'Yo, Cal!' Charlie's voice called from the back. 'Come check this out.'
I stood from the front desk and crouched through the archway to see him and Tori huddled at her station.
'What?' I asked.
'See this piece Tor has designed,' he told me.
I moved towards them and glanced down at her pad that she was still shading on. She had the smallest smile on her face; a little bit of smugness that she was trying to conceal but she was clearly flattered at Charlie's reaction.
It was an undeniably stunning piece of art; a beautifully designed elephant, shaded in the most lifelike of ways, surrounded by continuous patterns of intricate, flawless mandala artwork. I found myself nodding in approval and pulled my eyes away from the pad to see her watching my reaction.
'It's awesome, Tori,' I said, nodding quickly. 'Is that for a client?'
'Sure is,' she said. 'It's to cover her whole back and she already has all of her sessions booked in and paid for so I had to get cracking with it.'
'Man, were we lucky that you chose our shop to walz into and demand a job,' Charlie chuckled. 'Right, Cal?'
'Right,' I said, smiling politely but feeling a little awkward as Tori turned to me to hear my response. 'Great job, keep it up.'
'Will do, Boss,' she said.
I looked up to see the clock hitting six and with Tori now taking on a shitload of clients, we were back to our normal closing time.
'You guys should get home,' I told them. 'I'll lock up.'
'We're heading down the road for some beers,' Charlie said, as they both stood to their feet. 'You joining?'
'Nah, Bethan will be home,' I told him.
'Is that your girlfriend?' Tori asked and I nodded subtly.
'I'm sure Bethan won't mind, she's cool,' Charlie said, patting my arm.
'What does she do?' Tori asked, politely.
'She's a fucking Columbia student,' Charlie told her. 'Impressive, huh?'
'Wow, now that's surprising,' Tori giggled.
'What is?' I asked with a slight frown.
'You just don't seem the type to be dating an Ivy League college girl,' she said with a smirk. 'But each to their own I guess.'
'Nah, Bethan's nothing like those college losers,' Charlie told her. 'She's cool.'
'Then I'm sure she won't mind,' Tori said as she smiled at me.
'Yeah,' I said with a nod. 'Sure, let's go.'
It was only six and I was sure she had a ton of work to do anyway. I pulled out my phone to let her know I'd be home around eight and she replied with a heart. I smiled as I slid the phone back into my pocket before turning out the lights and stepping out onto the street, locking up the shop and turning to follow the other two.
We arrived at the shitty little empty bar a block away and placed ourselves at a table as Charlie went for the first round.
'So!' Tori spoke as she flashed her huge veneers at me. 'You got a picture of Bethan?'
'I do but I'm not about to show you,' I told her.
'Why?' she chuckled.
'Because it's fucking weird,' I said with a frown.
'No it's not,' she giggled.
'Yeah, it is. We met yesterday,' I told her, a smirk spreading on my face.
'So,' she laughed a girly little high-pitched laugh that did not match her appearance.
'So, its fucking weird that you're asking to see a picture of my girlfriend,' I said, unable to help but laugh a little.
'Okay, sorry I asked,' she said.
'Yeah, you can see her the next time she calls into the shop if you're so interested,' I told her.
'Or I'll just search her up on Instagram,' she said as she shrugged casually.
'Yeah, you're definitely a fucking weirdo,' I told her. 'Next I'll see you outside my apartment trying to peep through my windows.'
She broke into an abrupt fit of laughter and I smirked as Charlie arrived back with the pints.
'What's funny?' he asked.
'Cal won't let me see a pic of his girl,' Tori said, pouting her lip at me.
'He's very overprotective of her,' Charlie said with a teasing grin.
'Fucking have to be in this world my man,' I told him before taking a swig of my beer.
'I'm not going to steal her from you,' Tori teased. 'Although, I bet I could.'
'Not a chance,' I said as I uncontrollably grinned at her wittiness.
'Oh, I could,' she chuckled.
'Yeah man, she's hotter than you,' Charlie said.
'She doesn't have a dick like mine,' I said, with a smug look.
'Ohh! Okay!' Tori cried out loud before letting out another fit of giggles.
'You're fucking nuts, man,' Charlie laughed.
In-fucking-deed I am.
...
'Bethan?' I said out loud as I wandered through the apartment door to find darkness.
I walked carefully as not to bump into anything and kicked off my shoes before heading for our room. I opened the door to find the only source of light coming from her laptop, placed on her lap as she sat in bed, earbuds in.
I smiled to myself as the very sight of her greeted me and I felt the automatic urge to move to her. My body always ached to be close to her whether she was or wasn't around me but when I didn't see her all day, the feeling was at its peak.
