Chosen Heart (29 page)

Janice brushes
her forehead with the back of her hand, feigning exhaustion.  “Thank
goodness you’re here.”

Finally able to
look past her goofy grin, I'm speechless when I get the chance to look
around.  The SHI grounds look ethereal with the main entrance lined with
large bouquets of white balloons shaped into an angelic archway.  Starting
up the walkway, which normally encircles a large patch of grass, I'm entranced
by the dozen or so white gossamer tents lining the outer walkway, covering a
makeshift dance floor.

“Janice, this
place looks wonderful!  You guys really did an amazing job putting all
this together.”

A billow of
hickory smoke can be seen in the distance and the air is filled with heavenly
scents; a mixture of curry, garlic, and grilled chicken lingers as I link my
arm through hers, as we make our way up the inclined path.  "You look
like you need to talk.  What’s up?”

“Oh, you know;
the usual…Autumn.  If I have to hear her complain one more time…I’m going
to scream.”

I sigh.  “What is she
complaining about now?”  I know she doesn’t like to cause any trouble, so
for Janice to want to air her frustrations, instead of keeping them bottled up,
I’m all for it.  I could care less about Autumn. 

“What is she
not
complaining about?  First, it was that Mr. James wasn’t here yet. 
Then when he did arrive, she used all of her coercion tactics to sway him to
her booth.” 
What!  She was trying to get Alex to buy a kiss from
her?  Over my dead body!
  “Of course it didn’t work; I honestly
don’t know why she even tries.” 
Semi-crisis averted.

“Ever since she stepped foot in
the kissing booth, there’s been complaint after complaint about the guys coming
up to her.  Seriously, what did she think…that every guy would be some
Abercrombie and Fitch model?”  I giggle.  Always being so sweet and
timid, when Janice kicks it up a notch with her sarcasm, it’s downright funny.

Even through the bitchfest, I’m
thankful Janice found me the moment I arrived. 
Forgetting the map of the grounds at home, it would have taken me a
while to navigate the maze of vendors and games without her. 
I
fully intended on grabbing it after Alex dropped me off at my apartment, but
our kiss goodbye left me partially dizzy and unable to think clearly. 
At
least that’s the excuse I’m going with.
 

“Alright, alright, you can stop
laughing at me.  I promise, no more complaining.  So, you don’t have
to report to the kissing booth for another thirty minutes, what do you want to
do?” 

The upbeat music in the
background pulls my attention in the direction of the makeshift dance floor
underneath the large white canopy.  My eyes light up and with a devilish
grin, I pull Janice towards the music.  “Oh no, Elyssa.  I can’t dance.” 
With her feet firmly planted, Janice shakes her head continuously.  I
refuse to listen to her, dragging her until we’re standing directly in the
middle of the hustle and bustle.  It feels good under the canopy, barely
able to tell it’s the beginning of fall.  The mister system paired with
fans and the overcast sky makes the event less unbearable.

“Come on Janice, live a
little.”  Grabbing her hands, I shake her torso to and fro.  A large
smile spreads across her lips as we both move in unison.  An elderly
couple brushes against us, dancing with their hands intertwined, swaying. 
The music is more modern, but that doesn’t stop the happy couple from enjoying
their time together.  Watching them, I feel a little jealous that their
relationship doesn’t have to be so private.  I want nothing more than to
go and grab Alex, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life; like simply dancing
at a fundraiser…his fundraiser.

The thrill of the crowd must be
catching up with Janice.  It’s nice to see her let loose, jumping around,
hands in the air, eyes closed.  Raising my own arms, I roll my hips, and
bounce along side of her to the beat.  As Alex finally comes into view, my
attention is diverted from the pounding beat, stilling my excited body. 
Staring in our direction, I’m too far away to see his
facial expression, but hopefully he can still appreciate the movement of my
body.

Grabbing my arm, Janice pulls me
towards the event center; towards Alex.  “Come on.  I need to go
check on things.” 

