Chapter 2

Lena

"Finally!" I exhaled with joy, while holding my new laptop like a new born child in my arms.

My driver's seat felt somehow smaller than before, like the laptop was a huge box. A huge box of joy!

How much did I want one. How difficult was to save up for it. But finally I have it right here with me. I felt like a was in love, with an object, but still.

I would listen to the sweet keyboard sound, touching its smooth surface, clicking on websites, enjoy a piece of technology and most importantly edit my stories with ease, like a normal person and not with pen and paper. Erase, write over...  bah... It was a pain in the ass!

It might took me three days to transfer my manuscript to my laptop, even though I was typing like a mad person, but hearing the sound of typing made me feel like an actual writer.  It was almost too sexy to handle!

The guy didn't text me about the cover and it was expected. I didn't really gave it much thought, since I my mind was occupied by my new shiny toy, that cost me a fortune, but I haven't regretted at all.

After three days of  doing nothing but working and typing, I signed with relief as the night took over the sky. The battery light turned red, no more editing for tonight, so it was time to find a place to stay for the night.

 I was so emotionally drained from all the hard work that I just couldn't take it anymore, so I finally just parked on a street and prayed that no cop would disturb me.

Next day, my lunch shift at work was daunting. People tend to be very mean when they are hungry. They drained the last drop of energy I had and then I had the sweet odacity to edit my story until late at night. That killed me.

I was ready to fall asleep, when I heard my phone vibrate in my bag and reached for it. I opened it quickly and read the text... 

I'll help you with your cover

I blinked twice just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

My little impulsive idea came with a happy result after all.  I was so relieved that at least I din't humiliated myself much. 

We planned to meet tomorrow at a coffee shop close to where I work at 19:00. I felt excitied and anxious, but that didn't deprived my will to sleep like a baby.

                                                                 ---------------------

Our appointment was after my shift at the restaurant and I didn't want to smell like burned frying oil and ketchup. So after my shift, I tried to look more presentable.  

I quickly changed from my work clothes to a casual black wrap dress in the restaurant's restroom. It was the only dress I owned. I put my hair up in a ponytail and sprayed it with my body spray. I didn't have time to wash it, but it would contain the smells for a while. I brushed my teeth and put on a little makeup. I also cleaned my sneakers a little like I always do, and I was ready.

I tried my hardest to look like I had my life together, but nothing could be further from the truth...

I parked two blocks away from the coffee shop. If he knew that I was living in my old Toyota Corolla he would never take me seriously and I didn't need anyone to judge my life choices. I've kept it a secret since the moment I have arrived in this city, eight months ago. I could certainly keep it up for way longer.

I admit I put in more effort than I should for this meeting. Mostly because I wanted to be taken seriously, but to be honest, I wanted to look pretty for him and not like a mess. Ego and vanity are sins we all bear.

I arrived ten minutes earlier at the coffee shop and sat at a table outside. It was so hot this morning, the afternoon breeze felt quite refreshing. 

The waitress took my order and brought my latte within five minutes. Latte on a hot day you may ask? Why the hell not? It's been so long since I had one. I had to cut back so many expenses for that laptop, even a cup of coffe was an extreme expense. 

But now I could afford that drink and whatever my date would order. It was the least I could do for spending his evening with a stranger.

I saw him approaching from afar and suddenly I felt very anxious and tense. I rearranged myself on my seat and smiled when he came closer. He did try to smile, I gave him that. 

He was wearing a black shirt and a pair of short black cargo pants that fit him perfectly. He also wore a nice watch on his wrist that was probably worth more than my car!

Also, he had the same leather bands I saw the other day. He smelled incredible as he did the last time I saw him... not an intense smell, but a very seductive and alluring one.

He sat on the seat across me and before I  say anything other than hello, the cute waitress came to take his order.  What waiter comes to your table that fast?!

She stared at him so fondly and maybe she overplayed the cute and pretty card. He slightly smiled at her and she walked away to bring his beer while moving her hips very seductively on purpose. 

His presence was very dominant; I couldn't look anywhere else but him. And I couldn't blame the waitress for basically flirting her way out with her hips. He watched her go for a moment and then focused back on me.

There was a tattoo on his neck that I hadn't noticed before. I couldn't clearly see what it was, but tattoos are sexy anyway.

"So... hello again" I smiled nervously.

"Hello," he said with a half-smile on his pretty face. He didn't seem to be the smile widely kind of guy and it was fine.

"Thank you for coming" I added.

"I wanted to come, so you don't have to thank me" he gave me a wider smile this time.

"What's your name?" I asked, but he had no time to reply because the waitress returned to our table with his beer in hand. Was she the female Flash or something?!

