chapter 3 - there was nothing
942 Words
"I don't even know your name," he says.
"It's Amari."
"I like it," he replies and I chuckle.
"It's a nice name," I idly play with the tablecloth, waiting on the food. "Where do you work?" I ask him.
It's been a question that's been gnawing at me all day, and since we've met three times today, I might as well question him.
"You really wanna know?"
"That's why i asked."
He eyes me for a moment before leaning back. I thought he wasn't going to answer until he reached his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a badge.
Special Agent T. Matulo
"Wow, very impressive," it also made a lot of sense.
"Thank you."
"So do people want you dead?" I ask him for my own safety and surprisingly he grins.
"I like you," I gave him a confused look, "you say whatever you want to say, you don't hold back."
"Why should I?"
"I don't know. Most people don't say what they think, they say what they want you to hear."
"I suppose that's true," I ponder for a moment, "I guess I should let you know that I don't care about what you want to hear."
"Ouch," he chuckles, "that's fine, that way I know you're being honest." I nod and notice the waitress returning with the food. She sets down the plates then leaves and returns with the drinks.
His phone rings and upon looking at the caller ID, he rolls his eyes.
"Oh no, go ahead. The food here is great," he says as he notices that I was waiting for him.
I take his word for it and dive right into the mashed potatoes, it was putrid.
I hesitantly swallowed it, and looked up at him. He was staring at me.
"You've never eaten here before, have you?"
"I- why do you say that?"
I poke the pork chops, and realized that they were cold to the touch.
"Yeah . . . I'm gonna go." I move to slide out of the booth but he places his hand out.
"Wait. How about-"
"Tristan, I'm tired. I'm going to head home."
"Let me walk you home."
"I don't live far."
He doesn't protest as I grab my purse.
"Do you need help with the bill?" I offer before I leave and he shakes his head.
"Alright. See you around."
"See you." He mutters as I leave. Pushing the door open, the cool breeze almost knocks me over. I shudder as the wind roughly caressed my shoulders and arms.
"Damn," I murmur, hugging myself as I quickly marched through the cold.
#
"Wendy, Mr. Matulo is a FBI Agent." I tell her as we sit in Her office enjoying lunch.
"Really," she furrows her eyebrows. "How do you know?"
"I asked him what he did for a living."
"When?"
"When we were at the diner."
"The diner?" Wendy drops her fork. "What're you talking about?"
"Last night I went boyfriend hunting,"
"Amari." She deadpans
"And he was at the bar I went to, but he was acting strange, it's like he wanted me to leave."
"Oh,"
"But then when I left, he followed and insisted that we spend some time in a diner we found when I was walking home."
"Well, is he on your list now?"
"Nah." I shrug, biting into my wrap.
"Nah?" She looked awfully confused.
"Nah."
"What do you mean, 'nah' ? Have you seen the man?"
"Duh."
"Amari!" She stands, eyeing me crazily and I pause mid bite. "You have a Man who's clearly showing interest in you, not to mention he's fine as f**k, and you don't want to at least consider him?"
"Mm, not really."
She lets out an incredulous laugh, she sits back down, her belly jiggling as she plopped onto the seat.
Hehe, funny.
"I need to hear the reason why because girl. . ."
"I'm not sure that there's necessarily a reason. I just know he's not the one."
"And you learned that after sitting in a diner with him on one occasion?"
"Yes."
"Amari." She sighs, rubbing her forehead.
"Wendy, when I find the one, I'll know. My stomach will erupt with butterflies and there will be sparks and and-"
"Life isn't a fairytale child, I hate to break it to you, but I've been happily married for 5 years, and when I first met him there were no flying rainbows and blooming stars."
"What?"
"Point is, you have to get to know someone before you can even begin deciding that they're you're soulmate."
"But that's the thing, we don't decide who our soulmate is, the universe does, all we can do is recognize them when they come." She Gives me a flat look and I smile sweetly at her.
"Well I hope the universe gives you a fat hairy alcoholic since you don't want to take on this mighty fine piece of chocolate."
"I rebuke you, Wendy." We both laugh before dissolving in our silence and I couldn't help but think of the possibility of Tristan and I.
But I just didn't see it happening.
"You know Samson, right?"
"The repair guy? What about him?"
"He's getting married on Sunday, he invited us all so I'm hoping you would come."
"Sure, it's not like I'm doing anything else."
"I would tell you bring a date but . . ."
"Alright, I'm out." She cackles as I grab my stuff and leave.
While on my way back to my office, I notice Tristan in the reception area, talking to the cashier. I slow down and our eyes lock. Even as his words weren't directed at me, he never looked away.
I entered my office and pushed the door closed.
Tristan was attractive, that's for sure. His suit as usual was tailored to compliment every one of his muscles, his hair shaved and his hairline was sharp.
But other than that, there were definitely no butterflies, and we all know that what Wendy says wasn't true, we normally felt something.
If not butterflies, then breathlessness, shyness something!
But there was nothing, and I couldn't have that.
- Writer
