It was now 8.30 and there was still no sign of Butterfly.
Checking my watch again I was starting to entertain doubts about her actually getting here.
I'd sent a text for her to meet me at the beach and now two hours later I was all by my lonesome, hands in pockets, staring at the shimmery water.
I leaned back on my car and closed my eyes to rest them. My impatience was already showing by the way my left leg was repeatedly tapping the floor.
When I opened my eyes again it was to lock gazes with that of the woman that made my heart do a nosedive into my stomach.
She was a few feet away, dressed in her usual rainbow garb, this time it was a longsleeved sundress that hugged her in all the right places and left my imagination going wild. Her combat boots kicked up sand as she made her way to me.
I thought that the only thing capable of making me happy ever again would be stock prices but as Butterfly came to stand in front of me in all her bright rainbow glory I found something start beating in my chest that I'd thought was long dead.
“Hey,” I was still quite shocked I wasn't stood up.
In reply she wrapped her hands around my neck and I was enveloped by the sweet coconut fragrance of her colorful hair.
I hesitated before wrapping my arms around her waist. I would never get used to how easy it was for her to initiate physical contact.
She felt so good in my arms that I wanted her to stay there forever.
But of course that never happened because she drew back and stared up at me with iridescent eyes.
“I thought you wouldn't come,” at this point I didn't even notice the grin that had made its way to my face.
She shrugged one shoulder. “I was always going to come, just wanted to make you sweat it for a while.” Then she gave me an endearing smile.
I chuckled, relishing how she was the only one that could make me do that. “Well, I'm glad you came because I have a little proposal that would be no fun for one.”
“Oh yeah?”
I took both of her hands in mine and looked her square in the face, ignoring the sparkle of her black mask. “Go out with me.”
Even in dim light of the moon I could see the panic and fear cross her eyes and I knew I was about to get a big fat rejection.
“I'm sorry. I can't.”
“Wow, you didn't even stop to think about it.”
She sighed. “Don't get me wrong, Carson, I would really love to go out with you. The thing is that I don't date. Ever.”
With that singular word I knew she'd already been set in her ways and that I would fail if I didn't try and rescue this situation.
“Fine then,” I gently squeezed her hands when she tried to pull away. “Not a date. You could call it a friendly . . . outing. All the perks of a date but not a date.”
“An outing?” One corner of her mouth tugged upward.
“I know it's ridiculous but . . .”
“You don't have to worry about that. Being ridiculous around me. I like crazy.”
She wasn't to know it but with that she landed herself the revered position of my favorite person in the world.
“So what do you say?” I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her so close to me I could count every strand of her long lashes behind the elaborate mask she had on.
“I don't know,” she said and curled her hands around my neck. Her breath smelt like chocolate.
“We could get ice cream after. On the cone, of course, because I know you're averse to anything else.”
Her light laugh rang out. “Stalker.”
“Does that mean you agree?” I reach up and tucked a strand of cotton-candy-colored hair behind her ear.
Her hesitation was written over the visible half of her face.
“Come on! It's not like either of us have anything better to do. I'll get you back before 12, I cross my heart.”
“You really want me to say yes, don't you?”
Then I pulled out the only weapon left in my arsenal. I hit her with my best puppy dog eyes.
And she caved instantly albeit with a sigh.
“Fine,” I had to use everything in me to not jump for joy. “But it is not a date.”
Before she'd even finished I picked her up and spun her around, delighting in the way her giggles resounded.
When I put her back on her feet I found it adorable the way she tried to get her hair out of her face and suddenly I was hit by the incredible urge to kiss her. To find out if she would taste like the happiness she seemed to wear like a second skin.
But I stopped myself from giving into that particular yearning, no matter how luscious the thought was.
“I got you something,” I told her before I reached a hand into the open window of the back seat and retrieved what I'd gotten her.
“What is this?” she asked as she took the box with a dubious frown.
