If Snowflakes Could Jangle

Chapter 2

I had only been through the door for less than five minutes before my mother called from the living room.

"Did you have a good time last night?"

I wanted to avoid the awkwardness of telling her all about where and how I had spent the night but my mother, Kiersten was a persistent woman and she would most likely chase after me for the delicate details so I entered the living room.

"It was okay, I met an old school friend and stayed with her for the night. We had a good gossip and watched some cheesy chick flicks."

"Okay, well, there's some dinner in the fridge for you. You will have to make it yourself tonight."

Mom had already brought some of her clothes from upstairs and had lain them out on the couch, placing a red blouse against her chest then a pale yellow one, then ivy green before she turned to me and asked.

"Which one looks best?"

"Red" I answered without hesitation and then made myself comfortable on the sofa, massaging my feet as I sat down.

"So, going anywhere nice?" I asked as she folded up the yellow and green blouses, placing them on a chair in the corner.

"Do you remember I told you about the guy I met online?"

She paused, giving me time to wonder, I just nodded my response.

"Well, I'm meeting him at the new Italian place tonight, the one in town."

I smiled as I watched her prepare for the night out, she looked so happy. A happiness that I hadn't seen since before my father died three years ago.

"Well, I wish you luck. You deserve it after the last few years we've had."

She turned to me and smiled before coming towards me and kissing my head.

"Aww, thanks love. Oh here" she suddenly remembered before she opened the drawer and searched with her hand until she found it.

"Happy Birthday" she handed me a sealed envelope and beautifully wrapped gift as she kissed my cheek.

I had jogged all through town and across the beach until my hardness partially disappeared but I still couldn't shift Ember or our passion from my thoughts. There was something about her that had me longing for her body.

I stood for a few moments, watching the sea and listening to the sound of the waves crashing off the shore, closing my eyes, I allowed the sound to carry my thoughts away with it.

***

I heard it before I got in the house, the sound of Brett in bed with a woman, it sounded like he was bringing her to the height of arousal and wasn't too far behind himself. I turned the key in the lock and just as I pushed the door open, Brett screamed his release.

I slammed the door tightly behind me, making them aware of my presence. For the following five minutes, the only sound from Brett's bedroom was the thumping of the headboard against the wall, then more louder groans from Brett and the latest notch on his bedpost as he made her wish his command.

It came rather late but they muffled the sounds from their mouths and I was glad when they finally did as I could at last lay my head on my pillow and close my eyes but the scent of Ember's perfume on the fabric of my bed made it harder to sleep, especially as she was now at the forefront of my mind.

When I surfaced later in the day, Brett was sitting by the kitchen table, crunching on a cereal bar even though it was way past breakfast and lunchtime, he was flicking through the newspaper as I walked over to the coffee machine in complete silence and lifted a mug by the drying rack, placing it under the dispenser but I could feel him watching me from behind so I turned around.

"What do you want Brett?"

He winked at me.

"It's just unusual to see you with such a satisfied grin on your face."

"Well that's because I met a very amazing woman a few nights ago."

I turned again, lifting my coffee from the machine and joining him at the table. Brett sat forward, looking alert.

"Is that the girl I saw leaving here?"

"She's a woman Brett." I corrected

"And it wasn't just sex. She was so beautiful, amazing green eyes and red hair and..." I trailed off as the face in front of me slowly merged into her.

"That wasn't part of the plan" the voice with Ember's face declared.

"What?" I asked as I squeezed my eyes between my fingers.

"When we agreed to live together, the deal was that it would be a permanent bachelor pad with a series of one-night stands. You're not supposed to fall in love."

I ran my fingers through my light brown hair and pushed back hard against the chair.

"I know, I know but I can't help it. Seriously Brett, I've never met a woman like her."

Brett stood up and carried his empty wrapper to the bin, folded the paper together then placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it softly.

"Right buddy, the only way to get over a girl is to fuck another one. What say me and you go out tonight?"

Reluctantly, I agreed and by seven o'clock that night, Brett and I were standing in the Britannica Club as an array of attractive young women circled around us. I glanced in the direction of the bar and it was impossible not to remember.

"Double Vodka" I said glumly to the bartender and then handed over the required eight dollar for the drink.

"Rough day?" the feminine voice asked from behind me.

I turned around in the direction I'd heard it in. Her beauty overthrew me and I stood there, admiring her as she ordered a glass of white wine for herself.

"Is this seat free?" she asked in the most beautiful accent I had ever heard.

She sounded like a native Californian.

"Go ahead" I said invitingly.

I eyed her up and down, taking in every detail of her face and body, the silver dress she was wearing did her no justice.

There were curves on her body and her pert breasts longed to be free and sucked against my lips.

"So, what brings you here?" she asked, taking a sip from her glass.

I took a breath before tightening my grip on the marble bar.

"Today is the anniversary of my father's death."

She placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"I'm sorry" she said and that was the first time in my life I had ever heard someone say those words and truly mean them.

"Don't be, he was never there for me anyway."

I took a large gulp of my vodka and then continued.

"What about yourself. Why are you here?"

"Tomorrow is my thirtieth birthday and I had no one else to celebrate it with."

My hand slowly moved down her arm and rested at her hand, waiting for permission for mine to entwine around it-permission which she granted.

"Care to dance?" she asked into my ear as the music began to play.

That was when she whispered in my ear and the deal was made.