Smoke (11 page)
Authors: Toye Lawson Brown
Jonathan stood up relaxing his weight on one foot and placing his hands on his hips. “I already know what you’re gonna ask. We had sex, she regretted it afterwards, and doesn’t want more than a friendship with me. Was that personal enough for you?”
“Whoa—did she throw the friendship line before or after the sex?”
“Anthony, does it matter when she threw it on me? I’m done, man. Nick is right.
Settling down is for suckers. Why settle for one woman when I can have a different one every night of the damn week?”
“Damn, Jon; her shit must have been paved with gold,” he said shaking his head.
“Don’t try that backhanded shit with me.”
“You’re full of it, man. If you’re really okay about how you two split, why are you strung? You hit it already, so it’s not like she dumped you before you got the goodies. So it only means you are feeling more for Gabrielle, and you’re fretting over losing her.”
“I’m not fretting.”
“Like hell you ain’t! Remember who you’re talking to. I’ve seen you score with women and not mention them ever again. We’ve sat outside the station on warm days and women flocked to you like birds to seeds and you don’t break a sweat when one would come back giving you hell for not calling her again. But, Ms. Gabrielle has your nose open and you need to admit it. That’s the only way you’re going to get over her.”
“Anthony!” Nick shouted angrily. “Why are you filling his head with that shit?
Jon, all you gotta do is get another girl, and I got the girl just for you.”
“Fine, Nick, what is she like and can she count without using her fingers and toes?” He saw the look on Anthony’s face and ignored him.
“I swear this girl is smart and pretty. She works for Walgreen’s as a pharmacist.”
“How would you know a woman like that, Nick?”
“I told ya she’s Kate’s sister Sarah. Sarah has long blonde hair, crystal blue eyes and a body that will knock you off your feet! Trust me, you will forget all about that therapist broad after one night with Sarah.”
“If that’s the case, why are you dating the dingy sister?” Jonathan asked.
“I met Kate first. Why don’t the four of us go out Friday night? “I’ll call Kate and have her ask her sister,” he said grabbing his cellphone.
“I’ll do it if Anthony and a date come along.”
“No thanks,” Anthony said before Nick could answer. “I’m busy.”
“What do you have planned already?” Jonathan asked with a skeptical voice.
“I’m doing anything that doesn’t involve me being a part of Nick’s dumb ass scheme; I got work to do,” he said going inside the fire station.
Jonathan turned to go after Anthony but the alarm dispatched. Getting into his turnout gear, he climbed on the fire truck shutting off his personal life to concentrate on the emergency at hand.
*****
Jonathan hung his turnout and helmet on the hook. His face was covered in black residue, and he reeked of burned rubber, he headed to the dorm to take a shower before going home.
His cellphone vibrated on the bed when he dumped his pockets. Looking at it, three missed calls registered and all the calls were from Gabrielle. Sitting on the bed he thumbed over the send button contemplating on returning her call or letting it go.
She’d made her decision and he didn’t want to hear any more of her excuses or explanations.
“Glad I caught you before you left. It’s all set for Friday night, Jon. Kate says her sister can’t wait to meet you. I’ll bet you two will hit it off,” Nick said grinning with smeared soot and dirt on his face.
His head popped up at the sound of Nick’s voice. “I’ve been having second thoughts about that. I don’t wanna hurt this girl and you know why.”
“You can’t drop out now! Look, Jon, why won’t you give her a shot? Are you scared you might like her and realize what you’ve been missing all these years?”
“I haven’t been missing anything; women are women no matter what color the skin.”
“Okay, then go with the skin that matches yours for a change. Dammit, man, you could have of crop of cute blonde-haired, blue-eyed babies with a beautiful wife that won’t give you smack, but help with the bills.”
Jonathan got off the bed to go into the shower room saying, “I forgot how big an idiot you are. Gabrielle is a professional woman that owns her own home; I don’t even have that.”
“Okay, she’s an exception but she doesn’t want you—Sarah does.”
“How do you know that? Nick, I’m sticking with the date because you made it already but don’t expect anything to go further than Friday. I know what I want and what you’re pushing on me is not what I want.”