“Open it,” was all I said.
With renewed enthusiasm she tore through the gold wrapping paper like a kid on Christmas morning and took off the lid of the white box.
By the shocked look on her face I could tell my gift had achieved its purpose.
“Carson . . .” she breathed, her mouth slightly open.
Nestled inside, on crinkled wrapping paper was the pair of shoes that was the cause of her shock. It was just a regular pair of blue heels but it had a thick rainbow-colored crystal heel and added to the top of the toe strap and the ankle strap was bits of multi-colored feathers.
I had had no idea what to get her. She wasn't the Limited Edition Lamborghini kinda girl and God forbid I get her anything generic I was about to settle for my go-to expensive perfume when I came across the heels. The second I spotted those Louboutins they screamed Butterfly all the way from the internet.
“Who are these for?” She asked with a rather puerile look in her sweeping rainbow eyes.
“You, silly.”
“No,” she shook her head. “I can't take them, they're too beautiful.” she replaced the lid.
“Well unless I'm scheduled for a sex reassignment surgery tomorrow, I don't need them. Please, I insist. They would look amazing on you. Here, let me help you.”
I took the box from her and made her sit on the hood of my car.
I felt an uncanny twinge of awe as I took off her very unfeminine combat boots.
The shoes looked as gorgeous as I imagined they would on her feet.
When I'd done the last clasp I held out a hand and helped her off the car.
Balancing on the new shoes I saw her wriggle her toes and take a few practice steps.
“Oh my God!” she spun around. “These fit perfectly, how did you know my size?” That adorable doubt laced her words.
“Let's just say I'm a good judge of those kind of things.”
“I'm such an idiot,” she hit her forehead. “Of course you've had tons of practice gauging women's sizes.”
“Ouch. Your words hurt me. Shall we?” I held the door open for her.
“I like how you didn't try to deny it,” she wagged a long, rainbow-colored nail in my face before getting in.
I chuckled all the way to my seat behind the wheel.
When I closed the door I turned to her.
I was in no rush to get on with this night because I knew no matter what she would still leave.
So all I did was turn on the interior light of the car and fold my arms.
She realized that I hadn't started the car and twisted in her seat to face me.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Her silvery voice asked.
“Just wondering if you're a Beatles or Maroon 5 girl?”
“Oh Maroon 5, for sure!” Then her eyebrows dipped and a slow smile stretched across her lips. “I thought you said you didn't have a clue about anything music related?”
“I kinda took a crash course today.”
I was almost blinded by the intensity of her smile. “I know I said I was going to listen to a song you chose but I didn't think you would actually do it. What do you think? What songs did you listen to? Talk to me.”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Sorry to disappoint, doll, but I still don't get it.”
She frowned. “Then why did you do it?”
“Isn't it obvious? I like you and I thought it would be nice to have something we could both talk about.” I gave an awkward shrug.
“I don't know whether to be happy that you at least humored me or whack you over the head for thinking we had to have something in common.”
She shook her head.
“I'm totally fine with the way we're polar opposites. I don't know anything about business and you don't know anything about music, but if you ask me, that's what makes us a kickass duo.”
Unable to resist, I reached out and traced a finger along the edge of her face. I reveled in the tiny shudder she gave.
Taking my time, I skimmed over the skin on her cheek and slowly found my way downward. Giving a small sigh, she leaned into my touch and that spurred me to continue my exploration of this beguiling woman.
I cupped her chin and of its own accord my thumb reached up and glided across her plump bottom lip.
I was about to appease the burning desire to kiss her when her raspy yet unbelievably attractive voice sounded out. “Are we getting some food on this ‘outing’ of yours? Because I am positively starving.”
“Just wait and see,” I reluctantly withdrew my hand and started the engine.
I snuck glances at her during the drive but her demeanor gave nothing away. I had no idea what she was thinking, whether she could feel whatever it was that sprang up when we were just inches apart. It was slowly becoming more addictive than the hardest of drugs.
