pick you up?
Read
“She read it.”
Willow
…
“She’s typing.”
If I grip this phone any tighter, it might actually shatter. Not that I don’t have a few new ones lying around because of past incidents. But I don’t feel like replacing my phone tonight when I need to get ready to see her.
Willow
Seven?
Noah
Perfect. What’s your favorite thing to eat?
And please don’t say salad. LOL
…
I watch the little dots appear and disappear, suddenly second-guessing my response. What if she’s a vegetarian? What if salad is her favorite?
Willow
Burgers. Know any good spots?
Noah
I know just the place.
“Soo? What did she say?” Jeremy asks, as if he hasn’t been nosily looking at my screen.
“I’m picking her up at seven.”
“And where are you taking her?” he asks as he finally stands, walks over to the window, and glances down at the people below.
“The World’s End Craft Burger Bar.”
“What?” His face is contorted in confusion as he looks back at me.
“It’s literally a burger bar. I took Olivia there one time. They actually have a burger called Purgatory. It has a fucking Chipotle peanut butter sauce on it.”
I can’t help but laugh as he scrunches his nose and shakes his head.
“Peanut butter? On a burger?”
“Hey, man. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it.”
I stand and stretch, glancing at my watch. It’s just after five. I still have paperwork to finish so I don’t have enough time to run home and change, sadly.
“Hey, can I come shower at your place really quick?”
“What are you going to wear? You can’t go on a date dressed in what she saw you wearing earlier.”
“I always keep a getaway bag in my car. Clothes, toiletries, and a bit of cash. You know…”
“Only mildly alarming, but okay. Sure. Where does she live?”
“Up toward Sterling Heights.”
“Shit. You'd better get going then. You still have a key, right?”
“Of course I do. But aren’t you going home right now?” I ask as I pull on my jacket.
“Nah. Veronica was giving me those eyes when I came in today. Fuck. I swear that woman knows how to suck a man’s soul out of his dick. You know?”
“No, actually, I don’t,” I groan as I roll my eyes. I’ve never touched Veronica.
“Oh yeah, I forgot. She doesn’t fit your qualifications.” He fucking air quotes the word, and I swear to God I’m going to hit him.
“What can I say, I have standards,” I laugh with a shrug.
“Hey. Don’t talk about her like that. Who knows? She could be my future Mrs. Anderson someday. My future bride.”
He adjusts his tie that’s been hanging loosely around his neck, then laughs like a fucking hyena. I love my cousin, but sometimes even he’s too much. Jeremy doesn’t know exactly what I do with my spare time, but he accepts my privacy and still loves me despite my obvious issues.
Jeremy understands me because he has his own demons. His just aren’t like mine. He’s friends with his inner demons and keeps them sated with women and partying. His are easy to appease. Mine only crave one thing…Her.
“Well, have fun tonight. At least I already have a good description of the woman in case you disappear.”
He stands and heads toward the door. He stops and slings his jacket over his shoulder before turning back to me.
“Seriously though, Cuz, I worry about you sometimes. These women…Maybe you should look for one that doesn’t fit your little list. You might find someone who actually stays.”
My lips tilt in a smile I’m trying so hard to hold back. I don’t need to look for any other woman. The one that I’ve been searching all these years for just walked back into my life, and this time she won’t get away.