Enchanter (13 page)

“Yeah, she moved in about a month ago.” Thinking back, I could
not remember a time when the old woman that lived in 2B – whose name I did not
know – and I’d had a conversation. The woman pretty much never left her
apartment and I had only seen her twice since she moved in. “I’m just surprised
to know that Mrs. Wells died.”

“We all are. Talk about a wakeup call.”

My eyebrows arched at Sonya’s comment. “Wakeup call?”

“Life is too short, so start enjoying it.” Sonya pointed a
finger at me.

“I’m starting to.” I smiled, although after hearing about
Mrs. Wells passing, I was a little bummed. She was a sweet old lady, and
knowing that she would no longer greet me in the elevator was a sad thing for
me.

“Ah, yes, about that.” Sonya glared at me. “Please tell that
me that I did not hear you say that you’re going somewhere with Mr. Morris?”

Vanessa tossed an apologetic look my way and said, “Sorry,
Leah, I had you on speaker so she heard everything.”

“Just as well. She was going to find out, anyway.”

“I’m right here you know.”

“How can I forget? That loud mouth of yours is enough to
remind me.”

Vanessa’s giggle forced a smile out of me.

“Hey, be nice.”

“I know what you’re going to say, but I really like Brandon,
and after that amazing kiss—”

“What? He kissed you?” Sonya’s squeal annoyed me.

“No, he didn’t kiss me. He’s too much of a gentleman, so I
kissed him.”

“You’ve been acting weird since you hit your head, but now I
know your wound must’ve been worse than we all assumed.”

“Shut up before I smack you!” Vanessa warned our brash
friend, earning a scowl from her. “I want details,” she said as she turned her
attention back to be. “How was it?”

“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

“I may be pregnant, but I will chase you around this room if
you don’t fill me in.”

“You can’t even off the couch without help.”

She tossed a glare my way. “Fine, I’ll admit defeat, but
still, I want to know what happened.”

I took a few minutes to provide some very vague details of
what happened, enough to keep my pregnant friend from harassing me. “And please
don’t tell me I told you so, because I’ve already heard those words, like, a
hundred times in my head.”

Vanessa laughed. “Okay, I won’t. But I will say that I’m
happy with this development.”

“You are?”

“Of course. I happen to think that you two would make a
handsome couple.”

“Thanks.” I was incredibly relieved that Vanessa was so
accepting. When I glanced over toward Sonya, my face fell a little. “You
haven’t said anything, Sonya.”

“I’m very confused.” She frowned for a second or two before
sighing heavily. “There’re so many hot guys that follow you around in the hopes
of getting noticed, and you choose Brandon Morris?”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. But he isn’t as handsome as Harry, Lewis,
Nathaniel, Erick, Xavier or even your roommate, Matt.”

That’s her reason? He isn’t handsome enough for me?
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard and I’ve heard many things over the
years.

“Maybe not, but he’s sweet, kind, caring, honest, and he’s not
bad looking either. Besides I’m the one who’s going to see him tonight, not
you.”

“I know that. I hope you have a great time.”

“Yeah, I believe that.”

Despite my obvious happiness, Sonya was still stuck in that superficial
pit where the shallow people hung out and decided never to leave. She was my
dear friend and, like any great comrade, I would do just about anything for her,
but if Brandon and I got serious and she still opposed us seeing each other,
then our friendship would have to end. It was damn time I started to make my
own opinions and not let others force theirs on me.

 “Have you decided what to wear?”

“No.”

“Let’s go closet browsing then.”

Sonya rushed to my bedroom and opened the door as Vanessa
and I followed.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get you all dolled up for this.” Vanessa
marched in and immediately hit the closet. “What kind of event is it?”

“Brandon said formal.”

“Club, theater, bar?”

“Restaurant.”

“I’m in charge of makeup,” Sonya announced as she rummaged
through my cosmetics bag. At least she was staying to help me get ready.
Perhaps she was not as superficial as I thought.

I watched in silence as my friends began to plot what I
should wear and what I should do with my hair, and as they did, my mind drifted
to Brandon and his pale blue eyes.

