Second Date, Part Four

Kento Parsons

Saturday, July 8

The sun shines bright, despite the smog.  The sky will brighten to a beautiful blue the closer we get to Arcadia Rock Canyon.  I can’t wait for Vanessa to see it.  I have to admit,  I’m a little giddy with anticipation.

Traffic out of the city isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  We’ll make it in good time, and I can focus on her without the distraction of horns blowing and the congestion.  

I glance over at her as we cruise down the interstate.  She gazes out the window through her retro mirror sunglasses.  The sunlight radiates off her light brown skin.  Her braids hang down to her waist.  She’s wearing barely any makeup which I love.  Freckles I hadn’t noticed before lightly dust across the bridge of her nose.  

The yellow tank top looks great on her, and those yoga pants are going to be the end of me. I hope she didn’t notice me checking her out earlier.  Who am I kidding?  Of course, she did.  I let my eyes linger longer than I should’ve.  There’s no way she didn’t catch that.  

“I think Cairo likes you,” she says as she looks out the window.

“Good,” I grin.  “Does that mean I scored some points with his mom?”

“Ha!  Not a chance,” she smiles over at me.  

“Wow.”  She’s still not cutting me any slack.  “Dogs tend to be a good judge of character.  I think you should consider his opinion.”

She laughs, “We’ll see.”

“Did he like the last guy you dated?”

Her back stiffens as she purses her lips.  She stares out the window again, but something tells me she’s not paying any attention to what’s out there.  I definitely shouldn’t have asked that question.  

She clears her throat.  “No, he didn’t.”

“Well, he’s happier now, and that’s all that matters.”

She laughs, shaking her head.  “All it takes is the right kind of dog treats and a belly rub.”

“Thanks for the tip,” I say.  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She looks over at me as I maneuver the car around a slow moving SUV.  She lifts her sunglasses to the top of her head as she twists her body to face me.  I feel her studying me.

“You won’t tell me where we’re going, which makes me wonder if I’ll like what you’ve planned,” she ponders.  “It has to be good because you can’t risk another disaster.  But how good is it if you won’t tell me what we’re doing?”

We’re about fifteen minutes away from our destination.  Los Angeles is over forty minutes away.  I could tell her what we’re doing, since we’re a long way from home.  However, I want her to give it a chance.  I don’t think she’ll do that unless we’re already there.  

“It’s actually pretty great,” I say confidently.  “I know you don’t like being in the dark and I appreciate you giving me another chance, but you’ll have to wait and see.”

“Humph,” she sighs.  “This better be awesome.”

I glance at her.  Her eyes take hold of mine.  A lopsided grin appears on her face.  She licks her lips, then looks away, letting me off the hook.

“Speaking of chances,” I begin.  “Why did you really agree to go out with me again?  I know what you said, but what was it about me?”

Asking this question is probably a bad idea, but something Zeke said last weekend got me thinking.  Is it really that easy for her to forgive me?  Is there more to it?

Her expression is curious.  I look back at the road.  I can feel her staring at me, taking her time to answer me.  

Finally, she looks out the window.  “I told you.  Everyone deserves a second chance.”

“That’s it?” I ask, trying not to seem ungrateful.  “It seems too easy.  You don’t know me, so you don’t have any incentive to see me again.”

She breathes in heavily, leaning against the passenger side door.  I take a glimpse of her, assuming I’ve pissed her off.  Instead, her face is kind as she stares me.

“At first, I wasn’t going to give you anything,” she laughs.  “You could’ve called or passed on a message to Tabitha.  You could’ve gone your merry way without another thought.  Instead, you owned up to what you did and you did it to my face.”

“Yeah, but you were seeing me out the door after I did that,” I said.  “You didn’t agree to see me again until after we kissed.”

Her left hand reaches around her head, pulling her braids over her shoulder.  She focuses on the other vehicles as we pass, before she says, “I was attracted to you when I first saw you.  When you came to apologize, I was still hurt, but the attraction was still there.”

She sounds like she can’t believe it herself.  Physical attraction will do that to you.  I should know.  I spent weeks thinking of her before I ever spoke to her.

