True Bliss (5 page)

“Early finish, early rise. Your little spit fire was at the bar again last night.”

“With a date?”

“Nah, with Mac and her man, and another guy who seemed to be the life of the party but definitely wasn't her date.  He kept giving me the glad eye all night,” he replies, shrugging his shoulders.

“Hmm. I texted Mac last night too.”

“Dude, she's pregnant with that guy's kid. Let it go.”

“Fuck off, I know that. I texted to find out if Kate's on Chicago Singles.”

“That would explain that dad date last week.”

“That's my thought as well.”

“So you like her then?” he asks, raising a brow. 

“I've only seen her a couple of times, but she's intriguing to say the least.”

“I wouldn't say no to her,” he says absentmindedly, not looking away from the television.

I can't hold back the growl in my throat. “She's into commitment and relationships, Zach. You know, the two words that repel you like garlic to a vampire.”

“Really? Well, dammit. There goes that fantasy then.”

“I should hope so. Kate's different. That's why I haven't gone there…yet,” I try to explain.

“Why not? She's hot and has a killer body. Man, those heels she was wearing last night would feel so fucking good digging into your ass as you pound-“

“Dude. Don't be thinking about her like that. Period. End of story.”

“Chill Zan, message received loud and clear. Since you're so defensive about this, maybe you should ask her out. God knows that date of hers last week was a disaster. The guy ordered cider for crying out loud, in the middle of winter, and he looked like he was old enough to be her father.” Zach continues to watch the football, yelling at the TV when his team loses possession. “Fuck, did you see this game? They just can't catch a break!”

I nod my head, but my mind is elsewhere. Taking a seat at the dining table, I can't help but wonder what the deal is with Kate. She should have no trouble finding a man and settling down. Maybe she's too picky...or too clingy. Guys never want clingy chicks.

I lean over the couch right next to Zach's head. “By the way dude, I got my junk groped in front of children in a café yesterday just to win your dare. Mission completed. Free rent here I come,” I say before knocking his cap off his head.

“Fuck,” I hear him say under his breath as I walk out of the living room with a smile.

Realizing that the day is getting away from me, I gather my laundry for the week and head around the block to Suds R Us, my local laundromat. Once I have the washing machine on, I sit back in the plastic chairs lining the wall and pull out my phone. Time for my weekly phone call to Mom and the girls.  

It rings twice before my sister Danika picks up. “City morgue. You kill 'em, we chill 'em.”

She never fails to amaze me. “Danika, that is terrible!” I say, still chuckling to myself.

“Zan! Tell me you're coming home soon.”

“I wish I was, squirt. I'm too busy with work and the academy. Who would've thought you'd have to study to become a cop?”

“Well, duh! Of course you do. How else will you know how to get fat and eat donuts all day?”

“Oh is that what I'll be doing all day? Well, shit. I'm glad you told me now,” I reply sarcastically.

Danika is fourteen going on twenty-five. I swear to God, that girl is way too clever. She's already a year ahead in school and doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Hell, she was walking at nine months old and hasn't stopped running since.  After me, there is Zoe who is twenty-one, and Mia who is eighteen. They all still live at home with mom in Syracuse, Indiana. They moved from Chicago a few years ago when Mom got laid off and found a job working in an RV Factory. It meant they had to move out of state, but they're still close enough that I can visit them every few months.

I'm very protective of my family. My father was a deadbeat dad who was always out of work or drunk, usually both. When I was thirteen, he died from liver failure. It was quick, it was traumatic, and my mother has never even dated another man since then.

I've tried to take care of them ever since; being the eldest, and only male in a group of girls, it was something I felt I had to do, so I grew up fast. I still send money to Mom when I have a particularly busy week dancing. Of course, she doesn't know how I make my money; she thinks I work at the bar with Zach. I think she'd be shocked, and maybe a little disappointed with how I make a living, but I do know that she was over the moon when I was accepted into the police academy. She still tells anyone who will listen that I'm training to be a cop. Just being able to make her proud is worth everything to me.

Zoe knows that I dance. Unfortunate as it was, she happened to arrive late to a gig I'd just finished. Talk about awkward. She screamed when she recognized me, and I got stage fright, literally. I could. not. move. I grabbed her and we left straight afterwards, going to a twenty-four hour diner a few blocks from here to talk it out. She now understands why I strip, and we always make sure I'm not working any gig that she might be invited to.

“Dani, put Mom on, will ya?”

“Moooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm!”she yells down the phone.

“Hello?” my mom says when she reaches the phone.

“Hey, Mom. Just calling to check in with my favorite girls” 

“Oh, Zander. You're always thinking of me and your sisters, but you don't need to worry, we're fine. Work is going well, the new house is perfect, and Mia and Danika are fitting in well at school.”

“And Zoe?”

“Well, you know Zoe, one bad boy after another. She's currently dating a tattoo artist from Brownsburg. I wish she'd find a nice boy for once, someone more like you, but she'll learn one day. And what about you, my boy? How's training going?” she asks.

“I'm good. Training is good. The physical side of it is okay, I'm fine with that, but it's all the stuff I have to learn and remember that is hard. Couldn't ask for a better job though.”

“Glad to hear that, Zan. And what about dating? Have you met a nice girl yet? Maybe a country girl who'll cook good meals and look after you. You deserve to be looked after, Zander.”

“You know I don't have time to date, Mom, but there is one girl that I want to get to know better. She intrigues me and I can't seem to get her out of my head.”

“Well, that just means that there might be something there. You need to talk to her.”