She eventually glanced my way as she noticed me approaching the bed and I whipped off my jeans and t-shirt before dropping down beside her.
'What are you up to?' I asked, as I laid my head on her bust and her arm laced around my neck, her hand resting on my chest and her touch instantly bringing comfort to me.
'Just getting a head start on an assignment,' she said. Hearing her voice after a long day away from her was heaven to me, even if she was talking about college shit.
'That's good to hear,' I told her. 'What's it for?'
'Asian American Literature,' she replied.
'What made you to take up a class like that?' I asked.
'I don't know,' she said as she shrugged casually. 'It sounded intriguing and honestly, it really is. We're currently focusing on recurring cycles of love and fear in Asian North American relations from like the 19th to 21st century; it's actually quite fascinating.'
'Sure sounds it, baby,' I replied, as I grinned to myself at my adoration for the passion in her tone. She may not have been a typical Ivy League college girl but she was very intelligent indeed and when she lost herself in talking about the things she was learning, I listened, as much as it made no sense to me; I just loved hearing her voice getting so deep into it.
'You're being sarcastic,' she said, clicking her tongue.
'I'm not,' I chuckled, lifting and turning to bring my eyes to hers. 'I wish I understood it all a little better so I could talk to you about it but I do just enjoy listening to you telling me all the new things you're discovering.'
'Okay, you saved it,' she laughed.
'Always do,' I joked, cockily, turning back to my original position.
'So, you guys had to stay late again, huh?' she asked. 'At least it was a little earlier tonight. I guess the new artist must be helping things calm down a little.'
'Oh.' I rolled over onto my stomach so I could see her. Her eyes were still flickering over her laptop screen. 'No, we actually managed to get closed at six.'
'Oh, really,' she replied, still reading the screen. 'Why did you come home late?'
'We just went for a few beers after,' I told her. 'I hope that's okay.'
'What?' she said with a frown and turned to me before flattening her palm softly against my cheek. 'Of course it's okay, why would you even say that?'
She chuckled a little as if my remark were completely silly until I realised, it was. Bethan would never have a problem with me going out to socialise, if anything, she would encourage it.
'I'm glad you've managed to make friends out of your colleagues,' she said.
'Thanks, baby,' I said, before leaning up to kiss her cheek.
I got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and cleaned my face before heading back to our room where Bethan had put away her laptop and was laid down under the covers. I climbed in next to her, with a feeling that never diminished or grew old as I found myself feeling that gentle buzz of excitement in my body at sleeping next to this perfect girl every night and waking up to her beautiful face every morning.
As soon as I laid down, I grabbed her and slid her across the mattress to me, reaching my arms right around her to cage her in and buried my nose into her neck to breathe her in. Having her beside me never failed to bring me the peace and settlement that I had wished for at night for years and sleep greeted me before I even got the chance to tell her I loved her.
...
The next morning, I woke up to hear Bethan already moving around the apartment getting ready for her day. I got up and dragged on some pants before moving to the bedroom door and saw her rushing around the apartment, throwing her books into her bag.
Her hair was in the style that I always loved; not styled at all. When she didn't do anything to it, it had a natural wave and when it fell down by her face it defined the beautiful heart shape of it. I could never help but study my girl in such detail; she was perfection to me. I had always believed that there was no such thing as perfection but I knew now that back when I thought that, I just hadn't found it yet.
'Morning!' She beamed brightly as she spotted me.
'You look beautiful,' I said, my voice still low and grunted from sleep.
'Thank you,' she said, cutely as she blushed. 'I tried not to wake you.'
'You didn't,' I said, moving into the room.
'I have to hurry,' she said. 'If I miss the subway then I'll have to wait for the next one and that one makes me late. I don't want to sit at the front again.'
She was still moving around frantically and I paced the floor and stopped her with my hands on her shoulders.
'Okay, how about you just calm down,' I chuckled. 'I'll drive you.'
'You can't,' she said, trying to pull away. 'You have work.'
'I don't have a client until eleven so I don't even need to go in yet,' I said. 'Charlie can open up. He has a key and an early morning session booked in.'
'If you're sure,' she said, wrinkling her nose a little.
'If I'm sure?' I repeated. 'Of course I'm sure, come here.'
I dragged her quickly to me and her petite little body hit my own as I cupped her face and kissed her, moving my mouth frantically over hers and I heard her bag hit the floor before her arms laced around my neck. I could feel myself becoming aroused and pushed my crotch against her, feeling her smile against my lips.
'So, we don't need to leave just yet right?' I murmured against her mouth. 'If you know what I'm saying.'
'I do,' she giggled. 'But I'm also thinking, now I have time to stop at Starbucks on the way.'
'Really?' I asked with a frown. 'You're being serious?'