“So it was the kiss,” I grin.  “Or kisses.”

That first kiss damn near brought me to my knees.  I didn’t expect her to do it, and I sure as hell didn’t expect it to be that good.  I had to have more, so I kissed her again and again.

The vehicles up ahead come to a stop.  I stop behind a pickup truck.  I look over at her, waiting for her confirmation.  She stares at me for a moment.  She bites her bottom lip, like she’s thinking of kissing me again.

“The kiss may have had something to do with it,” she winks at me.  “I had a friend some years back who was dating this girl whose wealthy parents disapproved of interracial relationships.  She enjoyed having sex with him because it was fun, but there was no way she’d get serious.  She didn’t want mommy and daddy cutting her off financially.”

It sounds like this girl was fetishizing Vanessa’s friend.  I know all too well what that’s like.  

“You’re taking a risk that has costly consequences,” she continues.  “I’m curious about the man who’s willing to lose a tangible familial relationship for the sake of an uncertain one with me.”  

She gets how serious this is for me.  She’s elevating the loss of my family above how I made her feel.  It’s like she’s wiped the slate clean when she forgave me.  An honest person would be grateful, but I haven’t been totally truthful.   

I can’t blame my dating choices on my upbringing.  It’s been difficult trying to forget the way I treated her.  I don’t think I ever will.  I have to tell her so I can stop feeling like a fraud.

“I appreciate your understanding, but I think some of my issues have more to do with me than my parents.”  I look at her with trepidation.

“I know.”  Her voice softens before she continues, “No one says the things you did unless they truly believe them.”

My mouth falls open.  “You knew?”  

This woman is better than I deserve.  But why did she let me go on about my parents if she knew I was full of shit?

“Yeah,” she responds.  “I believed you deserved another opportunity to get it right.  We’re both taking a risk on each other.”

We drive in silence for a few minutes.  She’s worthy of my best.  I can’t give it if I don’t man up.

“It wasn’t fair of me to blame someone else for my crap.  Sometimes I stereotype people.  I did it to you and I regret it.  It was too much for me to ask for forgiveness knowing I’d need your patience, too.”

“Like I said,” she begins.  “I already knew this when I forgave you.  Now I just want to move past it.”

She leans her head back on the headrest and smiles at me.  I return her smile with one of my own.  She’s right, we need to move past it.    

All I want is to get to know her and have fun.  I push my drama to the background.  Today is going to be great, even if Vanessa freaks out when she sees what I have planned for us.

We start moving again.  I take the exit leading to Arcadia Rock Canyon.  Vanessa checks out one of the local attraction signs.  The curiosity must be killing her.  We turn down a two lane road lined with big, full sycamore trees.

Vanessa’s fallen silent as she takes in her surroundings.  She glances at each sign we pass.  I could drive slower, but I know our destination is sprawled across every sign.

“Where are we?” she finally asks.

We’re not far from the rocks.  I hope I can get us there before she loses her patience.  “We’re almost there.”

We turn into the gravel parking lot.  There’s a small group of climbers walking toward the entrance of the park.  About fifty yards behind them is a middle-aged couple that move like they’ve been climbing for years.

I watch as Vanessa’s eyes widen when she realizes where we are.  Her jaw drops as panic washes over her.  The color drains from her face.

“Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is,” she says.

The Arcadia Rock Canyon sign looms ahead of us.  Her breathing deepens.  I knew this was a risk, but I hope she’ll give it a chance.  I don’t say anything.  I’m afraid if I speak, she’ll ask me to take her home.  

Climbers are everywhere, chatting with each other.  Most of them appear to be experienced which I’m sure isn’t making Vanessa feel any better.  None of them are going inside the school for classes.  They’re all heading straight for the rocks.

“I’ve climbed at an indoor gym twice, but never outdoors,” she confesses while fidgeting with her hair.

I reach over for the hand that’s twirling the braid.  She looks at me as I lightly say, “I booked us a lesson for beginners just for you.  I’ve been doing this for about ten years.  I’ll be there to help you.”

She gives a quick nod before reaching for the door handle.  I toss my cap in the trunk of the car as I take out our equipment.  Vanessa stands next to the car looking around.  I hope she doesn’t bolt.  

