AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He huffed, “Yes. Your number and your name.”
I wanted to argue so bad. I wanted to ask if I ever agreed to give him my number, but I was too flushed to. I was glad he was back, and although, I knew we would still run into each other, because, indeed, the town was really so small, everyone practically knew themselves, I was glad he came back.
I gleamed, my lips twirling upwards, and stretched my hand forward for him to pass his phone, and I punched my number into his phone.
He looked at it, beamed and stared at me. “You did not tell me your name.”
I thought of being hesitant, but at the moment, I didn’t see the point. So, after a sultry pause, and batting my lashes, I just told him. “Evelyn Grey.”
ChapterFive
There was a certain airiness that hovered around me when I woke up. Like, I could just feel my legs tingle, and my heart dance. It had been such a long time since I woke up feeling so light, so happy. Like I was capable of doing all things, and that the world was on my side; all I needed to do was step out of my house, and go ahead to chase my dreams. It was all up to me.
I hurriedly stretched my hand to my phone and headed to Spotify to my energetic and happy mix. Every single song I had on there had a way of maintaining my good mood, so I trusted it and hit the shuffle button. And as soon as the song came on, I squealed. It was ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus. It had only been out for a month, but it was already my favorite song. I squealed again as I bopped my shoulders, sliding my feet into my slippers and heading into the bathroom to begin my self-care morning routine.
Firstly, I prepared my bubble bath, because, I was indeed in the right space for it. Then, I headed to the kitchen and prepared myself a glass of lemon water, because I knew it would boost my energy and help me keep going. Then, I headed back to the bathroom and applied my face mask which I needed so I did not break out. It kept my skin soft too. And, while it remained on my face, I took out a book I had always wanted to read, but never had the chance, a book my mother gifted to me: ‘Act Your Age’ by Eve Brown. She was probably drawn to it, because I shared the same first name as the author, or from the cover. But, I really loved how the book started and I was devout to finishing it, or going halfway before I would need to start getting ready for work. But, at chapter 10, I heard a beep from my phone. And, I rushed to check it. It was a text from an unknown number:Hey Evelyn. It’s Holden. You up for dinner tonight?
The most straightforward text ever. But, I guess that was what lit my heart; his directness, his assertiveness, how he just didn’t mince his words. And, then, there was his face: his Viking-gold hair, his bristly eyebrows, his dapper, military moustache that danced alluringly around his genial smile. And then, there was his muscly body I just wanted so close to mine right now. But even with how I could not stop thinking about him, I could not stop thinking about Luca. Did they look alike for some reason, to me, or did he just wreck me with that sensuous first impression. It’s funny how I started the day singing about how I could buy myself flowers and take myself dancing, and here I was, at the moment, thinking about two men I didn’t really know.
I picked up my phone and textedHi, Holden. Sure, you can show me around your little town.I do not know how long I plan to go on like this, but I would no matter how long it would need me to take. After all, all I needed was me right now.
At the time I was done mooning and thinking, the happy song on was now Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, and I danced my way into the bathtub for the most relaxing thirty minutes I was sure to have in a long while. “I go on too many dates. But I can’t make ‘em stay,” I sang at the top of my lungs as I caressed and cleansed my skin in the bathroom, lather flinging every which way, bubbles hovering around. “And that’s what people say…”
When I got out, the refreshing air was even more vitalizing than before. It breathed on my skin; it refreshed my soul. I felt like a new person, like I could be whatever I wanted to be without judgement. It was time to go to work, and see what was up.
Of course, the person I saw on getting to work was Ryan. He had this red-checkered shirt on that lit his eyes, but you could tell it made him uncomfortable. You could generally tell dressing so formal made him uncomfortable. At least, that was one of the first things I noticed during the meeting; him fumbling with his tie, like it was a Venus-fly trap groping his neck. And now, here he was, at his desk, wrestling with his golden cufflinks.
“Thank God you’re here,” he heaved a breathy sigh, and jumped out of his seat, in a disorderly haste. “These cufflinks are after my life.”
I couldn’t just keep myself from laughing. I helped him lock the cufflinks in, and at the moment I was walking to my desk, Luca strolled in. His pressed T-shirt was the first thing that caught my eye; how it sketched out his muscly features, his abs, his bulky arms. I snapped out of it as quickly as I could, lest he caught me staring. But I think he did. We kept staring at each other, and it only took Ryan’s cough to break it. The tension, really.
“Good morning,” I greeted with my office voice: a soothing, yet vibrant mezzo-soprano.
“Good morning,” he replied in an equally sensuous tone, but without looking. “Ryan, could I have a word please.”
Ryan made a funny face as he walked towards him, even as he shut the door behind him. And for a long while, they just remained in there, talking; Ryan flailing his hands theatrically. Because the office had transparent windows, I could see through, but I could not hear a word of what they were saying. It seemed serious. You would think as his direct aide I would be a part of a conversation that looked so consequential. Guess I still had to prove myself to them.
* * *
By the timeI was getting off work, Holden was waiting for me on the ground floor, dressed in a polished chinos and turquoise Tee that brought out his sexy smirk. I flushed all over when I spotted the flowers in his hand and tried to pretend I wasn’t already blushing.
“I thought we said this wasn’t a date.”
“Maybe you agreed to that. But I didn’t.” And then, he stretched his hand forward, taking mine in his.
As we drove by the town, I could see everything from an entirely different perspective. It was all beautiful, illuminating. The streets, the trees that swayed, greeting us as we drove by, even the towns people didn’t seem all that judgmental as they watched us. They carried wide, genuine smiles plastered across their faces, and a joy you could see blossoming from their hearts to how they went about their day.
First, after he took me home to change, we stopped at a cute, little shop he said was the town’s only coffee shop. Which turned out to be surprisingly large when we stepped inside. The barista was an African-American boy with youthful looks, yet sporting a well-groomed beard.
“Welcome, Mr. Holden,” he said in a sing-song manner, and an enticing grin, before turning to me. His grin widened, but I could tell he was unsure of who I was, but he was looking for a polite way to ask.
“Troy, she’s new in town. Quit cooing.”
I laughed, and extended my hand. “The name’s Evelyn.” With the way he blushed, I just knew he was still a teenager.
We settled on a table by the windows so the sun reflected on our faces, brandishing the romantic setting. His skin just glowed, and with the way he looked into my eyes, I had never felt so warm inside.
“So, apart from the job, what brought you to Delaware county? It’s clearly not the finest town in the country.”
