redeeming cupid 01 - struck by eros (16 page)

“You?”

I nodded, because the word was clogged behind the pain of the past. Brad had hurt me like no other. I gave him everything, and he gave me nothing but bad memories and a broken heart. But that was another time. Another Noel.

“My story doesn’t end there. It was our wedding day. My friends and family were all there, ready to support me, even though they thought I was making a bad choice.” I laughed at the naïve girl I used to be. “I stood on that beach, proud, excited. And you know what?”

“He didn’t show up.”

I twisted Len’s ring on my finger. “After half an hour, I went up to our room. He was naked in our bed, pumping away on top of his assistant, dick buried in a young girl with ambitions to rise up in the company.”

Liza’s hand covered her mouth, and her large round eyes filled with pity. I got that reaction whenever anyone heard the story. Seeing it first-hand had been worse. “What did you do?”

“I cried, screamed, and threw everything that wasn’t bolted to the floor.” I smiled at the memory of a naked Brad covering his twigs and berries and evading the projectiles I hurled his way. “Then I held my head high, walked out, and told all our guests what a lying, cheating bastard he was, and vowed never to date anyone like him ever again.”

Brad was the catalyst that led me to Len. Put me on the path to shun pretty boys. Hardened my heart to the type of man I was attracted to. Caused me to treat Grayson like funk on the bottom of my shoe.

Grayson made me purr like Brad had, turned me into a feral cat in heat, but I had a feeling that if I took the time to really get to know Grayson the similarities would end there. Now I had a choice. Continue to protect my heart and play it safe. I played with Len’s ring on my finger, turning it around and around. Or, take a risk. Hope that Grayson wasn’t Brad and his promise to protect me was true.

Liza lowered her eyes, picked at the hem of her jeans. I leaned down so I could see her eyes. “It’s time to stop letting him treat you like crap. Find someone who will treat you like a diamond, not a lump of coal.”

“You’re right. He tricked me with his good looks, made me become someone I’m not. I fell for him without really seeing him for who he was. His mother has never liked me or approved of me. I’ve been sent through more trials to prove my worth, prove I was good enough for him.” She played with her hair and tossed it over her shoulder. “But, I’m not sure I’ll ever be good enough. Not in his eyes.”

“Or maybe it’s time to let him go.” The words left my mouth on autopilot because my mind was too busy absorbing what she had just said.

Her words reminded me that no matter how hard I tried, I would never be what Len expected me to be. We were polar opposites, opposing forces, positive and negative, trying to come together, but never quite making it. He lived in a world of order and lists. I thrived in a world of chaos and confusion. Whoever said opposites attract didn’t know jack-shit. I categorized my thoughts and filed them away for later when there was time to focus on my own relationship.

“I’m not sure I can. He calls and I want to go to him. Be with him. Believe everything he promises, even though I know they’ll be empty.”

Grayson’s text tone binged from my phone and I glanced down.

Found him.

I quickly texted back.
Need a few minutes. Get a table and we’ll come to you.

Liza wasn’t ready to face her soul mate. She needed to pull herself together, and take a good long look in the mirror at the girl who deserved more than a piece of shit who would do nothing but hurt her.

I stood, offered her my hand, and lifted her to her feet. “Follow me.” I walked into the bathroom and stopped in front of the mirror.

Liza stood next to me, and I turned her to face her reflection.

“What do you see when you look in the mirror?”

“A plain Jane. Someone who was lucky to get the boy she had.”

I took her chin in my hand and forced her to look at me. “Liza, you are anything but a plain Jane. You’re gorgeous.” I took her long chestnut hair in my fingers and let the strands fall. “Beautiful. Please don’t listen to that asshole who keeps breaking your heart. He’s telling you those things to make you insecure, to make you afraid to leave him, because deep inside he knows that he will never get anyone like you again.” Talking to Liza was a lot like talking to myself. Giving myself the same pep talk that finally helped me say yes to a date with Len. “The truth is, he was lucky to have you.”

The corner of her lips turned up. “You think so?”

“I do.” I wandered into one of the stalls and unrolled some toilet paper. “Now clean off that mascara. I’ve got a couple of friends waiting for me.” I handed her the tissue. “Who knows who you’ll meet out there.”