I walk up next to her while she takes it all in.  The red rock is massive with ridges that jut out in some areas.  There are trails leading to different crags, or rocks that vary in difficulty.  

Her shoulders relax as she gets her bearings.  It doesn’t look like she’s going to flee, but she still doesn’t appear to be completely sold either.

“This requires a certain level of trust.”  She peers at me.

“Do you trust me?” I ask, placing my hand at the small of her back.

“You want me to trust you with my life?” she laughs.  “Are you crazy?!”

No, she’s definitely not sold.  “I love rock climbing.  It gives me a break from all the chaos.”

“Couldn’t we have gone for a walk in the park like normal people?” she asks as we head toward the office to sign in.  “You asked me to let you make it up to me, not hold my life in the palm of your hand.”

She stops abruptly.  It seems like she’s going to head back to the car.  

“Relax, V.” I lace my fingers through hers.  “I won’t ever let anything happen to you. I know I screwed up the last time, and I’ll gladly spend the rest of my life making up for it.  But can you please trust me?”

“You talk as if we’re going to be together forever,” she points out.  “Aren’t you being a little presumptuous?”

I don’t know what to say.  I am getting ahead of myself, but I’m stuck on this girl.  I don’t see anyone else in my future, except her.

Before I can respond, she laughs, “It’s funny how you keep asking me to give you another shot.”

I run my hands through my hair.  “Yeah, I know, but I’m serious.  I want to show you the real me.”

Shrugging, she asks “Why can’t we paint something or spray graffiti at the top of an abandoned building?”

“That’s not exactly safe, or legal,” I answer, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.  I give her a peck on the forehead as we walk toward the building.  “Besides, I’d be putting you in harms way, which goes against what I said.”

Gravel crunches underneath our sneakers.  “How’s rock climbing any different?”

I chuckle, “I get your point, but it is.” I stop before walking inside.  “Don’t be afraid.  I’ll be up there with you.  I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I lift her chin as I bend down to kiss her.  “What’s the point in all this if you don’t have faith in me?”

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” she smirks as she rolls her eyes.

Laughing, I take her hand as we walk inside.  I check us in for the thirty minute class while Vanessa sticks pretty close to me.  I know it’s mostly because she’s in unknown territory, but I still take advantage of it.  The smell of her floral-scented perfume and the feel of her delicate skin as she brushes up against me.  

The course instructor doesn’t have my undivided attention like he has Vanessa’s.  She learns the safety and communication basics for sport climbing.  Her eyes follow the instructor’s every move.  She’s already in great shape.  Climbing won’t be a problem for her.  It’ll be her mental focus that needs work.

After the class, I buy Vanessa a pair of climbing shoes.  At first, she won’t let me pay for them, but she gives in after I explain that I had planned on providing her with proper gear.  I hand her the helmet I bought earlier this week, along with chalk and a chalk bag.

“You’ve really thought this out,” she says as she pulls her braids back into a low ponytail.  “You’re assuming I’m going to like this.”

“I’m just trying to be optimistic,” I grin.

We set out on our own.  The steep, sepia-toned rock becomes more visible as we draw closer.  It’s pretty rugged, but it’s fairly easy.  I’ve done this route numerous times, so I know what to expect.    

As we approach, I notice that Vanessa’s pace begins to slow down.  Her grip tightens around my hand.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“This is crazy,” she says with trepidation.  “Is there any particular reason why we can’t climb indoors at a gym, like sane people?”

“Climbers are sane people,” I joke.

“Too soon,” she warns.  “I’m out here in the middle of nowhere.  What if something happens to me?  My people don’t know where I am.”

“Nothing is going to happen,” I assure her.  “Besides, I texted Tabitha before I got to your house.”

She looks relieved.  I didn’t want to put Tabitha in the middle again, but I wanted her to know where Vanessa was in case something did happen.  I meant it when I said I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but I also like being prepared.  

“I know indoor climbing is more ideal, but this is something I do quite often,” I explain.  “I usually climb with my friends, but Arcadia Rock Canyon belongs to me.  You’re the only person I’ve brought here.”  

