Gemini

I stood staring at her just shaking my head in awe of her beauty. “I can’t wait to take you out Friday night,” I said.

“Me too. Text me when you get there, okay?” she said.

I was touched that she would be worrying about me. I knew I would be thinking about her every second of this trip.

CHAPTER 19

ALLISON

Smelling him on my shirt for the hundredth time, I tried to imagine that he was still here. I still couldn’t believe everything that had happened in less than twenty-four hours, on Christmas, no less.

I had spent the day cleaning my apartment and doing laundry downstairs in a daze, replaying every moment since he burst through the door and saved me from Nate.

Sitting on the couch, I looked down at the two Alex and Ani charm bracelets that Cedric’s mother had given me for Christmas, admiring them for being the reason that Cedric came to me. Each silver bracelet had a single charm, one saying “Thank You” and the other had the Virgin Mary, an ode to both of our Catholic upbringings.

I looked down at my watch. Cedric’s flight was at 6:00, so he should be in L.A. sometime before midnight. I wanted to stay up to see if he would text me when he landed. I know that’s lame, but I couldn’t help myself. It was only 11:00, so I decided to watch the Sex and the City marathon to occupy my mind.

As I watched the character Samantha put sushi on all over her body to surprise her boyfriend Smith, my phone chimed and I grabbed it.

Cedric: Just landed. Can’t stop thinking about you.

My heart fluttered and I typed.

Allison: Me too. I miss you already. Get some rest. I know you must be tired.

Cedric: I am. Will you be around tomorrow night?

Allison: Yes. What do you have in mind?

Cedric: I’d like to Skype with you. Do you have Skype?

Allison: I do. Send me an invite. My Skype name is: AllisonAbraham1984

Cedric: Awesome. “See” you tomorrow night.? Look for me about 10:00 your time. I should be done with my meetings by then. Good night.

Allison: Good night, Cedric.

I put the phone down and sighed. Oh, God…I had it bad for this man.

A few minutes passed and my phone chimed again. My heart melted at the single and last text from Cedric.

Cedric: ?

***

It was a miracle that

I was able to stop thinking about him long enough to sleep last night. When my alarm sounded, I jolted out of bed with a newfound zest for life. I hope I wasn’t setting myself up for heartbreak.

Cedric had told me he had been with a lot of women sexually. That sort of intimidates me.

I told him last night the truth, that I had only been with three men my entire life: my high school boyfriend Trent, my mid-twenties boyfriend Sean…and Nate. But at the same time, I couldn’t wait to experience what every one of Cedric’s women had.

***

“Allison, you look like you have something up your sleeve.” Delores turned to me as she wiped the diner counter.

“It’s that obvious, huh?” I smiled, not being able to contain the fact that I was on cloud nine.