Chapter 4
LILA
Man, what a strange day.
‘A mixed bag,’ my mother would say.
I left the house on foot, could not open the gate because I forgot to ask someone to give me the damn code––had to call Henrietta and ask her about it, ignoring her dislike for people calling her phone.
She reminded me I could call Livia at any time, except at night, of course. That’s exactly when I need it the most. The code.
What is wrong with these people?
Perhaps she should’ve offered me her husband’s phone number instead.
He seems to be the most reliable person in the house.
Silly stupid code.
Then, I called a cab outside the property. By the time my driver showed up, I was covered in sweat.
Later, I checked out a couple of possible workplaces, filled out applications, got an interview on the spot, and had to return in the afternoon for a meetup with the manager.
In the meantime, I stopped by Keira’s workplace, which is a gift shop with the cutest candles and handmade soap I have ever seen, and we had lunch.
After my second interview, I picked her up from work at the end of her shift, and we went shopping.
I got a few new dresses. They’re nice, but hardly what Damon West would have in mind for me if I were to work at his place.
I won’t be working for him, though. I got a job at a donut shop.
It doesn’t pay much, but it’s fun.
“So, are you in a hurry?” Keira asks at around seven.
“Uh… no. Although I do need to get home before ten.”
She arches an eyebrow at me, eyes glinting with a smile.
“Are you grounded or something?” she jokes.
“I might soon be,” I say before shaking my head. “No. It’s about some stupid gate code that changes daily. Don’t ask.”
She flicks a strand of long red hair over her shoulder.
“How are things at the house?”
“Things are great,” I say in a breath. “Why did you ask me if I was in a rush?”
She flicks her chin toward a cute little restaurant.
“They have some of the best cheeseburgers in town. And ice cream,” she adds with a playful smile.
“Cheeseburgers and ice cream? My two reasons to live,” I say with humor.
“So, it’s a yes?”
Laughing, she loops an arm around my shoulders. She’s about my height, only more muscular than I am.
She used to play soccer in high school.
She says those days are behind her, yet she still very much loves sports.
That’s hardly me.
I can’t even watch sports on TV.
I have a hard time staying committed to exercising regularly, which is one of the few things I’m not disciplined about, let alone being competitive about.
Competitions have never been my jam.
That explains perhaps why I’m naturally attracted to the shy good guy when I attempt to date someone.
There’s hardly any competition.
“About guys,” Keira says a few moments later as we claim our seats at a table inside the restaurant, and I welcome the ice-cold air blowing from the AC. “It’s nice, isn’t it?” she says, noticing how much I enjoy it.
“I love it.’
A waitress interrupts our conversation.
We place our food order, and soon after we get our drinks and then our burgers.
Before long, we’re diving into food and forget about the guys.
As we’re munching on the fries a little later, she resumes our previous conversation.
“There’s this guy at work,” she says, chewing slowly.
“Was he there today?” I ask, lifting my drink to my lips.
“Nope. He works on weekends, and he’s off on Mondays and Tuesdays. He’s a college student in Washington, D.C.”
“Washington D.C.?”
“Uh-huh.”
I give her a smile.
“Are you thinking about a long-distance relationship?”
She studies me and laughs.
“You’re funny. I thought you wanted to get laid, not to have a relationship. He doesn’t need to be from New York to sleep with you.”
I concede with a soft gesture.
“Okay. All right. Go on. What is he studying? Let me guess. Political Science?”
“Can you stay quiet for a moment?” she chides me with humor.
“I’m all ears. What’s so special about him?”
She searches my eyes before shifting her focus to the waitress and signaling her to come to us.
“I’ll order another one. I’m still hungry,” she says before she turns to me. “Do you want another burger?’
“Nope. I’m full.”
The waitress nods and moves away from the table.
“Yes. He studies Political Science, and, um… He’s looking for a girlfriend. Tada.”
An amused grin brightens her eyes.
“Tada? I’m not looking for a boyfriend. Didn’t you just say I needed to get laid and not look for a relationship? Plus, what if we hit it off and end up in a long-distance relationship?”
“Washington is not that far from New York.”
“Says the woman who didn’t want to date a guy from Long Island.”
She chuckles.
“Busted. Anyway, he’s my first choice for you. He checks off a lot of qualities on your list. He’s cute, quiet, and awkward.”
“I was going for shy.”
“Shy. Awkward. What’s the difference? It’s the same to me.”
She flashes a grin, while my eyes hover over her face.
The blue dress shirt she’s required to wear for work does her justice. It pairs well with her white pencil pants and red lipstick, hair, and nails.
I can see Keira a few years from now, wearing something similar with the same poise.
It comes so naturally to her.
She’ll probably be married by then and have children. She loves them so much.
At the same time, I might become a memory of the past if life pulls us onto different paths.
“What’s his name?”
My question takes her by surprise.
“Oh. Nicky. His name is Benjamin, but everybody calls him Nicky. He wants to be called Nicky.”
