Rolling her shoulders, Stephanie turned under the hot, pulsing spray and rinsed the conditioner out of her hair. They had spent the day in Santa Monica, walking the pier, poking into kitschy touristy shops, eating cotton candy and corn dogs, dipping their toes into the pacific coast sand and surf. It had been wonderful and now they were back at her house getting ready to go to dinner. She had made a reservation for them at the Valley Inn in Sherman Oaks. Shutting the water off she yawned hugely. At this point, though, she was fairly certain she was going to fall asleep in her soup.
With a weary sigh she reached for her towel and dried herself off. A nap would be nice she thought as she studied her face in the mirror and applied her moisturizer. She hadn’t gotten but just a few hours of sleep the night before. After she spewed her troubles all over her friends the night before she should have slept like the dead. But even emotionally worn out, sleep just didn’t seem to be her friend anymore.
Pulling on her robe she dried her hair and wandered back into her bedroom. The girls were downstairs waiting, but the bed looked so inviting. Five minutes she told herself as she stretched out. Just five minutes.
Forty-five minutes later a hand was gently shaking her shoulder. Stephanie opened her eyes to find three pairs of concerned eyes staring down at her. She rubbed a hand over her face and stretched. “What?” She looked at the clock and nearly groaned. She’d be asleep far longer than she intended.
“Are you sure you want to go out tonight?” They were all worried about her. She hadn’t seemed herself the entire day.
Steph nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. I only meant to close my eyes for a minute. I guess I was more tired than I thought.” She stood and took a step toward the closet. “Let me just get dressed and then we can go.”
Hath laid a hand on her arm as she started to move past. “We don’t have to go, we can stay in and just order a pizza if you’d rather.” Willow and Catte nodded their agreement. “Absolutely. We can go out tomorrow night instead.”
Steph shook her head. She had invited the girls out here to have a good time, not sit in her house and twiddle their thumbs. “No, really, I’m fine.” She stepped into the closet hung her robe on its hook, shimmied into her underwear and grabbed her jeans. “You guys are too quiet out there.” She pulled on a black lace tank and a long gray tunic sweater. Grabbing her boots and a belt she stepped back into the room. The girls had their heads together and were talking quietly. She moved into the bathroom. “I know you’re talking about me in there. Come on, talk louder so I can hear what you’re saying about me.”
The girls stepped to the doorway, watching as Stephanie fixed her hair and dabbed on concealer under her eyes, trying to cover up the dark circles. “We’re just worried about you. We really think we should stay in tonight and just order out and watch movies or something.”
Stephanie moved past them, sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her boots on. “I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but really, I’m fine.” She paused in front of the full length mirror, slid her glasses on and adjusted her belt. Just because she was having a difficult day was no reason for her friends to suffer.
With a weary sigh she reached for her towel and dried herself off. A nap would be nice she thought as she studied her face in the mirror and applied her moisturizer. She hadn’t gotten but just a few hours of sleep the night before. After she spewed her troubles all over her friends the night before she should have slept like the dead. But even emotionally worn out, sleep just didn’t seem to be her friend anymore.
Pulling on her robe she dried her hair and wandered back into her bedroom. The girls were downstairs waiting, but the bed looked so inviting. Five minutes she told herself as she stretched out. Just five minutes.
Forty-five minutes later a hand was gently shaking her shoulder. Stephanie opened her eyes to find three pairs of concerned eyes staring down at her. She rubbed a hand over her face and stretched. “What?” She looked at the clock and nearly groaned. She’d be asleep far longer than she intended.
“Are you sure you want to go out tonight?” They were all worried about her. She hadn’t seemed herself the entire day.
Steph nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. I only meant to close my eyes for a minute. I guess I was more tired than I thought.” She stood and took a step toward the closet. “Let me just get dressed and then we can go.”
Hath laid a hand on her arm as she started to move past. “We don’t have to go, we can stay in and just order a pizza if you’d rather.” Willow and Catte nodded their agreement. “Absolutely. We can go out tomorrow night instead.”
Steph shook her head. She had invited the girls out here to have a good time, not sit in her house and twiddle their thumbs. “No, really, I’m fine.” She stepped into the closet hung her robe on its hook, shimmied into her underwear and grabbed her jeans. “You guys are too quiet out there.” She pulled on a black lace tank and a long gray tunic sweater. Grabbing her boots and a belt she stepped back into the room. The girls had their heads together and were talking quietly. She moved into the bathroom. “I know you’re talking about me in there. Come on, talk louder so I can hear what you’re saying about me.”
The girls stepped to the doorway, watching as Stephanie fixed her hair and dabbed on concealer under her eyes, trying to cover up the dark circles. “We’re just worried about you. We really think we should stay in tonight and just order out and watch movies or something.”
Stephanie moved past them, sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her boots on. “I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but really, I’m fine.” She paused in front of the full length mirror, slid her glasses on and adjusted her belt. Just because she was having a difficult day was no reason for her friends to suffer.
