As We Lost the Light

XV.

The elevator doors slid open and I cursed under my breath as I squeezed my way into the cramped space. I was juggling a tray of drinks in one hand and my phone in the other, my phone which had been incessantly ringing for the last fifteen minutes.

It was my first day and I was late.

My first day at my new job - well, my new unpaid internship - and I was freaking late. I had received a last minute text from my boss, a complex drink order with no 'please' or 'thank you' accompanying it. The line at Starbucks had been ridiculously long and I had driven twenty miles over the speed limit the entire way here, but I was still late. My new adventure was off to a great start.

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor and I pushed my way out into the hall. I rounded the corner just as my phone began ringing again. I groaned and attempted to bring it up to my ear, but my body collided with something, or rather someone, and the drinks crumpled between us.

"Shit! I'm so sorry!" I muttered, looking up to face the person who's pants I had just ruined. I was expecting to be yelled at, berated, but the mans face held a soft expression, a half smirk stretched across his lips - he was surprisingly calm for someone who just had iced coffee spilled down his jeans. And, boy, was he gorgeous - his long, brown hair was pin straight and pulled across his forehead, a silver hoop caressed his right nostril, his deep brown eyes were kind. I swallowed hard.

"It's okay, don't worry about it," he replied, taking a step back.

"No, here, let me help. I'm so sorry. Fuck!" I grabbed a handful of napkins that I had stuffed in my purse and squatted down, attempting to soak up some of the liquid I had showered him with. His bronze hands reached down and grabbed mine, removing them from his body, and my eyes widened in horror as I realized where I had been rubbing.

He chuckled, pulling me back up and I cringed, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. "Really, its fine. No big deal. I should've been paying more attention." I nodded and bent down, busying myself with picking up the discarded cups that were scattered at my feet.

"There you are!" I raised my head and was confronted with my boss, a man who was likely only a year or two older than me, his arms angrily crossed over his chest, glaring at the mess I had made.

The other man, and his coffee-soaked jeans, had fled at some point, leaving me there alone, looking like a fool. He shook his head, and, while rolling his eyes, led me down the hall to the studio. I stood before him, embarrassed as all hell, while he admonished me for being late and unprofessional. I hated that my first impression was a bad one, and even though being an errand boy was the last thing I ever wanted to be, it was a foot in the door. And I had come to learn that, in the marketing industry, a foot in the door was your only hope of getting anywhere.

I spotted another one of the interns, a girl I had interviewed with, and I sauntered over to her. I had been given strict instructions to stay out of the way during the shoot and I had every intention of doing just that, not wanting to make this day any worse.

"Do you know what the shoot is for?" I asked. She turned to me, a smile of recognition on her face.

"Yeah, some promo campaign for an up-and-coming band." I nodded, grateful for her kindness. "Ooh, here they come!" She squealed.

"That's not the outfit we picked out." The words flowed from the mouth of the photographer, disappointment laced in her voice. From where I was standing I couldn't see who she was talking to and I stepped forward, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"Yeah, sorry," I recognized the voice and I froze, my entire body filling with dread. "Some girl spilled coffee down my pants." When he came into my line of vision our eyes met momentarily. My cheeks flushed red once again and a devilish grin spread across his lips.

My first day. I was late. And I had inadvertently felt up our client after dousing him with three iced lattes. I had never been so mortified.

I dropped my suitcase in the doorway and flung my body onto the bed, stretching my limbs every which way. It felt so good, to be in an actual bed again. And although I didn't miss that tiny bunk I was sure as hell already missing the wonderful man that I had been sharing it with.

As if on cue my phone started ringing, a picture of said wonderful man appearing on the screen. My lips spread over my teeth, a big smile finding its home on my face.

"Hey, babe," I breathed, settling against my pillows and kicking my shoes to the floor. I could practically hear him grinning through the phone.

"Home safe and sound?" He asked and I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

"Home safe and sound."

"How was your flight?" I could hear commotion in the background, music and voices swirling around him. But then the noises began to die out and I heard a door closing, followed by silence.

I let out an involuntary yawn, the long day finally catching up with me. "It was fine. Long. I'm glad to be home." I paused. "But I miss you."

He chuckled. "I miss you too, my love."

I rolled over onto my side, pulling my knees to my chest. "You know what I was thinking about on the way home?"

"What's that, baby?"

"I was thinking about the day we first met." As I thought back on the seven-year-old memory, butterflies began to invade my stomach.

"You mean when you spilled coffee on my crotch?" Vic laughed heartily and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, thinking back on that day. "I'm still convinced you did that on purpose just so you could feel me up."

I scoffed and Vic's laughter continued. "Whatever, Vic!" I squealed, hiding my face in my hands even though he was nowhere around to see my face turning bright red. "I still can't believe you asked for my number. I looked like a complete idiot! That was the most embarrassing day of my life!"

"But you were so cute. You were so flustered. And then you started rubbing on my junk. How could I not get your number?" I knew he had an animated grin on his face, and if he would've been near me at that moment I would've smacked him.

"You're awful," I said, a low chuckle escaping my mouth.

"You love me," he responded. My heart skipped a beat.

"I do. Very much."