AllFreeNovel
Share Us
12
“Well, aren’t you a sight for tired eyes,” I say to Darlene as she enters with her husband, David.
She is wearing a sparkly black dress with green, gold, and purple Mardi Gras sequins. I place a modest peck on her cheek and shake her husband’s hand.
“Brent, you are too sweet. Thank you,” she replies.
We both take a silent but awkward glance around, checking the surroundings, knowing who we are searching for.
“So, have you seen Jerome and his wife?” I ask, trying to make small talk.
“I haven’t. I thought I saw him by the drink station, but it was Gerald.”
We both nod, continuing to scout the crowd.
“Oh. I see. This turned out real nice. I like the brass band on stage,” I say.
“Yeah. They’re doing a great job.” Darlene peers over my shoulder. “Looks like Marcus is heading this way.”
I turn and see our host and his gorgeous wife approach.
“Brent, my man. This is— I just can’t thank you enough. Look at how much fun everyone is having and how no one is cramped for space on the dance floor. Excellent design on both the building and the interior. I like how the colors have that warm and inviting feel. Tell me, where is your designer? I must thank her again and introduce her to my wife. Maybe she can share some secrets with her.”
He laughs at his joke, and I giggle a little. I don’t want to see her. Not tonight. It will make leaving tomorrow that much more painful.
“Oh, there she is,” Darlene proudly says.
I learned to master the side-eye while being here in the Crescent City. I shoot one at Darlene who knows how I’m feeling right now. My eyes try to avoid Kara, but they can’t. Her dress is alluring and show-stopping at the same time. All I know is that it’s lace, knee-length with a split, and backless. And, of course, purple.
“Ay mami. Te ves absolutamente impresionante esta noche,” Marcus says, taking her hand and placing a kiss upon the back.
“Gracias, Senor Hernandez,” Kara replies.
So not only is she in here looking like she’s looking, she is also adding to her fire by speaking in another language with her accent. I can’t take being around her any longer.
“Excuse me for a moment. I need to go to the office and make sure everything is removed.” I make a flimsy excuse to separate myself from everyone and jog up the staircase, speaking to my crew and others as I pass them by. I enter the office and close the door. I remove my jacket and hang it on the coatrack while checking to make sure all of my things are boxed up to be shipped to Jamaica or shipped back to my house in Kansas. Marcus has his office staff in here tomorrow to make sure UPS picks these things up. I stare out the window, down at the street below. There are spotlights displaying the Mardi Gras colors sweeping the sky, and other guests are filling in along with members of the press. Everyone seems to be having a great time, and I’m glad. I take a peek at the photos I had mounted for Marcus. They show the groundbreaking, the framing and masonry build on the outside, and two more coming later: the final inside and then opening night. This is one of my best builds.
A knock at the door brings me from memory lane. I glance towards that direction, figuring it must be Darlene here to chew me out for ditching our host.
“Yeah. Come in,” I call out to the unknown with my sights back to the view outside.
“Mr. Phillips.”
Her voice teases my eardrums, and I close my eyes, not wanting to see the vision. My feet and head have other plans as I turn around slowly and gaze upon her. The lights are off in the office, and all I see is her silhouette by the shimmer of light from the hall.
“Marcus gave me a bonus to share with you. I will have Darlene deposit it tomorrow,” I say. Trying to keep it at a professional, no feelings, level.
“Yeah, they both told me that downstairs. I came to uh, say,” she starts but hesitates to complete her thoughts.
“Say what, Kara?” I lock my gaze on her, my heart beating faster. I want to touch her. Feel her silky hair beneath my fingers. Feel her lips pressed against mine. To taste her, but she doesn’t want any part of what I can offer.
“When you told me that you loved me, I freaked out. I’ve never had anyone, any guy, tell me those things with meaning. Usually it was a ploy to get me to sleep with them. I hadn’t heard those words in some time. I figured I wouldn’t have to deal with them or my feelings if I ran away. But I did. Since that day, all I think about is you. So, at least now I can confess to you my feelings and we can both be free of this spell love has on us. Brent, I love you, too. I wish I had said it three weeks ago, but I was scared. I didn’t know how to react other than to run. To see you every day was painful. I even cry myself to sleep at night. I had to tell my sister everything and then hear her cuss me out, but it was worth it. Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say.”
She turns to leave, but I quickly block her and close the door, locking it so no one can enter. Taking her into my arms, I kiss her. I don’t give a damn if her makeup is smeared, I have lipstick on my face, or her hair comes out of that bun on her head, I need to feel her up against my body.
“I love you. I still love you. I can’t stop fucking thinking about you. I’ve never wanted to be with someone so bad, and it’s not the sex, I promise.” I laugh at how goofy I sound, and she laughs, too.
“I’m so sorry I ran out. I was thinking the worst of you and felt like I was being used all over again. I should’ve known better.”
