One Night: A BWWM Interracial Romance (26 page)

“There is no her,” he said, quieter this time. “It was one kiss, that
she
initiated and
I
stopped.”

“But you went on the tour with her…” she continued.

“And nothing happened,” he insisted.

She looked at him for a moment then seemed to accept his word.
 

“You’re right,” she said, “We should be open. I don’t want to be like one of those stupid movies where people break up over silly miscommunication.”

“Exactly,” he agreed.
 

“So…how many women have you slept with since…?” she began, not knowing how to finish.
 

“Since?” he he prided. “Since the
bookstore
? None. Nobody.
 

“Since
Tahoe
?” he continued, then gave a sharp laugh, “Honestly, no one.”
 

Her eyes grew wide at this. “No one?” she said, giving him a searching look as though she didn’t believe it.
 

“No one,” he admitted, a bit embarrassed.

“Even with all the women ‘throwing themselves at you?’ ” she asked, rolling her eyes.
 

“What?” he asked, seeking clarification. “Is that what she said?”

Natalie just nodded. “And going to bars.”

“Well…I did go to bars and talk to women,” he confessed, coming in closer to her. “But frankly, none of them did it for me. You did something to me in Lake Tahoe, Natalie. I haven’t been able to get you off my mind…and I’ll be dammed if I’m going to lose you now, just when I’ve got you back.”
 

She gave a sincere smile and fell into his embrace, letting him wrap his arms around her.

“So,” he said after a moment, when the air had cleared. “I told you mine, you tell me yours.”

She laughed under his chin, then pulled away
 
to look up at him.
 

“Im thinking those panties were magical,” she laughed. “I couldn’t get you off my mind either.
 
It’s only been you.”
 

NATALIE

Natalie was standing next to Denise’s younger sister. She was glad that Denise had allowed her bridal party to pick their own dresses instead of going the traditional route and forcing them to wear horrid, matching, official bridesmaid’s dresses that could only really be worn once. Her only rules had been: 1. It had to be in black and 2. You weren’t allowed to outshine the bride.
 

The dress Natalie had chosen was a simple sleeveless back dress that fell into a flare just below her knees. Perhaps the only dramatic part of it was the rather deep, draped back to it.
 
She had gambled on it when she first saw it, figuring the back was deep enough to make it interesting but not so deep it would be all anyone at the wedding talked about. Denise’s mother had raised an eyebrow but Denise loved it. Even though Ross wasn’t very religious, they had chosen to get married in a synagogue so all the bridesmaids were given lovely, white cashmere stoles as a bridesmaids gifts and to use as a cover up.
 

As everyone took their position, there was a dramatic pause before the music changed signaling that the bride was ready to make her appearance. Natalie smiled as her friend walked down the aisle between her mother and father.
 
Her gown was made of white silk with a jeweled, belted, waist that fit Denise’s tall, slender body perfectly. Then there was the jeweled, cap-sleeve portion above the sweetheart neckline. Even through the thin fabric of her veil it looked as though she was covered in a shower of diamonds that angled down around to her mid-back. Her dark skin only made each clear gem that much more brilliant. It was perfect.
 

Under the chuppah Denise circled Ross to begin her future as his wife. Although it seemed like a bit of a betrayal at her best friend’s wedding, Natalie couldn’t help but think about her own future.
 
Would it be with Jake? That week in New York had been wonderful.
 
Even after spending so much time with him and learning his family history and even after having their first minor fight she still loved him.
 

Over the past two months, he had flown out practically every weekend to see her, or flown her out to see him. She didn’t like to think about how much this was all costing him. At some point, if they worked out, they’d have to figure out who was moving where so they could actually be together. She loved New York, but her family and friends were all in Los Angeles. On the other hand, Jake’s sister lived on the east coast, and Natalie knew how much he loved her.

The groom smashing the glass under his foot snapped her back into the moment.
 
She shouted “Mazel Tov” along with everyone else and beamed at her best friend, who looked absolutely exhilarated.
 

Natalie wondered if Jake was thinking about her right this moment.
 

He was in London working with the movie team, probably being wined and dined in yet another meeting.
 
She should have said something in New York; insisted he be here. But she didn’t want to be one of
those
women, especially since they hadn’t even been official at the time. It was one thing to ask a man you were just dating to attend a wedding. It was a completely different thing to ask him to fly all the way across the country to attend it. In Jake’s case, it actually would have meant flying half way across the globe. No, it was better that he was in London, working on getting his movie going. She smiled thinking about how much he hated when others fiddled around too much with his work.
 

The wedding reception was held at a rather chic reception hall with a spectacular outdoor area. There were white love seats and gauzy drapes scattered around the grass and cement squares that covered the area.
 
Cool, pink and lavender lighting set the tone for the evening that was slowly setting in as the sky transitioned from from blue to a deep violet. There were three open bars, tuxedoed waiters going around with hors d'oeuvres all accompanied by upbeat music being coordinated by a fantastic DJ.
 
A combination of parents with money and pretty decent paying jobs made for some serious splurging.
 

Natalie wandered around to people watch. It was the usual interesting mix when people from different social circles are thrown together.
 
Older relatives, younger friends, work associates, obligatory cousins.
 
With an African-American bride and a Jewish groom, it was an even more motley mix.
 
But everyone seemed to be having a good time.
 

Mia had brought a date; a brown-skinned woman who had to be at least 6 feet tall. The two were cuddled together on one of the love seats with glasses of champagne, smiling and whispering to one another, completely ignoring the distraught glances of some of the more conservative guests. Natalie laughed to herself…at least someone was making the most of the rather intimate seating. Again she thought of Jake.
 