“This is a very unusual date,” she says softly.  “But I’m glad you’re sharing something this personal with me.”

I smile, grateful for her understanding.  We’re going to be by ourselves on an intimidating boulder.  We’ll have to rely on each other and remain focused.  We’re putting ourselves in a vulnerable situation.  We won’t have time to think about the past or the future.

When we reach our first climb, she looks at it, making peace with what she’s about to face.  Her voice is almost a whisper, “What makes you think I can do this?”

It’s important that I help Vanessa have a good mental game, so she won’t get injured.  If she doesn’t think she’s capable, then this won’t end well.  

“I know this isn’t what you thought you’d be doing when you woke up this morning,” I say.  “This isn’t normal, I know.  But I know you’re strong enough to climb this rock.  Don’t let it intimidate you.  It’s all mental.  Just relax and enjoy yourself.”

She continues staring at the red stone, gathering her courage.  I lean forward, whispering in her ear, “You know part of you is thrilled we’re doing this.”

She glances at me as she giggles.  

“Plus, this will be our place,” I say as I strap on my helmet.  “You know you trust me more than you let on.”

She smiles, unable to hide the truth.  “Well, next time we’re doing what I want.”

“So there’s going to be a third date?” I wink at her.

She rolls her eyes and laughs, “Yeah, I guess.”

My smile spreads across my face.  I go over some of the techniques again to make sure she’s comfortable.  After she tightens her helmet, I help her with the harness.  I know she can do this herself, but I want to be close to her.  

She’s showing more skin today than before.  Her arms are toned and her abs are tight.  My fingers almost graze the side of her breasts as I secure the harness.  She doesn’t move as my hands work on making sure she’s protected.  Vanessa just stares up at me in silence.  

She rests her slender hands on my shoulders for balance while I tighten the straps around her waist and legs.  Those damn yoga parts.  She’s either wearing a thong or absolutely nothing underneath.  My eyes can’t make it out, but my hands can tell there’s more skin under those pants than fabric.  It takes everything in me not to peel off her clothes, wrap her legs around me, and dive deep inside of her.

She says something to me, but I don’t hear her.  The idea of seeing all of her beauty has taken over my mind.  

Snapping her fingers, she says, “Earth to Kento.  Are we doing this or what?”

“Uh, sorry,” I stutter.  “I need to tape your hands.  Or you could do it if you want?”

“No, you can do it,” she grins.  She knows she’s turning me on.  

“Don’t worry about anything.  If at any moment you need help or something, just call on me.”  I trace her soft hands as I slowly wrap them in tape.  “I’ll lead the way up the wall.  We’ll focus on static climbing, since it’s slow and controlled.  It’ll be easier for you.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she admits.  “I’ll do my best. If anything happens, you’ll be here to save me.  Right?”

She places her hands on my upper arms as she gazes up at me.  My arms circle around her waist as I pull her against me.  I lightly kiss her sweet lips.  I don’t remember them tasting like this before.  Her taped hands take hold of my face as I slip my tongue into her mouth.  She tastes like cherry flavored candy.

My hands slide under her tank top.  I caress her smooth skin.  She gasps when I find a sensitive spot just above the edge of her yoga pants.  Her chest rises with each breath she takes.    

The tips of my fingers slither under the waistband of her yoga pants. She pulls my hands away just as my index finger loops around a piece of silk-like fabric.  Afraid she’ll back away I hold her tighter against me.  I’m as hard as this rock, and I know she can feel it.  She can feel everything in those pants of hers.  

Without warning she breaks the kiss.  “You’re going to have to show me how all this stuff works again.”

I still have her pressed against me, not ready to let her go.  “I know.”

She steps out of my arms to survey the rock.  With some effort, I snap out of my horny state of mind so I can instruct her through this climb.  I give her another pep talk before I start climbing.  Vanessa follows behind, taking her time.  

She emulates my hand and footwork as we make our way up.  She follows my lead as I patiently guide her to the top.  She mentions how she prefers my way of explaining things than the instructor, which boosts my ego more than it should.  

