Friday, July 9, 2010

Chapter 6 Out of My League - Stephen Speaks

Out Of My League - Stephen Speaks

“Purple or green Mal?” Sarah asked as she held the phone between her shoulder and ear as she looked over her two choices for her dinner date. “It’s like a dark eggplant purple or a kind middle of the road faded kelly green.” she said holding up different accessories to each. “Actually hold on…” she put her home phone on speaker picking up her cell to snap a picture to send to her. “See…” she said hearing the message arrive on Mal’s cell.
“Oh eggplant all the way babes with you thick black belt and the long gold keys necklace. Don’t forget the black heels.” Mal said with a chuckle. “And you need to straighten your hair. Light make-up think luminous lids with thin black liner. Natural lip babes.” Sarah had to chuckle. It was nice having a style guru on speed dial.
“Ok Mal thank you for one again keeping me from being a fashion disaster. I will talk to you tomorrow.” Sarah said as she got out her flat iron turning it on to heat up.
“You best remember all the details. For example does he speak English or French in bed…”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow Mal.” Sarah said with a laugh hanging up the phone putting it back on the base at her bedside table.

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“The dark grey slacks and the medium blue shirt mon ami.” Max said as Kris held the phone to his ear. “Be sure to wear brown shoes too. Nothing worse than black shoes and brown pants.” Max explained.
“ Are you sure? I do not want to look stupid.” Kris said running a hand though his wet hair. He was picking her up in an hour and did not want to be late or look like an idiot.
“Mon ami do I ever look unfashionable?” Max asked. Kris could crush Max’s image mentioning the crushed velvet suit or any number of the weird facial hair styles he had over the years but he let his friend continue on blissfully unaware of these fashion faxu pas. “Relax and enjoy. She is a good girl. One of the best ones you’ve ever picked.” it was obvious Max was being called away from the phone. “Have fun tonight. Be sure to tell me what she sounds like…”

Kris didn’t give him a chance to finish the thought as Kris hung up the phone. He wasn’t going to add that pressure to the evening just yet.

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She checked her phone knowing he had to be on his way. She was finally on make-up as she did her best to smudge the thinnest line of eyeliner ever into her lashes. “I hate you make-up…” she grumbled as she worked the tiny brush along her lashes. The door bell rang just as she was putting on lip gloss. She picked up her shoes and small clutch purse heading down the steps. “One sec…” she called loud enough knowing he could hear her. She hopped along trying to put her heels on only to send her clattering against the door. “Yes I just fell down no laughing when I open up.” she said not able to contain her own laughter as she opened the door for him finally having gotten her shoes on properly. “So lets just pretend that never happ…” she trailed off as she lifted her head to look at him. “Wow, you look awesome. Nott hat you don’t look awesome all the time but yeah I’m going to shut up now.” she said running a hand though her perfectly straight hair.

Little did she know he was having the same kind of nervous glitches. He had been experiencing horrid road rage as he made his way to her apartment. Thankfully he could yell at people in French so they didn’t know exactly what he was saying but he was sure they got his tone. On the way to her door he checked his fly to make sure I was up as he step-dad had taught him only to find it was down and his shirt was poking out. Thankfully he caught that one before she could have. Finally at her door or more what he thought was her door. He rang only to find the elderly neighbors open up. “Oh you must be here for Sarah. Aren’t you a handsome one. You better be nicer than that Doctor he was a right bastard.” the neighbors explained. “We didn’t like him with all his shouting and the way he threw her around. We called the police on him a few times though she never pressed charges.” she paused bringing her hand to her mouth. “Oh I’ve said to much.” Really she had said everything she wanted to subtly warning this new man in Sarah’s life that she wasn’t afraid of calling the police on him. Her mission was accomplished.

“No, I have met him. He is not a nice man.” Kris said trying to keep the details of meeting Sarah’s ex and his opinion on him to a minimum. “I should go. Sarah expecting me.” he said pointing to the door a few steps to his left.”
“Have fun. With that accent and hair… you’re a keeper.” she said checking him out up and down one last time.
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“You clean up nice.” She said opening her door taking the sight of him in without looking at him like a piece of hunky meat. “I mean you always smell great and I know you’re clean…” she lowered her head smiling at her own awkwardness. “I’ll be quiet now.”
“You are beautiful. Always beautiful.” he offered his hand and she took it the light breeze ruffling their hair. She hadn’t had a guy say that to her without some kind of caveat or a back-handedness to it. He waited patiently for her to lock her door before leading the way to his car being the constant gentleman opening the door for her and everything.

The trip to the restaurant was short since it was only two miles as the crow flies from her apartment. “This is my mother’s favorite place when she comes to visit.” he explained as the walked the short distance from the parking place he had found. “She say it is how she would cook for me if she was a good cook.” he chuckled remembering her say it as he opened the door for her letting her pass through first.
“It smells amazing in here.” she said taking a deep breath in smelling fresh bread and the delicious scents of food meeting heat. The were seated and Kris ordered a bottle of wine for them sending her into a trance of some kind as she watched and listened to him speak with total confidence. His English was fantastic but he never sounded as confidant as he did just then speaking his native tongue.
“So what does your Mom recommend?” Sarah asked looking over the menu her eyes immediately landing on a chicken and mushroom dish. Thankfully it was on the short list of favorites he listed off.

