"Forgive my intrusion, I've been trying to ring your cell, but no ones been answering. I heard the commotion out back and came through." Aman smiles to everyone, who smile back at him.
Lance comes up and shakes his hand, "Dr. Patil. Nice to see you, what brings you by?"
I step forward as Aman greets Lance and mentions something about me leaving something in his car.
"I'm sorry, I left something in your car?" I inquire, leading him towards the house and away from all the prying ears.
Big daddy is giving Aman the eye, which Aman catches, making him blush as we walk past and into the house.
As the door shuts you can hear Big Daddy announce, "Woo boy, I don't know what he's a doctor of, but I think I got it..." followed by the raucous laughter of everyone outside.
"Aman, I'm very sorry about my guests behavior. We're a few drinks into our evening already." I quickly apologize to him.
He straightens up and laughs, "It's nothing, nothing I've not heard before. Now, I'm sorry but I was having my car detailed and they found this bracelet in it." He pulls out a simple tennis bracelet that I remember wearing the night we went out.
I cover my face loosely with one hand, " I didn't even realize I didn't have it when I got home. Silly me. Thank you, so much. You didn't have to go out of your way to bring it to me." I thank him, taking my bracelet from him.
"I was not far from here actually, and figured why not. Interesting group of friends you've got out there, by the way. I see Jim's nephew is here too." Aman smiles and I nod awkwardly.
"Yes, just having a BBQ." I say not sure of what else to add onto that when Simon pops his head in the door.
"Hey, Lirael, the rest of us want to know if you're going to share the doctor with the rest of us.....?" He winks at Aman and closes the door, laughing as we hear him walk down the steps.
"Interesting may have been the wrong word." Aman hums at my obvious annoyance at Simons intrusion.
"Wasted flirts would be a better term, I do believe."
We both snicker at that as he shrugs, "If you don't mind, if you can't beat them, join them?"
I laugh, sigh, and ask, "You sure about that?"
Aman grins, "Absolutely."
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you." I laugh and tug him out side and shout, "Everyone, this is Aman, one of the doctors I work with. Aman, this is everyone. Be careful, some of them bite." I laugh as others laugh too.
"Are you hungry? We still have warm ribs and sides, Aman." Big daddy lifts up the grill hood and Aman nods.
"Sounds great, it's not beef right?" Aman walks off to get some food, and is soon flanked by Simon who's made him a drink by the looks of it.
I laugh and smile, taking in Aman who's slightly taken aback but is becoming more comfortable by the second. Others from the club are coming up to say hello and I can tell he'll be fine.
"You're letting the good doctor mingle? You must really trust him." Lance's voice falls against my neck as his hands caress my shoulders.
It feels nice as he rubs some of the stiffness I didn't realize I had in them.
"Mmmm, he was the one who was curious. I think he was lonely tonight and needed a change of scenery." I lean back into his chest as he wraps an arm around me. My head is starting to feel the buzz from Simons excellent drinks.
My eyes flutter close, then snap back open when I realize what I'm doing.
"I'm sorry, I have to go to the bathroom." I quickly exit Lance's one armed embrace, heading inside to the restroom.
I try to shake my self out of my headspace I'm suddenly in. All the times Billy would wrap an arm around me like that, making me feel like he cared, that I was special, only for that same embrace almost choke the life from me if I looked at another man too long. The same hand that would drag me by my hair through his place, bouncing my head off the walls, telling me to stay in that corner or I'd regret it. Who'd sit there, smoking or doing a line of whatever in front of me, belittling me, forcing me to inhale, or whatever he was feeling at the time. Until his rage was finally quenched.
It was always that same one armed, territorial hug around the shoulders like that, that would start the beginning of a bad night.
I try to take a deep breath, but I'm starting to hyperventilate. I'm in the downstairs powder room, and quickly grab a clean bag from under the sink, and start trying to focus on my breathing.
I can do this, just breathe. It was Lance not Billy. I'm safe, just breathe. You're having a good time tonight, everyone is here. Just breathe. Don't let that filth continue to make your life miserable. He can't hurt me anymore. Just breathe.
*Knock-Knock*
"There's a powder room by the garage!" I say through the door.
"Okay! Are you okay in there Lirael? You don't sound good?"
It's Charlotte.
"Uh, yeah. I just need a moment, nature calls kind of thing."
Fuck it, I'd rather her think I'm shitting then freaking out.
"Okay, hun. You said by the garage?"
"Yes." I respond trying to sound normal, as I keep taking deep breaths.
After another minute or so, I've finally calmed down. I flush the toilet, spray some bathroom spritzer, for good measure, and wash my hands. I look in the mirror, trying to school my facial reactions so no one catches on.
I walk out the door, with a soft smile on my face and make a new drink inside. I'm scanning the crowd out back to see where everyone is before I head outside.
I notice Aman talking with Big daddy, Jack, Brian and Simon. Charlotte and her husband are with a few others and the only person I don't see is Lance.
"Hey are you okay?"
A shrill, startled scream escapes my mouth sounding like a teenager in a haunted house. I jump ten feet in the air, trying to follow my heart that shot through the ceiling, splashing my drink all over the floor in the process.
"Dear heavens! You scared the daylights out of me!" I scramble to step away from the window, hoping no one heard my shriek, as I run to get some paper towels to clean up the mess.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that." Lance grabs the trash can and starts soaking up some of the mess with a few napkins on the table.
The back door swings open and Big Daddy, puffing in alerted concern looks around, "Everything okay? I heard a scream."
I blush as everyone starts crowding around Big Daddy.
"Yes, yes." I blush and Lance waves everyone off.
"Yes, I snuck up on her and made her spill her drink. We're fine, I'm just an ass."
Everyone grumbles and starts to leave, while I continue to mop up the mess with Lance.
"I'm sorry." Lance says quietly as we finish up and stand up.
"It's okay, it's not the first time I've ever been startled." I shrug it off as my back door opens again.
"Hey, we are all taking off, we cleaned up the trash from our area and put the glasses by the bar. Was there anything you'd like us to do before we head out?" Charlotte asks, making me head over and out to say bye to the people leaving.
Big Daddy and Aman were the last two to leave, making sure they helped put the food away and tidy up. I noticed before Aman left though, he gave Big daddy his card.
"Ohhh...." I muffled my delighted surprise, watching the smile exchanged before they left.
I'm practically skipping towards the kitchen after locking the front door.
"What's got you in such a good mood suddenly?" Lance asks as he loads the dishwasher with glasses.
"I just saw Aman give Big daddy his card. I was not expecting that connection but hey." I shrug with a giant smile and imagine them kissing.
My face droops a little bit and I shake my head, "Don't try to picture that, Lirael."
Lance bursts into laughter at that.