Nice Girl (14 page)

“Are you ready Grace?”  Vinnie asked softly.

Anthony seemed to avoid my eyes like he felt responsible for Sal’s actions.  I wanted to tell him I thought the party was a success but it seemed best to avoid conversation at that moment.

We all walked out together.  Luke and Jamie gave me a kiss on the cheek goodbye.  Jamie then gave me a reassuring smile.   

“This way, Grace” and Vinnie put his hand on my arm to steer me to the end of the parking lot.  I remembered he arrived late so it wasn’t odd that he was parked so far away.  Yet every step seemed like a mile.  We reached his car.  I stopped in my tracks.  It was sleek black Porsche.  Now I’m not an expert on cars but looking at this one, it definitely looked brand new.

“Wow.” was all I could say.

Vinnie’s smile was the widest I’ve ever seen. “It was definitely a splurge.” He said with pride.

Now I knew their business was doing well but I had no idea they were rolling in the money.  To spend this kind of money on a car, they both must be quite financially secure.  Vinnie beeped the doors opened.  He walked to the passenger side and opened the door for me.

Stop being so sweet, I wanted to yell.  He probably had no idea how fast I was falling for him.

I used this obscenely high priced luxury car as the way to avoid the awkwardness of conversation in such a close setting.  I asked a million questions about his car.  It worked.  We reached my dorm quickly.  I knew everything about a Porsche when we arrived.   How it is incredibly fast, easy to handle, and bullet proof.  That last tidbit of information I really didn’t need to know.  

“Thanks for the ride, Vinnie.”  The car wasn’t fully stopped before my hand was on the door handle ready to fly out.

“Grace, wait!”

Almost a clean getaway.

“Are you okay?”  Vinnie asked quietly.

I hadn’t looked at him the whole time he was driving.  I knew if I had just glanced at him, I wouldn’t be able to stop staring.  I kept my eyes down like a big baby.  It was the antithesis of strong confident women but I was still shaken from seeing Vinnie almost beat up Sal.  Because of me.

“Grace, please look at me.”

“It’s okay Vinnie.  I’m just embarrassed.”

“Why would you be embarrassed?”  He snorted.

“I don’t know why that Sal guy thought I’d go home with him.  I never said I would.”  Then I did look up at him.  Yes, that was dangerous.  Now I couldn’t help staring at his lips.

Look away.  Look away
.

“Is that why you’re embarrassed?”

No, not really.  It’s because I want you to kiss me.

Vinnie went on, “Please.  No one would ever think that you would look twice at Sal.  The only women he ever gets are whores.  You’re out of his league.  That’s probably why he acted like such a dick.”

“Well you took care of that.”

“Yes, I did.”  Vinnie said with total satisfaction.

“I guess you’re my hero.” 
I can’t believe I just said that
!

He laughed.  “I’ve never been anyone’s hero before.  Anytime, Grace.”

Now I had to get out there.  “Goodnight Vinnie and……thanks again.”

I walked to the dorm building door.  I turned and saw that he was still watching me.

He waited until I was safely in the building before he drove off.

Chapter 13

It was the most sexual dream I’ve ever had.  Vinnie Lewis, naked, lying on top of me.  His elbows on both sides of me, holding him up as he gazed at me with those damn sultry eyes.  There was a pool of moisture between my legs that almost had me cramping up.  I had never been so turned on. 

For the first time ever, I tried using my fingers to stroke myself.  I needed relief.  It felt good but I found no climax.  Maybe I did need one of those vibrators.  I can’t believe I am 22 years old and still don’t know how to do it right.

I’m sure there are books that offer directions.  There was no way I could buy one.  I would be mortified to hand a book like that to a sales person at the register.  Order online?  No, that wouldn’t work either.  I had a box from Amazon delivered two weeks ago that the mail room crushed and I had to sign for it personally.  If I bought a book on
How a Woman can Bring Herself to Orgasm
, THAT box would get accidentally opened.  I can see my face now when I would have to sign for it at the college service center.  The slimy mail room employees sneering at me like I was some loser.  

Yep, that would definitely be my luck.

Time to forget Dee’s wretched orgasm pact no matter how sexually frustrated I was. 

I had a massive 20 page research paper due for my class on Monday.  It was hard to concentrate after my dream last night.  I was glad for two full days to work on my assignment.   

