I Want Candy (8 page)

“It’s possible, I s’pose. Look, I want you to try to put this out of your mind. I know it’s easier said than done, but there’s nothin’ you can do about this, at least not right now.”

“I know. I just feel so bad about the whole thing. Thanks for callin’ me, though. I appreciate it,” Candy yawned.

“No problem. Not to sound uncaring, but I wanted to know if we could go out again in a few days? I know your mind may not really be there right this second, but I have to kinda get my schedule together in advance.”

“I understand. I have quite a busy work week ahead. What day were you thinkin’ about?”

“How about a quick lunch? You work downtown. My assignment is downtown right now. I can take you to lunch on Wednesday?” Eric stood up and looked at himself in the mirror from various angles.

“I don’t see why not,” Candy smiled. “Again, Eric, you’re a real sweetheart, and I had a great time with you tonight.”

“Good. Now eat that cake up and go to bed,” he laughed. “I’ll talk to you soon. Sweet dreams,” he said before hanging up.

Candy continued to smile as she laid her head back on her pillow and watched the news. Her phone rang again. She looked at the caller-ID, and her heartbeat increased three-fold.

“Hey, Dallas,” Candy said between controlled breaths. “How are you, girl?”

“Pissed the hell off. Andre and I were supposed to go out to the movies tonight like I told you, and he had some last-minute meeting to run off to. We never get to spend time together anymore. Enough about me though, how was your date, Girl?”

Candy paused then said dryly, “Oh, it was very nice.”

“Well, don’t sound so excited!” Dallas teased. “What happened?”

“He actually seems great. We went out to dinner and had a really nice time. I just…” Candy looked down into her lap.

“You just what?” Dallas inquired with concern. “What’s wrong, Candy?”

“Dallas, is Andre near you right now? I need to tell you something.” Candy gulped.

“No, he left out to the store. You know you can tell me anything. Did somethin’ happen?” Dallas asked again.

Candy sighed and breathed deeply into the phone. “I saw Andre out with another woman tonight, at the restaurant that Eric and I were at. It took me by surprise because I knew you two were s’posed to be out together and they looked…comfortable.”

Candy was dying through the thick silence that lay between her and Dallas on the phone. It continued on until Dallas finally responded after taking a deep breath.

“What exactly did you see?” she asked coolly.

“They were sittin’ there holdin’ hands. The woman kissed him, and he smiled. They were talkin’ over drinks. I’m not sure what was going on, but…”

“What did the woman look like?” Dallas asked in almost a whisper.

“She was about your complexion, short black hair – I’m not sure what else. Oh, she had on a blue dress and long nails.”

Dallas
pursed her lips together, “I see.” She sat down, almost losing her balance. “He told me it was Stanley…that he had a meeting with Stanley.” Dallas’s voice cracked.

“Dallas, let me come by or you come here.” Candy jumped up from her bed.

“No, Candy, that won’t be necessary. Thank you for tellin’ me. I’m sure that was hard for you to do.”

Candy could hear the strong determination Dallas mustered as she held a slippery grip on her composure.

“I didn’t want to tell you. I just want to be wrong about this. I knew, though, that if I was in the same situation, I’d want you to tell me. It was hard, but I did it because I love you and value our friendship. I think he may have seen me. Andre is usually very nice to me but was abrupt on the phone when I called you this evening.”

“You did the right thing,” Dallas said, her thoughts drifting in a million directions. “You called me earlier tonight?” Dallas asked, surprised. “He didn’t tell me. Interesting,” she added. “Candy, I don’t know if he saw you or not, but when he walked in the door tonight, we argued almost immediately. That’s probably why he had an attitude. He was probably so far up her ass he wouldn’t have noticed if Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men were there,” Dallas teased, her heart ripping into shreds.

“What are you gonna do?” Candy asked, worry coating each syllable she spoke.

“I’m not gonna address it tonight. I need to get my head together. I need to find out some information first. I have no proof, so I can’t be emotional about it. By the way, the woman you described sounds like a coworker of his that is always callin’. Damn liar,” Dallas blurted.

“Just know that I’m here for you. I’m so sorry about this, Dallas. Andre seems so in love with you. I’m still hoping for some sort of plausible explanation.”

“It all makes sense, Candy. The sudden meetings – on a Saturday, at that – and his nonchalant attitude as of late – this answers my questions. His verbal disrespect and repeatedly breakin’ dates – and the bedroom. Please, don’t even get me started. I had to go out and buy a toy. It’s barely happenin’, and when it does, it’s downright awful,” Dallas confessed.

Candy sat back down on her bed, fears welling up inside of her.

‘If Andre could do this to Dallas, there’s no tellin’ what other guys are capable of,’ she thought.

Dallas
suddenly said, “He’s back home. Let me call you tomorrow.” The line went dead.

Candy stewed in her own thoughts until she fell asleep, awakening every hour or so and turning to and fro violently under the sheets, shrouded in nonsensical nightmares and loneliness.