Liza worked at making herself presentable. When she finished we stepped out of the bathroom, and I searched for Grayson and her soul mate.

I spotted the bobbing orange arrow over the head of a guy with short brown hair and large blue eyes in a SDSU rugby jersey. He had muscles to spare and looked tough and protective and capable of loving Liza. If I were to guess, he was the exact opposite of what Liza usually went for. “Liza, this is my friend Grayson, and…”

Grayson stepped to the side and gave us one of his dazzling smiles. “This is Curtis.”

Curtis stepped forward and held out his hand. Liza stood, wiped her nose one last time, and stood her ground, placing her hand in his and smiling when he closed his around hers. They shook and he held on for a few moments before letting go. Liza straightened her spine and tossed her hair over her shoulder. She seemed to gain confidence since she laid her eyes on Curtis.

Liza smiled, but it wasn’t soft or gentle, it had wicked little tilt to the corners. “I feel like we’ve met before.”

“Maybe in our dreams.” Curtis’s smile was playful and bright and almost hopeful.

“Is anyone hungry?” Grayson interrupted the flirting.

“I could eat.” Curtis held on to Liza’s hand, and his gaze never left her face.

I put my arm around Liza’s shoulder and pulled her close. “Let’s get some lunch. You’ll feel better.”

She nodded and let me lead her to the nearest empty table. “Grayson, why don’t you get us some pizza?” I pulled her into the seat next to me. “What kind do you like, Liza?”

“Vegetarian.”

I opened my mouth to place my order, but Grayson stopped me with a finger on my lip. “Sausage, mushroom, and black olive.” Then he left with Curtis to get our lunch.

Momentarily thrown that Grayson knew what kind of pizza I liked, I sat there like a slack-jawed fool. But we weren’t dealing with my messed up love life, this was about connecting Liza with someone who deserved her. “Curtis is cute.”

She looked at the line at the pizza place and studied Curtis for a moment. “A guy like that wouldn’t be interested in me.” He’d been weighed and measured and found wanting.

It was obvious that a long line of losers had destroyed Liza’s self-esteem.

“Why wouldn’t he be interested in a cute girl like you?”

“He’s one of the elite. I’m…” She paused and picked at a hole in her well-worn jeans. “Well, I’m not.”

Our conversation stopped when Grayson and Curtis returned with trays containing four pieces of steaming pizza and drinks. “Hungry, ladies?” Grayson took the seat next to me.

Liza scooted over to make room for Curtis, who sat down close but made sure that he didn’t accidently touch her. She never looked at him once, not even when he put her plate in front of her. The silence drove me crazy.

“What position do you play, Curtis?” I pointed to his rugby jersey.

“Right wing.” I didn’t know what that meant, but thought it would help get the conversation started.

Crickets chirped.

“What’s your major, Liza?” Making small talk with college students had been much easier when I was their age, but a seven-year age gap proved we had nothing in common.

“Astronomy.”

Curtis looked her way, his eyebrows raised, obviously impressed. “You’re studying the universe?”

“The stars and planets and everything beyond.” She shrugged, still concentrating on the cheesy goodness in front of her. “My family used to tell me that I lived with my head in the clouds. Guess I decided to see what was up there.”

“And what a pretty head it is.” Curtis tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “I know a thing or two about what’s above the clouds.” His smile turned into something from a porn film. “I might even have a big telescope you could use.”

Grayson met my eyes with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged, unsure what to make of the verbal foreplay happening in front of us.

Liza laughed and a true smile lit her face. “Will it take me to a castle in the sky?” She touched the tip of his nose with her finger and a small spark shot between them.

Their matching arrows flickered, faded, and disappeared. A match made. Our job was done. Liza found a man who would treat her with the respect she deserved. And Curtis found a girl who wanted to be loved and would love him in return.

Liza and Curtis continued to flirt while Grayson and I finished our meal. We gathered our trays, threw out our garbage and they never looked in our direction.

