Flames

6

Carter's pov:

Before going to work, I stop at a nearby cafè to grab a bite.
The girl I kinda stalked is sitting on the table right next to the window of the shop.

Our eyes meet.

Gazes connect.

Heartbeats pound.

Whatever the fuck cliché you want to throw out there-they're all annoying, but there you have it. She's watching me warily, those golden eyes narrowing in a surly way.

Agitation flares her nostrils.

I step closer and say to put her on ease. "I swear I am not stalking you. Maybe I am.. I mean, you know, this is just a coincidence. I mean, You, I, here..you get it, don't you?"

I end up scratching the back of my neck nervously and she bites her lower lip to stop herself from smiling.

I have been labeled a womanizer and a man-whore.
It has never bothered me, in fact I embraced it. It became part of my identity.
I enjoyed sex and believed variety was the spice of life. I never wanted to commit to one meal when I could take my plate and sample an endless selection from the buffet table.
But this girl..damn. there's something about her that makes me..feel.

''At least, you Haven't come in my house like a robber, like last time." She smiles hesitantly.

"Well, there's no need for me to do that again, If you agree on meeting me somewhere else."

"Why..why do you wanna get to know me so badly? I mean..if...if it's for the car, I've already forgiven you."

"It's destiny..?" I try to come up with something cheesy and continue saying, "It's not within our control. Today, we met again so it means, destiny has something in store for us. We should stop running away from each other and just... not be strangers?"

"Adira."

I look at her confusedly. "What..?"

''My name is Adira. Not a stranger anymore."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Although, you're foreign, aren't you?" I ask observing her looks.

"My mum's Indian and my dad was Italian." She explains, putting a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"That's such a cool combination. It explains your exotic beauty."

"You shouldn't keep..flirting. I'm older than you." She states

I put my elbows on the table and say, looking deep into her eyes.

"The law of attraction knows no age limit."

She laughs and stands up to leave. "You're quite the charmer."

"I'm Noah Kingston. Charm runs in my blood."

"Well..if destiny really wants us to be in each other's life somehow, then I'll give you my number next time we CASUALLY meet. Until next time, Noah.." She says, before leaving.

Later that day

Wanting to burn off the excess tension, I came here to the gym, to push my body to its limit.
Straightening my arms, I lift the bar above me. My biceps burn and shake as I bend my elbows lowering the barbell down to my chest and then push it back up.
I repeat the motion nine more times to complete my eighth rep of ten.
The energy I expend does nothing to distract me from that temptress.

Adira. She's not going to get off my mind anytime soon. Damn.

I go back to my lifting, hoping I could, at the very least, lose myself in the repetitive task.
It doesn't work so far and my muscles scream from the punishment they'd taken as a result of me trying to exorcise my demons with exercise.

Gotta do something about her. Soon.