A soft smile embraced my face like the warmth of summer as I stood thee glancing through the glass in my living room, my gaze fixated on the pool, minutes after Isla had left. My mind crept into the tiny space between thoughts and fantasy, quite a contrast to my original nature. I'm not a thinker nor do I dwell in the delusional excuse called fantasy, but for a minute, I couldn't quite wrap my head around things.
I held firm in my left hand a full glass of martini, my right calmly tucked into my pocket. I had had a lot of one night encounters, but things was just different with Isla. Fate decided to play a trick by making sure our paths crossed in a place I couldn't have possibly imagined, and now, we were getting closer by the day which frightens me a bit.
She wasn't the problem, I was. For once, I chose to embrace vulnerability when I fell in love with Maddie and all I faced was humiliation, rejection, and restricted access to my dignity. I couldn't do that again. Since then, I had chosen a path where I wouldn't be attached to anyone.
'It can't come back to bite me in the arse if we never have to meet again,' that was what I believed, but it wasn't the case now. Circling back to this moment, I find myself longing for affection and acceptance in a place that shouldn't be. Since our encounter, I have been consumed by guilt. I didn't know if it was because I stole the reward of her long hard work, or maybe it was because I wasn't totally honest about who I was. But who knew we would meet again? She didn't tell me who she was either... So it was totally out of option to think I had manipulated her in anyway, it was supposed to be a one time thing, and shouldn't have been that complicated. Why then is it? Do I love her? Or was it just my guilt trying to force me into compensating her with compassion?
While I stood there, my phone buzzed twice. I quickly reached into my pocket, drew it out, only to realize it was a call from Robin. I hesitated for a bit, not sure if I wanted anything to disrupt my feelings but then I answered it.
The phone beeped.
"What's up mate, you don't happen to be free right now, are ya?" he asked over the phone.
Hesitant at first, I took a minute in my mind to think. "Yeah, talk to me."
"Huh, you won't believe what I just saw," I sensed the excitement in his voice, a mixed tone of anxiety and joy as if he was high. Not totally out of the options, it sounded as if he was at a party, with loud bass vibrating over the phone.
I calmly turned from where I had been standing and was slowly making my way towards my bedroom. "Are you high Robin?" I asked him.
"Fuck no, I'm not. I'm out though, vibing at Queen's hour. You won't believe who fucking walked in—"
"Who?" I asked promptly.
"Maddie. Freaking Maddie Berkeley," his voice rang high.
"What?" I quickly lay my martini cup down on the kitchen countertop. "Are you certain it's Maddie." I was instantly agitated, hurrying into my room to dress up.
I lay my phone on the bed, leaving it on speaker as I searched through my shirts.
"We attended college together, didn't we? It's Maddie, I'm sure. She came in with a dude. Dark and hairy tall guy."
That didn't match Levi's description so who was she with? It made no sense to think Robin was mistaken. Robin, Maddie, and I were all friends throughout college. He wouldn't make a mistake to say he had seen Maddie when he wasn't sure.
"Where're you at right now?" I asked him.
"It's Queen's hour. Queens with the double e. I'll text you the the address. I'm just gonna go say hi to her."
"How will I find you when I'm there?"
"Ring me, yeah!" He ended the call abruptly.
I didn't know if I should believe Robin or not, Maddie wasn't the the type that attended loud events, but there wasn't a good reason to doubt him either, and thinking about the fact that I hadn't seen her in years, so much must have happened during my time away.
Excitedly, I dressed up and drove straight to the location he sent me. I pulled over behind a black Sedan, in front of the club, a two story building. Before stepping out of the car, I texted Robin to let him know I had arrived. I didn't get an immediate response, so I stepped out of the vehicle, and was heading towards the door when his text came in.
:. Second floor, VIP lounge 3.
I walked in immediately I got this. The dance floor was packed full, I couldn't immediately find my way to the stairs. I was shoved back and forth by dancers, shaking their body like they had an epilepsy seizure. I eventually saw one of the drinks servers go up the stairs with a tray full of drinks. I went after her without hesitation, instantly ending up on the second floor. I walked through the corridor, passing the rooms one after the other. Strippers lined up at the entrances, flicking their fingers like beggars asking for crumbs. When I got to the third lounge, I just casually strolled in but was quickly stopped by a tall muscular man.