"Enjoy" she was being over flirtatious for my taste and totally ignored my presence. I could be his girlfriend for all she knew...

He smiled at her though. A discreet smile, but still...

It was so annoying and I didn't know why. 

The waitress took her sweet time standing next to our table, and I couldn't help but allow a faint yet condescending laugh to escape my lips.

She didn't take the hint, however; I was invisible to her. He fixed his gaze on me once more and then she finally left. Dear God, how beauty turns our brains into mush!

I took a sip of my coffee and felt like my good mood was just gone.

"My name is Max," he said right before he took a sip from his beer.

What a nice name.

"Maxwell or Maximilian?" I asked.

"Maximus," he replied, taking another sip of his beer. His gaze was fixed on me as he did so, and for some reason it made my temperature rise slightly. And like an iceberg, I could melt. I probably need to get laid soon... it's been too long!

"Very Roman" I managed to say and took a sip of my coffee to avoid looking at him. Was it just me or he felt it too?

I should hang out with men more often, I was starting to lose my marbles here! Such an antisocial girl I was, very bad habit.

"My mother teaches Latin and history at U.C.R University, she couldn't help herself I guess"

"It's a nice name" I smiled.

"So Lena, what do you want to do with your cover?"

"Um, I need a simple background, like a wall. That way I can easily edit the photo later. I'm not a designer and I have never worked with photoshop or any other software. So, I need to make it as simple as possible. For natural light, an outdoor shot would be ideal. You could be shirtless in a pose we'll find later. Or even with a shirt on to show a little of abs... I don't have anything specific in mind. I wanted to find a guy first and then think about those details later." I was elaboration my thoughts because I didn't want to appear like an amaterur. "And I was thinking... if you don't mind... you could look seductively into the camera... like... you ..." I got shy just by looking into his focused eyes.

"Like what?" he raised his eyebrows in interest.

"Look at the camera like you really like what you see in front of you..." I felt a little too romantic with my word choices.

"I see... like that?" he instantly looked into my eyes, like he really liked what he was looking at.

For a moment, I felt my stomach flip.

"Yes, like that" I swallowed and turned my focus on my coffee. A poor attempt to hide my blushing cheeks...

"I'll pay you for your trouble, is that ok? And if my story gets picked to be published I could give you more. It's only fair"

"I'm not here to get paid, Lena. I'll do it for fun and help a fellow human" that smile again.

"I insist," 

"Don't" he took another sip from his beer.

"Can I at least pay you in some other way? Like, buy you dinner? Or tickets to your favorite show or something?"

"Dinner like the two of us?" his smile got wider, like teasing me somehow.

"Err, not necessarily" I smiled back. Even though, it wouldn't be bad if we went out for dinner sometime... right? Maybe have some fun afterward... stop Lena! Not with him, this was a legit business meeting and you ruin it with sex fantasies!

He leaned against the back of his chair and looked around as if the conversation was over.

"So, what's it to be? Photo with face or without?" I asked.

"Which would you prefer?"

This is the first time I have heard those words, and for a moment I didn't know how to answer.

"I guess with the face on" he was objectively handsome after all.

"You guess?" he gave me one of those sexy half-smiles again. 

"I mean... picture with your face would be better, but I''ll take it anyhow. It's up to you" I said with more confidence.

"With face it is"

"Thanks"

"What is your story about anyway?" he leaned closer to the table and put his arms on it.

"It's a romance novel and I would like to refer to it as such. Despite the pornographic details on it. It's a story of a bad boy falling for an innocent and fragile girl. He's a wild spirit and she is conservative... two opposites attract" I giggled and I didn't even know why. "They have sex like crazy in every position I could think of, anywhere and every time they meet" I kept giggling like a little girl and he smiled like he enjoyed our conversation. That was good...

"So... no sex life for you?" he asked with this enticing half-smile on his face.

"Why do you say that? Can't someone be creative if there is no action going on?" I argued.

"Well, do you then?"

"Yes, plenty actually" I lied like a five-year-old...

Why did I get so defensive over this? Who fucking cared if I have sex or not?

"Excuse me for assuming" he apologized, when he clearly didn't believe me at all.

"You are forgiven" 

"You are so cute when you lie," he said while showing me his perfect set of teeth. Nice picture...

I remained speechless. I was so embarrassed, and I felt so hot, that I would completely melt out of shame!

"So what do you do for a living, Maximus?" I tried to dodge this awkward feeling and move on with the conversation. He just sat relaxed and enjoyed my embarrassment.

