ALEC & SUSAN

My Girl

After shaking off the initial shock of meeting my mystery girl—Susan, finally—I floated downstairs to grab a cab with the biggest grin plastered across my face. Luck was on my side; after all this time, she was basically handed to me. This was going to be the night of my life. I couldn't wait to tell John and my mom that I'd finally found her, and I knew I wasn't leaving her side without her contact information.

The black, form-fitting dress perfectly accentuated her curves. The heels were striking. She was mesmerizing, which made me steal glances. I almost skipped this evening, a mistake I would have regretted. Thank goodness my friend John persuaded me to come. I owe him one.

As we slid into the back seat, I made sure to sit right next to her, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm. The excitement felt like it was making my insides jump for joy. She was even more breathtaking in person than imagined, those eyes as captivating as I remembered. I couldn't afford to mess this up.

Take it slow, be patient, she's the one. I repeated the mantra over and over, desperate to make it stick. The sheer proximity to her brings a wave of goosebumps across my skin. While I try to maintain a cool, collected exterior, my insides are in absolute turmoil—a wild party I can't control. Good luck with that, I think wryly. She smells like fresh crosses on a summer's day, a scent that threatens to intoxicate me. I'm so deep in my thoughts of Susan, I don't even notice the car stopping at our favorite pub.

I stepped out of the cab and extended my hand. When she took it, the contact was electric—a sudden jolt that hammed right through my sleeve. I found myself lingering, unwilling to let go, struck by a desperate need to unearth every secret she held. I wanted to know what made her laugh until she couldn't breathe, her favorite late-night snack, the exact shade of her favorite color she loved most.

Once inside the dimly lit pub, John and I pulled out chairs for the ladies, settling them in before heading to the bar.

"What can I get for you?" I asked.

"A skinny girl mojito, please," she said with a playful tilt of her head.

The order caught me off guard—unexpected, just like her. At the bar, I leaned in towards John, my voice barely a whisper over the clinking glasses.

"Dude, you're not going to believe this, but I found her."

John did a double-take. "What? How? When?"

"Slow down, man, It's Susan," I said, the name feeling different on my tongue now.

"Shut up. No way," he laughed, shaking his head. "To think she'd been right under your nose this whole time is insane."

"I know," I muttered, glancing back at her. "I know."

Returning to the table, I slid in next to my girl—the words felt wonderful in my head, 'my girl,' a phrase I could definitely get used to. As the girls chatted about their drinks, John caught my eyes and gave me a sudden nod, as if to say, "You got this." I nodded back.

When Katie finished her drink, John pulled her onto the dance floor, leaving just Susan and me.

"Please," Susan whispered, cutting me off before I could speak, "don't say anything to Katie or John about that night."

I looked at her, puzzled.

"Why?"

"I am too ashamed."

"There is nothing to be ashamed of," I told her. "John knows, but I don't think he told Katie because he didn't know it was you until tonight."

She put her head down, looking thoroughly defeated.

"I thought you guys were best friends?" I asked.

"We are, but I didn't want anyone feeling sorry for me," she replied. "Plus, she has a lot going on right now."

This wasn't the conversation I wanted to have right now, but with Pandora's box finally opened, there was no choice.

"Tell me, how did you really end up in that alley?"

She paused, looking down at her drink.

"I was walking for the train from work, taking a different route than usual......and out of nowhere, I got pulled in."

Her eyes were soft.

"I've wanted to thank you for what you did that night, but I didn't know how to find you."

"Let's change that right now," I told her with a soft smile, reaching for my phone, "Let me have your number."

After exchanging numbers, she seemed to relax, taking a slow sip of her drink. As we talked, the layers peeled back; she wasn't a drinker, her favorite color is light blue, and she was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. She was raised by a single mom and was here working hard to support them.

Wow. She was getting better and better with every word. She was genuine, kind, and strong. My parents are going to love her. My emotions were reeling; I was falling for this girl with every sentence she spoke. I had fallen into the same trap as John. Looking over at my best friend, absolutely glowing with Katie, I realized I wanted that same kind of happiness.

Just then, I saw them heading for the pub door; I called out, but they didn't even look in our direction.

"Well, Susan," I said, turning back, "I guess it's just you and me."

She smiled, and my heart did a little flip at that breathtaking look of hers. God, I had it bad for this girl.

"So," I said, breaking the silence, "Are you seeing anyone?"

"No," she replied, studying his face, "Not at all."

"Where do you Live?"

"Brooklyn," she answered.

"And you work in Manhattan?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-Two."

"What about you?"

"What about me?" I smirked at her.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-three," he confessed.

"Are you dating anyone?"

"No, I am very single," I replied to her.

"You work at the restaurant?"

"Yes, I do, I am the manager."

"Oh, Okay." I said, "That's nice."

"Susan, would you like to dance?"

"I would love to."

She was electric on the dance floor, moving with a rhythm that made the rest of the room fade into a hazy backdrop. Every head seemed to turn as we moved, her laughter blending with a subtle accent that made my chest tighten. She was captivating, a whirlwind of personality that left me breathless. I found myself focusing on the slight curve of her lips, forcing myself to remember my promise to take things slow.

When we finally slid back into our booth, I reached for my phone to call John. He didn't sound happy, and this rushed tone told me they had already left, leaving me with instructions to take Susan back to my place.

"Is he insane?"

I barely knew her. But I had promised to take things slow, not to act reckless.

I turned to her, trying to sound nonchalant despite the sudden tension in my shoulders.

"Hey, John and Katie took off-looks like they headed to her place. John wants me to take you back to mine. Are you cool with that?"

"I can take the couch, and you can have my room."

She smiled, a surprisingly trusting look in her eyes.

"I trust John and Katie. They wouldn't leave me with someone they didn't trust," she said softly. "So, yeah. That's okay with me."

"Just let me know when you are ready to leave, I told her."

"Can we dance some more? I haven't been dancing since a few weekends ago with the girls," she asked.

"Where did you ladies go?"

"The Tropicana."

"That's a nice club," I remarked

A few minutes later, she whispered into my ears,

"I think I am ready to leave."

All my senses went on high alert the moment I felt her soft breath against my ear and neck. This woman had no idea what she was doing to me; every vein in my blood stood at attention, waiting for a command. I placed my hand on her lower back and ushered her out of the pub, waving down a cab.

The ride home was pleasant; we chattered, and she laughed—a sound I swear was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. When we finally made it back to my apartment, she looked around in amazement. I told her she could freshen up in my bathroom while I set out a tee shirt and boxers for her to sleep in. She agreed. How exciting; she would be sleeping in my bed, wearing my clothes.

There was nothing that could make this night more perfect, I thought, smiling to myself.