Daniel gets up out of his chair, comes next to my desk, and kneels down by my side. He takes my hand and I feel the freaking sweats coming on again. These freaking hormone meds I’m on as well do not work! Hot flashes torture me when this man is around.
"Miss Hannum, I apologize for my rude behavior and I would like nothing more than to make it up to you by sweeping you off your feet with a wonderful supper and lots of wine, er, I mean beer this weekend. Would you be so kind as to oblige me?"
Oh, dear Lord I want nothing more than to just throw him on this desk right now—pencils and graded papers scattering to the floor—and rip those damn clothes off him.
Control, Harlow. Control yourself.
I rumple up my face, looking like I’m trying to decide. This for me is a no-brainer. My body comes alive at the very sight of him. Not to mention the way he smells, and his accent, and his eyes. Yes, my body hums. It freaking hums. Is that even a thing? Your body humming? Willow would just call it horniness, but to me it's more like electricity coursing through my body. He's only touched my fingers and I feel the zing-zang, hokey-pokey, whoopty-doopty spinning inside my head. All these emotions are new to me, I think.
Have I ever felt like that before?
"Well, I suppose so. When you mention food and beer, what's a girl to say other than yes?" His smile is broad, the small crinkles in the corner of his eyes are exposed, and he looks like he just won five bucks on a lotto scratch off.
He rises up from his knees.
"Very well then, Miss Hannum. I shall pick you up Saturday evening at seven. Do you like McDonald's or are you a Burger King kind of girl?"
I rest my finger on my chin pondering which one I like best.
"I’ve always had this thing for redheads. I’m referring to Ronald McDonald, so yes, McDonald's it is."
He clasps his hands together. "Oh, thank goodness. I was so afraid I couldn't compete with a man with a mustache and a crown." He winks at me and starts to walk out the door.
"Daniel?"
"Thank you for my medicine. I really appreciate it." I flash him a smile and he says, "It was my pleasure. I'll see you at lunch."
I don't know for sure, and maybe I need to be reminded of this, but I don't think I’ve ever had such a feeling as this when someone walks out a door. I don’t want him to leave. If I could sit here and talk to Daniel Mathewson all day, twenty-four hours would never be enough. Sometimes I don't know if I make any sense to myself. All I know is that the next two days better fly by and my sister better not go into labor.
***
This past week at school I’ve been focused, fun, lively. At least Willow tells me I have been. She tells me she hasn't seen me like this in a very long time. Occasionally, she stuttered while saying she hasn't seen me this happy since I was with Cruz. She stopped herself a few times during conversations trying to skip over mentioning his name, but it's okay. He was part of my past and I need to be reminded of that. Running into him last week was a surprise. Actually, more than a surprise. I was so taken aback by seeing him. I expected him to come and visit, but not move here, get a job here, go to college here. I mean I’m happy for him. I didn't bother to ask how he was doing. I ask Craw and he gives me one-word answers like “fine, good, okay”. I think it's bullshit but seeing him the other day, he looked good. I’m not a blind woman, I may have some minor brain damage but I know a good-looking guy when I see one. And Cruz, well, yes okay, he's hot. I'd be a damn fool not to recognize that. There are lots of pretty girls here in Princeton and in North Ridge. Ryland College is probably crawling with them. He'll have no problem having them hang all over him. Since the first time we met, or the second time rather, he has never had that problem.
Wait, I don't think I remembered that before? Our second meeting? Or did I? No, I definitely didn't. I sort of, kind of skipped that part. On the deck? With a girl? I need to text Willow.
i need you to come in my class after the next is over. I think i remembered something from the past
She types back a quick,
holy shit.
My headache is gone and my next class goes by smoothly. As the kids leave, Willow ushers in. She waits till they are all gone and pulls chair up to my desk.
"So spill. What did you remember?"
As I go to speak I see Craw stick his head in my door.
"Yo, we eating or not?" I motion for him to come in and point for him to sit. He grabs a chair and puts it next to Willow's.
Willow anxiously asks me, "So tell me, what did you remember?"
Craw straightens up his body, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Well, I think I remember the second time I met Cruz and I think it has to do with the fact that he pulled me over the other day. Did you guys know he works and lives here, I mean he works in North Ridge? Not sure where he lives. I didn't get a chance to ask him." Willow and Craw exchange glances and they looked as puzzled as I do.