'Yeah,' she replied with a grin.
'Starbucks over sex?' I asked her.
'Any day of the week,' she chuckled.
'Wowwww,' I mused, dramatically. 'Now that fucking hurts.'
'Sorry, my love,' she chuckled and pecked my lips again.
'Yeah well, you don't know what you're missing,' I told her, as she moved to pick up her bag and I paced the floor to go get dressed.
'I do know,' she called as I entered our room. 'But I know I can have it anytime I want so I'm good with that.'
'Oh! That's how it is, huh?!' I called back, smirking to myself at her teasing.
I pulled on a t-shirt and headed back out where she was waiting and ready by the door.
'It's how it's always been,' she giggled.
'Well, not anymore,' I said as I grabbed the car keys. 'From now on, if you want a piece of this, you'll have to beg for it.'
'We'll see,' she laughed.
'Oh, yeah we will!' I cried.
'You'll cave first,' she replied as she stepped out the door.
'We'll just see about that,' I teased, as I smacked her ass and pulled the door shut.
We drove the journey to the Upper West Side and stopped at a Starbucks so Bethan could run in quickly, bringing me a black coffee too. I continued on through the morning traffic to drop her at campus, the first time I had visited the place with her since her very first day.
As I parked up on Amsterdam Avenue, she unbuckled and turned to me with a grateful smile.
'Come on.' I signalled with a nod. 'I'll walk you to your building.'
'Wow,' she giggled, stepping out of the car.
We headed up the street towards her campus and she laced her fingers between mine as we walked. I'd never needed reassurance or actions from Bethan to show that she was proud to be with me, but whenever she did show that she wanted the world to see that we were together, I couldn't ignore the happiness it brought me.
The feeling was especially heightened as we paced this campus full of students who had clearly never seen a guy like me around here before. The stares were evident at this young, college girl walking hand in hand with a guy covered head to toe in tattoos; I knew the ink on my face especially was attracting most of the looks.
I also knew that they were probably all spoon-fed brats who were raised out in the suburbs having everything handed to them all their lives. They'd never come across a guy like me before and if they did they'd probably wandered into the wrong part of the city and would be sure to cross the street. The expressions of discomfort and intimidation and judgement took me right back to my hometown where it was my life every single day and frankly, if it weren't for Bethan being right by my side, I would tell them all to take a fucking hike.
'My building is that one right there for my Medieval English class,' she told me, pointing to the large, fancy hall.
I nodded as I snapped out of my frustrated thoughts and we crossed the grass towards the main steps where I prepared to leave her.
'Oh.' I heard her murmur quietly.
'You okay?' I asked, glancing down to see her eyes focused. I looked up and spotted a young guy chilling on the steps, his eyes down at his phone.
'Yeah,' she said. 'My friend is waiting for me. He's in the same class.'
'Oh yeah,' I said as I nodded. 'You told me.'
I sensed that she expected me to leave her at this point and not wanting to make her feel awkward by having me walk her right to the building, I stopped and turned to her, leaning down to kiss her quickly and she smiled up at me as I pulled away.
'If you want picked up give me a call,' I told her. 'I'll try and get away.'
'Okay,' she replied.
'Bethan!' A voice called out to her.
I noticed her eyes flicker a little and her mouth move into a straight line as she glanced to the side before forcing a smile that I knew was false.
'Hi, Brodie,' she said.
The guy from the steps was approaching us and as he neared, I was surprised to see just how bright green his eyes were. He looked me up and down a little before giving me a friendly smile and holding out his hand.
'Brodie,' he said. 'Bethan's friend from high school.'
'Cal,' I replied, shaking his hand, as much as I didn't want to.
'Well, see you later,' Bethan said, awkwardly and I began to step away from her.
'See you tonight, baby,' I said.
'Later dude.' Brodie waved politely and the two of them headed off to their class.
As I spun around to head back to my car, I couldn't help but wonder why Bethan seemed so irritated by his presence. Now, I knew that I had nothing to be worried about in regards to trusting her but I couldn't help but wonder if there was something about him that caused her to act so uncomfortably. She looked like she couldn't have been more pissed to have him approach us and talk to me. We had an honest relationship and I planned to ask her about it when she got home.
As I crossed the street and opened the car door, I pulled the secret packet of cigarettes from under the seat and stood back up, leaning against the car and sparking up. I had wound myself up a little from letting those losers on campus get into my head and from wondering if there was something about this kid that I needed to know and the promise of not smoking I had made to Bethan was unfortunately out the window.
My mind was curious of this pretty boy, and as I threw down the butt and climbed into the car, I began overthinking a little. Making sure she was happy and safe was my life's priority and as I drove off down the street to head to work, I planned to keep a very close eye on this guy.