“Sarah might change what you want. I’m just asking you to give her a chance to prove she can make you happy. Let me find you the right woman for a change.”
Jonathan frowned. “Nick, are you trying to upstage Anthony? Because, if that’s what you’re doing you might as well stop now; Anthony doesn’t fix me up with women. He never has, and has never offered.”
The incoming shift change filtered into the dormitory halting their conversation.
Nick remained silent as Jonathan went to shower and Anthony crossed the room to sit on a bed to finish dressing; staring him down.
“Gabby, mind if I eat lunch with you?” Pam asked sliding her tray on the round table.
Gabrielle looked up and smiled moving her stack of paperwork. “No not at all.
I’m just getting some work done while I eat.”
“You got stuck with a late shift again?”
“I’m being too nice letting Laura con me into taking her shifts so she can attend her kid’s activities.”
“I’m covering for Bill tonight. I’m just glad it has been quiet so far,” Pam said taking a forkful of salad in her mouth.
“Yeah but it also makes for a long night.” Gabrielle tapped the end of the ink pen to her chin, asking, “Pam, remember firefighter Jonathan DeMinico that was a patient maybe a month ago?”
Pam lifted her brow cheerfully. “Oh I remember him! God he was cute! Why are you bringing him up?”
“He mentioned you talked to him about me; I’m just curious what you said.”
“You did treat him the day Mille left early. Anyways, I mentioned how nice and quiet you are, and that you are very efficient. What did he say I said?”
She twitched her lip. “Pretty much the same, but he added I had a hard shell to crack.”
“Oh I did say that. What’s going on, Gabby? Has he asked you on a date?”
“He’s a big flirt, Pam.”
Pam looked sideways at Gabrielle. “Avoiding the question; won’t make eye contact and, I think I see a little sweat above your brow. That means he got under your skin in a good way,” she laughed.
“I agree he is cute and has a body to drool over, but he is a big flirt. He probably flirted with every female nurse and tech he came in contact with while in the hospital.”
Pam chewed slowly shaking her head. “He didn’t mention other nurses or techs to me, and he was not shy about not liking Millie. As a matter of fact, he seemed too normal to be as good-looking as he is. He didn’t come off as arrogant, but then again he was in a lot of pain.”
Gabrielle nodded with a chuckle. “Extreme pain can curb or kill the mojo.”
Pam shoved her half-eaten bowl of salad aside. “Gabby, if Jonathan has asked you for a date, why not go for him? I know Dr. Damien Hawke pulled a fast one on you, but you gotta let it go.”
Gabrielle covered her face with her hands. “He made a complete fool of me, Pam.”
“Only a handful of people know about that and those are people you can trust not to talk about what happened. Gabby, you handled it like a trooper and kept your head high.”
“That may be so, but I’m not over it. It’s been almost a year and I’m still kicking myself.”
“Dr. Hawke had us all fooled. He lived up to the reputation of being the best anesthesiologist in Ohio but hid the rest of his lifestyle very well. I feel bad for introducing him to you.”
“You shouldn’t. You didn’t make me fall head over heels for him. I should have followed my instinct when it came to Damien. The biggest clue should have been the Village People’s
YMCA
and The Weather Girl’s
Raining Men
CDs I found in his car.
Those were dead giveaways he was living a lie.”
“Yeah, I kinda wondered what straight man in his thirties listened to that type of music, but hey, people have different tastes these days,” Pam said choking in the laugh.
Gabrielle threw her head back laughing. “True, but when his boyfriend
confronted me in the parking lot wearing neon pink skinny jeans and with a glittery fuchsia tank top—that was the glue to seal deal.”
“Honey, you’re young and will make mistakes, but don’t let other men pay for Damien’s decision to live a lie. Jonathan DeMinico is very much a man. And trust me, he won’t be unattached long. Some woman will dig her claws into him and you will not be able to wrest him away.”
Gabrielle tossed the ink pen on the table. “Confession time; I did spend a day with him, Pam. I invited him over to my place for a Sunday brunch.”
“And, what happened?”
“We had a great time together. I enjoyed his company a lot.”