“She's kind of avoiding me. She's embarrassed about something that happened between us even though she shouldn't be.”

“You need to talk to her. Tell her not to be embarrassed, then you need to woo her, Zander. If you like her, you need to woo. Women like to be listened to, you know that from living with me and your three sisters, so you listen, you ask questions, and you woo. Understand, son?”

How do mothers always know the right answer to any of life's questions? I remember asking her once, 'how do you know that, Mommy?' and without missing a beat, she turned to me and said, “It's because I passed the mommy test.”

I smile. “Yes, Mom. I might try that out.” I hear the dryer beep. “Okay, Mom, I have to get going. I'll ring you next week, alright?”

“Of course, son. Love you. And remember to ask, listen, then woo.”

“Yes, Mom. Love you too. Bye.”

Ask, listen, woo.

My new plan:

1) Get Kate to open up.

2) Let her get to know me.

3) Reveal my identity when I'm sure she's comfortable around me. Then she might want to meet with me in person.

Sounds logical to me.

KATE

After going to the bar for a quick bite to eat with Mac and Daniel and my workmate Nathan-my gay boyfriend for all intents and purposes-we return to our place and watch a DVD of some action movie that Daniel chose.

I'm sitting on the opposite couch with a half-filled glass of wine and the laptop on my lap, scrolling through potential new dates on the Chicago Singles site. Mac gets a text, and suddenly has a big grin on her face. She giggles a few times as a few new messages come in, and even shows Daniel over her shoulder as she snuggles into his lap, his arm around her hips with his hand cradling her bump protectively.

“What are you laughing at, Mac Attack?” It must be something good for her to be giggling like a school girl.

“Oh nothing. Just uh, a friend from work sending me joke texts,” she says suspiciously.

“Mmm hmm,” I reply, taking another big gulp of wine and scrolling through the never-ending list of new 'singles ready to mingle' on the website.

Suddenly, I have a new private message from someone called nightdancer23. Interesting name, definitely grabs my attention. Worth a look I suppose.

No profile photo, aged twenty-three, dirty blond hair, likes working out, 6 ft. 2. Shit, that's a hell of a lot taller than me, but I've always been a sucker for a tall man towering over me. It must be the whole 'protector' fantasy. You know, the cop, the fire fighter, the soldier...the tall brooding man in uniform who makes you squirm with one piercing look.

Yep, total sucker right here.

Okay, so he's sounding good so far. Twenty-three is the lower limit of my age range, but I'm only twenty-four, so a year isn't much in the scheme of things as long as he's mature and not just looking to get laid. And going by my date with Roger, who was almost old enough to be my dad, a younger guy might be worth a shot.

I open the message, emptying the remainder of the bottle into my glass.

Nightdancer23: Hi. You sound like a fun chick. How's your night going?

Okay. Nothing too pushy or probing. Just a simple, friendly message. And no cock pic; definitely a better start than the last five messages I've received. I think about my reply for a while before sending.

Fireinthesky24: Hey. I like to think I'm fun. You obviously have a great sense of humor if your username is anything to go by. Night dancer? Does that mean you're the next Channing Tatum?

There we go.  Fun, mildly flirty, not desperate. Great start Kate. I'm proud of myself.

Straight away, I get a reply.

Nightdancer23: Definitely not Channing Tatum, but I've been told I dance like him. Shouldn't a gorgeous woman like you be out having fun tonight?

Fireinthesky24: Had a dating disaster last weekend and then dinner with friends tonight. Enjoying a nice glass of wine to drown my sorrows.

Nightdancer23: Must've been bad if you're still drinking from last week's bad date. It's not just internet dating that can be disastrous. Everyday dating can be just as bad. I was groped in a café today at a coffee date. Don't be disheartened.

Fireinthesky24: Aww, thanks. So why are you at home tonight then? On a dating site no less ;)

Nightdancer23: Finished work, so came home to relax. I'm pretty busy during the week, so I like to relax at home occasionally. Can't be partying all the time ;)

I look at the clock and realize that its 11 p.m.  I might as well call it a night since Mac and Daniel are now spooning on the couch watching another movie about zombies. As much as I'd like to stay talking on the internet, my confidence in this website being the answer to my love life woes has taken a hit, so I don't want to get my hopes up again. Friendly, but non-committal. That is the key.

Fireinthesky24: I'm with you there. Well, I'm going to love and leave you. My cold, empty bed is calling me. Hope the rest of your night is relaxing. Talk again soon.

Nightdancer23: I'd like that. It's hard meeting new friends in the big city, especially without any expectations. And don't be disheartened by your dating disaster; your prince charming will be out there somewhere, I promise.

This guy does seem to be one of the nice ones. Either that or he is a smooth as they come.

Nightdancer23: Is it wrong that I'm thinking that you, going to sleep in a cold bed, is a crime?

Fireinthesky24: Not wrong. A bit forward maybe, but I can deal with forward from a distance.

Nightdancer23: Good to hear, Firebird. Till next time *wink*

Fireinthesky24: Firebird?

Nightdancer23: Sorry, it's just a name that came to me when I saw your photo.

Fireinthesky24: I like it :)

Well, color me pink and call me candy floss. Forward and flirty. Dammit, why can't Mac help me decipher this? She's the queen of reading into things. I'll have to ask her in the morning when she's not so busy with Superman over there.

Time for bed and a romance novel to drown my sorrows in. I shuffle into my bedroom, snuggling deep under the covers with my kindle, waiting for sleep to come. Ten pages-and one sex scene later-my kindle hits me in the face as I fall asleep holding it.