Our final destination was a sleek glass-and-steel skyscraper.
As we entered the elevator I put my entire palm over Butterfly's eyes.
She giggled musically. “Carson! What are you doing?”
“Well, I'd ask you to close your eyes but I can't risk you peeking,” I whispered into her ear.
For the millionth time tonight my hand wound around her waist.
“Boy, you do love a good ceremony don't you?”
My chuckle was lost in the kiss I placed on the steady throbbing in her neck.
“You know, I've noticed that elevators make you misbehave.”
“I know. For some reason I can't seem to keep my hands off you in small spaces,” I told her as my lips continued to scour the column of her neck.
“Why?” The question was so soft I almost didn't catch it.
“Why? Because I think you're fucking extraordinary. Because even though you have every excuse not to, you still choose to hang out with a reject like me.”
Seeing as how I couldn't get enough of her smooth coconut scented skin, I'd somehow made my way to the back of her neck. My hand was still firmly over her eyes when I felt her imperceptibly stiffen.
Her pulse went up and I knew I'd done something wrong.
“You'd tell me if I crossed a line, wouldn't you?”
The only sound for a while was our breathing. Then she muttered, “Of course. I'm just really sensitive about my back.”
I filed that information away just as the elevator stopped and the doors dinged open.
After a short glance to make sure everything was in order I took my hand off Butterfly's eyes and let her step out.
I'd arranged for the private use of one of the most exclusive rooftop restaurants with a spectacular view of the city.
The whole place was partly lit by flickering candles in elaborate lanterns that surrounded the table set for two.
I'd demanded nothing fancy and I was glad that my wishes were granted and the only decoration was the fairy lights stringed above and around the edge of the railing and the maroon carpet that looked good enough to sleep on.
“What do you think?” I asked as I came to stand beside her. I had done all of this for her, I didn't know what she'd say but I really wanted her approval.
She turned to me with an incredulous look in her eyes. “I don't know why but there's this wow factor that accompanies everything you do.”
“I'll take that as a compliment,” I led her to her seat and pulled the chair out for her.
After making sure she was seated I planted a kiss on her head and occupied the seat in front of her.
“So,” she started. “Do you go the extra mile for all your dates or do you have a hunch about me?”
The candlelight gave her face a golden hue but the mischievous gleam in her eyes was unmistakable.
“A hunch?” I asked as a man dressed in the livery common to waiters stepped forward and with gloved hands started setting up glasses on the pristine red tablecloth.
“You know what I mean. I'm still not sleeping with you, Carson.”
“Now come on. I never said anything about that.”
The waiter appeared again and after showing me the bottle of wine he had in his hand began pouring it into my glass.
He proceeded to fill up Butterfly's glass and I saw her hesitate.
“I'm sorry, I don't drink,” she shot an apologetic look to the waiter whose impassive expression didn't change.
“Now, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't remember that?” I dished out a smirk as I picked up the glass of red liquid. “Don't worry, it doesn't have any alcohol.”
I took a sip and almost winced at the taste. I wasn't expecting the sweet tang I'd felt and I wasn't sure I liked it. But I would've drank a whole cask of non-alcoholic wine if it made Butterfly comfortable.
And indeed she was starting to get a little relaxed as the tension in her shoulders lifted when she reached for the glass.
“Is it a personal choice? Your not taking alcohol?”
She thought for a minute before replying with, “I'd rather not say.”
If my curiosity wasn't roused before, it was now.
“Oh come on. I still don't know anything about you and honestly I would love to get to know you.”
“You already know I love music, ice cream and I'm a whore for Disney movies, what more is there?”
“I don't know, like, your birthday? Your zodiac sign? Since you won't tell me your name how about your middle name?”
She was already shaking her head before I finished. “I . . . can't. I just can't, Carson. It's not because I don't want to tell you, it's just . . .” She bit her bottom lip.