* * *

“It’s not that simple,” Eric explained as he waved the waitress over for a refill on his Coke. “It’s not necessarily that he doesn’t love her anymore. I have to confess I wasn’t always a saint, but when I told a woman I loved her, I meant it, even if I was messin’ around on her.” He took a bite of his sandwich as he looked candidly into her eyes while Candy toyed with the croutons on her salad.

“It just really bugs me because I’m at the point of tryin’ to get serious, or allow myself to commit with someone, and to be honest, Eric, Andre was, or is, a good man. To me, if you love someone, you can’t cheat on ’em. It wouldn’t be in you to do it. You’d be incapable. It’ be like hittin’ your own mama.” Candy picked up her iced tea and took a few small sips before placing it back in its puddle of condensation.

“That’s because you’re thinkin’ about this like a woman, not a man,” Eric explained.

“Well, enough of that. We’re supposed to be on a date, and here I am monopolizin’ the conversation once again with scary love stories that don’t even belong to me. I apologize.”

“It’s cool. I know you need bounce these things off someone. Anyway, how’s work been this week?” Eric brandished the gorgeous smile that Candy saw in her dreams as of late.

“Pretty good, actually. There’s a lot of work to be done. The previous employees in the Finance office made a lot of errors, and I’m basically trying to correct years of craziness. I’m getting through it, though. My supervisor is very supportive. He and I meet all the time, even though he’s really busy. He always makes time for me when I need to discuss a report or whatever. I’m lucky I’ve got such a great boss. This is a new challenge for me. It’s a big company, and they seem to put a lot of faith in me. I appreciate that.”

“They obviously saw a lot of potential in you, and you’re someone that they trust. I think you’re someone that can be trusted, too.” Eric looked at her and winked. “I like that. You seem honest.” He reached across the table and touched her hand. “I want to gain your trust, Candy. I know after what happened with your friend and her husband, you probably can’t help but look at me sideways, and like I said, I’m no saint, but not all of us are the same. Eventually, some of us do grow up and become real men.” He picked up her hand and twirled it with his fingers.

“That’s good to know,” Candy said with a sly grin. “I s’pose time will tell, but I’m willin’ to watch and learn.”

“Good, because the proof’s in the pudding. I’m bein’ straight with you. I find you to be incredibly sexy and smart. I’m finally ready to date again and be in a committed relationship, and I’m done playing games. I’m done with just being out here, having fun. I want a happily-ever-after, too.”

“Well, you sure know what to say, Eric. It’s almost too good to be true,” Candy smiled.

“Yeah, but like I said, the proof’s in the pudding. Just watch me closely, very closely.” He focused on her lips and licked his own as he imagined kissing her.

“I better get back to the office,” Candy said, breaking the sexual tension building between the two of them. “Eric, thank you so much for lunch. It was really good, and it was nice of you.” Candy stood up and pushed her chair in while taking a final sip of her drink.

“The pleasure was all mine.” Eric picked up the check and walked to the front of the restaurant with her. As he paid, he stole looks at Candy’s physique while she turned away looking at the decorations in the lobby. He smiled, pushing the mischievous thoughts aside.

They walked out of the restaurant, and Candy made her way to her car parked at a meter. Suddenly, Eric swung her around towards him.

“I expect a ‘good-bye,’ and I want to see you this weekend – my place.” He held her close, looking down into her surprised face that turned crimson before his eyes.

“Well, goodbye to you, too,” Candy giggled. “It’s too early for me to come to your house. Bad things might happen,” she flirted.

“We’re both adults,” Eric said intensely. “Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen. And if it did happen – trust me, it would be anything but bad.” He looked at her lips and resisted the urge.

“Oh, really?” Candy smiled widely. “Well, let me think about it,” she said as she slowly broke free from his passionate grip.

“You do that. I’m thinkin’ Friday night. Let me know if that works for you.” He waved, then turned and walked away. Candy watched his behind in his semi-tight work jeans.

“Even his ass is cute,” she said aloud before turning and walking to her car. “I’m gonna have to keep my eye on you,” Candy smiled.

* * *

“Your condo’s really cute,” Candy said as she walked inside, sliding her yellow windbreaker off and handing it to Eric as he closed the door behind her. She looked around, admiring the mini-bar in his kitchen. Wine glasses and beer mugs neatly lined one granite countertop while an ebony bowl of realistic looking dark-red Bing cherries sat on another. Across the way in the living room was a large, russet brown sofa with matching love seat and ottoman. Ivory pillows accented each one as they surrounded a glass coffee table. A 52” plasma television hung above the fireplace completed the room.

“Thank you,” Eric laughed. “I’d prefer handsome,” he teased. Candy laughed.

“It’s one big man cave, but I tend to enjoy it.” He hung her jacket up and made his way over to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink? I have a nice Cabernet.”

Candy stood by anxiously. “That sounds fine,” she smiled.

“Please have a seat. Make yourself at home,” Eric said before turning back to the open refrigerator. Candy walked casually over to the couch and took a seat. She continued her perusal of the family room, observing the paintings of beautiful semi-nude women lying lazily on tropical beaches. Candy shook her head and smiled. Her shoulder was gently tapped. She looked up and saw Eric smiling down at her as he handed her the glass of wine and took a seat next to her.