"Anyway, I remembered that the second time we met was on the deck of the house in Sandy Cove. I remember he was with a girl. They were doing it, right?" Willow and Craw look at each other, then at me nodding.
"And I saw his tattoos and that's how I knew it was him." The more I talk the more I’m remembering! Holy shit! I remember hearing screams, I remember grabbing a knife and going out on the deck. The more I say, the more Willow and Craw solidify all this. But then my mind is clear and thoughts drift into them and I suddenly feel like shit. I put my head down, playing with my fingers in my lap. I recall this man’s friendship. I remember long conversations over coffee and fun times with our friends. Sadness makes my head hurt. It makes my heart hurt in a way, too.
"Hey, Har. This is fantastic that you remember something but why do you look so sad?" Willow asks.
"’Cause it is sad, Wills. I broke his heart, didn't I?"
She grabs my hand and pats it. "He broke yours first, sweets. He thought it was best for you, but when he realized it wasn't, it was too late and we all know the rest of the story."
I feel the tears fill my eyes. Sometimes I feel like a cold fish. I guess I don't consider his feelings as much as I should. I know what I read in his letters to me, but have no recollection of any of it. I read the story. I read the love story of a boy and a girl who fell in love. I know it’s not easy for him. Nothing about me is easy for Cruz.
"It doesn't make it any easier, Willow. Seeing him the other day, it made me sad and angry. He looked great but I could see the hurt in his eyes. Please tell me I didn't imagine it."
Craw speaks over Willow, both of them battling over what to say.
"Har, he is doing better. He is doing things with his life he never thought he'd do. Yes, I’m not going to lie and say he's over you ’cause that's just plain dumb, sister. He loves you deeply and is doing his best to deal with everything that is going on.”
Not fully satisfied with that answer, I still nod and swipe a tear from my face.
I hear a slight knock at my door and in walks Daniel.
"Oh, I’m sorry, Harlow. I didn't mean to interrupt. You have company. I was just seeing if you were headed to the teachers’ lounge."
I wave him in and I push myself out of my chair. "No, they’re not company. Come in, Daniel. I don't think I have formally introduced you to my baby brother, Crawford." Daniel extends his hand out to Craw and he takes it.
"Call me Craw. Nice to meet you."
"Daniel Mathewson. Pleasure’s all mine." The two men shake. Daniel turns to me. "How are you feeling, Harlow?"
He looks genuinely concerned. "So much better. Thank you again for everything."
'Well, you looked as though you were in pain. I’m so glad you're better."
We all stand there. Willow's eyes are wide as saucers, Craw, well Craw's face I just can't figure out.
"You, um, aren't feeling well, Har?" Craw asks me.
"Oh, you know. The norm. Daniel noticed and went and got my pills for me since I left them in my lunch bag downstairs."
Willow looks at Daniel with stars in her eyes.
"That was so nice of you to do that for her, Daniel."
Daniel shrugs. "I didn't want to see her in pain."
I see Craw roll his eyes and silently hope Daniel didn't see that.
"So, Craw, I understand you are student teaching here? Congratulations. This is an excellent school."
Craw just nods. Awkward silence erupts.
"Well, I am going to go down to the lounge and just um, grab my lunch. I have papers to grade. We have a class trip tomorrow for my department so I won't be in all day tomorrow, but I will see you Saturday evening?"
I smile. Actually I beam at the thought of seeing him Saturday night, but feel sad I won't see him tomorrow.
"Yes, you will. Seven, right? Oh, you need my address." I forgot to give it to him. I jot it down on a sticky note and hand it to him.
Daniel sticks out his hand to shake Craw's again. "I better be going. Nice to meet you, Craw. Miss Taylor." He nods to Willow.
"’Bye, Daniel." Willow waves to him, tossing her blondness over her shoulder.
Daniel walks out the door and all I can do is watch him as he exits. So does Willow.
I start to gather my things to go to lunch. I hear Willow tapping her heel-cladded foot.
I look up at her and she's looking at me like I’m one of her students and she's getting ready to give the third degree.
"What?" I say.
"You have a date with him, as in like he's picking you up at your house and taking you out and then you're going to have a meal with him, and it is a possibility that bodily fluids may be exchanged."
