13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Licia
It’s been over a week, and I was yet to recover from the shock I received on my birthday. I had wanted a race car, but after Kevin's uneventful departure, I lost interest in a lot of things, the car included. So, the fact that he remembered my wish and had gone as far as fulfilling it was quite overwhelming.
It was hard pretending that I could stick to being just friends with Kevin. I thought about him a lot, I worried for his health, and I missed him as well.
I needed to get my head straight. I was the one that wanted a new start, so I couldn’t allow myself to get distracted by him.
Joey said she had a plan to help take my mind away from Kevin, but that she would tell me in person when I was done with my shift for the day. I kept pondering what her grand scheme was and just couldn’t wait for my shift to be over.
I drove straight to her apartment from the hospital. I needed an antidote for my feelings for Kevin, as soon as possible.
“Seems you couldn’t wait? Is it that bad?” Joey laughed, opening the door. Can she ever be serious?
“You can’t even begin to imagine,” I replied, strutting to the living room.
She giggled. “Don’t worry, I will fix you up. Trust me.”
Why did that sound like she had something crazy planned out? Anyways, not until we hear it. I caught a whiff of something mouthwatering in the air. I inhaled deeply, letting the aroma saturate my olfactory nerves.
“Joey, did you bake?” I enquired, staring wide-eyed at her.
“No,” she replied, smiling.
I already knew the answer. I dropped my backpack on the couch and headed to her kitchen. No more questions asked .
“Licia, I didn't bake,” she kept insisting, following me into the kitchen.
I turned to her. “Fine, let's say there is a modicum of truth in what you are saying. How then do you explain this aroma, and why are you trying so hard to dissuade me from entering the kitchen?”
Joey didn't respond.
“I thought as much.”
Without arguing further, I pulled out a plate from the rack and helped myself to some cookies Joey had already stored away in the cookie jar. Next, I walked over to the refrigerator. A glass of juice would go well with the yummy-looking oatmeal raisin cookies.
“Licia, you are raiding my kitchen,” Joey submitted helplessly.
I lifted my eyes from my search. “Says someone who practically owns my house. Joey, you don't just raid my kitchen, you raid my life. I have just learned to accept my fate. I think you should as well.”
“So, we are even then.”
“You wish we were.”
“Anyways, I was going to ask if you were hungry, so we could eat together, but you have ruined it already. You were faster than your shadow.”
I laughed at the incredulity of the statement. “That isn’t a problem at all. I know my way to the pot. So, don’t get excited just yet. I don't need an invitation for that.”
She gave up. “You are a bully.”
I clutched my chest in mock shock. “Wow… are you serious? How come I didn’t know that? Thanks for telling me.”
Joey shook her head in amusement. There was no way she was winning me today. I have been knocking off all her points extempore.
“I must commend you, though. Your baking skills are getting better. Enzo is really doing a great job with the classes.” I winked at her.
“I don't know what you are talking about,” she denied, looking away.
“Don't be shy about it. I know there is something going on between you two.”
“There is nothing going on.”
“Liar. Your brows are twitching.”
“I'm not lying,” she vehemently denied.
But I wasn’t backing down. “Yes, you are.”
“Licia, I'm not.”
“Let’s agree to disagree then,” I proposed.
Joey changed the subject. “So, here’s the plan. I already created an account for you on a dating app…”
I was mortified. “You did what?”
“Many of them love your profile, already,” she continued, ignoring my rant.
“I never consented to that.”
“You don’t have to. I have saved you all the trouble. Just go on a date with one of them and thank me later.”
“You are not kidding?”
“You don't believe me? Wait.” She brought out her phone from the back pocket of her ripped jeans. I watched her scroll through different apps. “Here, check this out.” She handed me the phone as she opened the dating app.
“What in God's name is this?... I said I wanted to get my mind off Kevin, not that I plan on embarking on a dating spree.”
“This is the best way to do that. Letting someone else in, to fill the space he currently occupies in your heart.”
“I don't need a dating app to find a man if I wanted to.”
Joey climbed the stool next to me. “Let's face it, Licia… you are beautiful, rich, and also one of the sweetest people I know, but your social skills are quite tacky. You literally stay cooped up in your house, when you aren't at work.
That pretty much is very boring. So, see this as an adventure. Explore, meet new people and you know, have some fun.”
A brilliant idea came to my mind as Joey finished up.
“Let's strike a deal then.”
“What deal?” Joey cocked her head and raised her eyebrows.
I could tell she knew I was up to some mischief. If she was going to coax me into going on a date, I might as well return the favor.
“I will go on the date, if you admit to the truth behind your relationship with Lorenzo.”
“There's nothing to admit to, and you know it.”
“Then, I won’t go on the date.”
