Twisted Little Thing Page 6

  I stretch out in bed for a few more moments until I hear her rummaging around in the kitchen. If she is making tea, I want to be part of that.

  And I really need to get this whole Evan thing off my chest.

  "Hello sleepy head," Yuka greets me when I stroll into the kitchen. Sure enough, she is wearing her yellow sweatpants and matching headband. And she is making tea.

  "Here to sponge some tea?" she asks, as she continues pouring hot water into our red and shabby pot with tea leaves in it.

  "Absolutely," I reply. "Please."

  I sit down at the table and glance at the magazine that is still lying there next to our sugar bowl and some fruit that Yuka brought home with her.

  She places the teapot next to it and then returns to the cupboard to fetch two mugs for us, while I ponder how to tell her about Evan. For now, unrelated chit chat seems to be the easier option, though.

  "How was brunch?" I ask as she sits down in the chair opposite to me.

  She shrugs. "Meh. Nothing special. The place we went to sucks. Way too expensive for the crappy food and coffee and poor service."

  She casts me a naughty smile. "I'd much rather hear about your date last night. You promised!"

  "I did...," I say, suddenly feeling under a lot of pressure.

  Yuka raises her eyebrows and stares at me expectantly.

  I cannot come up with a clever way to phrase it, so I decide to not beat around the bush and just give her the facts straight up.

  I grab the magazine in front of me and start browsing through it.

  "Um, hello?" she complains. "I don't think you’ll find your hot little adventure in there."

  "I wouldn’t say that," I say cryptically.

  I open the magazine to the page with the article about Evan and turn the magazine around to present it to her. "There he is."

  Yuka's eyes widen and her jaw literally drops as she stares down at the article. She looks back up at me, frowning with disbelief.

  "Shut up!" she exclaims. "You spent the night with Evan Beckhart? No way!"

  "You know him?" I ask. I am surprised at the way she says his name, as if he really was some kind of famous person. On the other hand, this is her magazine and she has probably read most of the articles a lot more closely than I have.

  "D'uh, yeah! Of course I know who he is," she says, rolling her eyes. "Have you read the article? There were quite a few similar articles a couple of years ago, when he was dating Sheila Buffay. That's where I know him from, at least. I assume, if you were following all those Silicon Valley entrepreneur activities more closely, you'd know this."

  She pauses and looks down at the picture of Evan again.

  "But, of course, that's boring. Lame business people," she adds. "But I'd probably be more into it if they all looked like him. He's hot!"

  "Yeah...," I whisper. "Obviously, I agree."

  "Are you sure?" Yuka asks. "Are you really sure that's him?"

  I nod. "Yes, I am. He introduced himself – and that's definitely him in the picture. His hair looked different last night, but it was definitely the same guy."

  Yuka grins at me and starts laughing. "He introduced himself and you still had no idea who you were talking to? Oh, Nicky, you are so behind the times!"

  I frown at her. "What? So now reading gossip about the private lives of people you don't know makes you a cool person?"

  Yuka chuckles and puts the magazine down to pour us some tea.

  "Well, at least I have not been living under a rock for years as you have," she says, winking at me.

  "Thanks," I answer softly, more in regards to the tea she hands me than to her unflattering remark.

  "I can't believe it," she continues, now holding the mug with fresh tea in her hands as she stares down at the article again. "Where on earth did you meet him? Don't tell me he was at the club?"

  "He was," I say. "That's where we met. He was drinking the same beer as me, and we exchanged a quick look at the bar counter, before I turned around and walked away."

  "Walked away?" Yuka asks, frowning at me. "Why would you walk away from him?"

  "I wanted to dance," I explain. "Besides, you know I'm not into this kind of guy. He was wearing suit pants and a shirt!"

  She laughs again, not at me this time, but at Evan, I hope.

  "He followed me, though," I continue. "I bumped into him while I was dancing, because he was standing so close to me."

