We sit and sip our drinks while talking and chatting about old times. It’s like no time has passed. Right now, we’re both just a couple of teenagers, picking up where we left off. I tell her about my time in the army, and she tells me about sticking around here to help her mom, who has had bad luck in the health department. She tells me about skipping out on college and getting a job at the vet’s office, but how lately, she’s been wanting more and is about to start some online classes, hoping to do more than just book appointments and file papers at the office. She wants hands-on experience working with the animals.
The longer we sit and talk, the more drunk we get, and the funnier everything seems to be. I’m not exactly sure what I said to get her on the dance floor, but that’s exactly where we end up, in one another’s arms.
Her breath is blowing lightly against my neck, and I can feel her racing heart as it beats against my chest. Her heat sinks into me, warming every part that I thought had frozen over long ago. I breathe her in deep, and that familiar scent of lavender and honeysuckle fills my nose. Breathing her in is like walking through a field of wildflowers, with the warm sun shining down on you. She’s warm, inviting, and welcoming. God, how did I ever manage to walk away from her?
She pulls back slightly and looks into my eyes.
“What is it?” I ask quietly, just loud enough that she’ll hear me over the music.
She shakes her head and closes her eyes like she’s trying to fight against herself. “I thought that after all this time, touching you and being with you would feel different, like you were just a stranger. But that’s not how this feels.”
“How’s it feel?”
“It feels like no time has passed,” she replies just as I move in, pressing my mouth to hers.
The second our lips meet, it feels like I’ve been zapped by electricity. There’s a tingle, a burn, something egging me to keep going, to keep pushing.
I expect her to pull away, but she doesn’t. Instead, her hot tongue comes out and demands entrance. I give her exactly what she wants, and she melts against my chest. My hands move up to her face, cupping her cheeks as I beg to take the kiss further. I realize that neither one of us are dancing now. We’re too lost in one another to do anything but feel, remember, love.
“Jade,” I whisper against her lips as I rest my forehead against hers. Her eyes are closed, and I see her take a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, Memphis. I can’t do this. Not again,” she says, pushing away from me and running from the bar, leaving me alone on the dance floor.
Damnit. How could I let myself do that? I thought I had a handle on myself. I thought that I would be able to keep my distance. Now, everything I’ve worked this last week for has been thrown away. She’ll never let me in again, not after that. I said I wanted her friendship, but she knows that I want more than that now.
I turn and walk out of the bar, back to the parking lot where my car is. It was my plan to get her to be my friend again. I know that she still loves me. I know because I still love her, and when she’s around, I can feel it. Nothing has changed for us. I thought that if we could be friends, I could get us back to where we were before. She accepted the friendship, but she ran from our love. I guess things just happened too fast. I’ll give her some time, but I’m coming back. I’m going to be the best friend she’s ever had. I’m going to gain her trust again. And then, I’m going to tell her how much I love her and can’t stand to be without her another day. I won’t stop until she’s mine.
A few days pass before I manage to track down her apartment building. I hold out a bouquet of flower as I knock on the door. She opens it, her eyes landing on mine, then down to the flowers, and back.
“What is this?” she asks, not inviting me in.
“For you. I’m sorry about the other night. I’d been drinking, and it was dumb of me to kiss you.”
She reaches out and takes the flowers, bringing them to her nose and inhaling the scent deeply. “I know how you can make it up to me.”
“You do? How’s that?” I’ll jump at any chance I get.
“Come on,” she says, opening the door wider and nodding toward her apartment.
I follow her inside and stop at the dining room. On the table, there are a variety of framed pictures and some artwork of friends and family.
“I need these frames hung on that wall, but as you know, I’m not great with tools…or measuring…or keeping things straight.” She laughs out.
I smile. “No problem. Got a hammer and some nails?”
She nods and leaves to get the items.
She’s back within minutes, handing over the things I asked for. “I’ll be in the living room.”
I get to work hanging the picture frames just as she had them laid out. It only takes a few minutes, and when I walk out of the dining room, I find her sitting on the couch.
“Done already?”
I nod. “Yep. Anything else you need help with?”
“Well…”
“Just name it, Jade. I’ll help out any way I can.”
“My bathroom ceiling has been getting a little dingy. I guess from all the steam from the shower and the lint from the washer and dryer. I bought some paint for it, and I attempted to do it myself, but I just made a mess. If you have time…”
“Done. Where’s the paint?”
She gets the roller, brush, and the paint and takes me to the bathroom. The bathroom is bigger than I thought it’d be, but I guess I should have figured since it also doubles as a laundry room. Still, it shouldn’t take me more than an hour.
I nod. “I’ll get started.”
Seven
Jade
I leave him to get to work, and a little part of me feels guilty for using him like this. I tell myself that I shouldn’t. He put me through the wringer when he left. Hell, I’m still not over it, but if he doesn’t do it, who will? I’ve thought many times about hiring someone, but the thought of bringing a stranger into my house creeped me out. Sure, I could’ve asked some of the guys I work with, but I never wanted to give them the wrong impression.
As he works, I sit on the couch with my laptop, just waiting to get a message from Paul.
Paul: How’s my beautiful girl today?
I smile when I hear the familiar ping.
Jade: Awesome. I put my ex to work and have him painting my bathroom. Serves him right.
Paul: HAHA, that’s my girl. Just make sure he keeps his nose in the bathroom and not around you.
My face flushes from reading his message. I love a man who’s protective and maybe even slightly jealous.
Jade: Oh, we’ve already had that talk. Nothing can happen between us. We’ve both agreed to be friends. It’s too small of a town not to be.
Paul: Wish I was there with you right now. I’d love to pick you up against me and press you to the wall while my hands and mouth memorize your every curve. I’m sure that would make him jealous.
I feel my blood begin to boil.
Jade: Don’t tease me. It’s been too long already.
Paul: How long?
I think back to the last fling I had.
Jade: Almost two years. How long has it been for you?