I want thank LaRascasse for editing and kicking my butt for using past and present at the same time! And Oldnakeddad for taking the time to edit and help with the flow of the story. Every thing that works is because of them and everything that sucks because of me :)
(This is a work of fiction and all characters are over the age of 18.)
Enjoy the show! And don't forget to vote.
* * CHARLES * *
Sometimes, I hate driving in downtown Portland. The streets are always narrow and, this morning, there's a delivery truck parked in the road, making the odds of getting to work without being sideswiped, astronomically low. I consider it a miracle when I pull into the parking garage undamaged.
Colin is standing on the street, waiting for me, as I walk out of the parking garage. Maybe today's going to be a good day after all.
"Good morning, Charlie!"
Good morning indeed! Nothing's better than seeing his all-American smile and his big doe eyes first thing in the morning.
Colin has been calling me Charlie when it's just the two of us and Charles around everyone else. It feels like a secret, something only between us, almost intimate.
Gawd, I sound so lame! There's nothing to read into it, but I'm doing it anyway. It's wishful thinking
He has a boyish way of always having his hands in his pockets. His smile, thick chocolate hair, beautiful hazel eyes (and the thick lashes that frame them), and perfect nose (which isn't too masculine or feminine) fit his strong facial features.
Everything about him is perfect!
They don't require the marketing employees to wear a suit and tie, therefore most dress business casual. There are a few of us, including myself, that trend toward the more professional look, though.
Normally, I don't like business casual because I think it's lazy, but after seeing Colin dressed that way, I decide it's not all bad.
Today, he's wearing dark-blue, slim-fit jeans, light-brown leather shoes, a white collared shirt under a navy sweater, and a light-grey tweed blazer. Everything combined, along with his leather messenger bag, is almost too much. I have to make a conscience effort not to ogle him. What's infuriating is, he's not even trying. Everything he does is effortless.
"Good morning, Colin. How was your commute?" I jest.
This gets a laugh from him. His naturally infectious laugh is music to my ears and sends a shudder throughout my body.
Be still my heart.
I don't know exactly where he lives, but he's mentioned living nearby, only minutes away by foot.
"Foot traffic was terrible! I almost had a flat tire! I don't think people value personal space, they always walk too close."
He smiles with his eyes and, in order to avoid a puddle of water, brushes against my body.
"How about you? Is your stupid, expensive car still making the commute tolerable?" His smirk is almost cuter than his smile and his eyes are sparkling with mischief.
He steps away from me as the puddle is no longer a threat.
"Joke all you want to, but once you've experienced the joys of my custom, pearl-white Jaguar F-TYPE, you'll be begging me to drive you to work, and I'll decline, of course, because you're a jerk."
I look over and see him roll his eyes, but he's unable to hide his giant grin which stops my heart again.
Seriously, what's wrong with me?
"Do you have plans this weekend? A guy like you must have something set-up," he asks.
He bounces his bag to a more comfortable position on his shoulder, never removing his hands from his pocket.
"I don't know. I mean, yeah, I guess I have a date. It's nothing serious. I don't have anything else to do, you know?"
Ramble much, Charles?
I widen my eyes when I realize how stupid I sound. Suddenly feeling sheepish.
"Of course, it's nothing serious. You don't do serious, Charlie. You
do
Grindr!"
He bumps my shoulder and has a small side smile as he shakes his head in amusement. I entertain him in all of the wrong ways.
"What about you? Do you have any plans with a lady tonight?"
Please say no. Please say no.
"Actually, I do!"
He smiles so big I can count all of his teeth, he's so happy, My stomach drops at the thought of him on a date. I muster as much excitement as possible, but it's not much.
"Something serious?"
"I think so! I think it's fate! I simply started looking and
boom
, she appeared and she seems to be a good fit. I have a feeling we're going to be together for a long time."
He looks at me as his face fills with hesitation.
"There's one problem, though. I mean, it's not a problem, per se, but I don't know. Maybe I'm being too picky."
"Spit it out, man!"
The suspense is going to give me an ulcer. Do I want to hear about her? Whatever the issue is, I'm going to make it a big deal. He'll have to walk away. My new plan is to make a mountain out of a molehill!
"Well, I know this sounds stupid, but she's white. She doesn't have to be black, but I've always preferred a darker appearance. Everything else seems perfect, though. I don't know whether or not to settle or hold out longer?"