Craw turns toward the door, fingers in his ears. "I didn't hear that, Willow. That's my sister."
She smacks him on the arm.
"Oh, seriously, Craw. The girl hasn't gotten any in months. Give her a break."
His eyes have fire in them. "Like I said, not hearing this about my sister."
I laugh and hold my hand to my face, feeling it flush with the image of Daniel in my mind.
"Yes, I am going out with him. And I seriously doubt that bodily fluids will be exchanged. I’m not like that. First date getting some stuff. Not me." Craw and Willow look at each other and begin to hysterically laugh at me.
I shake my head, knowing damn well what they are laughing at.
"Ha, ha. Very funny."
Craw's face turns a bit serious. "You, um, er, you like him, Har?"
"Of course she likes him," Willow spews out. "Did you see him, his ass? Did you hear him? That fucking accent is enough to make any girl drop to their knees and make him whip it out."
Craw spins around clearly disgusted by Willow's words.
"Christ, Willow. Stop with the sex stuff and Harlow in the same context. And no, I didn't get a good look at his ass because I’m not gay."
"You don't have to be gay to appreciate a fine ass."
And now I have to end this conversation before Craw blows his top.
"To answer your question, Craw, yes. Yes I do. I like him a lot. He's easy to talk to, easy to joke around with and I want to go out with him."
Even though I can't say it out loud, I secretly think about him touching me. Kissing me. Worshipping my body. I think about him making my body do the humming thing. Yes, I guess it's true. I’m horned up, incredibly attracted to him, and hoping with all the hormones that rage through my body that he at least kisses me. Long and hard. Passionately.
They stay eerily silent and I’m starving.
"Can we go eat now?" I see Craw grab Willow's arm and hold her back.
"Um, Wills. I have a question for you regarding one of your classes I sat in on earlier this week. Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure. Har, you go ahead without us. We will meet you down there." I shrug and head out the door to the teacher's lounge.
As I walk down the hallway and pass Daniel's classroom I see him at his desk, a huge smile on his face as he grades papers. He's biting his lip and tapping his pen on the desk. I wonder what he's thinking about. Science can't be all that amusing in order for him to smile like that. In my mind he's thinking of me. Thinking about the anticipation of our date. As I try and walk by quicker than I am possibly capable of, he hears me, pops his head up and winks when he sees me, and all I can focus on are his eyes. All I want at this point are those eyes to only look at me.
***
And I shopped. Yes, I shopped. I spend my Friday evening at the mall. I went to a store I have never been to. I bought a dress and new shoes, and I had a mani and pedi. I’m waling through this mall swinging my bag around like I’m walking on air. Jesus, this is euphoric. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?
Nothing.
I decided on a pale pink on my toes and nails. My fingernails used to be chewed down to the skin, but I guess since I was in a coma for six weeks, I didn't have a chance to gnaw on them. Since then, they have grown out and are strong, making me feel even more feminine than I ever have.
My phone buzzes in my purse as I grab a Chai tea from a local coffee bar in the mall. It's a number I don't recognize, but I answer it regardless.
"Hello?"
"Harlow?" Oh, damn that accent.
"Daniel? Oh, hi. How'd you get my number?"
He sighs. "Oh, I’m so sorry for my stalker-like tendencies, but I got it from the office. Rose, the secretary gave it to me. I’m embarrassed."
I laugh into the phone, "Don't be. I should have given it to you the other day. You sound a bit frazzled. Is everything okay?"
"Oh, God. I just...I don't want to have to do this but I need to cancel our date tomorrow evening."
I feel the blood rush from my face and the euphoric feeling I felt not so long ago has dissipated.
"I’m, um. Sorry to hear that but I understand. Are you okay though?"
He moans into the phone and makes a few noises, then I hear a muffled sound like he's covering up the receiver. I can sort of hear him and he's speaking to Henry.
"Yes, darling. Give me a minute, Chicken. Daddy's on the phone."
He comes back on the line.
"I’m so sorry ’bout that. The reason for me canceling is I forgot Ally was going on holiday for a few days and I have no sitter for Henry. I’m just.... Oh God, Harlow. I just wanted to see you, badly I must admit. See, I sound like a stalker again."