FOUR

Who is He?

There was a dull ringing in Lolita’s head, but she could barely register it. He was staring at her, their eyes locked together. She was now more convinced than ever that the fluttering in her chest and stomach was familiarity. She knew him. Like, she knew him. But where? How? Was it because he looked so much like Jarrod?

No, she decided, her gaze still on him. He was nothing like Jarrod. He was wearing a shirt with the first three buttons open, so she could see his broad chest and the round tattoo on his neck.

Lolita gulped. He was wildly attractive. Insanely beautiful. The only time she had ever thought of someone this smoking hot was years back, so far back that it was a distant memory.

He started walking towards her, not breaking stride or contact. The girl beside him complained, tugging at his sleeve, but it was lost in the wind. She had no choice than to follow him inside the café. Lolita’s heart beat wildly in her chest. She wanted to control it, but there was no control, no way for her to turn away from his gaze.

Then he was suddenly in front of her.

“Hello, Babe,” he said, looking down at her with a smirk on his lips.

Lolita shuddered, then looked away. His voice was deep and dark and soothing at the same time. She hated it.

“You don’t look excited to see me.”

“I’m not,” she replied, her head down.

“Really? I thought I saw a glint in your eyes. Approval? Interest? What is it?”

“What’s this?” Samantha said, her voice booming through the haze. “How can you talk to your girlfriend that way? How can you let him talk to you that way, Lolita?”

“Since when do you wear tattoos?” Tessa butt in. “How can you even embarrass her this way, parading around with the town’s most popular prostitute?”

The man looked down at the girl he was with, a slight frown on his face. “You are that popular?”

The girl chuckled uncomfortably. Lolita sighed and knocked a hand on the table.

“He’s not Jarrod, guys,” she said to her friends. “That’s what I’ve been trying to explain to you. He’s not Jarrod.” Then she peeked at him before finishing her sentence. “Jarrod doesn’t have tattoos.”

He smiled. The interest in his gaze upset her. When he sat down slowly in front of her, Lolita leaned back, wishing that she could just stand up and leave. The air between them was sizzling so much she could almost smell it.

“I could be him,” he said. “A turtle-neck shirt could hide the tattoos, you see. You’d kiss me and wouldn’t know it wasn’t him.”

She was silent, staring into his eyes. He leaned into the table, taking up the space between them.

“I’ll always know,” she blurted.

“Interesting. How would you, if I may ask? What are the distinct differences amongst us, Lolita?”

She didn’t like the sound of her name on his lips. “It doesn’t matter; I’ll always know. I know the scent of the man I’m sleeping with.”

“Is that so?” his smile broadened. “I’m intrigued enough to put that to the test, Lola. Would you like us to embark on that?”

“Hold on a damn minute,” Samantha broke up the tension again, her hands wavering in between them. “If he isn’t your boyfriend, then who the hell is he and why does he look so much like your boyfriend?”

“Oh my gosh,” Tessa gasped. “Oh my gosh!” She stood up, her finger shaking as she pointed at the man. “You!”

“What’s going on?” Samantha asked, confused.

“He’s… he’s…”

“I’m her boyfriend’s brother,” he offered, now standing up. “Do you guys see the resemblance? Lola here seems to think that she can differentiate the both of us together.” He looked down at Lolita. “Funny, because you were shaking at the door just yesterday.”

“Are you teasing me right now?”

“No, just mentioning facts. Now that we have cleared the air about me being your boyfriend…” he paused, his gaze now intent. “Your boyfriend… do you see how intimate that sounds?”

Lolita laughed. She couldn’t believe it; the guy was clearly hitting on her! It had to be the lowest thing she’d ever seen.

“I have to leave,” she said to the girls. “Since you guys know him—”

“I don’t,” Samantha interrupted.

“Oh you don’t have to leave,” he said, tucking his hands in his trousers. “I’ll leave you be. I hope to see you again, Lolita.”

When he turned, the prostitute stumbled after him, throwing the girls a hard glare before they left the café. Lolita was still standing in disbelief while Tessa looked about in shock.

Samantha lightly touched her. “Are you okay, Tess?”

Tessa cleared her throat. “I just never thought I’d see him after all these years.” She placed a hand on her chest. “It’s been so long, but I swear I never forgot him.”

Lolita wanted to ask a question, but then held herself back. It wasn’t her business, not the man or Tessa and her ramblings.

“I have to go,” she said to the girls. “My head is spinning and I’d just like the rest.”

“What was that?’ Samantha asked her. “Why does it feel like there was so much between you two?”

She raised her hand in the air, exasperated. “I don’t know! I don’t know what the fuck is happening and why the hell he was acting that way!”

“Whoa, you never curse. Is that how deep it affected you?”

She shook her head. “No, no, this is all a joke. Nothing affects me, okay? I have to leave now.”

She gulped down the rest of the bitter coffee and then grabbed her purse.

“My birthday is in two days,” Samantha reminded. “I sent Jarrod an official invitation but I guess you should remind him so he doesn’t forget.”

“Okay.”

“And, don’t bring that temper there, okay?”

She exhaled sharply and then left, steadying her breath as she walked. She was getting fed up for nothing. The man was probably exploring the dark side of town before he left, just as she expected.

He was nothing but bad news. Jarrod was right. She didn’t understand the whole story but he was right; he had to be.