What wonders will the night bring with it?

Once Vanessa and Sonya finished with me, I stared at my
reflection in the mirror, my eyes wide with wonder at the young woman staring
back. My long auburn hair was neatly arranged with half of my curls tidily held
up at the back of my head by a couple of evenly spaced bobby pins. The rest was
left lose to cascade down my naked shoulders.

After an extensive debate, Vanessa, Sonya, and I decided on
a short, sleeveless, dark grey cocktail dress which had a small bow just above
my right hip, and was comfortable enough to allow my movements to be natural. A
pair of silver, open-toed shoes, a black clutch adorned with silver gemstones, and
a pair of dazzling drop earrings made up the rest of my outfit.

The only things marring my features were the five stitches
that were unfortunately scheduled to be removed in a few days. Meanwhile, I
chose not to wear a bandage and instead, covered the sight with a few locks of
hair that hung loosely over the right side of my face. The thought of facing a
few strangers who would probably see my injury caused me to be a little
apprehensive, but at the same time, the only person I was hoping to impress was
Brandon.

A little after five fifty, Brandon called to inform me that
he was on his way over. Stalling for some more time in order to calm my racing
heart, I told him to wait for me by the elevators in the lobby area as soon as
he got there. Every second that ticked by forced my heart to race faster and
the anticipation to build up until it became nearly unbearable. Despite the
fact that I was looking forward to this event, I could not help feeling
absolutely terrified.

It had been a little over two years since I last dated and
although my first boyfriend, Chang, had been sweet and fun to be around, he had
never sparked as much of a physical awareness in me as Brandon did.

As my friends and I waited for the elevator to stop at the
lobby floor, I kept fidgeting with my purse and glancing at any place except to
the doors.

“Would you quit acting like you’re about to experience a car
wreck?” Sonya snapped as she inspected my hair for the tenth time since we got
in the elevator. “You look adorable.”

“Adorable? The guy is going to blow a gasket when he sees
her.” Vanessa laughed hard when I gasped. “We’ll be lucky if he doesn’t faint
as soon as those doors open.”

Sonya’s eyes twinkled with enjoyment. “I would love to see
that.”

“I’ve never been this edgy before.”

“It’s going to be fine. Just be yourself and by that I don’t
mean for you to get assertive and snappy like you tend to do.”

“Excuse me? Since when am I snappy?”

Vanessa and Sonya exchanged amused glances.

“It’s what makes Leah Parker so damn interesting.” Vanessa
shrugged.

“First, you call me snappy, then you say I’m interesting?
Make up your mind!”

“See what I mean?” She pointed at me but her attention was
directed at Sonya.

“On the other hand, Brandon might like the fact that she’s
pushy. I mean, she had a few arguments with the boy and look,” Sonya gestured down
my attire, “now they’re going out on a date.”

“Quit pestering me, you two, or I won’t call tomorrow to let
you know how the date went.”

That shut them up right away.

“We’re here.” Sonya pointed out when the elevator stopped at
the lobby floor.

I sucked in some air and released it just as doors opened.
As soon as I saw Brandon, all the air I had left in my lungs rushed out at
once. “Oh, my God.”

“Oh, wow,” Sonya murmured next to me.

About five or six feet from the elevator doors stood my
incredibly handsome date for the night. Brandon wore a black suit that did an
amazing job at outlining his broad shoulders, complimented by a white shirt of
which the first few buttons lay open, leaving a perfectly hairless chest
exposed for us girls to gawk at, and a pair of black loafers. His long, black
hair was combed back and tied at the nape of his neck.

Handsome came short when describing how incredibly fetching
Brandon looked dressed as if he was some big-shot executive for some important
company. And right then, I was not the only one affected by his charms, because
my friends were gawking at him just as much as I was.

“I think it just got hot in here.” Sonya fanned herself with
one hand. “Or is that just me?”

“No, it’s not just you,” I admitted as I walked out of the
elevator, followed by my two equally surprised friends. “Brandon.”

He appeared a little nervous, but he smiled at us just the
same.

