8. Lewis

8

LEWIS

S aturday just couldn't come fast enough for me.

I'd somehow managed to get through the whole week, working my ass off at the day job ensuring I was so exhausted and tired to the bone that by the time I got home at night I just wanted to grab something quick to eat, have a shower and then crash for the night.

I'd done my best ignoring Eli's calls. I'd just been too busy teaching Ricky the ropes, back-to-back bookings and even a meeting with Kennedy thrown into the mix, but on Friday he ended up catching up with me at work with his cocky-up-to-no-good-grin plastered across his face as he demanded that we spend our lunch together. I couldn't exactly say no to the guy after the money he'd thrown down at the auction, could I?

"So, are you excited about tomorrow night?" Eli asked me as we walked across to Vintage Gal's Cafe on the corner of the street to sit down for a bite to eat. "Is that why you're ignoring me?" He nudged me, giving me a smirk. "Full of nerves." He chuckled as I pulled the old red rustic door open and offered him to step inside first. "Lewis, man…"

"Eli, take a breath," I muttered. "Shall we get a table first?" I asked as he dropped his head and shuffled his feet in the same spot in contemplation before lifting his gaze to mine and giving me a short sharp nod. "Can we have a table for two please, Marjory?" I asked as she grabbed the menus and led us to the far side of the cafe past the bustling families and into a more secluded area where it was quieter. "Thank you," I uttered.

"Can I get you anything else for the time being?" she asked as we both took our seats.

"No thank you," I replied back as Marjory headed back off to her post and allowed us the time to examine our menus and make our food and drinks choices. "Now, Eli… I'm excited about tomorrow. I know where he's taking me as I opened the first envelope inside, but I didn't open the second one." I rolled the information off my tongue hoping it would stop with the inquisition. "I wanted my date to be a surprise, so I haven't looked at their identity yet. I was going to do it just before they arrived," I uttered as I opened my menu and started to scan through the food options knowing Kellan's jaw had slackened and his gaze was pinpointed on me. "Marjory will be back soon and will be wanting to take our order," I exclaimed.

It took him a few large deep breaths before I dared drop the menu from covering my face and noticed Eli's features were still completely focused on me. I glanced over his shoulder hoping that Marjory, or maybe some other waitress was bearing towards us, and I could grab their attention. At least I could then bide myself a little more time before Eli had his say on whatever is brewing behind his eyes, but it seemed like luck was certainly not on my side.

"Are you going to continue ignoring me?" Eli bluntly asked me. "I could just move next to you if you need to remember I'm here or I can take the menu away from you. I mean come on, Lewis. This is me you're talking to, and you should know I'm opinionated." He let the words out. "If you didn't want to let me know or have an opinion then you would have lied to me," he stated. "You'd have told me to mind my own business. Am I getting close?" Eli raised his eyebrow in question just as Marjory returned to our table.

"What can I get you both to order?" she asked as she held her pad and pencil in hand ready to take down our order.

"Can I get a BLT on brown?" I asked her before nodding at Eli. "Oh, and a diet soda to go with that please."

"I'll get the same as he's having, please," he confirmed, giving her his classic smile as we both passed her back our menus. "It sounds good." I watched Marjory head off in the direction she came to ring our order through, leaving the two of us both back alone.

The tension was thick between us as I looked up at Eli. I instantly felt the heat travel to my cheeks knowing he was right with his opinion on why I didn't just lie to his face. It wasn't my character for one, but deep down I did want to know his thoughts on the matter. Was I being careless and a fool by not wanting to reveal this guy's identity? In my gut, I had a swarm of mixed messages fighting against me. I was embarrassed but also excited by the fact I didn't know who this guy was but when I saw that our date consisted of meeting at the offshore small airport at the far edge of town butterflies started to flip in my stomach. I was giddy and excited to know who this guy was, but the mystery behind the build up to it all made the anticipation of not knowing all the more so exciting.

He could be everything I wanted, everything I ever needed to get over the doctor who had been at the forefront of my dreams.

"Lewis," Eli sighed, knocking me from dazed thoughts. "It's me you're talking to."

"Sorry," I admitted, gulping back harshly as the tone of my voice threatened to crack with pure emotion. "It's just this guy has thought differently about this date. He seems to have put a lot of effort into it, and I know…" I let out a breath as the reality hit. "I want the fantasy not to come to a crashing end just yet."

"He's really got under your skin," Eli gasped in amazement. "You know I heard from others that most of the bachelors are just going for a stroll on the beach or a meal in a restaurant outside of town," he whispered slowly before fixating his eyes on mine. "One even booked line dancing classes as he heard that the guy had an obsession with wanting to learn the watermelon crawl, man. What could this guy have actually done that's made you question his integrity this much to just instantly want to trust him?"

"He asked me to meet him at the small offshore airport," I admitted to him, dropping my eyes low. "It seems more than just a simple gesture of thanks," I continued. "I guess… I could be wrong. I'm being too trusting."

"No, you're finally acting like the Lewis you always said that you dreamed to be like, jumping into a situation and not panicking about the consequences," Eli excitedly said as he grinned widely at me. "Yes, it may be a bit stupid but at least now I know where you are. You can contact me if something is wrong and trust me, I'll go after the guy if he tries anything at all," he uttered as he paused for a moment inhaling a large breath. "I have your back man, always have and always will."

"Thanks. That means a lot, man." I choked up. "Now tell me everything that's been happening with that guy of yours and those girls," I asked as Eli's face lit up.

I don't know how many times I'd gotten changed into a different outfit before realizing that if I didn't leave my place in the next five minutes, I'd be late. I didn't know if I should go casual or a little bit smarter for the night. All I knew was to be at the small offshore airport with my passport in hand. Could you imagine what my mystery guy may think about me if I showed up late?

In the end I went for a shirt, undoing a couple of buttons to make it seem a little more casual and some dark denim jeans with my sneakers. I didn't want to look like I was trying to look too over the top for what was meant to be something of a bit of fun originally. I slipped the red envelopes and my wallet into my jacket pocket and laid it over my arm just as my cell alerted my cab's arrival. With my keys in hand, I locked up and headed down the stairs before getting in the cab and relaying my directions before trying to steady my breathing for the big reveal.

He was over thirty minutes late.

My heart was thumping away as the darkness started to surround me.

I'd had enough and reached for the envelope inside my pocket and opened it, glancing at the name written across it.

The air instantly left my lungs as I tried desperately to suck in short sharp breaths.

I quickly hailed a cab on the app through my cell, watching the minutes countdown for its arrival.

I get this is too much for us. I understand the line was drawn. We agreed we'd stay apart from one another, but I can't fight it any longer.

"Hope Liberty Hospital, Cardiology entrance," I rattled out the moment the cab pulled up alongside me. "As fast as you can."

He's my temptation. My desire and the one I can't have but screw it all as he's mine. Now he just needs to know it.