“Licia, stop being stubborn.”
“My terms still stand. I want the truth and nothing, but the truth,” I insisted, munching away on the cookies without looking at her.
“Remind me why we are friends again.”
“It’s simple. Your life would be so miserable without me,” I gloated.
“I like Lorenzo, okay? I guess he likes me too, but he hasn't said anything.”
“Yet, love… he hasn’t said anything yet. He soon will. I can feel it in my gut.” I was grinning widely. “So, all the baking lessons you have been taking were not without an undertone, after all.”
“So you are going on the date, right?” Joey tried verifying.
I smiled. “Yeah, we have a deal.”
***
The first two dates I went on ended in a fiasco. One of the fellows was narcissistic and kept prattling on about himself and boring me with details I didn’t care to know. He talked from the time I arrived at the restaurant until I asked to take my leave. Let's just say it was a monologue, not a date. I listened to him waste my time.
The other guy was being weird, to put it nicely. He kept scurrying away to the bathroom every five minutes, to regain his composure. He was literally having a nervous breakdown. And the last time he excused himself to go for his bathroom pep talk, I left before he came back. I had more important things to do.
Joey laughed at me derisively when I told her about my dating ordeals, but she encouraged me to give it one more trial. Then I could decide whether it was a total write-off or not.
I was bent on proving the futility of the adventure to Joey, so I consented to the last date. Much to my surprise, it was beyond what I expected— in a good way . He was really good-looking, with a nice sense of humor, and in all, he was an interesting person to talk to.
***
This would be my second date with Avery, and I was super nervous. I was grateful to have Joey around. She seemed to have an answer to most of my questions.
“Licia, just be yourself. Don't think too much about it,” she advised, pulling out a dress from my closet. “It's no big deal.”
“I know, right? But what if I make things awkward between us? What if he gets his hopes high, only for me to tank it?”
Joey held my face in her hands and stared right into my eyes. “You, my friend, are amazing, irrespective of what you decide to do. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to get his eyes checked.”
I couldn’t help smiling. I have got myself a cheerleader.
“Thanks, Joey.”
“It's fine, honey. Is he picking you up? I mean your date.”
“No, we are meeting up at the restaurant for 6 pm,” I responded, smacking my lips gently to evenly distribute the lipstick.
“Nice. Remind me of his name again. I promise not to forget this time.”
“Avery… Avery Fletcher.”
“Right, Avery,” she repeated. “I can’t wait for all the juicy details of the date.”
“We don’t even know if he will show up. Let's start from there, first.”
“He doesn’t have a choice. He has to.”
I chuckled, “how about you and Lorenzo? How are things coming along?”
“Enzo is picking me up later, he is taking me for dinner at a steakhouse. They have their grand opening this evening, and Enzo was invited, so he asked me to be his date.”
“I see. That goes to say, we have a lot to talk about when I get back?”
“Yes, we do…”
The ringing of the doorbell disrupted us.
“That should be your ride.”
“Seems so... How do I look, though?” I turned around slowly.
“Absolutely gorgeous. I am sure he will have a hard time focusing on anything else.”
“Thanks, Joey,” I blushed, “but don’t forget that this whole adventure is meant to be temporary.”
“No, it’s not. It's to help you move on, so we will see where it leads.”
“Just help me lock up whenever. I will give you a call if things go awry.”
“I’m sure it won’t. Just loosen up and have a beautiful evening.”
“You too, love. My regards to Lorenzo.” With that, I left. I didn’t want to be late and have Avery waiting longer than necessary.
My evening was going amazingly well. Avery didn’t disappoint. He could hold down a good conversation without running out of witty responses. It was probably just the perks of meeting someone new, but he was fun to be around and I loved the feeling.
It was a weird comparison, but Avery reminded me of Kevin. His cuteness and candor, his features and physique, even the way he listened to my explanations with rapt attention, like I was making a public service announcement.
I was trying to get Kevin out of my head, but I had been thinking about him for the past hour. I couldn't shake him off. He was gradually becoming a standard that I expected every other guy to meet, if they couldn't beat it.
“Licia, I honestly enjoy talking with you, and I really do want to get to know you better. So, can we do this again? It doesn't have to be this week or even the next. I just want to see you again, if it's okay with you?”
I smiled, “but tonight's date isn't over yet.”
“I know. I’m sorry if I'm going ahead of myself, but then I can't help it.” He apologized.
“You are not... I actually do not mind seeing you again.”
He was elated. “I will love to cook for you on our next date.”
“Seriously?” I asked, undoubtedly impressed. Kevin can't cook.
“Yeah… It would be my utmost pleasure.”
“Very well, then. I look forward to it.”
I wasn’t sure what Avery had in mind, but whatever his plan was, it was working and effortlessly too.