“What happened after you had sex with him?”
Gabrielle peered at Pam asking, “What makes you think we had sex?”
“I may be older than you, but not so far ahead that I don’t know what would happen between two pretty people alone in a house together. Now what did you do to mess up a possible good thing?”
“Pam, it was amazing and I sent him away.”
“Why in heaven’s name would you do that?”
“Stupid! I was stupid and being freaking cautious! I spent six months with Damien for it to end with him wanting to know where I buy my shoes.”
“Ugh! I cannot believe a man that fine idolized RuPaul. Is there any way to reverse the damage with Jonathan before it’s too late?”
“I tried calling Jonathan three times today. He wouldn’t or won’t answer his phone if my number pops up. Plus, he returned to work and I don’t know what his schedule is like.”
“You gotta car and you know the fire station he deploys from, so take a little road trip to the fire station and see if he is around.”
Gabrielle bit on the tip of her fingernail. “That’s a little impulsive don’t you think?”
“Yeah it is, but, to your knowledge, is there or could there be another woman waiting in the wings to get with Mr. Hottie?”
The remembrance of Sandra’s obnoxious perfume permeated Gabrielle’s nose before her vivacious image. Although she was supposedly dating Anthony, nothing was etched in stone. “Pam, there could be a troublesome woman waiting in the distance if word got around Jonathan is available.”
Pam loaded the tray with her trash. “Honey, you do a lot of research to keep current with your career. I suggest you do a little research on how to be aggressive in getting the man you want. My dinner hour is almost over and I need a smoke.”
“Pam, I’ll consider taking your advice if you come along with me. I don’t know if I can stalk Jonathan on my own.”
“I would love to tag along. Just let me know when,” Pam said leaving the cafeteria.
Gabrielle slouched her back against the hard chair. “I can’t believe I’m doing this!
Damn you Jonathan for using sex to turn me into a crazy person.”
*****
Jonathan lowered the paper. “What’d you do now?”
“I hooked up with Melanie last night. I don’t know why I can’t stay away from that woman.”
“Nothing wrong with seeing an old friend, if that’s all you did.” The smirk on Anthony’s face told it all. “You slept with her didn’t you?”
“I had one too many tequila shots and I woke up in her bed this morning. I can’t say if we did or didn’t do something. There is no way I could have brought my best to the table, seeing how I can’t remember any of it.”
“Hmm, that’s jacked up. Melanie could have done all the work while you were in a drunken stupor.”
“I think she drugged me. I don’t ever pass out like that.”
“What would be her purpose of drugging you?” Jonathan asked chuckling.
“She’s been nagging me about marriage and having babies. That’s the main reason we broke up in the first place. Damn, Jon! What if she raped me and gets pregnant behind it….Oh hell nah!”
“Wow, you really got the wheels rolling at a fast pace. I don’t think she would have to drug you to achieve that. She would simply poke holes in your condoms and pretend everything was normal until bam—she hits you with the paternity test.”
“You’re not making this any better. How am I gonna tell Sandra? Not that she would care; she’s got it bad for you. All she talks about is you.”
“It’s all one-sided. I’m not interested in Sandra Rhodes.”
“You’re still refusing to call Gabrielle and try working it out, huh?”
“There is nothing to work out. Although I would like my watch back; my
granddad gave me that watch.”
“That’s a legitimate reason to call her. You get your watch and say your final goodbyes and leave on a clean slate.”
“I suppose. Damn, I bet that’s why she was calling; she wanted to let me know she had my watch.”
“This is sad”
“What is sad?”
“You were the big time playa in the group. Nick and I did okay with the women but you would make women lose their minds over you.”
“I’m growing older and want a more stable relationship.”
“Gwen says I need the same but I’m not ready either. Who knows, maybe Nick’s girl will be the one for you.”
“She won’t because I have no intention on keeping the date and, I won’t settle because Gabrielle refuses to remove the blinders from her eyes.”
Anthony shook his head. “I’ve only talked to Gabrielle a few times on the telephone and I’m hesitant to believe race is her issue. The first time we chatted, we talked about you and her conservation did not lead me to believe race was an issue.