I was confused, wondering why Robin would have bodyguards accompanying him to this kind of place, and I immediately caught a glimpse of a man sitting in the dark corner, with strippers dancing sexually in front of him. It wasn't Robin. Confused, I tried to ask questions but Robin immediately came out from the dark corner of the room and quickly pulled me out.
"You should have texted me before coming in," he said, as we both walked down the stairs.
"Where is Maddie?" I didn't hesitate to ask.
He was silent. His mouth fumbled, and his hand rubbed the lie off his beards.
"You told me Maddie was here," I said the minute we burst out through the front door.
"I did. I did, and she was. I mean man, she looked so much like her, talks like her, but she doesn't remember me which seems weird and her name was Sophie."
I halted immediately on the red carpet leading to the door.
He did the same, and we turned facing each other.
"You made me drive all the way here to listen to this crap. You could have called," I lamented.
"Sorry bruv, wanted you to see for yourself but she left a while ago."
"I see," I replied.
Robin wasn't wrong, in fact he looked sorry. Even though I knew this might not be true, I tried to believe it because a part of me felt Maddie was what I was missing. I was such an idiot to think she would return after all these years. Father mentioned she had moved to the Bahamas with Levi but I couldn't help but think she would one day return... Turned out I was quite delusional.
While I was still there with Robin, Robin suddenly called my attention to a girl walking out of the club. Looking closely, I realized it was Isla. She didn't notice us, she was just trying to to flag down a taxi. I left Robin there standing, and walked up to her by the road.
"Leaving the party so soon, miss?" I said when I was close enough.
She stumbled but immediately caught herself. "Asher, oh my God, you startled me."
"I see you again. Twice in one day," I added.
"Can't argue about that."
"Sorry. What are you doing here?"
"What do they do here?" She answered me, quite rude but it made perfect sense.
"Sorry," I laughed.
She chuckled.
"So, you're heading home?" I asked her.
Robin moved closer to us.
"As you can see I am," she answered, still waiting for her ride.
"How about I drop you off?"
"No, thank you. Last time you did, you got shot."
I laughed again.
"Hey Isla," Robin greeted.
"Robin, didn't know you were there. It is nice to see you."
Robin drew her hand and kiss it like he had been waiting for this opportunity all his life. It was his signature flirting move back in college. I just stared in awe.
"You are married," I yelled.
Isla smiled.
"My ride just got cancelled," she said. "How about you drop me then?"
"Yeah, sure ma'am."
I led her to my car, and we both got in. We drove away as Robin stood there waving.
Not long after, we arrived outside her apartment. She was quiet all through, but when we got to her house, she smiled softly before proceeding to thank me.
"Thanks for the ride, Mr. Barney," she said, before trying to get out.
"Wait," I said.
She stopped.
"Sorry for my manners when you were at my place."
"Oh that."
"Yes, that."
"It's fine actually. You didn't overstep," she replied.
"Hmm... Looked like I did but it actually felt great," I commented, pressing down on the steer wheel.
"It did. I should go now," she said as if she were in a hurry.
"Yes, sure. You should have a pleasant night."
She opened the car door and was about to step out when I called her back. I drew close, and surprisingly she stood still. My lips caught hers, warm and soft like cream. It didn't seem as if she enjoyed it. She wasn't expecting it, I also didn't know what drove me to do it, but I couldn't deny the fact that it felt really nice and warm.
She smiled again. "Mr. Barney, I think you should get some rest," she advised, biting down on her lips.
I didn't even know if I should apologize, I just stared at her as she completely stepped out and wished me goodnight. What was I thinking to have kissed her? I couldn't possibly be falling in love with her at this critical moment. I just shook it off and drove to my place.
By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted. I just jumped onto my bed and slept. The next morning, it was my phone buzzing that woke me up. Looking at it, I realized it was from Robin. I was still pretty mad about what he did the previous night that I decided to ignore his call, but then he sent a text. When I checked, I just stared in confusion.
:. Man, check the news. You are trending.