Six Weeks Before…

“Hello...,” he said. “Earth to Sophia.”

I jumped as fingers snapped in my face. “Oh, sorry Bob,” I said, blinking a couple times.

“Where did you go off to?” Bob asked.

“Nowhere, something just caught my eye on the other side of the restaurant.” I’ve always been a terrible liar; thank God Bob is too self-absorbed to figure it out.

I wanted to leave work behind at the end of the day, but Bob couldn’t talk about anything else. He asked me out six months ago after school one day. I figured what the hell, why not? He was attractive, a couple years younger, had a stable job, and seemed reliable.

“As I was saying before you zoned out, this kid in my class today.” I stared at him but couldn’t comprehend a word he spoke, I didn’t want to either.

Bob and I had a casual relationship, going out once a week for dinner and drinks. Lately, the evenings ended at his place consisting of lack-luster sex. Bob is the type of man that ‘makes love’ in the only position he’s comfortable… missionary. I moaned when it seemed right and faked my orgasms when I had enough. Sex with Bob just didn’t have that extra something that put me over the edge, but then again, no one ever did.

Bob laughed across the table, “Can you believe he said that?”

If people could be a color, Bob would be navy blue. He didn’t have the edginess to be black or the sparkle for white, but the blandness that only navy blue could describe.

I laughed shaking my head. “That’s too funny,” I said pretending to pay attention.

“Do you want to come over tonight, Sophia?” He said smiling with raised eyebrows.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. “I’m kind of tired, Bob, mind if I just go home tonight?”

“Another night then,” he replied.

I sighed as I pulled in my driveway; I wanted to crawl out of my skin, break the good girl mold that I’d allowed others to cage me in. I lived another life in my books, one filled with excitement and passion. My book boyfriends dominated me, fucking me so hard that my orgasms knocked me out.

I crawled in bed curling up with my flavor of the week; tonight I’d have my hair pulled and ass smacked by an alpha male with a heart. A buzzing sound pulled me from the daydream, ruining my moment.

Kayden Michaels wanted to be my friend on Facebook. The name didn’t sound familiar, but I clicked on his profile anyways. He grew up close to my hometown and we had a few mutual friends, but his face wasn’t one I remembered. I tapped message from his profile.

Me: Do I know you?

Clicking on his photo, I studied his face. He had warm green eyes, a shaven head, a sinful grin framed by a goatee, and dimples… fucking hell, he’s got dimples. His facial hair was a mix of brown and gold, but the rest of him was smooth. He looked like the quintessential bad boy, a type I steered clear of my entire life, but visited nightly in my fantasies. As I stared at my screen, a message popped up, blocking his face.

Kayden: Not yet.

I stared at the screen, tapping my finger against my lip, my finger hovering over the decline button before his message stopped me.

Kayden: I saw your post to Freddie, we went to school together and I knew your brother.

Freddie is a life-long family friend, my brother’s best friend throughout childhood. Freddie went on vacations with my family, attended holidays, and still visits my grandparents to this day.

Me: Freddie’s such a nice guy; I’ve known him for as long as I can remember.

Kayden: I don’t remember you hanging out with us back in the day.

Butterflies filled my stomach as I thought about my brother’s friends. I had a crush on most of them during my awkward teenage years, but they treated me like a little sister. I wanted to tag along and be included, but I was looked at as more of a nuisance.

Me: I’m younger than my brother and didn’t really hang out with them.

Kayden: Probably for the best… at least for you, not for me.

I smiled at his small flirtation; those guys had flirting down pat. Girls dropped their panties for a wink or a smile. They lived in a world filled with color, while my world’s been saturated in somber tones.

Me: It was best for me at the time. Thanks for the request, maybe we’ll talk again sometime.

Kayden: Hey, wait. Where ya going?

I tapped my finger against the phone thinking of a response. Shit. I couldn’t think of anything witty, my mind going blank.

Me: Well, I found out how I knew you, figured we’re done.

Kayden: I’m not. I heard your brother got in some trouble a couple years back?

I sighed reading his words. My brother led a different life, never taking the easy road. He lived the rebellious life filled with adventure and danger; I read books, attended college, and fucked only three guys in my life. Trouble sounded more like he’d been slapped on the hand for touching something off limits; my brother spent two years in prison on a conspiracy charge… we’re polar opposites.

Me: Yeah, he’s doing fine now, though. Were you mixed up in that world?

Kayden: Hell no, I wrestled with the guys in school, but never hung out with them much after high school.

Me: Smart boy.

Kayden: Boy? It’s been a long time since someone called me that, little girl.

I smirked blinking slowly at his reply, his words made my insides warm.

Me: LOL. Tell me about Kayden ‘the man’.

Kayden: Anything you want. I’ll give you the short version of my life story. I live in New Orleans, install cable, I’m thirty-six, work hard, play harder, and I’m blissfully single.

Me: I’m a school librarian, live in Florida, divorced, I’m thirty-two and I’m navy blue.

I blushed hitting the send button. My message was cryptic and I knew that only I would understand. He played hard, while I stayed home on a Friday to go to bed with my book boyfriends.

Kayden: What the hell does that mean?

Way to go, make him think you’re absolutely crazy, Sophia. I needed to stop talking before I really embarrassed myself.

Me: Nothing, just an inside joke. Hey, I’m tired; maybe we can talk again soon.

Kayden: We will., I have to be up early for work anyways. Sweet dreams beautiful.

My cheeks warmed with his words—beautiful. I’ve been called beautiful before, but usually not by a man I’d classify as out of my league.

Me: Night.

What the fuck did I do? A sexy man was flirting with me and I ran away like a scared school girl. Sighing, I opened my book and began reading the words on the page; I pictured his sparkling green eyes looking into mine and his luscious lips on my skin.

I haven’t been able to get Kayden out of my mind all night, and it had bled over into my morning. I wanted to message him since the moment I woke up, but I didn’t have the nerve. I spent the morning reading his profile page, almost cyber-stalking him. I wanted to know everything about him, but I had to start with our connection, Freddie.