"You remember Claire don’t you, Aidan? She was nice and she was a lot of fun." Oz nudged me and I nodded.
"Born again Christian," James announced and took another sip of beer.
"What?" I asked.
"She got all religious and became a born again Christian," he said again.
"How do you know that?" Oz asked.
"Her father is on the board of directors at AIS, idiot," he directed the derogatory comment toward me. "You should really pay a little attention to the chicks you screw around with." He chuckled.
"Okay, how about Leann, she was always chasing after you in college" Dixon offered.
"Lesbian," I shook my head.
"And that’s a deal breaker?" Dixon laughed.
"I have to have kids with her and don’t think she wants the equipment I can offer," I snorted.
"Hmmm…" James sat thinking. "What about that Amanda chick you actually went out with more than once? What happened to her anyway?"
"She was a tad too shy," I winked and he shook his head. "She’s married. I got an invitation to the wedding a year or so ago." Sighing, I sat back in the couch.
"What about Channa?" James beamed proudly.
"She was decent. Though, I wonder how she will react to the conditions."
"You're going to tell them?" Oz asked incredulously.
"Um...yeah. I think I have to so they don’t think I'm insane for instant marriage and baby." I sat quiet for a minute. "Oh God, I have to get married and have kids." Tipping over onto my side on the couch, I felt no shame for whining.
"What’s the matter, feel like you are getting up there in age, Aidan?" Sitting up quickly, Lilli's brows teased me with the way she arched them over her eyes.
"Not exactly," I groaned. She just laughed. James eyed her in her work clothes. I threw a pillow at him. "Focus, James."
"I say we try Channa. I mean it’s the only positive response you’ve given yet," shrugging as he spoke, his eyes still on Lilli’s ass in tight jeans.
"Okay, hand me my phone." I bumped Oscar’s arm.
"You’re going to do it over the phone?" Dixon questioned.
"No, I need to see if she’ll meet me though."
"I’m actually glad that I have work today. I don’t think I want to hear anymore about what's going on with you guys." Lilli laughed as she grabbed her bag from the kitchen counter.
"Later, Lilli," Dixon shouted to her as she headed to the door.
"Peace out Homey!" she yelled back.
Dixon cracked a large smile. "She’s fucking crazy," Dixon laughed.
Oz nodded.
"Who says that?" James asked with a furrowed brow.
"Lilli," Oz and Dixon said in unison. James shook his head.
I moved off the couch and away from their conversation, I could still hear them, though.
"Didn’t she just get home?" James asked.
"Yeah, she was at the library studying," Dixon took a sip of his beer. "Now she has to go to work," I turned and caught Dixon’s expression. He looked unhappy for a moment.
I hung up my phone and sat back down on the couch.
"So?" James asked.
"I am going to meet her tonight at that little café down the street from my apartment," I shrugged.
"That’s my boy!" James reached over and fist bumped me.
"What if she turns you down?" Dixon broke the feel good bubble that started to form.
"Who would turn me down?" I joked and sat back on the couch.
~
Evening arrived quickly and I found myself getting nervous, waiting till the right moment to leave my place for the small café. I didn’t want to show up too early, but I sure as hell didn’t want Channa to get there before me.
After being seated, I was only waiting for about five minutes when Channa arrived. I stood from the table as the hostess brought her over and pulled her chair out.
"Aidan," she smiled. "It’s been awhile, how are you?"
Channa was always a nice girl and I was sure she hadn’t been happy when I broke the relationship short and never called her again. I couldn’t help it, I tended to get bored quickly. Now, there was no other option. This was it and my gut was churning.
"I’ve been good, busy with work," I answered, giving a half smile.
“I’m so sorry, Aidan.” Channa’s eyes dropped to the table.
Confusion washed over me.
"About your grandfather—I read he passed away." She placed a hand on mine.
"Thank you," I gave a small smile. "Um, Channa, I was wondering…are you seeing anyone?"
She looked a little taken back, pulling her hand from mine.
"Uh, no. Why?"
Launching straight into my situation, I watched her face go from finding it funny, to depressing and then what I was afraid of—disgust.
"Aidan Iverson, you think you could buy me? That I'm just something you could use to get what you want, again!" she tossed her drink in my face and stormed out.
I rose from my seat to go after her, but couldn’t make my feet cooperate. Slumping back into the chair, I grabbed the white napkin and wiped the liquid from my face. This was going to be a lot harder than I expected.
~