“I met your Neighbor.” he said once water and wine was brought to the table and their orders taken.
“Oh you poor guy.” Sarah said rolling her eyes. “You’re lucky she didn’t try and invite you in only to molest you or something. She’s a cougar though and through.” she couldn’t help but smile thinking of poor Kris in Mrs. Charles’ clutches. Her elderly neighbor was quite a character reminding Sarah of a mixture of Sophia and Blanche from the Golden Girls.
“She gave me that look. The look of wanting to eat me.” he said getting the phrase a bit confused but his point came across clear.
“Oh she’d do more than eat you.” Sarah said with a good laugh. “You’re a handsome hunk of man she’d take you right upstairs given the chance.” She blushed knowing she called him a handsome hunk of man without thinking about her word choice.
Dinner went smoothly with conversation flowing easily. They chatted about friends and how they got to be where they are now. Even music came up. “Really Korn and Metallica?” she asked tilting her head looking at him a bit like a confused puppy. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. I mean I don’t know what I would have guessed but not that.” she was picking at the left over rice on her plate finally covering it with her napkin so she would leave it alone.

“I would not expect you to like techno indie.” he said his own shock coming out.
“Hey I like anything from Jay-Z to Passion Pit with stops at Neil Diamond and musical theater in between. Really it’s anything but country and the scary screaming.” she explained. “You don’t mock my weird playlists and I won’t mock your tough guy anthems.” she said smiling as she took a sip of her wine.
The waiter came back to the table asking about desert but Kris declined for them. The waiter left again to get their check. “if it is ok we go back to mine? I have something special.” he explained.
All Sarah could do was nod yes and wonder what he had planned. With the bill paid they headed out to Kris’ car. She shivered the night having settled in. “May I?” he asked putting his arm around her. She was hesitant at first but he was warm and holding her close so she let her body drift closer to his as they walked.

“Thanks.” she said as she opened the car door for her once again. “You’re really warm. It’s a good thing. Men are supposed to be slightly warmer than women.” Leave it to Sarah to put in a technical fact.
She remembered how to get to his place for the most part though it was ncie to see it completely sober and not drunk or hung over. “She remembered the basics of his apartment the layout not having changed.
“Relax take your shoes off.” he encouraged slipping his own dress shoes off by the door. She did the same walking on his hardwood floors in her bare feet.
“I missed these last time.” she said drifting to the floor to ceiling windows to look out at his view. She could hear him clanging around in the kitchen doing something as she looked out on the city she loved.
“It is heating now.” he said joining her by the windows. “It is a beautiful view. I am lucky.” he said brushing a stray bit of her hair from her face his hand moving to cup her chin as he stepped into her personal space. It was shocking how gentle he was with her as he brought his lips to hers in a delicate kiss. It made her knees go week forcing her to hold onto him as the kiss unfolded opening up as she brought her body closer to his encouraging him as her hands found his shoulder and side to steady herself.
He pulled away slowly and she was left there in a beautiful haze. “Good kiss.” she mumbled her hand moving to her own bottom lip feeling it was slightly swollen with increased blood flow from their contact.

He chuckled at her reaction. “Thank you.” he said pushing his own hair out of his face before leaning in to kiss her again. He held her a bit tighter things slowly starting to simmer more and more till they were interrupted by the sound of a timer going off in the kitchen. He groaned letting his lips slip away from hers. “Desert is ready. Sit I will bring it out.” he said a smile wide on his face as he slowly backed away to the kitchen.
“Really?” she said seeing him exit the kitchen with an extremely distinctive piece of cookware. He was carrying a fondue pot on a tray with fruit and mini marshmallows on it along with the dipping sticks. “That is so freaking cool.” she said with a big grin as he put the tray down on the coffee table.
“It is my favorite. My Mother makes better but I try.” he said with a shrug handing her dipping stick. He speared himself a strawberry dipping it in the chocolate. Sarah went for the pineapple first.

“This is pretty awesome.” she said a few bites in. “I’ve never actually done this before.” she explained covering her mouth as she put a marshmallow in her mouth.
“Special occasion favorite.” he said going in for his own marshmallow.
“Oh I’m a special occasion am I?” she jokingly asked.
“I like you very much.” he said taking her question seriously. “Ever since I saw you on the table. Not just because Max says you have nice legs.”
“Remind me to smack him for that one.” she playfully narrowed her eyes making him laugh. It was nice being able to relax and make someone laugh by being herself rather than feeling like she was putting on a show.
The rest of the night went smoothly till they had nearly cleared the tray. “I don’t think I can eat anymore.” she said relaxing back into his sofa.
“Myself either.” he said leaning back next to her his eyes meeting hers. “I know I will see you on Monday. When can I see you like this again?” he asked motioning between the two of them.
She nodded thinking. She knew they could never be like this at work. It would be the opposite of professional. “Next Friday. You have the day off I have the day off.” she shrugged. “I think that would be the best time. I mean we can still hang out but I think it will more than likely be with the other guys or they’ll really know. Not that I don’t want them to know but you know we should keep things private.” she explained.
He just nodded. “Yes, down low would be best.” he agreed. “Friday we go out again. Something fun.” he added with a smile. “I will make a plan.”

The night came to an end at 1am when they finally yawned enough leading him to drive her back to her home. The stood at her door kissing. “I would really like to invite you in but I think that would be slutty.” she mumbled against his lips.
“Not slutty.” he said his lips smiling against hers. “But I should go home. I am hanging out with Geno tomorrow. He likes to get an early start.” Kris explained.
Sarah nodded stepping back into her open door. He followed her pressing his lips to hers one last time. “Rest well I will see you Monday.” he ran a hand through his hair before smiling and heading down the steps. “Have a good night.” he added as he got into his car.
“I had a great time.” she shouted a bit to loud cringing in worry she woke her neighbors up. “I can’t wait till next weekend.”

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