Alex is standing next to a large
plastic booth partially filled with water, silently waiting his turn for
torture.  A small seat sits just above the water level where he’ll be
perched for my viewing pleasure. 
But, as
we approach, I realize I’m still trying to reign in the jealousy that’s been
building all morning.
  It’s understandable that women find him
attractive, but in his half naked form, they’ll do a lot more than just admire
his beautiful face and svelte body.  No, they’ll have the building blocks
of their own sexual fantasy, starring
my
boyfriend.  I cringe at
the thought.  I’ve never known what it felt like to be jealous, or even
possessive.  Of course, that was until I let Alex into my heart. 

“Oh my, is that Arianna?” Janice
pauses, standing with her head tilted.  Taking my eyes in yet another
direction, I catch Arianna and Alex talking quite animatedly, and notice there
is something off about her.  Out of character, she’s wearing a simple
eggshell colored sundress scattered with tiny pink and beige flowers, paired
with cream colored wedge sandals.  The dress is cute, but because it only
reaches her mid-thigh, I can’t help but notice it’s much younger and
lighthearted than her normal business attire.  Shrugging her shoulders,
Janice continues to pull me towards the dunk booth just as Arianna walks off
towards the event center, fanning herself.

“Hello, Mr. James,” I greet Alex,
as Janice rushes to grab her clip board behind the small structure with extra
large red lips made out of cardboard.  I guess I didn’t need that map
after all to find my station.  It’s not hard to miss and it’s directly
across from Alex.  Even better.

“Hello, Ms. Hart,” his dimples
prominent as his lips curls into a smile.  His blue eyes are mesmerizing
as they sparkle in the afternoon sun. 
The wonderment
in his eyes as they travel over my body, noticing my change in wardrobe, gives
me goose bumps.  
That's right.  Take it all in, Mr. James.
 
My simple white fitted halter dress accentuates my curves and shows just the
right amount of skin without being too risqué.  The milky cotton material
contrasts quite nicely with my summer tan. 

“Did you just arrive?”  An
odd question, but I’ll go along with it.  Janice returns just as Alex
finishes his question, skimming his teeth over his barely parted lips. 
HOT!

“I haven’t been here long. 
I had a very
enjoyable
morning with my boyfriend.  He took me out
to breakfast, so I got here a little later than I originally planned.”

“Really?” Alex’s brows raise, “I
didn’t know you had a boyfriend.  In the meeting yesterday you mentioned
that you were single when you signed up for the kissing booth.  I’m sure
your boyfriend wasn’t too happy about that.”

Glancing at Janice, she seems to
be none the wiser about our friendly conversation; just a simple discussion
between two co-workers, learning small details about each other’s lives. 
“It’s a new relationship.  He wasn’t too excited when he found out, but he
knows how I feel about him.  In my heart, I’m taken, so I guess that’s all
that matters.”  My face flushes and Alex and I stand, staring at one
another, taking in the moment.

“Elyssa, don’t forget you’re due
at your booth in fifteen minutes.  I’ll check on you both later, I have to
go inside the event center.  Someone said they’re running out of
pamphlets.  Thanks for the dance, El, it was fun.”  She waves,
running towards the double doors.

Abandoned, my attention returns
to Alex.  His eyes thoroughly examining my body, head to toe. “God, you
really shouldn’t be allowed to where that in public, you’re
boyfriend
may be extremely jealous and not like all of the attention you’re
getting.  Especially with hundreds of men lined up to kiss you.”

Glancing down at my dress, I
shrug.  “Should I go take it off?  I’m sure I’d raise way more money
naked,” I tease, biting my lip as I graze my finger along my bust line.

Alex rolls his eyes, his mouth
set in a stern line.  “I really wish you wouldn’t have signed up for that
damn booth.”

“Technically it’s my
boyfriend’s
fault I signed up in the first place.  I did it out of duress.”  He
basically let Autumn fondle him right in front of me, what type of reaction did
he expect? 

A growl escapes his throat as he
inches his way forward, stopping just before he gets too intimately
close.  Leaning in he whispers, “So you’re saying it’s my fault that my
girlfriend
signed up to kiss a bunch of strangers?”  I nod as Alex raises his
brows. 
His girlfriend…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to him saying
that.
  “Just don’t fall in love with any of those assholes.”