"I'm military personnel at the 45PT Base right outside the city"

"What?" I exclaimed in shock. He didn't seem like a military type, and I heard that not everyone could easily get a job there. It takes a high degree to apply, and then a bunch of intelligent bullshit to be selected to work there. It wasn't just a military base camp and I didn't know what they actually did there, but it wasn't a training ground for sure. Who was this guy?

"I am –a-military-personnel- at the- 45PT Base" he repeated himself louder and clearer like I was a fool for not understanding him the first time.

"I heard. It was a silly question rushed through my mouth in awe of your profession!"

"I know" he smirked.

Damn him!

"And you work as a waitress?" 

Maybe I have no flashy job, but he didn't seem to feel superior in any way.

"Yes"

"Where at?"

"I work at 'Burgers For Life'. It's on Johnson Street"

"Oh right. I know the place. Not good food, but the service is excellent, I suppose" he winked at me while sipping from his beer.

"It's not like I'm trying hard or anything. But yeah, we are awesome" I said playfully and he kept his smile. 

He licked his upper lip lightly before taking the last sip of his beer.

"When are we going to take the picture you so desperately need?" he asked.

"I don't know, maybe tomorrow?"

"Not good," he shook his head.

"The day after tomorrow?"

He shook his head again negatively.

"Whenever you are available then"

"Yeah, better let me text you when. I'm very busy at work these days" he explained himself.

I had a feeling that this date... appointment was almost over and I didn't really like that.

What was wrong with me?

"Of course. Can I ask you... what made you change your mind and decide to help me? I mean you seemed like you would definitely reject my proposal"

"Well, you seemed a little weird at first, but you are cute, so I said 'Fuck it!'" 

I never thought that was the reason. I belived I humiliated myself in front of him. I had no idea... I was cute... no man ever called me that. Sexy I got, nice I got, bitch I got too many times, but cute?

"You think I'm cute?" 

Why did I ask that? Seriously what was wrong with me?

"My statement wasn't enough?" he smiled at me wider and I couldn't help but do the same.

"Are you blushing?" he leaned slightly forward and put his elbows back on the table investigating my face.

I instantly touched my cheek with my hands only to realize how hot they were. So yeah, I was fucking blushing! 

"I must use the restroom," I said and stood up.

"I did that!" he said proudly to himself.

That made me a little angry and even more embarrassed than I was, so instead of going to the bathroom, I stayed in my seat. I wouldn't give you the satisfaction, Maximus. Nope.

"I'm just warm, it's still summer, Maximus," I said while softly touching my neck and slid my finger towards my clavicle. I saw him tense and of course, he smirked again. 

The waitress came to our table and asked him, only him if he needed anything else. Oh dear God, just give him your number already!

"Do you want anything else, Lena?" he asked me, and only then did the waitress looked at me.

"No Maximus, thank you" I unwillingly smiled, my flirty mood was gone in an instant. I didn't know what I actually expected or even wanted, but the waitress was just bothering me.

He smiled gently at the waitress, and I turned my head to avoid this... flirting situation that I was not a part of!

After a very annoying giggle, she left.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I smiled, "Well...thank you for agreeing to do this. It will help me a lot."

"Do you write other stuff as well? Or is it just... romantic novels? I wanted to say porn, but you prefer that term" he smiled cunningly this time.

"I've only written one romantic novel. I enjoy writing fantasy a lot"

"Can I read something? Or at least the story that I'm going to be a small part of?"

"Sure. Do you like to read?" I was a little bit reluctant to show him my work, but he had the right to read what he was about to be part of.

"Yes, I don't spend all day at the gym"

Who would have thought?

"What is your favorite book?" I asked.

"So many... but Dune by Frank Herbert is good"

Who knew that a guy like that read Dune.

"Good choice" I smiled.

After staring at each other for a brief moment, he got a text message and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"I must go. I need to do something," he announced, pulling out his wallet.

"Let me," I offered, but he paid me no mind as if I never said anything.

"Please Max. It's the least I can do," I insisted.

He gave me a hard look as if he were ordering me to stop talking.

The Female Flash approached our table and took the money from his hand. She smiled and said "Have a nice evening" her voice dripped with pheromones.

"I'll take you home" he announced and I froze for a moment. Why the hell he wanted to do that?!

"No, you don't have to," I said politely.

"Yeah, I know. I want to" 

"No I mean I have a car" I stood up. I felt like I needed to be ready to run away.

"I'll walk you there. Come" he stood up as well and we walked towards the street.

"You have things to do" I smiled when we reach the street.

"They can wait a few minutes" he kept insisting. He was so stubborn!

"I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't want to," I finally said, and I saw him tense. He looked confused for a tiny moment and then said "Alright, I'll see you when I see you," and just walked away. What a relief...

"Good night," I replied, but got no response.

Ouch!