“Great. You want me to hook up with some guy who loathes himself so much that he doesn’t even like his name? Is there anything else he doesn’t like about himself besides his name?”
She shakes her head.
“Do you have a picture of him?” I ask.
The server approaches our table and sets a plate of food in front of her before asking me if I need anything else.
“I’m good. Thank you.”
Keira and I are alone again.
Holding her juicy burger with both hands, she takes a generous bite. I watch her, mesmerized by how she enjoys her food without smearing her lipstick.
It takes practice, I guess.
She flicks a finger up and talks around her food.
“I actually have. Just give me a second.”
“Sure. Eat your food. There’s no rush.”
She chews in silence while I contemplate ordering another burger with a side of fries to take home.
It’s really delicious.
“Here,” she says, tapping her lips with a napkin and swiping her phone screen with a finger before strolling down, looking for some pictures of this man.
“There he is,” she says, tapping the screen with her forefinger before taking another bite.
I snatch up her phone and check the picture. The photograph was taken in the store.
“Which one is him?”
“The cute one.”
“They’re both cute,” I comment, looking at the two men surrounded by a group of women.
A smile curves her lips.
“You’re so easy on them. The cuter one.”
“The cuter one… Are you testing me now?” I ask, checking the two males.
“Yes.”
She’s having fun with this.
“Are they both available?” I ask, throwing a wrench into her plans.
“Are you interested in both?”
“So far, all I see is two cute guys, about the same age.”
“Pick one. The other one is taken.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Is he your soon-to-be boyfriend?”
“No. He’s engaged.”
She huffs out her fake frustration.
I speak next.
“Engaged. Hmm… I know. I know. This one is engaged.”
I point to one of them with a flick of my chin.
“How do you know?” she asks.
“The woman staring at him instead of the camera was my first clue. Her arm is looped through his.”
“Good job. That’s Stacy, his fiancée.”
“So the other one is mine if I want him. How come no one else wanted him?”
“Darling,” she says with a knowing smile. “You are the only woman I know who’s looking for shy, awkward men.”
“Shy or awkward.”
“It’s the same to me.”
“How is he?” I ask, lifting my gaze to her.
“He’s a nice guy. Helps everybody in the store. Works hard. I don’t know much else about him.”
“And you think he’d like to go out with me.”
“He probably would. You’re his type.”
“He has a type?”
I look at his picture again.
‘Uh-huh. He likes serious, pretty women.”
A few moments pass before I laugh.
“Shut up. You’re fucking with me now.”
“Of course I am. How could I know all that?” she tosses back at me, amused. “I think you two would make a nice couple. Even if only for the summer,” she adds quickly as I’m about to argue with her again.
“All right.” My hand slides off her phone. “I’m tired of all this,” I confess.
“Why? It’s so much fun.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t want a serious relationship. Not now. I don’t want to think about it. I want to have some fun. That’s it. He can be shy. I have no problem with that. But if he’s looking for a serious girl, that won’t be me right now, so he’s a no. Is there anyone else?”
She thinks about it for a moment.
“Why don’t you give Nicky a try?” I ask as she fails to come up with an answer.
She dismisses my idea with a shake of her head.
“I don’t like timid guys and serious relationships. They’re too much work.”
I nod along.
“See,” I murmur.
“There’s this guy,” she says, not very convinced about my second option.
“A former co-worker. He’s working at the bar where I worked last summer.
He’s a player, through and through. I don’t know whether you’d like his style, though.
He’s a bit too much. And he is absolutely not your type.
He’ll annoy the hell out of you. But he might be your surest bet for the summer if you don’t mind a drink or two before you sleep with him. ”
My hackles rise.
That’s absolutely not my guy.
“He won’t be my man for the summer if he’s a player.”
“I just wanted to make him appear more appealing to you.”
“Ugh.”
I take my head in my hands and slowly shake it in frustration, laughing at the same time.
“What about you?” I say, straightening and moving my eyes to her. “What will you do?”
“I’ll take my chance at a club. A bit of alcohol, some stupid conversation, and a dimly lit room will do the trick for me.
“Lucky you.”
I suck in a long breath.
“Okay. Let’s do this. I’ll meet the second guy. What’s his name?”
“Frankie.”
I roll my eyes to her delight.
“I’ll meet Frankie. Somehow.”
“We can go to the bar where he works.”
“Great. This way, I can talk to him and see if he might work for me.”
“He won’t work for you, but he might end this irritating dry spell you’re struggling with.”
“Let’s not talk about that. And then, I’ll meet Nicky if things don’t work out with Frankie. Nicky and I could be friends if nothing else.”
“Right. Because all Nicky wants is to get friend-zoned by someone like you.”
“That’s the best I can do. My head buzzes with anxious thoughts already. See, that’s why I didn’t want to hook up in the first place. It’s so much work.”
“Speaking of work. What time do you finish work on Friday?”
“Seven.”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you at the bar.”
Moments later, we order ice cream and never bring up men in our conversation again.