The Final Score (11 page)

I thank her and give her a hug.

I’m happy that Deanna and Mya have grown to like each other over time. Mya is not as dark as she wants you to believe, she has a good heart, something I realized right from the start. I consider her to be one of my best friends, as well. I’m not sure how I would have made it through the last couple of years without Mya.

***

(Mikey)

“Yo
, man, I feel bad leavin’ you here. Are you sure you’re okay with staying here while I head over there?” I ask, coming from my room neatly dressed in black dress pants and a button up, dark blue shirt.

“Sure
, I’m fine. This is an important night for her, you gotta be there. I might meet up with a couple of the guys to grab something to eat. I’ll see ya when you get back,” Luke says, coaxing me out the door.

**
*

(Jesse)

It’s exciting to see my name across the Billboard in front of the gallery. Many people come out for the evening to view my work. It’s a success and Frank has many inquiries. He proudly introduces me to possible future clients. However, as much as I’m having a good time, all I want is to spend time with my friends. I make my way over to Mya, Deanna and Mikey standing on the other side of the room.

“Hey
, guys, what do you think? I’m sort of ready for this to be over. I feel like just hanging out with you guys for a while when this is over. I didn’t get to spend any time with you tonight.”

“This is awesome
! You did a great job,” Mikey says.

“Thanks
. So, are you guys up for going out afterwards?” I repeat, waiting for a reply. Before they answer, Frank is standing beside me as he casually slides his arm around my waist.

“Jesse
, how about when this is over, you and I hang out and have a drink together?” he whispers, but loud enough so that the others can hear.

“Sure, of course
,” I reply, giving him a smile.

“Great
. When you get a minute, clients of mine from Miami are here. I would like to introduce you to them.”

“Okay
. I’ll be there in a second,” I answer as he walks away to mingle. “Crap, now what? I felt like just hanging out with us?” I say to my friends.

“It’s okay, Mikey and I
are going to head home anyway, he’s got his game tomorrow.”

“Me
, too. I have an early shift in the morning,” Mya chimes in.

“Besides, Frank would like to spend time
alone
. Maybe, he’ll make that move we talked about the other day,” Deanna whispers in my ear. I laugh and give her a playful shove. Before they leave, I agree to meet Deanna before we head to the game. She’d like some time to ourselves in order to talk.

***

(Luke)

After Mikey leaves,
I try desperately to distract myself by flipping through the numerous cable channels. I finally settle on an HBO movie, but I’m finding it hard to focus on it, even though it’s one of my favorite Will Ferrell movies. I stare at the TV as he comically moves across the screen, but it may as well be a silent movie because the dialogue is not registering in my brain. All I can think about is wishing I was a part of JJ’s big night. I didn’t realize how much time has passed until I notice the movie is over and a new one has started. Finally, giving into temptation, I jump in the shower.

I
know the event is till ten, if I hurry, I may just make it in time to see her and her paintings before it closes. I convince myself that by the time I get there, the evening will be coming to an end and she will have had the whole evening to enjoy her night. Who knows, maybe she’ll be happy to see me, knowing that this is an important night for her and I want to be a part of it. I continue to convince myself as I rummage through my closet, deciding on something to wear. God, I think I’m turning into a girl. I laugh, realizing I’m taking forever to choose something. I finally decide on black pants and a charcoal colored button up shirt from Mikey’s closet.

I
jump on my bike and race to Ybor City, arriving well past ten. I’m banking on her still being there, socializing. When I reach the huge glass doors to the gallery, I notice that not many lights are on inside. I peer through the tinted glass, trying to see in. There is a light coming from the back area. Then, I spot her. She looks incredible. She’s sitting on a stool with her legs crossed, wearing a long black dress that hugs her body. The long slit up the side shows the top of her gorgeous legs all the way down to her black strappy high heeled shoes. My eyes drift back to her face. She’s so pretty. Her hair is sleek, pulled back and hung long over one shoulder. She looks happy, she’s smiling. She’s talking to someone, but I can’t see the other person. I continue to watch, taking in her beauty.

Just as
I get my nerve up and am about to open the door, a man comes into view. He hands her a glass of wine. She smiles and takes it from his hand and holds it to her ruby colored lips to take a sip. Suddenly, a strange feeling comes over me. It looks as though it is just the two of them. I continue to watch as they toast their glasses, and each takes another sip of wine.

My first thought is that he is a co-worker, but the way he is looking at her tells me different
ly. He’s looking at her the same way I’m looking at her. He’s a good-looking guy, but older. I can see he’s well dressed, wearing a designer suit.

T
hey look to be in a deep conversation and she continues to smile at him as he stands in front of her, moving closer. He then, tucks a piece of hair that has fallen over her eye behind her ear. I feel as if I’m run over by a bulldozer when I finally realize what is going down. My heart pounds out of my chest as I watch him softly brush the side of her face with his hand, she leans her head into his hand and smiles. The world seems to go into slow motion as he places his hand softly under her chin, tilting her face upward towards his…

***

(Jesse)

I’m relieved when the gallery
finally clears out. It was a great night, but all of the anxiety and excitement left me exhausted. As I wait for Frank to lock up the office, I sit down on the mahogany stool and replay the evening in my mind. Frank walks over and hands me a glass of wine. We toast to a wonderful evening.

“Jesse, there’s something I would like to talk to you about.”