I can tell this is something he's been thinking about, a lot. I didn't expect Colin to have such a strong color preference. Especially, a preference that's not favorable toward my ethnicity. I know he's straight and I have no right to be crushed, but this white boy has hit an emotional wall. I'll try to make him think.
"Really? You're hung up on the color issue? I didn't expect that from you! Color should be the last thing you consider. If everything else works perfectly, and you feel a connection, you have to go for it. If it's love, you'll never notice color. Seriously, man!"
Also, gender shouldn't be in issue, either. Just food for thought.
"Woah!"
He gestures for me to calm down.
"That's a big reaction coming from someone who's paid thousands of dollars for a custom color."
Wait, I'm confused.
"What are you talking about?"
He looks at me like I'm an idiot.
"I found a car! I told you I've been looking for one and I found it. An old lady in Beaverton has a 1998 Subaru Outback, fully loaded, with only eighty thousand miles, for only two thousand dollars. It's been garaged most of its life and only occasionally driven. I wanted black or navy-blue or dark-green, but white won't be so bad. I'm going to pick her up tonight."
It takes me a second to realize what's happened. Then it hits me. I almost got a stomach ulcer over a twenty-year-old car!
"Ha!"
I can't compose myself. I'm laughing so hard.
"I'm lost. What's so funny?"
I start crying and I can't talk or breathe. A twenty-year-old car! After what feels like ages, I finally calm down, but I'm still holding back the giggles.
"Colin, I thought you were talking about a date! I thought you found a girl with whom you're having a good connection. Potentially could last a long time. She's perfect except for the fact she's white! Seriously, man, you should have disclosed what you were talking about, upfront!"
I playfully punch his shoulder, simply an excuse to touch him. Colin start laughing because the whole thing is freaking hilarious.
"You thought I was talking about a girl?"
I affirm with a nod.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
He's stops laughing, but he's still smiling while looking down at his feet.
Can I imagine you dating a girl? Yes. Do I want to imagine it? No.
We part ways on the fifth floor. It's a busy day for everyone in marketing. Somehow, all of the project deadlines are due today. I don't know if this has ever happened before, but the atmosphere on fifth floor is tense. We work through lunch and, by some miracle, we finish around five in the afternoon, but I stay a little later to tie up a few loose ends.
"Hold the elevator!"
I turn to see Colin grabbing his stuff from his desk and jogging toward the elevator, evidently not wanting to take the stairs today. The door is closing so I slide my hand out to keep it open.
"Hurry, I'm not going to wait all night. I have things to do!"
I like giving him a hard time and teasing him whenever I have the chance. I mean, I have things to do, but I'd wait all week if he wanted me to.
"Yeah, yeah. Grindr guy can wait thirty seconds!"
Or forever. Just say the word.
Colin was in a hurry to get to the elevator and hasn't put his jacket on, yet, so he tosses it over my shoulder.
"Hold that."
He tosses me his messenger bag.
"And that."
I watch him for a minute while he straightens his paperwork before placing it into the bag I'm holding. His jacket smells so good. It smells of him. It's close to my face and I want to bend my head down and rub my cheek with it, but that'd be super creepy, right?
"You know, I have things to do, too. I have to pick up my future wife!"
Colin's straightening his sweater as he looks at me, then starts laughing and teasing me about the mix up.
Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.
"Seriously, Colin, how was I supposed to know? You talked about the car as if it's a real person. You're so weird sometimes."
He grabs his jacket from my shoulder and I'm sad to see it go.
"No, only you'd thought I was talking about a girl."
He puts his jacket on, grabs his bag from me, slings it over his shoulder, and quickly pulls his phone out.
"Shit! I forgot to call for an Uber. I'm supposed to meet Mrs. Granberg in Beaverton to pick up the car."
"You don't need to call an Uber. I can take you."
"No, it's okay. I know you have plans for tonight. I've already set you behind by asking to hold the elevator. A ride to Beaverton is too much."
He's downloading the Uber app.
"No, I'm serious! The night is young. I'll take you. Come on, Colin, let me take you."
Let me take you...to bed. Hmmm.
"What about Grindr Guy?"
"What about him? You don't think he wants to get together at six o'clock tonight, do you?"
I'll cancel on him. Just give me the word. I dare you. I'll do it!
"Okay. I mean, if you don't mind. I don't want you to feel obligated."
He looks skeptical, but hopeful
.
"No, I don't feel obligated, but you'll owe me."
I can think of a few things.
"I'll tell you what, you can be the first person to meet Julie."
I throw him a questioning look. Julie? What did I miss? He rolls his eyes as if I'm a complete failure.