“What?”
“I just think you'll find me a little boring if you know all of me. I work a tedious day job, have no friends out of work other than my dog, I look like I know what I'm doing but the truth is I've got no freaking idea how to keep adulting, I have this clumsy streak that's a pain in the ass and to top it all off, I know it's weird but if I had any spare time at all I would literally watch paint dry because I somehow find the whole process interesting. Why on earth would you still want to be friends with someone like that?”
Throughout her rant she kept flaying her hands which combined with her slightly distressed look was just fucking cute.
“Because you're fiercely you and you're not the least bit afraid of me and you don't ask anything of me either. You're just . . . different.”
I could swear I saw her redden just as the food was served.
“Oh, I know what would go well with this,” then she brought out her phone. Very soon the soundless night air was filled by the crooning voice of a man that I recognized.
“I know this guy. Ed Sheeran, right?”
I was so proud of myself when her eyes brightened.
“Yes! See, that's what I love about music, that even though we've only encountered it once, it's hard to forget.”
Then she picked up her fork.
“Tell me a story,” she said out of nowhere. “Make something up, I don't care how ridiculous, I just want to hear it from you.”
I should've thought the request strange but it felt like a huge honor was bestowed upon me.
So throughout dinner I regaled her with the most outrageous tale about a fairy princess with anger issues who'd been tasked to guard the prince.
My reward was hearing her carefree giggles and I found myself wondering when last I'd been this happy
The answer, of course, was never.
Butterfly's phone rang just as we were rounding off a dessert of peach cobbler. Her spoon was still in her mouth when the song — something by a group of guys called Backstreet Boys I was made to know — was interrupted by her guitar riff ringtone.
She took one look at the caller ID and sprang to attention.
“Oh! I've got to take this,” she hopped up from her chair and stepped away from the table.
I looked down into the opaque depths of the glass I was holding to occupy myself. I was on my third glass and already the taste was growing on me. It was just a shame I couldn't get hammered from it.
“Great news!” Butterfly announced as she bounded up to me. It was like she'd been recharged the way she bounced on her heels and her smile threatened to tear her face in two and blind me while it was at it. “I have just been hired for the biggest wrap party in America.” She shrieked with joy.
“Woah! Congratulations. You deserve it, you're great at what you do.”
She squealed like a puppy again and came to lean on the table beside me. “It's in Orlando and they'll need me for three days.”
I frowned and looked up at her. “Orlando?”
I was happy for her, genuinely, it was the part about it being in Orlando that wasn't too thrilling. Not being able to know how she was doing in the mornings was excruciating enough but it was a bit bearable to know I would see her at night. But three whole days!
She nodded. “This is big for me, Carson.”
I kept my glass on the table so it wouldn't spill since my hands were beginning to shake.
“Crazy idea,” Butterfly started, her bright smile slowly increasing in watt. “Come with me. It could be like a vacation. God knows you need one.”
Once I got over the shock of the fact that she actually wanted me to go with her, I found I wanted nothing more than to pack my bags and follow her to the end of the world.
But before I could fully board that ship my senses kicked in.
“Much as I would love nothing more, I can't. Miller Inc. still needs me and seeing as how my mother has been quiet ever since our fight I'd say I'm sitting on a keg of gunpowder. One wrong move and boom! Everything's on fire.”
She laughed. “It's just three days. And don't think it's easy for me to leave my job for those three days either. Come on. Three nights with your favorite DJ, are you really going to pass that up?”
I chuckled. She was right. I wouldn't.
“Alright. I'll have to rearrange some things but I'll come with you to Orlando.”
“Yay!” she squealed.
In her excitement her elbow knocked over my glass and red wine spilled all over the elegant tablecloth and unto the floor.
“I am so so sorry!” she exclaimed as she turned to survey the mess.
It only got a low laugh from me.
“Come on you adorable klutz. It's time we get you home.”