It’s so serene up here.  There’s very little small talk as we make our way up.  I want her to concentrate and remain calm.  

We’re almost to the top when Vanessa’s right foot slips, causing her to almost lose her grip.  I reach for her, taking hold of her right arm and pulling her up to me.  

“Are you okay?” I ask, my heart pounding through my chest.

She looks down behind her, breathing heavily, “Yeah.”

“You’re attached to me.  You’re not going anywhere.  I got you.”

She nods before letting go of my hand.  We complete the route to the top, and the view is amazing.  The sky is wide open.  All we see are red rocks and green trees.  There are other climbers in the distance, but nothing can take away from this view.

“It’s beautiful up here,” she’s breathless.  She beams at me.  “I’m glad you brought me here.”

“I’m happy you let me,” I say, removing my helmet.  I step toward her, wrapping my arms around her.  I gaze into her sparkling eyes for a moment, absorbing her beauty.  The freckles on the bridge of her nose are brown against her honey-colored skin.

I take off her helmet, dropping it on the ground.  I cup her face as she stands on her tiptoes and my lips meet hers.  She parts her lips as my tongue plunges into her mouth.  Her hands make their way into my hair as mine trail downward.   

Vanessa’s tank top is a little damp from sweat, but that doesn’t stop me from gently caressing the small of her back before grabbing her round ass.

Vanessa’s warm hands slide under my shirt up chest.  My erection is pressed against her stomach and I feel like I’m about to explode.  My mind is telling me to slow down, but my dick is telling me to keep going.  I want her so bad.

I press my mouth against hers once more then move to the tip of her nose.  My mouth trails up the bridge of her nose to her forehead.  A soft, almost inaudible moan escape her lips just before I taste them again.

I need to regain control of myself before I remove every stitch of clothing she has on.  It’s not easy when she fits so easily in my arms.  She tickles my back as her fingers stroke my back.  Her sweet kisses make me want more of her.  

Her lips brush against my palm, leaving her neck exposed.  The floral fragrance I smelled earlier wafts in the light breeze.  

“Kento,” she whispers.  “Kento.”

“Hmm,” I answer, nibbling on her ear.

“Aren’t we supposed to keep going so the climbers behind us can come up?” She grabs hold of my face.  Damn, her eyes are alluring in the sunlight.

“Right, the other climbers,” I say absentmindedly.  I continue staring into her eyes.  I don’t want this moment to end.

She laughs, “We should probably go and catch our breath.”

When I don’t move, she says, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Reluctantly, I let her go.  We take a few pictures before we head back down.  We ask each other typical first date questions.,laughing at how nothing we’ve done thus far fits the dating norm.  

We eventually stop asking questions and just talk.  It’s easy to do with Vanessa.  I can ask her an uncomfortable question knowing she’ll take the time to answer it.  That’s something none of the women before her could do.  She’s like me in that sense.  

It’s easy for me to tell her I’m afraid of being alone in spite of how it seems.  I am afraid of losing my family, especially my mother.  I tell Vanessa how my passion for painting came about and what role my mother played in my desire to create.  

She tells me that she was engaged to the guy before me; the one Cairo despised.  I’m not sure how any man could cheat on Vanessa, but I’m glad he’s out of the picture.  His loss is my gain.  

I confess I’ve never really been in love.  She asks if I cared about any of the women I dated.  I did, but I didn’t love them.  I tried to, but love isn’t something that can be forced.  I couldn’t imagine spending my life with them, even if they were nice girls.

Photography is her hobby.  She took most of the photos displayed throughout her home.  I admit that I don’t love my job.  I don’t hate it either, but I don’t feel like I’m my most creative when I’m buttoned up for work.

We come to the end of the trail where a few food trucks are stationed.  The middle-aged couple I saw earlier is seated at a picnic table with a homemade lunch.  I didn’t pack a lunch for us since I knew the food trucks would be here.  We have a choice between hot dogs, burgers, tacos, pizza, and sandwich wraps.

I’m curious to see if she’s a burger and fries girl or a sandwich wrap girl.  She surprises me by ordering fish tacos, a must-have for me whenever I climb here.

