The One Night Stand

Chapter 7

"I can't believe I let him talk me into this," Cat thought as she scanned the restaurant. It was true they needed to eat, but she'd wanted to stay in his room and order in. He'd insisted that if she wanted to eat they had to go out in public, like a normal date. The word date made her cringe, it was so adolescent.

"Would you relax, sheesh you're giving me a complex." Tom teased, he was smiling but Cat could tell he was serious.

"I'm sorry Tom," She looked across the table at her 'date'. The musician was wearing a black vest over a fitted white t-shirt and his trademark skinny jeans.

His collar length brown hair was slicked back out of his face emphasising his big green eyes, and his smooth white complexion. How could one man have dimples and a cleft chin? Cat thought to herself, his teeth are perfect, and those eyes... she crossed her legs tightly.

"Are you uncomfortable because you're a famous woman, hanging out with a bum like me?" This time he was joking, she knew he thought better of himself.

"Aren't you worried at all about appearances? You know everyone in here thinks I'm your mother." Cat glared at the woman at the table next to them until she turned away.

"Pfft, who cares what anyone thinks Cat? Let's just have some dinner, like two people on a 'date'. Or do you want to pretend you're my mommy tonight?" He stretched his long legs and rubbed her leg under the table. Cat smiled despite herself, Tom Bell was a bad boy. He loved the fact that most of the people in the restaurant were looking at the unlikely pair.

She quickly drank her first glass of wine, then relaxed as she listened to Tom gush about his musician friends. He talked about his inspiration for his own songs, and his reservations about his newly signed record contract.

"But it's what every struggling musician dreams of Tom, to get a record deal, why would you even think twice?" Cat sipped her wine, this side of Tom intrigued her the most. Why would a man who did everything possible to get noticed, baulk at the chance for global stardom.

"It's the whole 'commitment' thing; I don't want to give up my freedom yet. At the moment, I work when I want, I play when I want. I'm not rich, quite the opposite in fact." He looked down at his glass as a flash of pain crossed his face, then as soon as it appeared, it disappeared and he was cocky smiling Tom again.

Cat wondered what it would feel like to be him. Young, talented, handsome, footloose and fancy free. Tom was the personification the term 'free spirit'. A born hustler. Tom was smart enough to know as long as he had his looks and his talent, he'd never starve. He'd always have a warm bed and body to lie next to.

"But you signed a contract..." she didn't finish the sentence, Cat was aware he'd partly signed the record deal to get to her. She bit her lip, she didn't like being responsible for anyone doing something they didn't want to do.

"Yes I did, but at least I got something special in return..." He smiled at her, the shy smile he used to melt girls hearts.
Cat looked into his eyes, what she saw made her extremely sad. At first glance Tom was a loner by choice, never alone yet perpetually lonely. She leaned across the table and touched his cheek. He smiled, taking her hand and kissing her palm tenderly.

At that moment their ages and their lifestyle differences no longer existed, they were Cat and Tom, two lonely souls, looking for love. The idea shocked her to her core. She pulled her hand back and excused herself to the ladies room. She took a few deep breaths, blinking back tears, how could she allow this to happen? Just a few days ago she thought she had everything any woman would ever need. Money, success, family, great friends. It wasn't until now that she realized how lonely she really was. Suddenly the idea that her fling with Tom would end soon made her nauseous. Get a grip Cat, she told herself.