  "Uuh," Yuka says, now seductively raising her eyebrows. "He came on to you? Sweet! And he was not appalled by your... dancing?"

  I cast her a sulky look. "No. He even said he liked it."

  "Damn!" Yuka exclaims. "Smooth. He must have been really into you to say that!"

  "Once again, thanks," I mumble. "But yeah, I didn't buy it either. I left the club to get some fresh air and he followed me upstairs to the street. And well... we started talking."

  "Aaand?" Yuka presses.

  "He was really charming, I have to say," I reply. "Very persistent, too. I didn't buy it. It was almost sickening –"

  "Oh, come on!" Yuka interrupts me. "Mrs. I-am-too-cool-for-compliments. You did sleep with him, didn't you?"

  "Yes, but–"

  "No but," Yuka interrupts again. "Be honest for once, girl. He was being nice – and it worked! Because even you are not as inaccessible when it comes to charming words as you wish to pretend."

  I shrug and take a first sip of my tea. Of course, Yuka is right. But I hate it when other people – like her and Evan – seem to see right through me when I am trying so hard to not let this weak and approachable side of me shine through. I must be really bad at this.

  And I didn't even tell her that I felt drawn to him from the beginning, that he had this enticing aura about him that made me speak to him and follow him in the first place.

  And the crazy intense sex we had...

  "So, other than charming," Yuka says. "What's he like?"

  I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and sincerely hope that she doesn't notice it. If she does, I will just blame it on the tea.

  "I don't know," I reply. "Mostly that, really. Charming. He didn't say much about himself, and I wasn't allowed to ask any questions."

  "You weren't allowed?" Yuka asks, raising her eyebrows suspiciously.

  Oh, I wasn't even allowed to look at him or make any decisions by myself – and I loved it. But of course, I am not going to tell Yuka that part.

  "Well, I was teasing him a lot," I try to explain. "Actually, I think I was rather rude to him."

  She chuckles. "Good. You didn't make it easy for him."

  I shake my head, even though I am not entirely sure how true that part is. Did I make it hard for him? It certainly doesn't seem like I was playing hard to get, especially since it was anything but easy for me to fend him off, as much as I wanted to.

  "So, there was nothing strange about him?" Yuka keeps pressing.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, you read the article, didn't you?"

  She pushes the magazine back to my side of the table and turns it around for me to be able to read the text.

  "Sheila and him broke it off so abruptly," she says. "And then he just disappears from the spotlight completely? They were all lovey-dovey one day and then it was over the next. And he has never been seen with anyone else, not before her and not after her."

  "So?" I ask. "I don't see what's so strange about that. Some people stay single by choice, you know."

  I am winking at her. Yuka has never had a real relationship that lasted longer than a few weeks, because she grows tired of every man she has ever dated within a short period of time. She always claims that the thought of a real and long lasting relationship only makes her think of confinement and pressure, but I am pretty sure that her standards are just unattainably high.

  "Whatever," she says, rolling her eyes. "That guy is still – weird. Something is up with him, I am sure."

  "I don't see why you would say that," I argue. "Relationships end, sometimes very suddenly. And who knows what was going on between them? The tabloids don't have as much inside info as they claim to have."

  "So cute," Yuka says. "You're already defending him!"

  I frown at her. "No, I'm not, it's just that –"

  "Ah, don't be so defensive," she interrupts. "Just be careful with that guy. Everything I have ever read about him described him as withdrawn and somewhat mysterious. And then you tell me you weren't allowed to ask questions? That doesn't strike you as odd?"

  "Well, maybe he just enjoyed the fact that I had no idea who he was?" I suggest. "I mean, I'm pretty sure he hates being in the spotlight like this. Maybe it was just a nice change for him to not be recognized..."

  "And the fact that you look just like her?" Yuka presses. "That's not suspicious to you?"

  I sigh. She got me there.

  "Yes," I admit. "Of course I noticed that."

  "Maybe that's what he has been doing all this time since the break-up," Yuka presumes. "Picking up girls who look like Sheila, because he can't get over her."