Taking a deep breath she turned to face them. “We’re going to dinner and when we get back I’ll take one of my sleeping pills and tomorrow will be a better day.” She picked up her purse and paused at the door, looking back at her friends. “Well, come on,” she found a smile for her girls. “I’m ready for some real food and a nice glass of wine.”
Willow put her arm around Stephanie. “Well since you are rockin’ those skinny jeans and an amazing pair of boots, it’d be a shame to stay home. I say let’s go.”
The restaurant was just a short drive out the Ventura Freeway. Half an hour after leaving her house, the girls were ushered to their table, drinks in hand.
~
Parking the car Richie turned to his dinner companion. “You got all your stuff baby girl?”
Ava rolled her eyes. At thirteen she was no longer a baby, but her father would never see her as anything but. “Yes dad.”
Stepping from the car his shoulders slumped slightly. He hated this part of their visits, taking her back to her mother. Shutting the door he glanced at the camaro he had parked next to. Why did it look familiar?
Rounding the front of his car he wrapped his arm around Ava’s shoulders as they walked toward the door. Holding the door for his daughter he looked back at the car again. He knew he had seen it before.
Ava nudged him. He had been staring at that car since they had gotten out of their own. “Why do you keep looking at that car dad?”
He looked down at his daughter. “It’s a great car.”
Ava shrugged. Whatever. “It’s just a car.”
He shook his head as the hostess led them to their table. He’d have to teach her a thing or two about classic American heavy metal. “It’s more than just a car baby girl. It’s a 1967 Camaro SS.” He pulled out her chair for her before sitting down. “It’s a classic.” He looked around as he picked up his menu and spotted the four women at the table two away from his and he remembered. It was her car.
Holding up his menu he risked a glance at their table. What were they doing here? Were they following him or something? That’s all he needed. He was just trying to have a quiet dinner with this favorite girl before taking her back to her mother. He lowered his menu. They hadn’t seen him. They were smiling and talking. He zeroed in on her. Her head was angled, listening to something her redheaded friend was saying. She had a pretty profile. Small nose, pert chin, full lips. And tonight she was wearing glasses.
Catte finished her story and Stephanie sat back, picking up her wine glass as she did. Looking up she saw him across the way. What was he doing here and why was he was staring at her again? Self-consciously she pushed at her glasses and set her wine back on the table. “Girls, I think we have a stalker.”
At their puzzled expression she nodded her head to the table across the way and picked up her wine glass again. “It seems we found a certain guitar player again.” She took a sip of her wine. “Actually, he found us this time.”
All during dinner furtive glances were exchanged and the conversation was low and excited. “How do we keep managing to run in to him?” Hath was astounded that for all the years she had wanted to meet the man and never did, in her one and a half days in California she had run into him three times already.
The others didn’t know. They were just as surprised as she was. Stephanie reached for the folder with bill, slipping her credit card into the pocket as the others were reaching for their wallets. “You know he does live near here, it could just be a coincidence.”
When the waitress came back with the receipt, Stephanie signed it and tucked her credit card back into her purse. “You girls ready to go?” They all stood and she handed her car keys to Hath as they reached the door. “I have to use the restroom. Go ahead and get in the car.”
She had just flushed the toilet when she heard the other stall door close and lock. Stepping to the sink she studied her face in the mirror as she washed her hands. God she needed some sleep. Dropping the paper towel in the trash she flipped her hair over her shoulder and stepped out into the hallway.
Richie was standing in front of the door waiting and found his arms full of a slender brunette when she came out the door and ran right in to him. She smelled of midnight and flowers. Setting her away from him he held onto her hands to make sure she was steady on her feet. “Darlin’ are you okay?”
Stephanie nodded. “Yeah.” Please don’t let it be who I think it is she thought to herself as she raised her head. No such luck. “I’m fine thanks. I guess I need to watch where I’m going.”
He smiled down at her, not letting go of her hands. “Nope, my fault entirely. I shouldn’t have been standing right in front of the door.” Here, now, he could see her eyes. They were a kaleidoscope of brown and green. Sea goddess eyes. Bewitching, beautiful with a hint of sadness and bewilderment.
Willow put her arm around Stephanie. “Well since you are rockin’ those skinny jeans and an amazing pair of boots, it’d be a shame to stay home. I say let’s go.”
The restaurant was just a short drive out the Ventura Freeway. Half an hour after leaving her house, the girls were ushered to their table, drinks in hand.
~
Parking the car Richie turned to his dinner companion. “You got all your stuff baby girl?”
Ava rolled her eyes. At thirteen she was no longer a baby, but her father would never see her as anything but. “Yes dad.”
Stepping from the car his shoulders slumped slightly. He hated this part of their visits, taking her back to her mother. Shutting the door he glanced at the camaro he had parked next to. Why did it look familiar?
Rounding the front of his car he wrapped his arm around Ava’s shoulders as they walked toward the door. Holding the door for his daughter he looked back at the car again. He knew he had seen it before.