I spent several hours on Saturday evening web chatting with Dee, Janie, and Eve.  The total focus was on Janie.  She had a bruise on her face but that was all I could see from the outside.  It was obvious though that the true damage was on the inside.  You could hear in her voice, see it in her expression, and visualize it from her words that she was in pain emotionally.  Janie was the funny one in our group.  I’ve never seen her without a smile.  It was devastating to watch Janie talk on my computer screen.  She was a totally different person.      

That night I went to bed depressed and worried about one of my best friends.  Not sure if she would ever come back to us the same way again.

I had finally finished typing up my research paper on Sunday evening.  I was looking forward to putting on my pajamas and watching a stupid made for TV movie.  I fell asleep before it was even over.

When I woke up Monday morning, I was excited.  I knew it was because I couldn’t wait to get to work. 

To see Vinnie.   

UGGG!   Stop torturing yourself. 

I knew he wasn’t interested in me that way.  He was just being protective like Jamie.  He saw my emotional breakdown when I got the call about Janie.  That loser, Sal, bragging that he was going to fuck me after I find out my girlfriend was sexually assaulted.  I’m sure Vinnie was just reacting as a good friend. 

Yet, those words kept coming back into my mind. 
He didn’t know she was with you.  No one is ever with you.

I wonder why Sal’s friend assumed Vinnie was with me. 

Just the idea of it made my stomach quiver and the area between my thighs ache. 

Time to get my mind off of Vinnie. 

I started to put my bag together for the day.  I grabbed my planner and glanced at Monday to see what I would need. 

That’s when I noticed boldly written and highlighted – Research team meeting at 9:30am. 

I highlighted it because I knew I would forget!   All the stress and chaos of planning the party on Friday night, the last thing on my mind was a meeting for school on Monday morning.  I had mentioned it to Anthony last week but I knew he would forget too.

I quickly texted him and reminded him of the meeting. 

Grace:  Just a reminder I can’t open this morning.  I have a meeting for school.

Anthony responded within minutes.

Anthony:  Thanks for reminding me.  We’ll see you when you’re done.

Sometimes Anthony made things so easy.  I couldn’t ask for a more accommodating boss.

My meeting was enjoyable and I appreciated the distraction from an emotionally heavy weekend.  There were five of us assigned to a project on how work release programs can benefit inmates.  I was comfortable with all four members of my group.  Everyone seemed like they were willing to pull their weight.  There were three men and one woman. 

One of the guys, Mark, did keep making eye contact with me.  I knew he was single because he had mentioned in the past his ex-girlfriend who was a police officer.  He was also a cop in New York City.  I think he figured that was an automatic pick up.  He seemed to have a lot of confidence.  It wasn’t that he was ugly.  He just didn’t do anything for me.  Even though I knew nothing would ever happen between Vinnie and me, I appreciated being surrounded by Vinnie’s virile manly body.  Now it would be easy to avoid any kind of intimate contact with a man.    It would take a lot of man to measure up to Vinnie.    He essentially ruined it for me to consider anyone else. 

I finally got to the office at 10:45am.  I heard laughter down the hall.  Anthony’s door was closed so I assumed he was in a meeting.  When I got to the small kitchen at the end of the hall, I was surprised to see Jamie and Jamal.  They were stuffing their faces with something chocolate.

“Well, that looks like a healthy morning snack.”  I said with a little too much jealousy.

“Grace!”  Jamie practically screamed.  “We were just talking about you and then you walk in.  Weird, right?”

“I don’t want to know.”  I muttered eyeing what they were eating.

“Grace, you have got to try one of these brownies Luke made.  I’ve never tasted anything this good.” Says Jamal who could probably eat five brownies a day and not gain a pound.

“Maybe later.”

Don’t look at the brownies.  Just don’t look
.

“Anthony and Vinnie haven’t seen them yet.  I doubt they’ll be here later.  Come on Grace, try one.”  says Jamie in the same voice he always uses to get me to finish his fries.

So that’s why Anthony’s door was closed.  He was meeting with Vinnie.  Just the thought that Vinnie was beyond the door made my pulse race.

“Why were you talking about me?”  I ask to divert the attention away from Jamie getting ready to stuff a brownie down my throat.  Sometimes he just went too far.

“Oh yeah, Jamie, tell her.  If I have to be dragged to that event so does she.”

