My White Ex Soldier

Chapter 4

Desiree was pacing up and down as she waited for Taylor. She had no idea how he was going to take the news. She did like him…a lot. He was a great guy. There was an air of friendliness around him. He seemed genuinely nice. She could tell that much. She could tell that unlike Mark, he was not a judgmental bas*ard.  All she wanted was to get everything off her chest. She needed the release because after all, she needed to be honest with herself. She had not even bothered to look pretty for him. She had just thrown on a top and a pair of pencil jeans. She was still pacing when her phone rang. She looked at it and noticed it was Taylor calling.

“Are you lost?” she asked when she picked up.

“I think so. Where did you say you were?” he asked.

“The building on the corner of 53rd and Main,” she said as she sat down.

“Well I am on 54th and Main,” he said. She smiled and nodded almost as if he could see her.

“Just drive on. I’m on the next block,” she said. “It should not take you more than a couple of minutes,” she added. Without knowing it, her heart rate had now skyrocketed. The reality was dawning on her. She was about to tell a nice person, a decent human being, that she had lied to him. If anything, she needed to tell him for her own peace of mind. She had decided to do this right now because if she had told her sister and cousin what she had done there was no way they would have been in support of what she was about to do. Well, yes, they would condemn her for the lie but no, they would not want her to come clean, at least not yet.

She was still pacing when the doorbell rang. She cautiously walked to the door and opened it. She smiled when she saw Taylor standing there looking as stunning as usual in his ruggedly handsome geek-like looks. He had on a pair of blue jeans and an ash grey polo t-shirt. He took his glasses off and smiled at her. She was not so sure he could tell that she had been crying.

“Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi,” he said looking into her eyes. There was a brief moment of confusion. They had not seen each other since that night at the coffee shop. She did not know whether to shake his hand or give him a hug….she stretched her hand out to shake his. He smiled and took her hand in his before pulling her gently towards him. She deeply inhaled his rich masculine scent as she felt his muscular body against her own. She loved the way his hand felt on her back as he held her tightly against his own body. She could feel every contour of his body right there where she stood. She did not understand how a graphic designer could have time to keep himself so fit. Or where he got the time. “You okay?” he asked still holding her. She nodded and opened her voice to talk but she choked as she blinked back a tear. “Sure?” he asked pulling her away from him. She shook her head no and stood there looking at him.

“I’m sorry,” Desiree said as she wiped her cheeks for the umpteenth time. Taylor smiled.

“Don’t be. We all have one of these days,” he said. “So are you not going to invite me in?” he asked Desiree laughed. He was a true gentleman.

“What are you, a vampire or something?” she asked laughing. He smiled and shook his head nervously.

“Well, I am walking in sunlight so maybe not, but then again, people have been known to make charms for that,” he said. Desiree laughed again before stepping aside.

“Well, why don’t you come in, Ericson. Just don’t drink me dry,” she said with a smile.

“There are a lot of other things I would like to do apart from drinking you,” he said. Desiree could have sworn there was a hint of weirdness in his voice. But for some reason, the look in his eyes made her smile. She was really not sure what it was about him that made her feel so…..at ease.

“Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee? Water maybe?” she asked as she led him to the living room. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said as she walked to the kitchen. “Oh wait, we have lemonade,” she called from the kitchen.

“Sounds good,” Taylor said. Desiree poured two glasses of lemonade and slowly walked back to the living room. “Thank you,” he said with a smile when he handed her a glass. “So, what was the big emergency?” he asked after taking a sip. Desiree’s gaze fell to the floor. She was beginning to second guess herself. What if this was not such a good idea? What if she had made a rushed decision and it was all about to blow in her face? She took a long sip of her lemonade and without realizing it, she had already downed half the glass. “Whoa, slow down there,” Taylor said as he took the glass from her hands. He put both glasses on the coffee table and took her hands in his. “Whatever it is, it is not that bad,” he said looking into her eyes.

“Come on Ericson. It’s lemonade, not vodka,” she said as she attempted to take back her glass. Taylor shook his head and put the glass back on the table.

“Well, that’s how it starts. You stuff yourself with food to take away the pain and before you know it, you need something stronger. So no, no more lemonade. Not now,” Taylor said calmly. Desiree smiled. “Now, you called me here to talk. What is going on with you, Desiree Young? And don’t tell me nothing because I can tell from those beautiful eyes that you have been shedding more than one tear,” he said. She leaned back on the couch and looked at him.

“I like you, you’re nice,” she said.

“Uh, oh,” Taylor said. “Talks that start that way usually end badly,” he said with a smile. Desiree laughed again and shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing like that. Well, maybe it is,” she said. “I have not been very honest with you,” she said looking at him. “And you are too nice to be lied to and I just had a big misunderstanding with another person for being dishonest and I don’t want that with you,” she said her voice quavering. She was trying really hard not to shed a tear.

“Okay,” Taylor said still looking at her.