“I’ll try,” I smile sweetly at
him.  He has to know how impossible it would be to fall in love with
anyone while he consumes so much of my heart.  There’s no space for anyone
else.

“You really do look beautiful,”
Alex breathes, taking a step back.

I blush.  “As do you.” 
I eye him slowly, remembering our sexcapades from this morning. 

“It’s a good thing that we’re in
public because all I want to do is lift that tiny thing you call a dress and
take you from behind.  Especially after the show you just put on for
me.”  My breath hitches, as Alex puts his hands inside the pockets of his
board shorts; most likely to hide his own arousal. 

“I was wondering if you were
watching me dance.  I was thinking about you the whole time.”  Being
near him, and not being able to touch…the abstinence is driving me crazy. 
All I want to do is wrap my arms around him and lose myself.  Fighting the
urge to touch him, to show affection, to simply show the world that he’s mine
is literally tearing me in two. 

“Of course I was watching. 
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from you.”  His sweet words make my heart
flutter.   So why can’t I shake the ominous feeling this is how our
relationship will always be?  We’ll always have the mild flirtations and
inside jokes when were not alone, leaving the intense passion for behind closed
doors.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep the two separated. 
“Hey, what’s wrong?” 
Always so perceptive.

“Alex….I can’t help but
feel…”  Alex’s facial expression changes immediately; concern to utter
disbelief.  About to look over my shoulder to see what caused our
disruption, the feel of clammy skin blankets me.  Glancing up at the
unwelcomed embrace, I’m floored.  With a toothy grin plastered on his
arrogant face, arm draped around me, Cole enters into a staring contest with my
boyfriend standing directly across from us. 
Oh
fuck!

Alex’s eyes are wide, his mouth
partially open; he’s in shock.  I squirm trying to get out of Cole’s
embrace, but his grip is tight and immovable.  Awkwardly, we stand in
silence.  Who knows how long we were standing this way, almost as if the
world around us stopped. 

Not soon enough, our
uncomfortable state is broken as Janice comes bounding from the double doors
with the same cheesy grin on her face.  “Mr. James, you’re needed at the
dunk booth,” she gestures towards the now formed line.

Alex is scorched with anger, and
for a moment I worry that he will remain unmoved.  But, he knows his
place, and right now it’s at a work function.  His work function. 
With fisted hands, he hesitantly walks away, but continually glances back at
me.  Unable to express my feelings into words, all I can do is mouth, ‘I’m
sorry,’ as he looks from me to Cole, and back again, before he climbs into his
booth. 

Anger courses through me as I grab
a hold of Cole’s hand, yanking his arm to remove myself from his grasp. 
Turning to face him, I snatch his right bicep, dragging him off to the
side.  “What-in-the-hell-are-you-doing-here-Cole?” I whisper through
clenched teeth, enunciating each word so he can sense my irritation, my
anger. 

“Nice to see you too, El!” he
responds, sarcastically.  The smell of alcohol is leaking from his
pores.  I can barely stand next to him.  “You invited me…remember?”

“I thought you would’ve taken
last night as me officially uninviting you.”  My hand striking his face
should have been the first sign, excusing him from my life should have been the
second.   Does he not remember what happened?  “Cole, are you
still drunk?”

“Elyssa, you always get mad at me
and then we make up; it’s called passion.  Don’t forget, we’ll always be
in each other’s lives.  As far as me being drunk, sure, I had a couple of
drinks; easiest way to avoid a hangover,” he shrugs, acting as if this is
common for him.

“You need to get out of here,” I
hiss, eyeing the crowd of people swarming around us.  I hope I’m not
drawing any unwanted attention.  The last thing I need is for Cole to
cause a scene in front of my co-workers, especially Alex. 

“This is a fundraiser, isn’t
it?  Why wouldn’t I come to support such a good cause, especially one
you’re involved with?”  Cole takes my hand leading me in the direction of
Alex’s dunk booth.  I try to pull away, but his hand tightens around mine,
practically crushing my fingers.  Arianna eyes us from a distance,
perplexed as she notices our joined hands. 
This is not happening.
 
Only because I want to avoid another outburst, I decide to go willingly. 
After last night, I can’t afford to push him, nor do I want to relive that
horrid experience again.