We sit at a table in the shade.  We learn more about each other’s families.  We talk about our favorite music and literature.  Who knew she was into jazz?  

When I told her about my love for R & B, she laughed and said, “Why am I not surprised?”

We head back to her place before sunset.  It begins to cool down a little on the drive home.  The windows are down, letting in a warm breeze.  It feels like the perfect end to a great day.  

Vanessa reclines back in the seat, playing with her hair.  Her face is relaxed as she stares out the window.  She’s been quiet since we left the canyon.  I wish I could take a picture of this moment and commit it to memory.  

She closes her eyes as she rests her hand in mine.  I lace my fingers between hers, bringing her hand up for a kiss.  A small smile appears on her face as I caress the back of her hand.  I drive in silence, replaying today over in my head.  

We make it to the city in no time.  I pull into her driveway and turn off the car.  The engine knocks while we sit in silence.  I don’t want this day to end.  

“I really had a great time,” her velvety voice breaks the stillness.  “I admit I was scared out of my mind, but I’m grateful that you chose to take me to your spot.  It means a lot that you’d want to share that with me.”

“Does this mean you’ll do it again?”  I ask.  

She leans over to kiss me.  “Yes.”

Vanessa lets go of my hand to grab her purse.  The car door swings open as she glances back at me.  “Do you want to come in?  I’m sure Cairo would like to see you.”

I laugh and nod my head.  I follow her up the walkway into her home.  Cairo bolts toward us, jumping on Vanessa.  Then he spots me.  He growls a little, but backs up as Vanessa tries to let me in the house.

“This is a change from this morning,” I say, bending toward him to let him sniff my hand.  The growling stops, but he’s still guarded.

“Come on Cairo, you need to let loose,” she calls for him and he follows her into the backyard.

I lock her front door.  I had a glimpse of her living room when I first came here, but after spending time with Vanessa, I see it differently.  I know the stories behind the photos of her and her sister.  Earlier, I guessed that burgundy was her favorite color, but it’s pretty clear it is.  There are just enough decorative pieces throughout her living room and kitchen confirming it.  

Her kitchen looks like it’s been renovated with stainless steel appliances and recessed lighting.  It’s not big, but it’s open, and the large windows let in a lot of light.  I step outside as Cairo catches a frisbee in mid-air.  The fenced-in yard is small with only a couple of trees.  Off to the left is a pergola with an outdoor loveseat, table, and two chairs.  Streams of light are intertwined around the wood beams.  It’s very Vanessa.

She spots me watching them.  She walks over, taking my hand and leads me to the loveseat under the pergola.  

“I’m sorry, I didn’t offer you anything to drink or eat,” she says.

“I’m okay,” I answer.

I rest my arm on the back of the seat.  She moves closer to me.  She starts twirling her braids around her fingers as she stares into the sky.  

“This is going to seem like an odd request,” I begin. “But can I touch your hair?”

She eyes me, “It’s not as odd as touching it without permission.  Thanks for asking.  Yes, you can touch it.”

I run my fingers along the smooth braids, understanding why Vanessa twirls them around her fingers.  

“You have some questions about my hair, don’t you?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” I admit.  “How long did it take to do this?”

“Almost eight hours.”

“What?!” I can’t believe anyone could sit for so long.

“Yep, that’s why these things are going to be around for at least two to three months before I take them out,” she replies.

“I love the way you wore your hair at Mancini’s and the other day at your work.”  I run my hands through her braids.  “I like your braids too, but I can’t imagine you being gone for most of the day to get your hair done.”

She giggles, “Is there anything else you want to know about my hair?”

“Do I always have to ask for permission to touch your hair?” I ask.  “There are going to be times when I kiss you and I want to run my fingers through your hair.  I’ll try to be respectful, but I can’t promise you I’m going to ask you any questions in the moment.”

She bursts out laughing, “You’re not like some people who stare and want to pet me like I’m an animal at the zoo.  So no, you don’t have to ask.  Is there anything else?”

“Well, I know your hair is real,” I state.  This causes her to laugh even harder. “What?”

“How do you know my hair is real?”

