Perfect Strangers

His patience was starting to wear thin, he could feel annoyance spread through him. “No! No, I didn’t.” He lied as he picked up his water bottle.

“Kai, I’ve known you since college, I can tell when you are lying. You called her Juliet. I can see it all over your face. This is 2017 dude, not 1595.”

“I’m jogging home, are you coming?” Kai replied, feeling irked. He ran his hand over the back of his neck and rolled his head hoping to ease the pressure of scrutiny from Brody.

Begrudgingly, Brody ambled to his feet and jogged up and down on the spot, before stopping again a minute later. “Can we just walk, Kai? This jogging is a killer,” he said out of breath. Kai looked at him. His jet black, normally perfectly spiked hair, was dripping in sweat and laid flat to his head, his prominent cheek bones were red with exertion and his large brown eyes pleaded with him desperately, to end his misery.

“Sure,” he nodded with a small smile, “wouldn’t want you collapsing on me now, would I?”

Making their way towards Kai’s loft apartment, Brody brought the subject up again. “So, has Jackie contacted you today?”

“Who?” Kai asked as he gave Brody a quizzical stare.

“Jackie, Jackie Chan?” he laughed. “I’m not referring to her as Juliet, I may be tempted to throw up in my mouth.”

Shrugging, he looked away. “I don’t know, nor do I care. I’ve deleted the app from my phone and haven’t checked my emails this morning.”

“Josh was right then? You are a chicken. You need to lighten up and get with the times mate. Women these days don’t want hearts and flowers, they want possessive and dominant.”

“They do?” Kai asked. He furrowed his eyebrows, unconvinced.

r /> “Sure, I blame that Fifty Shades of Grey. Most women these days want a Christian Grey in their lives now, not a Romeo Montague.”

Kai’s mouth turned downwards while he mulled over Brody’s words with a frown. Note to self. Watch Fifty Shades of Grey and take notes. “Do you think that’s where I’m going wrong then? I mean I don’t have any problems getting a woman, it’s keeping them I’m struggling with.”

Laughing, he glanced at Kai. They had been firm friends since they met at college. Both had been studying Art and were paired together to draw one another. Kai had the looks and Brody had the brains. Together they rocked through college in a haze of drink, women, and parties, until Brody became a college drop-out in their final year due to family issues. “You just need to stop being so nice all the time. Trust me, a filthy mouth goes a long way. Instead of complementing them on their looks, try saying things like, that outfit would look better on my bedroom floor, or if you look this good clothed, I can’t wait to find out what’s underneath.”

Kai suddenly halted to a stop. “I did tell her my dick had a fine head and that I was a freak in the bedroom. Does that count?”

“It’s a start dude, it’s a start,” Brody smiled.

“I’m not convinced that this is the way forward. My father taught me to treat a woman with respect and to act chivalrous. I mean, I’m no stranger to rough sex, don’t get me wrong—” babbled Kai as he placed his key in the door to his apartment.

“—Kai, get out your laptop and I’ll help you with a message to send to her.” Brody cut in.

“I don’t want to speak to her. She has a bad attitude, I’m done with this whole Shots thing. I was drunk. Now I’m going for a shower before my shift. Make yourself at home, as usual.” Kai muttered. He stripped himself bare of his T-shirt and headed towards the far end of his apartment.

“Don’t worry, dude. I will!” He spotted Kai’s laptop open on the kitchen counter and a sly smile formed on his face.

Waiting for Kai to slam the door behind him, he made a bee-line for the laptop. Sliding his fingers across the touch pad, it came to life. Stupid shit, hasn’t even got a password on it. Brody smiled, his eyes lit up like a firework. Clicking the email Icon, he took a seat as he read the conversation between Romeo and Juliet. He sniggered, loudly while he took in the latest message received an hour ago.

To: Romeo

From: Juliet

7.12am

I’m arranging to meet appropriate candidates this evening. Despite my better judgment and our obvious wrong footing, I’d like to invite you to meet with me at Florence’s this evening at 9pm.

Would you be so kind as to politely let me know, if this is convenient for you?

I’ll be wearing a black Versace dress and will be at the bar.

“Oh, this is too easy.” Brody mumbled with a smirk then began penning a response.

To: Juliet

From: Romeo