Sincere thanks to my editor Bobash Finney. I welcome the feedback.
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CHAPTER 1
"Hey, are you OK?" My best friend Jackson asked. "You are not thinking about her are you?" He asked as if reading my mind.
"No." I lied. "I'm good. Just mediating on my assignment for the next days." He looked at me intensely, as if not believing a word I just said. "I'm good." I said with more emphasis, hoping I sounded more convincing.
Truth is I was not good. I was indeed a mess. I had fallen in love. Yes, in love with another who was not available for me to have. I met her quite by chance. Central Park at spring time an exceedingly spellbinding period. I was out jogging and as I came around the lake, shaded by the flowering cherry trees, I felt physically ill. I twisted over holding my stomach and I heard someone say, "excuse me. What is the matter?" Before I could reply I regurgitated connecting with a pair of sneakers in front of me.
"Fuck!" I opened my mouth to apologize and out came some more. Instead of running away the voice reached out and rubbed my back.
"Hey, shall I call an ambulance?"
I gestured negative, "just please call me a cab."
"You certain, because you don't look at all well."
"Please, yes a cab. I feel like shit however I only want to go home." It is then I looked upward to view who my saving grace was. I gasp at her striking features. She was stunning. Long black hair, olive skin tone and a body that was lean and sensual. Sexy elegance with a provocative innocence. I began sweating, not from the unusually warm spring afternoon but from the heat I was experiencing because of her.
"I don't believe you should go home. Is there someone waiting at home, or maybe someone I can call perhaps." There was sincere unease in her voice.
"No" I stammered, "I would be fine. Don't have my phone. Can you please call a taxi?
"Okay. I will." The cab arrived within five minutes. My rescuer opened the door. I crawled in and she entered behind me.
"Where too," asked the driver.
"Where too," she asked me. Dumbfounded I uttered off my address.
We arrived, she paid the driver. Upon exiting the taxi, I was hit with another attack, hitting her running pants as well as some in the cab. She gave the driver additional money to get his car cleaned. My rescuer then held me at my waist and requested my house keys. I was shaking and feeling lightheaded. Not sure who was responsible for this turbulence, her or my upset stomach. As we arrived at my door, she had me lean more unto her as she freed her hands to unlock my door.
I lived in a three-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side. I love this block for its tree-lined street. The streets were well represented with an elegant row of lamps. The place was immaculate, with massive floors to ceiling glass windows. My floors were heated to allow me to walk barefooted. I really did not like shoes to be worn inside. I took my sneakers off immediately as I entered and my guest followed. I then removed all my clothing, my guest was flabbergasted. "This is why it is so clean," I explained. "I cannot walk through the house with clothing of puke," I smiled.
"You are not saying I also have to remove my clothes?" She was not feeling this.
"I trust you don't mind. I will throw it into the machine here. You do not have to parade naked. There is a clean robe hanging on the rack."
"You are kidding me, right?"
I put my hand up, for my stomach was beginning again. I ran to the bathroom and threw up in the bowl. Immediately I cleaned up, brushed my teeth entered the shower. I made the water as hot as I can take. I was in there for almost thirty minutes when I heard the door open. My guest inquired on my wellbeing. She was wearing the robe, "is your clothing in the dryer?"
"Yes," she replied a little annoyed.
"Come," I said to her.
"Where."
"In the shower with me. It's big enough for us both and more. I promise not to puke."
She was the one appearing dumbfounded now. "I will pass."
"You really do not want to put on clean attire on your sweat and vomit, do you? Come in with me," I urged. "I need the company," she hesitated I sensed. "Don't think." I kept on prodding, "just come in." She opened the shower door with her robe on. "You can keep the robe if it makes you more comfortable." I stretch out my hand and she stepped in. "Hi," I said with a smile, I'm Currie and you are very beautiful. How is the water?" I straightaway asked in an attempt to change the atmosphere.
"Hot. Turn down the heat some please?
"Feel free to turn it how you like it. I will get out and check on your laundry."
"No you don't. You lured me in here and you're now bolting."
"Don't want to go but don't want you to feel weirded out."