Chapter 5 - A second time around

I wake up to the sound of my phone chiming. I look at the text name and smile. I’ve been waiting for her to reach out for a long time. I didn’t know how to start the conversation. I was hoping she opens the lines of communication and I’ll take it from there.

 I need to play this one right. She won’t give another second chance. I need to make sure that I convince her I’m the guy she needs to be with. I need to show her that I can be the man she wants. If she wants romance I’ll give her that. I can do romance and I can do it well.

I have a favor to ask

I’m not sure if I should even ask this of you

Ry

I don’t even care what she wants, as long as she wants it from me. It’s been hard being on the sidelines, I hate being an afterthought to her. I want to go back to being the only guy she thought about. I want her feelings for me to come back.

You can ask me anything

I’ll give it to you if it’s in my power to do so…

Patient O

As I type the words I know they are true. I will do anything in my power to make sure she’s happy. I know it took a few stumbles for me to realize this but I know it’s true.  I want her to have me and everything else she wants. Is that too much to strive for?

I finally got my car and it needs some work

Ry

I smile when I see the text come through. It took her long enough to decide on the car she wants to buy. I guess I shouldn’t judge her because I too took too long to decide on her. I took so long I made it so much harder for f myself. I now need to compete with some random guy for her.  I brought this on myself.

What kind of work are we talking about?

Patient O

The paint is terrible

And it has a few dents

Ry

That doesn’t sound so bad

I think I can help you with

Just bring it to the shop and we’ll see what we can do

Patient O

Great!

Am I getting any deals? You know special discounts and stuff?

Ry

I don’t know I only give discounts to people I like very much

Patient O

I type knowing very well I’m steering the conversation in a direction that’s going to work for me. I want remind her of what we had. I want her to remember the feelings she had for me. I’m hoping nostalgia will work in my favor. I want her to think about what it was like when she really liked me. Those feelings need to bring her to me.

If that’s the case, I guess I’m not getting any discounts

I know I’m not your favorite person right now

Ry

Who lied to you and told you that?

Patient O

We both know she’s not wrong. I didn’t like her much when I found out about her new boyfriend. I was hurt more than I imagined I would be. But I don’t care about that anymore. I know better now. I know I need to earn her love; I need to work harder and show her that I really do want her.

It’s just a feeling I have

Ry

We, I would never want to invalidate your feelings in an way

But…

You have the wrong impression

You’re all I can think about right now.

I’m wrecking my brain trying to figure out how to get us back to a week ago

I miss talking to you

Patient O

You can talk to me anytime you want

We’re talking right now

Ry

I want to talk you and not worry about whom else gets to talk to you

Patient O

What we talk about has nothing to with anyone else.

Ry

I wish that was true

Patient O

It is

Ry

A part of me wishes that meant an easy pass. I wish that meant I can have her back. But I know it doesn’t.

It just meant that I have access to her. I know winning her heart and her love is going to be a battle. Her new boyfriend is not going to let me have her just like that. I saw the way he was looking at her on their date. He’s practically in love with her.

I have to put my big boy pants on and fight for her.  

A few days later at Oliver’s job

“Congratulations on the car.” Oliver says smiling at me through the driver’s window. I bring the car to a stop in the building’s large garage. Oliver is wearing his work overalls and he still looks good. Who looks good in dirty, oily clothes?  I hate that my heart insists on doing this inane flip every time I see him. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about him.

Trevor is the one I should be looking at with this much interest. The Oliver ship has sailed.

“Thank you for helping me. I don’t think I would have found a car if you didn’t help me.” I say opening the door and I get out.

“It was nothing.” He says looking at me from my head to my feet. I can feel his eyes taking in every detail in my body.  I feel a little hot at the look in his eyes.  He’s never looked at me like this. I don’t know what to do or say.  

All I know is my heart is beating too fast; it feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest. He needs to stop looking at me like that or else I’m going to pass out.

“Well I appreciate you all the same.” I say closing the car door. I look away for a moment so I can break the intensity of the moment. “How long do you think it’s going to take to fix.” I say looking back at him. I point at the car so I can remove his attention from me.  He blinks a few times looking at the car for a split second. But then his eyes are back on me.