I cringed.  What event now?

“Stop it Jamal, Ivy is excited about this.  Grace?”

“Yes?” I asked tentatively. 

“Do you like to bowl?”

“No.”

Jamal started howling with laughter.  Jamie glared at him.

“Well, it’s for a good cause.  Luke was asked to form a team with four couples for a fundraiser.  It’s for AIDS prevention.  Come on.  It’ll be a fun night.  One couple is Luke and I, then Ivy and Jamal, and Ivy’s sister and her partner.  We need a fourth couple.”

“Well I’m not a couple.  I’m one person so I can’t do it.”

“We can set you up.”

“Absolutely not!”  I’m sure a look of horror was on my face.

“You aren’t dating anyone, Grace?”  Jamal asked curiously.

“No, I don’t date.”  I tried to say with an attitude like that’s-my-answer-it’s-not-to-be-discussed.

“Why?  You’re pretty and smart.”  Apparently Jamal was not catching on. 

“And prone to assholes.”  I finished.

“Ahh, got it.” Said Jamal.  Finally.

“Grace doesn’t need a man.  She has me and Luke to look out for her.”

Jamal laughed almost as hard again.  “Yeah, Jamie.  Keep telling yourself that.”

“Grace, you have to come out with us.  Please let me find you a partner.  It’s only bowling.”  Now Jamie was looking at me with those puppy dog eyes.

“Jamie, it’s not just the pathetic notion that I have to be set up.  I also can’t bowl worth shit.”

“Don’t worry about that Grace.  Ivy can’t either.”  Jamal mumbled because he mouth was full of another fucking brownie.

“Whoever you get to be my partner will be pissed at what a horrible bowler I am.   Believe me, you don’t want to do that to anyone.”

“I’ll be your partner, Grace.  I promise I can handle it.”  I felt like I was just struck by lightning.  Vinnie stood in the doorway of the kitchen looking much better than a brownie.

“You want to go bowling, Vinnie?”  More laughter.  Why did Jamal see humor in everything?

All of a sudden Anthony appeared.  “Vinnie is actually an excellent bowler.  We got to take it as an elective in high school.  He was always the top score.  Hey are those brownies?”  He grabbed one and stuffed it in his mouth.  

“When is this torturous event?”  I asked trying to use sarcasm to diffuse what I was really thinking.

“Saturday at 4pm.”  Jamie looked at me with glee.

“Well, Vinnie.”  I said trying to use as much attitude of I-really-don’t-care as I could muster. “You have five days to try to get out of this.”

“Thanks for the warning, Grace.”  And then I got that sexy smile. 

I sighed as I walked back to my desk.  It was going to be a long week.

Chapter 14

On Thursday, Ivy had me rolling with laughter as she described her sister, India, and her partner, Mindy, in detail.  She loved her twin more than anything but apparently; the whole “butch” look was hard for Ivy to deal with at times.  She told me to watch how India was the male presence in the relationship.  She would hold open a door for Mindy or pull out Mindy’s chair when they went out to dinner.  As she acted out her sister’s manliness, I was having a hard time controlling myself.

Vinnie walked in during a fit of laughter between Ivy and I.

“Hey Vinnie.” Said Ivy and she sat down in Jamie’s chair and giggled.

“Good morning ladies.”  Vinnie nodded at Ivy, and then turned to me “Grace, about Saturday.”  I held my breath.  “I’ll pick you up around 3:30.”

Exhale now.

“Okay, Vinnie.”  Again as I try to feign indifference of which I was sure was not working.

Vinnie smiled and walked back to his office.

“Okay, Ivy.  I was told you suck at bowling just like me.  That better be the case.  I’m not in the mood to make a fool of myself.”

“Who cares about how well you bowl when you have that hunk as your partner.”

“Stop being ridiculous.  We’re just going as co-workers and friends.”

“Uh huh.”

“Oh please.”

“You can ‘Oh please’ me to death.  Jamie told me that Vinnie has never paid attention to any woman before.  He drove you home from the office party.  Now he is taking you bowling.  Very interesting is all I have to say.”

“When did you talk to Jamie about this?” 
Damn that big mouthed gay man.

“When he called to tell me the teams were finalized.  He’s excited that you’re coming with Vinnie.  He says that Vinnie needs a nice girl in his life.”