Fervent Desires

Chapter 2 - Indecision

“What do you mean you’re out of Bloody Mary?” whined Vaughn as he leaned on the bar for support.

“I’m telling you man if you keep this up you won’t live to see thirty” I cautioned.

He sighed as he slumped on top of the counter. It was one in the afternoon and we were sitting in a bar in downtown Manhattan. The bar was relatively empty in contrast to the bustling street outside.

“Listen Tay, you only get one life to live and I’m living mine to the fullest” I looked over at Vaughn who now had his eyes closed. He rubbed his temples in an effort to nurse his hangover induced migraine. “If this was New Orleans everybody would be drunk by now” he continued. I rolled my eyes, this was not the first time we had had this argument and by now I had learned not to argue with his ridiculous justifications. “How was your meeting?” he asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“Fine,” I responded undeterred by his efforts. “You need to start taking better care of yourself.” I continued “You don’t eat right, you don’t exercise and you party all night.” He looked at me through narrowed eyes as it was obviously too painful for him to open them all the way. “You are my best friend and I want you to be around for a very long time” I softened my tone so he could see that I wasn’t just chastising him; he was the first friend I made when I moved away to college and he really did mean a lot to me.

“Well then, I guess you’ll just have to take that transfer and move to New York so you can babysit me” he responded with a sly smile. He really was handsome, with his deep brown eyes and a thick head of hair that had grown so long it now fell across his forehead; no wonder he was such a ladies man. I sighed, I knew what the transfer meant for my career. Vaughn wasn’t making it easy for me. I loved everything about my life in Los Angeles, I loved the weather, the beach and I was settled into my lifestyle.

“Let me take you out tonight,” Vaughn continued. I turned to stare at him and he flashed me a charming smile. A smile that would have devastated girls everywhere. His dark brown eyes lit up with mischief, as he swept his dark tousled hair from his forehead. The light stubble on his strong jawline gave him a slightly rugged look and he looked everything like the sexy bachelor he was. “Well don’t gawk at me!” Vaughn exclaimed as apparently I was staring for too long.

“First of all, you’re not my type and secondly you don’t look like you’re in any condition to go anywhere” I retorted.

“Please. I’m an old pro-” his phone rang as if on cue. He frowned and ignored it. “So what do you say? I’ll give you a night you won’t forget”. He really was relentless and he had finally worn me down.

“Pick me up at ten”.

“Ten?” he gave me a disappointed look. “All the good spots open at midnight”.

“Fine, midnight” I said, rolling my eyes.

I knew I was going to regret this; but I just couldn’t say no to him. He always knew how to charm me into doing just what he wanted and after all these years he knew exactly what buttons to push. The bartender had all but left us alone and I couldn’t help smirk at how relieved he must have felt to be off of Vaughn’s radar. I glanced at my watch quickly “I have to go. Do you need me to drop you anywhere?”

Vaughn furrowed his brow “but you just got here,” he complained.

“No. We’ve been here for over an hour,” I corrected

“I’ll be fine” he murmured.

I smiled as I picked up my briefcase. “Midnight” I said as I kissed him on the forehead. 

“Yah Yah” he responded, looking around for the bartender. I wondered if it was wise of me to leave him there.

The afternoon sun was high as I stepped out of the dimly lit bar. I reached for my sunglasses as the sounds and smells of the city assaulted my senses. As I walked toward the parking lot I felt both apprehensive and excited at the same time. What was tonight going to bring?