The lights dimmed off and on again and an announcement was made that it was time for all the guests to come inside.
 
The interior was even more lavish than the exterior.
 
There were round tables everywhere, covered in white tablecloths and black napkins and place settings. Each held gigantic vases filled with white orchids and lilies. The walls were covered in white and black drapery giving the entire room a dramatic feel.
 

Before dinner was served, Denise and Ross had their first dance.
 
The crowd gathered around the dance floor at the center of the room and watched as they held each other close and danced to
Very Special
by Debra Laws.
 
Natalie could actually feel tears come to her eyes as she watched them, mostly out of complete happiness for her friend.
 

Afterward, Natalie sat at the main table with the rest of the wedding party and enjoyed the meal of salmon, asparagus spears, and fingerling potatoes.
 
The champagne ran freely and eventually the room was abuzz with guests chatting one another up.
 
After a few herself, Natalie was even beginning to feel a bit tipsy.
 

By the time the bride and groom cut the cake, the chatter and cheers were far more jubilant and less restrained. There was a loud cheer as each of them fed the other a tiny slice from the three layer masterpiece. Then everyone else rushed to eat their cake, ready to turn the reception into an actual party. Natalie supposed that’s what happens when you had an open bar and seemingly unlimited champagne.
 

It made the hora that kicked off the dancing portion of the reception a bit alarming.
 
Natalie watched in excitement and terror as the bride and groom were lifted up in their chairs above the heads of the crowd.
 
The couple’s expression radiated the same emotions as they smiled tightly at each other, holding on to either end of the handkerchief.
 
There was a loud cheer and clapping when they were eventually set down.
 
Natalie wasn’t sure if it was from relief or celebration.
 

Either way, the crowd was eager to start dancing and the DJ did his part to get it going. Natalie took turns dancing with various people she knew well or just in passing: Denise’s cousin, Ross’s best friend, Denise’s dad, Mia, even with Ross’s little niece. It was fun mix of R&B, pop music, disco, 80’s, 90’s even the occasional country line dancing song.
 

About an hour into it, Natalie was taking a break after dancing to
More Than a Woman
by the Bee Gees with her dad. They were sitting next to one another in a few vacated chairs next to the dance floor.
 

“So, I hope this wedding hasn’t given you any ideas” he warned. “Because if you think your mom and I can afford even these crazy flowers, you’re in for a disappointment.”
 

Natalie laughed. “At this point, I don’t even know if I have a
real
boyfriend,” she confessed.
 

“Oh?” her dad gave her a questioning look. “I thought you and Jake were…?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “We live on opposite coasts, for Pete’s sake. I mean, we do talk every night on the phone, and he flies out practically every other weekend so I can spend time with him.”

Her dad laughed.
 

She looked over at him and shrugged. “What?”

“Honey,” he said looking back at her with a gleam in his eye. “You’ve got a man who lives on the other side of the country but flies out ‘every other weekend,’ to come see you. Not only that but he talks to you every night on the phone. Men just don’t do that. Let me clarify, men don’t do that unless they are—what do the kids say—
whipped?
 
Either that, or this man is in love. I would like to think that I raised a daughter who knew better than to keep a man whipped.”

Natalie rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. “Don’t be ridiculous, dad. We’ve really only known each other for…goodness. I can’t even put a date on it, it’s been such a weird…
relationship
.
 
Is it just these past three months?
 
Do I even count—?”
 
She quickly looked over at him embarrassed.

This only made him laugh out loud. “Oh come off it, Natalie,” he said. “I think at this point everyone in the whole family knows about Lake Tahoe.
 
You can thank your Aunt Gloria for that one.”
 

“Ugh,” Natalie said cringing.
 

“Here’s my suggestion,” her dad said, reaching over to lift her chin up with his hands. “Stop trying to fit it into a box. Just let it be. Love doesn’t have to follow rules…it just is.”
 

Natalie looked down and sighed. “I guess you’re right,” she finally said.
 

“Good,” he said with finality. “Now this song coming on is my jam and I don’t want to go to the dance floor alone.”
 

Natalie laughed and got up to join him. He was taking her hand, leading her to the dance floor and that’s when she stopped in her tracks.
 

Jake was standing at the front entrance looking right at her.
 

JAKE

Jake looked at her and his breath caught in his throat.

She had on a flowing, black dress that highlighted the curves he loved so well. Her hair was up in some sort of fancy twist that left a few curled strands framing the sides of her face and neck. All of this was in the periphery of what he was really focused on: her face. The face that was looking back at him in shock.
 

His last weekend flight out to see her had been two weeks ago, right before he had to head off to London. Each time he saw her again it was like seeing her for the first time again. This morning he had been sitting in yet another breakfast meeting in London discussing minor details of the movie.
 
Jake was beginning to think that Hollywood people just liked having excuses to get together at restaurants to talk to one another.
 

Jake had been staring out the window, thinking about Natalie as usual.
 
They hadn’t talked the night before, which was a break in their nightly pattern. Even on another continent, he made it a point to call her. But last night she was busy with wedding preparations and hadn’t been able to talk.
 
It hadn’t even been 48 hours and he missed the sound of her voice. It was at that point that he got up from the table, surprising everyone and completely stole a line from his favorite movie,
Goodwill Hunting
.
 

“I gotta see about a girl,” he proclaimed, leaving them confused and speechless.
 

With that he had caught a taxi to his hotel to collect his passport and pack a suit, then headed to Heathrow Airport to catch the first flight to L.A. It hadn’t been easy…or cheap. But looking at her standing there, more gorgeous than he’d ever seen her, it had been worth it.