The running stops today, though. I can’t believe I wanted - asked! - to be invited to this stupid wedding vow renewal romantic shit. I have to pick her up at six, so I have many hours to think about why the fuck I dragged my stupid ass into this. I don’t like being paraded around and making conversation with overly excited people I don’t know. I don’t do this shit, not even for Isabella, but when I thought about London going with someone else, my blood started to boil.
It bothered me that I wasn’t in her options. It’s that weird thing that is happening between us: I don’t want London hanging off my back and starting to occupy my drawers with her stuff, but I want her body, her moans, and the scratches she leaves on my back, and I want her fascination. I want to be the center of her desire without giving anything in return.
Am I an asshole? Maybe. Maybe she deserves better, I’m just not ready to let her go find better. We’re good right here.
I’m ready to hit the treadmill and run out my frustration when I hear the phone ringing and the name on the screen gives me mixed feelings.
“Hello!” I say, and the cheery voice I know, and love, answered right back.
“Hey, Dr. Handsome, I’m in town for three days, let’s do lunch. I’ll meet you at Capital Grille in an hour, I’m in the mood for steak.” The line went dead right after. She was never a
woman of many words so I’d better start getting ready.
She’s beautiful and happy, and I love seeing her this way.
“Tell me, Zach, how are you? You work so much I don’t ever hear from you anymore. You know, a phone call doesn’t take much effort to make.”
“I’m busy, Lilly, you know that, and I know how much you work as well. None of us is in the mood for chit chat.”
“Fair point, but you could email me once a week, Check-in so we know you’re not dead.”
“I’ll try but I make no promises.”
Her manicured hands grabthe menu and look at the food selection comprehensively. With Lilly, there is nothing left to chance, she has to know all her options, go through every scenario and pick the most optimal solution. And this applies to everything from work and dating to food. Luckily, she makes up her mind by the time the waiter swings around.
“What can I offer you today.” Our waiter is a young gentleman, dressed in black, and I can’t help but notice how his eyes look more towards Lilly’s breast than at the menu in her hand. My man, she’ll chew you up and spit you out before I’m done with my appetizer.
“Yes,” I say, saving him from castration with a five-inch Prada heel. “She’ll have a glass of Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc from 2007 and whiskey on the rocks for me, Johnny Walker Blender’s Batch.”
“Of course, sir. Anything for lunch?” Lilly got it from here.
“I’ll have the steak, well done, with a side salad and for the gentleman, a shrimp salad. He could lose a few,”she says with a sweet smile all over her face.
The waiter leaves, leaving us alone.
“Did you just call me fat?”
“I’m messing with you, but I know you are already at three thousand calories.” I should say something, but she is right, and I don’t wanna give her that satisfaction. Too bad she can read it on my face. ” I know you like the back of my palm, Zach.”
My phone makes noise and breaks our conversation. I smile unconsciously when I see London’s name on the screen.
London: You didn’t forget about tonight, did you?
Me: Nope. I just picked up my suit from the dry cleaner. It fits me so well; you’ll want to jump my dick before hitting the party.
I put the phone down and patiently wait for her text. It better be something dirty. She’s so shy, all the time, and blushes at the most stupid thing but when is just us? I’m telling you she loves a little dirty talk and promiscuity.
London: You’re running errands?
Her reply is extremely unsatisfying.
Me: Kind of.
London: Kind of is not an answer. What are you doing, Zachary?
Rage hits me instantly and I empty my whiskey glass in one big gulp. I see Lilly throwing me a questioning look, but her phone is blowing up too, so she can’t push me too much about it at the moment.
I hate this sense of responsibility. She trying to keep tabs on me like she has some fucking power over my actions. Never again. Never in my life, will I answer to a woman again, give her a say in how the fuck I live my life.
Me: Yes, drop it.
London: Don’t be a jackass, I told you I’m done with that.
Me: I told you I’m picking up my suit so stop pestering me about it.
London: Are you kidding me right now? We are in the same fucking restaurant, Zachary.
Fuck! Fucking shit!
I tilt my head up and scan the room, spotting her by the bar with her cousin at her side. Her hair is up in a bun exposing her porcelain face and her exquisite eyes. I wanna take the fork and stab my balls when we lock eyes and I see the hurt in hers. That’s all there is, no anger, just pain, and I instantly know the problem is Lilly.
Fucking. Shit.
“Zach, is something wrong.”
“No, Lillyanne, someone just spotted me with you, that’s all.”
London shakes her head and turns to her cousin to say something. Shortly after, they hug, she picks up her purse, and storms out of the door.
“Shit, Lilly, wait here, I’ll be right back.”
I jump up and start my pursuit, and I catch London just outside the restaurant. I reach her elbow, but she shakes my hand off very forcefully.
“Just leave me alone.”
“Wait for a second, fireball.”
She stops in her tracks and turns on her heels to face me very slowly.
“Wait? Wait for what, Zach? There’s literally nothing to wait for.”
I told her I’m not willing to give anything and she was good with it. Why the change?
“Oh, my God, woman, why all the drama?” Probably the stupidest thing I could have ever said.
“Why the... Let me tell you, you’ve got nerve. You bit my head off for not inviting you to my aunt’s party, call me a hooker, then go out with another woman. And you lied to my face about it. This is not ok, Zachary, it’s not normal.”
“I didn’t lie, I chose not to tell you.”
“You lied!”
“Well it was none of your fucking business!”
We scream in each other’s faces in front of the restaurant, and out of the corner of my eye , I can see people watching us.
“It’s none of my fucking business. Fine, let’s just get out of each other’s business and leave it as it is.” She says and spins around to leave.
“London!”
“I will see you at work!”
Before I can fight it, she’s already over at the corner of the street and out of my sight, and all I can do is go back to my table. See me at work? What the hell was that supposed to mean? I’ll see her in five hours.
Lilly waits for me curious.
“What was that?”
“A nurse from the hospital, no big deal.”
“Really?” She sipped from her wine glass. “I could see you through the glass. It looked like you were fighting. Any problems at work?”