 I feel hot everywhere, I can feel my mouth go dry. I need to get out of here. This boy is looking at me like I’m a whole woman and I’m not ready for him to look at me like that. I don’t know what to do with that.

“We have to do a thorough inspection first; I can’t really tell you an accurate timeline without really looking at it.” He says walking closer to the car. He places his hand on it, touching it delicately. “But if I were to guess, I would say a week maybe.” He says and I groan. I was hoping it would take less than a week. I’ve had the car for a few days but I already feel like it’s a part of me. It’s been good to have the convenience of having a car.

“Okay, I just hope you won’t break my bank with the repairs.” I say and he smiles shaking his head.

“I’ll make sure you don’t get ripped off.” He says taking a few more steps closer to me. “You look beautiful.” He says taking me by surprise. I was sure he was going to give me a quotation or something. I didn’t think he wanted to say that. It still feels weird to hear him call me beautiful. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.

“Thanks?” I say and he closes the distance between us. I look up at him wondering what he’s planning on doing next. I say a little prayer hoping he doesn’t kiss me. I’m meeting Trevor for a date in a few minutes and it would be awkward if Oliver kissed me right now.

“What’s the occasion? Do you have a date?” He asks half smiling, half frowning.  I don’t know how he does that. I can tell he’s sad but at the same time he seems happy. I don’t know what to make of this. My emotions are jumbled up from the intensity of the moment. I don’t think my brain can process anything right now.

“Yes.” I say and the rest of his smile turns into a full frown.

“That’s a bummer. I would like to take you out on a date.” He says looking from my lips to my eyes. His gaze keeps going back and forth making me smile. I know exactly what he’s feeling right now. I want to kiss him as much as he wants to kiss me, but it doesn’t mean we should do it.

“Unfortunately I’m too busy today.” I say taking a step back from him before I kiss him. I don’t want to complicate things.

“That’s okay. I know you’ll make time for me when you can.” He says smiling confidently.

“When will I be getting the quotation?” I ask changing the subject. I don’t know why we’re talking about dates when we should be talking about my car. I can’t take his non verbal flirting anymore; he’s too close to me. He’s staring at me too much and his smile is too bright for my liking.  I hate that he can get me all hot and bothered with such simple gestures.

“Right now.” He says looking behind me. “I think Frankie is done inspecting the car.” He says waving to someone behind me.  I turn to look in the direction he’s looking and see a guy holding a piece of paper.

“That was quick.” I say when the guy walks towards us and he hands Oliver a piece of paper. I sigh in relief that I can leave now. I need a breather from this guy. “Do I owe you a lot of money?” I ask when he hands it to me.

“I don’t think it’s too bad.” He says looking at me closely.

“It’s not that bad.” I say looking at my car. “Do I just leave it here?” I ask looking back at the total. I can afford the repairs. I was sure it was going to cost an arm and a leg.

“You have to pay the deposit and then you can leave the car.” He says looking at me closely.

“Okay. Let’s do that.” I say and he smiles. “This paper says my car will be done in five says. How accurate is that estimation?” I ask as he leads me to the front desk.

“It’s very accurate. We wouldn’t right it there if we can’t deliver you repaired car in five days.” He says confident.

“Okay, I’ll be back in five days to get my car then.” I say and he nods smiling.

“About our date.” He says and my heart jumps into my throat. I was hoping he doesn’t bring that up again. “How about we do something fun on Wednesday?” He says staring at me.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea.”I say and he looks at me sadly.

“Ryo please.” He says smiling at me with that sexy smile of his. “I’m asking for one date. I won’t ask again after this.” He says and I sigh.

“One date?” I ask and he smiles nodding. “Okay.” I say and he nods happily.

“Great.”  He says kissing e softly on the cheek. “Have fu on your date tonight.” He says looking at me for a few seconds.

“Thanks.” I say touching where he kissed me. I can still feel the warmth of his lips there. Why am I happy that he did that? Why am I giddy from the feel of his lips on my skin? I’m not supposed to want this. I need to want someone that wants me.

And that someone is Trevor not Oliver.

I look in the direction he disappeared to and frown. I need to get my sit together before I lose my mind.