  I shrug. "Maybe."

  "Will you see him again?" Yuka asks.

  I look at her, unsure how to reply. "I don't know... maybe?"

  She raises only one of her eyebrows this time. "Are you asking me for permission now?"

  In a way, I am. I know that I still want to see him again. The chemistry between us was too good to ignore, no matter who he is or what his motives were when he first started talking to me. The sex was amazing – I want more of that. And I felt weirdly comfortable with him. His presence was so familiar, so pleasant. He did not feel like a stranger at all. I have dated other guys for weeks and months without ever feeling this connected with them. And with him it happened within just a few hours. It w
ould be stupid not to pursue that.

  "Well, he left it up to me," I reply. "He gave me his phone number, but he doesn't have mine."

  "Good," Yuka says. "I mean, that makes it easy for you, doesn't it? He has already signaled his interest in seeing you again. If the number he gave you is his real number, that is."

  "Right," I admit. For some reason, that thought never occurred to me. He could have just given me a fake number! How stupid of me to naturally assume that this really was his private phone number. After all, he didn’t give me his business card but a handwritten note.

  "Find out," Yuka suggests. "Call him."

  I look at her, my eyes widening in shock. I have never been a good phone person, let alone someone who takes charge when it comes to dates.

  "I was actually thinking of ... you know, texting him," I stutter.

  Yuka rolls her eyes. "Oh, come on! You have to call him to make sure that it really is him! Hide your number and make it an anonymous call, if you're such a chicken. That way you can just hang up after hearing his voice."

  "That's so immature," I object.

  "I agree," Yuka says. "The mature way would be to actually talk to him and ask him out for coffee. But I don't see you going for that option – Miss Oh-so-cool."

  "You should really stop with these silly names," I say.

  Yuka laughs and winks at me. "But they suit you so well!"

  I take another sip of my tea while Yuka looks at me with anticipation. Apparently, she enjoys watching my brain work in silence almost as much as he does.

  "So," she eventually presses. "What's it going to be? The mature way or the chicken option?"

  I look down at the article again, mesmerized by his beautiful face. He is smiling in the bigger picture, but it's not the same kind of smile I saw him use last night. This one is frozen and fake, a publicity smile.

  Whatever his story is, I know I want to hear it. I also know that I have to be careful with him. He caught me off guard like no one has before. It both scares and intrigues me.

  "Chicken," I say.

  Yuka smirks at me as I get up from the table to fetch my phone.

  CHAPTER X

  Nicky

  "Yes?"

  I hold my breath.

  Yes? Who says hello like that on the phone? Especially when it's an anonymous number? It could be him, but I am not entirely sure.

  I am sitting at the kitchen table, being observed by Yuka's overly curious eyes and ears while she holds her hand above her mouth to quiet herself. My hand tightens around the phone as if I was trying to crush it, pressing it against my ear with excessive force.

  He's still there. I can hear him breathing.

  Say more, my mind begs. I need to be sure.

  A few more moments of awkward silence follow, before he finally adds something.

  "Nicky? Is that you?"

  Fuck!

  I hastily remove the phone from my ear and try to end the call by uncontrollably pushing on the touch screen. These damn touch screens! Nervousness takes over and turns me into a trembling mess as I try to hit the red symbol that would let me escape into the safe haven of anonymity. Instead, the phone slips out of my hand and drops to the floor – with the call still connected.

  Yuka yelps and giggles in surprise as I dive after my phone, unable to prevent a bunch of panicky curses to escape my mouth. I finally get a hold of it and manage to end the call.

  "Fuck!" I yell, now sitting on the floor at Yuka's feet.

  Of course, she is having a great time with this. She bursts out laughing, almost falling off her chair as she tries to help me get back up on my feet.

  "Oh my God, Nicky!" she cries. "That was awesome!"

  I actually had broken into a sweat. My cheeks are flushed and my heart is racing like a mad animal.