We were about to walk through the door when a hand wrapped around my upper arm. I turned around and Liza was standing behind me, Curtis just a few feet behind her. She put her arms around me and hugged me tight. “That’s twice you’ve saved me. You’re some kind of guardian angel.” She smiled, this time it went all the way to her brown eyes, which sparkled under the lights.

“Noel, sometimes it’s hard to see what you need, when the only thing you can think about is what you want. Maybe
your
perfect match is closer than you think.” She pointed at Grayson waiting by the door.

“I’m scared,” I said.

She leaned in close and whispered. “Grayson’s not like Brad.” Then she folded her hand into her soul mate’s and left.

Liza seemed wise beyond her years, but she didn’t know anything about my feelings for Grayson. Neither did I.

Grayson held up my hand and lightly touched the center diamond of my ring. “The engagement’s back on?” Sorrow and disappointment and regret weighed heavily in his words.

“No. When I put it on this morning, that’s what I wanted.” I pulled my hand from his when the lecherous lusty tingles started. “Now, I’m not sure what I want.”

“Len isn’t the man for you.”

“But are you?”

“You’ll never know until you give us a try.”

“I’m not the kind of girl who will share the person she loves with a multitude of other women. I’ve already done that. And I’m pretty sure you’re not a one-girl kind of guy.”

Grayson threw his hands up in the air. “You swear you know me so well, know the real me, but you’re wrong. Maybe one day you’ll take the time to see beyond the surface and look at what’s buried deep. Maybe one day you’ll realize what we’re doing with every soul mate connection, and how it pertains to you.” He walked a few feet away, stopped, and then marched back. “I hope you find the version of perfect you’re searching for.” Then he turned his back on me and got lost in a sea of backpacks.

I was pretty sure Grayson had called me a selfish bitch in the politest way possible. Prick. I didn’t like it, but I also didn’t like the way his departure made me feel. The emotions his words had stirred. But most of all I didn’t like that Grayson could quite possibly be right. I stood in front of the door, hands at my side, frozen. His words echoing through my brain, and reverberating through my heart.

Cupid’s ring tone rang from my purse. I pulled my phone out, hoping for an answer to this morning’s plea. But Cupid found yet another way to disappoint me.

Chemistry Building. 1:30p.m. Blue arrow.—
Q

Two jobs in one day?

1:15. Not a lot of time and the Chemistry building was all the way across campus. If I planned on making the connection I was going to have to run faster than a Miami housewife to a sale on breast implants.

I made it to the Chemistry building with a minute to spare. Grayson stood off to the side by a line of vending machines, his shoulder leaning against the brick wall, earbuds drowning out the noise of the campus. I walked up, cautious, nervous, afraid to see the rebuff in his expression, not sure how I felt about his words earlier. “What’s this all about?” I held up my phone.

Grayson shrugged, never meeting my eyes.

The silent treatment. Probably better that way, I didn’t want to hear any more of his clinical analysis of my life. I walked to the other side of the vending machine and leaned against the side.

It took thirty seconds and the sight of two matching blue arrows approaching from opposite sides of the building to help me see that Cupid’s answer to my plea couldn’t have been any clearer if he had cleaned it with Windex.

Thirteen

Donkey Dung with a Cherry on Top

Len and Lauren, coming from opposite directions. Converging on one spot. Right where I stood.

Those matching blue arrows might as well have been drilling their pointy ends into my gut because the sight of them delivered jabs of pain into all the essential parts needed for living. Not because I wanted Len to be mine, but because without Len there was only one choice, one contender for my heart.

I moved from the vending machine and leaned against the brick wall, the sharp edges of the concrete and mortar pressing through my thin, peasant blouse and into my skin, reminding me that this was completely real and not a dream. Grayson crossed the short distance between us and laid his hand on my shoulder, offering me a little comfort. Comfort that made me feel weak and pathetic and pitiful.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” I shrugged off his pity attempt, not wanting to feel anything but anger.

He placed his hand back on my shoulder. I resisted ripping it off and transformed my face into something out of a horror movie. He didn’t even flinch. “They’re coming over here. It’s your heart on the line. I’ll follow your lead, do what you want.” Once again offering me a small bit of kindness I didn’t deserve.