“Well, I know some of the hair for your braids isn’t real, but I know what I saw before is real.”  I continue running my fingers along her braids.  “I may not have dated a black woman before you, but I’ve been around plenty to know what’s real and what isn’t.  Plus, Zeke’s little sister schooled me.”

This causes more laughter.  Cairo runs over and jumps up, wedging himself between us.  He starts licking Vanessa’s face.  He’s letting me know exactly where I stand.  I can’t believe I’m battling a dog for a woman’s attention.

“Ugh!  Cairo, chill,” she commands.  “I’ll be back.  I need to wash my face.”

“Sure.”  

Several minutes later, Vanessa comes back and snuggles in my arms.  I like seeing her this way, when I’m not pissing her off or scaring the shit out of her.  We sit back watching the sunset while Cairo curls up at my feet.

 

The bass is thumping loudly through the surround sound system in my home.  I can’t get her out of my mind.  I miss the sound of her voice.  How soft it gets when she’s feeling vulnerable.  How direct she is when she’s unwavering.  The flirty way she gets when her guard is down and she’s having fun.

I’m standing in front of a canvas of an alluring woman wishing she were here.  I wonder why she hasn’t called and hope I didn’t do something wrong.

I’m lost in thought when I finally hear my cell ring.  I rush over to grab it off the table.  By the time I get to it, it stops ringing.

“Hello?” I say to a dial tone.

I hit redial, but the number is unavailable.  I try again, but I can’t get through.  I impatiently wait less than a minute to see if the caller leaves a message, but they don’t.

I scroll through the missed calls to see if maybe it really was her, but the number is still listed as unavailable.  I toss the phone onto the couch.

 

Saturday, July 8

I want to stay and talk to her all night.  I want to make love to her, but I need to slow down.  My feelings for her are on full throttle.  Up to this point, she’s been the one stopping us from going too far.  

I really like Vanessa.  I don’t want to hurt her or overstep.  Even though my dick is disappointed, my mind is grateful I’m moving in the right direction.

I had the most fun I’ve had in a long time.  I replay moments from our date as I head home.  Once I’m there, I go straight for my paint brushes and work on her portrait.  I paint for an hour before taking a shower and going to bed.  Snapshots from earlier today play through my mind as I sleep, dreaming of my bohemian goddess.

 

Sunday, July 9

My neighbor’s loud voice wakes me on the one day I’d like to sleep in.  He must be arguing with his girlfriend again.  They’ve been doing this every weekend for almost a year.  In about an hour they’ll be having sex that I don’t think is as great as she makes it sound.  They should just skip the fussing and screw already.  

I hope Vanessa and I never become like them.  Suddenly, my annoyance with my neighbors dissipates.  I wonder if she’s up yet.  It’s Sunday.  I wonder if she goes to church.  Out of everything we talked about, we never talked about her faith.  

It’s been less than twelve hours since I saw her, and I already miss her.  I wonder if it’s too early to call her.  I throw back the covers, ambling out of bed.  I pick up my cell from the nightstand, locate her in my favorites, and dial her number.

After a few rings, the call goes to voicemail.  It’s 8:30 in the morning.  Is it too early for church?  Maybe she’s sleeping in.

“Hey, V, it’s Kento,” my voice is deep and raspy in the early morning.  “I know it’s pretty early, but I just wanted to say I had a great time yesterday and I hope to see you soon.”

Calling a woman the next morning after seeing her the night before is highly unusual for me.  I hope I didn’t come off too eager.  

 

I roll back from the canvas trying to decide how I want to paint her hair.  Vanessa’s long braids are nice, but there’s something about how she wore her hair loose and wavy on our first date.  She’s an enticing woman.  It’s important that every aspect of this piece conveys her beauty.

I step toward the artwork and begin making quick brush strokes, framing her face with luscious waves.  Just when I’m getting back into the zone a door slams so hard that it shakes the canvas.  My hand lifts the brush just in time to not ruin the painting.

These damn neighbors.

Despite the loud music, I can still hear them slamming things and yelling across the hall.  I increase the volume hoping the sound drowns them out.  I notice my cell is still on the couch where I left it.  Shaking my head, I turn away from it.

 

To be continued…