Nads came to pick me up though. By 9:30pm. She explained how getting off work made her late. But she didn't have to explain herself. Nads is always late. To anything. Lectures, graduation, and who knows maybe her wedding. Not that I'm pessimistic or anything but I mean a leopard doesn't change its spots right?
We got there and I could spot Luke on one of the tables being cheered as he chugged bottles of beer. He had relished ten or so. Nads shouted his name and got him down.
"Show's over guys" she said as she pulled him away.
A guy booed her and she gave him the finger.
Luke still looked....well....Luke. But he looked more muscular. Liked he spent days in the gym. His face wasn't round as before. His jaws were outlined and perfect.
"Trish!" He shouted. He didn't sound drunk cos' he hardly does get drunk.
"Luke" we hugged for an interval of two minutes. Not that I wanted to be locked in that embrace but he is so strong.
When we stopped, I asked of Jerry.
"Oh Jerry" Nads said as we settled down and she ordered drinks.
"Well ever since he got married he never sees us anymore. He's always busy with his wife or work. I mean who just deserts his friends like that?"
Nads is pissed. Really pissed. Jerry and she were the closest in our group. They even started the group and she has had a crush on him like forever. I'm sure she hates the wife a lot.
"Maybe he is really busy you know. None of us are married. He has to pay attention to his wife more often because he can't just spend everyday with us" I said in his defence.
"Well fuck his wife. I'm going to dance" and she left the table.
"She'll get over it" Luke said.
"Yeah, I hope so"
"So tell me about you. How was London?"
"London is great. Yeah,its really great"
"OK" and he kept silent.
Awkward
"So what do you do for a living? Gym coach?" I asked.
"What? No!"
"So what then?"
"I'm the owner of Soft Touch"
He has got to be kidding me. Soft Touch that produces the dopest tech and software?. I couldn't believe it. He could tell because he started laughing hard.
"Are you serious right now?"
"Yeah I am"
"Why didn't you tell me that during our Skype?"
"I forgot sometimes. But other times our Skypes are short. So there's little time"
Wow. I'm recuperating from my shock.
He takes a sip of his drink and laughs again. He is gorgeous. He catches me staring at him and he does the same. His green eyes penetrating into mine.
"Your eyes are pretty" he says
"Yours too"it comes out as a sigh
He reaches out and pulls me to him. He kisses me slowly. Very slowly. I'm aching. But then I push him away and stand up. I have to leave this place. It was getting stuffy. As I got outside, I felt the wind against my skin.
He was behind me calling my name or screaming. I didn't care. He pulled me and dragged me to his car
"Why are you leaving?"
"Cos' I'm suddenly sleepy" I yawn for emphasis. I know I sound stupid but WTH.
He pauses for a moment and then he hugs me.
"I like you a lot." What the fuck!
"When you left Seattle, I didn't take it well. I'm so used to seeing your face everyday that it hurt seeing you go. All those gals I dated in high school were like a distraction from you. I thought of you everyday. Okay not everyday but most of the time. I need you. And your walking away again and I'm not letting that happen. Over my dead body"
He looked at my face for my reaction. My face was flushed. This was all too much to take. Luke never liked me that way. That's what I told myself throughout the ten years of our friendship.
He took my mouth in his. I could feel the rush of adrenaline in my chest. This is real and not a dream.