I have an idea as to what he might say. I like Frank. We’ve known each other for a while now and have grown closer the last couple of weeks. I feel it’s time for us to take the next step in our relationship. I know that Frank wants more than a friendship and up until now, I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

“Je
sse,” he says, smiling down at me. “Most importantly, did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“I think you did.”
I smile.

“Well it’s
definitely worth repeating.” He laughs, causing me to blush. “I just want you to know that I enjoy the time we spend together. I’m sure by now that you know my interest in you goes deeper than friends. I guess, I’m wondering if maybe you feel the same way.”

“Well
, I have to say, I was hoping you didn’t treat all of your employees this way,” I joke. “But to answer your question, yes I have feelings for you as well. I enjoy the time I spend with you.”

He smile
s, brushing a piece of hair from my face. He tilts my head towards his and for the first time, he kisses my lips. Not a casual kiss, but a long, soft, parting of the lips kiss. His tongue brushes against mine and we move them together briefly. It’s the first time in a long time that I actually enjoy kissing someone. He plants soft kisses on my lips and pulls me towards him, asking if I’m ready to leave.

I get the impression that he would like to continue the evening elsewhere, but I begin to have second thoughts about moving too quickly. I want to be sure that I
’m ready for a relationship with Frank and that it’s not because I’m swept up in the moment due to this memorable night. I make up an excuse that Deanna is waiting for me at my apartment and that we haven’t had a chance to spend time together since she’s been in town. Putting my mind at ease, Frank is understanding and walks me home. Worried that he may feel put off by my sudden departure, I invite him to Mikey’s game tomorrow.

After changing into my pajamas, I join Mya on the couch. She’s waiting on the details of the remainder of my evening with Frank. I fill her in and give her all of the reasons of why we should be together.

“Who are you trying to convince, me or you?” Mya asks.

“I don’t get it, what do you mean?” I ask defensively.

“Well, Jess, you don’t have to sell him to me. I like Frank. You’re the one he’s interested in, how do you feel about him?” she asks.

***

(Mikey)

As De and I drive home from the gallery, we discuss the night. I can’t help
feeling guilty for leaving Luke at home, knowing it was a special night for her and he would have liked to have been a part of it.

“I feel bad
, too, but I think it was the right thing to do,” De says.

“I know
. Besides, you’re gonna tell her tomorrow that Luke is back, right?”

“Yes. I’m nervous.
We made plans to grab something to eat before your game. I’ll talk to her then.”

I open the door for her as
she steps into our condo. I’m finding it hard to peel my eyes away as she bends over in her clingy, red, satin dress to take off her heels.

“God, I can’t wait to get out of this dress
,” she says as she turns her back to me, holding up her silky smooth dark brown hair, waiting for me to unzip her.

I’d like to be the one helping her out of the dress
completely. I fight the urge to touch the base of her neck with my mouth as my fingers slowly glide down her back, unzipping her dress. I take pleasure at the sight of goose bumps forming in the area my fingers trace. My hand lingers on the small of her back and she doesn’t move. I debate on whether to turn her towards me, but I end up backing down and stepping back. I’m rarely afraid of anything. This thing between us scares me. Does she feel it? I need to know more about this other guy before I make any type of move to acknowledge the feelings I’m starting to finally realize that I have for her. She’s been with him for a while now and the last thing that I want is to ruin something for her if it’s what she really wants.

As she heads into my room to change, she notices that Luke’s bedroom door is open.

“Mikey, Luke’s not here,” she calls out with concern.

“He’s not? He said he might meet a couple of the guys to grab something to eat
,” I answer casually. “Do you want a drink?” I call from the kitchen.

“Yeah, if you have one.”

I pour a glass of wine for her and grab a beer for myself as she comes from the bedroom, looking just as sexy in her comfortable clothes.

“Let’s sit on the patio
,” she says.

I hand her the drinks and tell her I’ll be out in a second after I change into shorts and a t-shirt. When I return, she is sitting
on the lounge chair, rubbing her ankle.

“What’s wrong?”

“My shoes were new, they hurt my ankles,” she says, scrunching her perfect face.

I sit on the end of
her chair and lift her feet into my lap. I massage her feet and ankles, reveling in how good I feel when she is near me.

“Oh my God, that is awesome,” she says, smiling.

“See, if you moved to Florida, I’d do this for you all the time
,” I say, teasing her.

“You’re going to be sorry. I’ll be taking you up on it because now it’s official
,” she says enthusiastically.

“Get out
! Really? When?”

“I swear, ask JJ. I
don’t like it there. I broke down last week, laid it on extra thick to my dad and you know them, they felt horrible that I was so unhappy, so they agreed to let me transfer to USF next semester.”

“You’re a baby
,” I tease. She pushes me. “I’m kiddin’, that’s awesome. It’ll be great, you gonna stay with us?”

“No. I wouldn’t want to crowd y
ou.” She laughs. “I’m moving in with JJ.”

“C
ool. Wait a minute… what does Jerk off, I mean Jeffrey, have to say about it?”

She roll
s her eyes and shoves me again. “Basically, he gave me an ultimatum.”

“Are you serious? Please tell me you dumped his ass.”

“I’m still moving, aren’t I?”

“Good. I
thought he was an asshole anyway.”

“What is your deal? You say that about every
one I go out with.”

“I know. You have shitty taste in guys.”

“Look who’s talking. Who’s got worse taste than you?”

“Totally different. I don’t fall in love with everyone I date.”

“That’s because you don’t love anyone but yourself.”

“Is that right?” I say as I begin to tickle her. “You think you got me all figured out, don’t ya?”