Читать книгу Piano in the Dark - Eric Pete - Страница 8

“Chase, is it you?” the stranger said, overcome with emotion for reasons unbeknownst to me. She came forward and embraced me in a hug stronger than which I would’ve thought her capable.

“Yes,” I answered, feeling embarrassed at the moment. “Do I know you?”

She didn’t answer at first, just clung to me. Left with no choice, I kind of enjoyed the moment. I smelled deeply of her hair as her head rested on my shoulder. The fresh coconut was pleasing to my nose. On instinct, I allowed my hands to touch her in return, lightly rubbing her back.

After another moment or so of our corner convergence, she let go and backed away. “I’m sorry about that,” she said, almost giddy as she stared at me. What was up with that? Perhaps I was wrong about her being sober. “I hadn’t seen you in…in a minute. It’s just nice to see a familiar face out here.”

“I’m sorry. Did we go to school together?” I asked, trying a different approach to cover for my poor recollection. Shame on me for not remembering someone who looked this fine.

“Yeah. Yeah,” she answered, either embarrassed by her actions or my reaction to them. “We met in college.”

“Oh. Before law school.” My mind kicked into over-drive, trying to peel back the years to that time in my life, when I was faster and more reckless with my partners.

“You’re a lawyer?”

“No…no. Didn’t quite work out,” I replied with a nervous chuckle. “I do work at a law firm, though. Casey, Warner and Associates.” Now I was volunteering information freely to a woman I still couldn’t remember. But why did I feel so at ease with her? It wasn’t the tequila shots and couldn’t be the pussy because I didn’t remember ever getting it.

“But that’s not your calling, is it?”

“Sure it is…I mean. I’m happy. Wait,” I said, pausing from my stammering. “What is your name?”

“Ava.”

“Well, pleased to meet you…again, Ava.”

She chuckled. “Likewise, Chase.” There she went again. Way too comfortable with speaking my name. The way she said it spoke of lazy afternoons and intimate dinners. Maybe something the future held if our “reunion” were to continue. And if I were a foolish man.

My iPhone buzzed. A text.

Thought you were on your way. Traffic can’t be that bad this time of night.

Dawn was still awake. My sobriety was complete. “My wife,” I offered to Ava with an awkward wave of my hand and inept smile. “I…I gotta go.”

She tried to mask the disappointment on her face, but it slipped through the cracks in her resolve. I could tell she had dozens of questions, but decided not to pursue them. “Good night,” is what she settled for.

The farther away from Ava that I walked, the more difficult it felt. I ignored the odd feelings, picking up my pace until I was once again at my car door.

No longer a captive of that painting, she’d begun crossing the intersection diagonally toward her secret, sexy cave wherever she dwelled. As she shuffled along with shoulders slumped, I wondered what magical things took place…or could take place in her midst.

“Ava?” I called out.

“Yes, Chase?” she replied, standing in the middle of the empty street. She straightened her shoulders and moved her hair out her eyes.

“Back in the day, what kind of person do you remember me as?”

“You were wonderful. Beyond belief.”

I smiled just as my iPhone buzzed again.