  "Damn," I say, continuing my barrage of cursing.

  How old am I again? I am acting like a stupid teenager. And I didn’t even behave like that when I was still in high school.

  "So, I assume that really was him?" Yuka asks, still laughing at my unfortunate behavior.

  I nod. My hands are trembling like a leaf.

  "Yes," I utter. "It was him..."

  Yuka's eyes are glowing with excitement. "What did he say?"

  I look at her, still trying to gather myself.

  "Yes," I reply. "He said 'Yes'. And then he said my name."

  "Oh, damn, Nicky!" Yuka exclaims, unable to contain her excitement. "So he knew it was you?"

  "Maybe," I stammer. "Well, I'm pretty sure he knew after that little stunt... and after you started giggling."

  "Hey," Yuka objects. "Don't blame me, girl. You were the one who who opted to be a chicken.

  I know she's right. I sink bank into my chair and let out a desperate sigh.

  "Well, this went great," I mumble.

  "I think it did," Yuka adds, still smiling from ear to ear. "You have to properly talk to him now. Obviously."

  I look at her, raising my eyebrows in doubt. "I guess so..."

  We both flinch when my phone lets out an unexpected beep informing me of an incoming text message.

  Yuka looks at me, alarmed.

  "Nah, can't be him," I assure her. "I hid my number."

  "You sure?" she asks.

  I nod as I casually look down at my screen. It is a short message: "Smooth, cool girl."

  My eyes widen. I recognize the number – because I just dialed it.

  "Oh my God, is it him?" Yuka leans over to investigate as she notices the look on my face.

  I nod in silence.

  How is this possible? I made sure to hide my number, even checked it several times. Was I really that clumsy? Or does he have some kind of spy device that makes anonymous numbers obsolete?

  "What does it say?" Yuka presses.

  I glance at her. "He is making fun of me. Just like you."

  She claps her hands and laughs. "Haha, with good reason!"

  "Whatever..." I mumble.

  Another message pops up.

  "If you want to see me again, you just need to tell me."

  I gulp. My heart is racing again.

  "So?" Yuka is sitting at the edge of her chair, beaming over at me. "Will you be getting another billionaire treatment or what?"

  "Oh, Yuka, please –"

  "Hey!" she interrupts, raising her hands in defense. "Come on, there's nothing going on in my love life – let me at least get excited about yours! Especially when it's the elusive Evan Beckhart who is courting you."

  "Love life? Courting? Don't call it that," I object. "It's not like we're dating or anything. I'm not even sure I would want that. I mean, this could get really complicated with who he is..."

  "Yeah, yeah," Yuka says, dismissing me with a wave of her hand. "I like that you're being so cautious. It's probably for the best with that guy. But would you please meet him for coffee or something? And don't let him forbid you from asking questions again!"

  ***

  The text I send to Evan is direct and to the point: "Need to talk."

  I follow up with a picture of the magazine article.

  I see that he reads my message within seconds of me sending it, but he does not answer right away. In fact, he takes his sweet time to reply.

  I have little to distract me, so I find myself waiting for him to reply. How pathetic.

  At least Yuka is busy. She never spends much time at home, and this weekend is no exception. With two jobs, a big circle of friends, her band, and her current attempts at making it as a freelance designer, her life is about ten times as busy as mine. It's no surprise that she hardly finds the time for men.

  I feel boring and lazy compared to her. While she is bubbling over with ideas and passion for so many things, I am fully content wasting my free time plugging away in front of my computer, or napping, or grabbing a low-priced beer at a grungy club with loud – and good – music. As much as I like alternative music, I really don't have a sense of rhythm or any talent for playing an instrument, even though I truly wish I did.

  Yuka is the lead drummer in her band, and she saved up for a long time to be able to afford her own little drum set. It is not a very large set, but it still takes up almost half of her room.

  She is out the door for band practice shortly after our chat. After that, she has another shift to cover at the bar, the same schedule as last night.