“Hello, girls.” His smooth voice was full of admiration as
he watched me stride toward him, but he was trying his best to seem nonchalant
and completely casual.

“Hey, Brandon.” Sonya was astonished by his change in
appearance and she was not shy about letting him know, either. “I almost didn’t
recognize you in that getup.”

He acknowledged her with a slight nod of his head. “Do I
look that different?”

“Different? You look hot!”

No one was as stunned by Sonya’s words as Brandon himself,
and it showed on his face.

“Ah… thanks.”

I rolled my eyes at her. I mean, I did find the fact that
she was awestruck by his transformation quite flattering, especially
considering that just hours ago she was all up on my case because she did not think
he was handsome enough for the likes of me. Now however, she could not stop
ogling his well-sculpted form.

Brandon just smiled before turning his attention back to me.
“Leah, wow… you look… gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

“Hi, Brandon, sorry we can’t stay and chat, but I’ve been gone
for long enough and I’m sure someone at home is worried about me.” Vanessa’s voice
interrupted as she pulled on Sonya’s arm to direct her to the exit.

“The boy cleans up nicely,” Sonya murmured as she was
dragged away.

Brandon just chuckled softly as we stared at a grinning Sonya
and a beaming Vanessa hurry out the double glass doors toward the parking lot.

“Please excuse my immature friend.”

“I had no idea my appearance would come as such a shock.”

“I would’ve greeted you alone, but they ended up keeping me
company for longer than we all expected.” Mainly because we could not decide
what I should wear or how to arrange my hair. “But I have to agree with Sonya—”
I gestured down his body, “—you look incredible.”

“Impressed?” Brandon asked.

“Absolutely.” I took two steps forward and smiled when he
tried hard not to seem obvious about staring. “I really like what I see.”

That was the first time I ever saw him actually blush.

“So do I.”

“Do you?”

“I would be contented with standing in this lobby for the
rest of the night if only I could just stare at you.”

Now it was my turn to blush.

“Shy?” he asked when he noticed my flushed cheeks.

“A little,” I admitted.

“Funny, I would never peg you for being the shy type.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Then I’m glad I’m here to learn the things I don’t,
disprove any misconceptions I’ve had, confirm what kind of person you really
are, and understand the workings behind that mind of yours.”

Those words made him sound so much older.

“Are you confidant that you can learn to understand me?”

Brandon extended his hand and I took it. When he lifted it
to his mouth and brushed the back of my hand with his lips, I raised my gaze to
his, and we both smiled.

“I’m sure as hell going to try.”

“What if I turn out to be someone you don’t like?”

“Like? I’ve liked you since I was six years old.”

That revelation forced all sorts of serious sentiments to
course through me. Had he been harboring a crush on me for that long? Or did he
mean that, despite the nasty glares between us, he had always been willing to consider
being my friend anyway? But then, friends do not tongue wrestle each other like
we had the day before either.

“And here I thought you started liking me when I kissed
you.”

He smiled, drew me in, and planted a quick kiss on my lips
before turning to the doors and leading the way outside.

“I’m afraid the basis for my fondness of you started a long
time ago.” Brandon unlocked the passenger-side door of his Honda as soon as we
stopped next to it. “But that kiss added points to your chart.”

My eyebrows shot up. “I have a chart?”

“In my head you do.”

“I wonder how many other girls have charts.”

He chuckled. “Not
that
many.”

My reaction amused him.

“I don’t think I like this conversation anymore.”

Before I could climb inside the passenger seat, Brandon
placed his hands on my hips and turned me around to face him. “You’re the only
one that counts for me, and no matter what happens, that fact will never change.”

Why did it feel as if he was apologizing in advance for
something?

His lips hovered over mine, and as I wrapped my arms around
his neck, they got even closer.

“That sounds a lot better.”

“See, I’m already learning how to get your attention.”

“Hard at work already, huh?”

He nodded before pulling me gently toward his body and
kissing me until my legs gave out and I had to hold onto his shoulders to keep
from slipping out of his grasp. After a few minutes of exploring our mouths,
Brandon pulled away and gestured to the seat.