Ava nudged him. He had been staring at that car since they had gotten out of their own. “Why do you keep looking at that car dad?”
He looked down at his daughter. “It’s a great car.”
Ava shrugged. Whatever. “It’s just a car.”
He shook his head as the hostess led them to their table. He’d have to teach her a thing or two about classic American heavy metal. “It’s more than just a car baby girl. It’s a 1967 Camaro SS.” He pulled out her chair for her before sitting down. “It’s a classic.” He looked around as he picked up his menu and spotted the four women at the table two away from his and he remembered. It was her car.
Holding up his menu he risked a glance at their table. What were they doing here? Were they following him or something? That’s all he needed. He was just trying to have a quiet dinner with this favorite girl before taking her back to her mother. He lowered his menu. They hadn’t seen him. They were smiling and talking. He zeroed in on her. Her head was angled, listening to something her redheaded friend was saying. She had a pretty profile. Small nose, pert chin, full lips. And tonight she was wearing glasses.
Catte finished her story and Stephanie sat back, picking up her wine glass as she did. Looking up she saw him across the way. What was he doing here and why was he was staring at her again? Self-consciously she pushed at her glasses and set her wine back on the table. “Girls, I think we have a stalker.”
At their puzzled expression she nodded her head to the table across the way and picked up her wine glass again. “It seems we found a certain guitar player again.” She took a sip of her wine. “Actually, he found us this time.”
All during dinner furtive glances were exchanged and the conversation was low and excited. “How do we keep managing to run in to him?” Hath was astounded that for all the years she had wanted to meet the man and never did, in her one and a half days in California she had run into him three times already.
The others didn’t know. They were just as surprised as she was. Stephanie reached for the folder with bill, slipping her credit card into the pocket as the others were reaching for their wallets. “You know he does live near here, it could just be a coincidence.”
When the waitress came back with the receipt, Stephanie signed it and tucked her credit card back into her purse. “You girls ready to go?” They all stood and she handed her car keys to Hath as they reached the door. “I have to use the restroom. Go ahead and get in the car.”
She had just flushed the toilet when she heard the other stall door close and lock. Stepping to the sink she studied her face in the mirror as she washed her hands. God she needed some sleep. Dropping the paper towel in the trash she flipped her hair over her shoulder and stepped out into the hallway.
Richie was standing in front of the door waiting and found his arms full of a slender brunette when she came out the door and ran right in to him. She smelled of midnight and flowers. Setting her away from him he held onto her hands to make sure she was steady on her feet. “Darlin’ are you okay?”
Stephanie nodded. “Yeah.” Please don’t let it be who I think it is she thought to herself as she raised her head. No such luck. “I’m fine thanks. I guess I need to watch where I’m going.”
He smiled down at her, not letting go of her hands. “Nope, my fault entirely. I shouldn’t have been standing right in front of the door.” Here, now, he could see her eyes. They were a kaleidoscope of brown and green. Sea goddess eyes. Bewitching, beautiful with a hint of sadness and bewilderment.
Her eyes met his and time seemed to stop. There was no one else, just the two of them in that little hallway. She didn’t blink, couldn’t. His eyes were exactly how she thought they’d be. Warm and smiling, with just a hint of mischief. Her heart beat a little faster and then it happened. She blinked.
Time started again, the noise from the bar intruded on the moment, the door behind them opened and she tugged her hands from his. “I need to go.” She moved past him and out the door before he could stop her.
Ava stood next to her father, looking up at him. “Who was that?”
Putting a hand on his daughter’s shoulder he walked them to the door. “She’s the owner of that camaro we parked next to.” Walking to his car he saw the taillights of the car head left out of the exit.
Ava settled herself in the front seat and pulled her seatbelt across the front of her. “What’s her name?”
You're slipping Richie... tsk tsk.
ReplyDeleteI'm really getting attached to this story. It seems like something that could really happen, maybe because you're taking it so gradually. Looking forward to the next installment. Maybe he'll find out her name? LOL
I bet Richie can help her sleep....once he remembers to ask her name! LOL!
ReplyDeleteFinally some time to read!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed that chapter :)
I could almost see it in front of my eyes ;)
Yeah, now, how to find out her name...I guess Richie will be on a mission soon...
more soon please!
ok, ok, let's give the guy some credit.... He has been able to remember her car, but... How he'll be able to find her with just the car as hi only clue? Mmm PLEASE, MORE SOON!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until the next chapter. I love this story and it does seem like it could really happen based on the way you are taking it slow. But I kinda wish you would write a little more for each chapter and maybe speed it up a bit. I kinda want to see Richie ask Stephanie out. I think they will be good together.
ReplyDeleteShe better be careful or she's going to fall on her face. Although I bet he could cure her insomnia lol. And the fact that she keeps running away from him is going to do the exact opposite of what she wants. It's going to be fun to watch.
ReplyDelete