The remainder of my weekend was spent settling into Roxanna's home. After graduating from Berkeley, she saved money and bought a house the next year. She was able to obtain a fantastic deal on a foreclosure home while working as a loan officer for a real estate firm. We had lived together during my undergraduate years, so doing it again was not at all awkward. This was only temporary; I moved in with her, paid rent, and helped with anything until I found my place.
The house was Craftsman style, with exteriors emphasizing harmony with surrounding nature. Along with a flat-screen, contemporary furnishings, and a gaming console, all compliments were made by Leon, Carter's younger brother, and currently Roxanna's boyfriend. They'd been together for a year, although they'd dated for eight months before he moved in. The news that they were dating caught me off guard, but I was also ecstatic. I was now avoiding him by hiding in my room.
We always had a good time together while Carter and I were hooking up, so he was cool with me moving in. The idea of us hanging out again made me happy. However, I was unaware of Leon's anger at me at the time. Now I didn't want to have any more uncomfortable chats.
By posting my resume and getting ready for any interviews, looking into flats, and getting in touch with old acquaintances. In the meantime, I was able to stay away from Leon. On this Sunday, I was getting ready to go to Bottle Ground in my room. While I was attending graduate school, I worked as a bartender there. It was undoubtedly where my friends would hang out. We watched sports, played games, and got cheap drinks. There, my friend Caroline was still employed. I intended to catch up with her while watching the Lakers play the Warriors.
I was brushing my hair and putting it into a side low ponytail when I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in!" I called. Leon was standing at the door. I was startled and looked up. He was a few inches shorter than Carter and lacked the assertive masculinity of Carter. He smiled at me, displaying all of his charisma.
"Hey," I nervously smile. "What's up? You good?"
"Yea, everything is fine. You? Heading out?" Leon asked me.
"Good. Yea… just getting ready to head out," I answered, grabbing my purse.
"Oh."
"Did you need something?" I asked, attempting to be relaxed and cool.
"Yeah, just that. I wanted to talk to you."
I groaned inwardly. "Well, I have some time before I have to go-"
"I wanted to discuss that with you. You seem to be avoiding me… well, me in general," he said. Leon was still standing at the door. Obviously blocking me.
I focused on finding my keys in my bag. "I've been busy…"
"Yeah, avoiding me," Leon grinned, contagiously. His smile made me think of Carter, and I unwind. I exhale loudly.
"You got me. I'm yours. In so many ways, I just felt awkward. You, as Carter's brother and Roxanna's boyfriend. CJ's uncle," I smiled at the last one.
"As Roxanna's boyfriend, I'm positive that's why things are weird between us right now."
"She told you?"
"That I might have called you out for being b****y?"
"Oh no, she said b****," I clarified, smartly.
"Does it make a difference?"
"Big difference! Huge!"
He laughed and finally came into the room and flopped down on the bed. I sat right along with him.
"Whatever I may have said, it was in reference to a girl who had injured my brother. Not about the best friend Roxanna has, and particularly not about our new roommate."
I smiled. "Roommate? That sounds like we're sharing a room. Say, housemate."
"Roommate! "I'm going to speak it into existence, even if it's just for a night," he teased.
"Perv!" I laughed, and before jumping from the bed, I gave him a friendly shove.
"Hey, Katy?"
"Yeah?" I responded, turning to face him.
"I apologize… for calling you a b****. Even though I claimed not to want to be between you two, I was. Just so you know, we're avoiding you and Carter's relationship because it affects Roxanna and me. Just know that you have my support." Leon then winked at me with that grin of his.
"I don't know about that part but," I said, before turning back and giving him a hug. "Thanks, Leon."
*****
-Flashback: February 13, 2013-
"Hey! You made it! Happy Singles Awareness Day!" I said it cheerfully as I saw Carter come up to the bar. He nodded at me and sat down on a bar stool, with that grin of his, and I smiled back. "Give me a moment," I mouthed to him. I was finishing up making two vodka sours and delivering them to my customers before turning my attention back to Carter.
"Yes, I did. "I just thought it would be more crowded," he commented, looking around.
I shrugged, mixing him a drink. "It's the day before Valentine's Day, and the majority of women prefer not to visit an arcade, objecting to that. "I'm taking advantage of the quiet while I can because this weekend will be packed with teens and singles looking for love," I explained to him, handing him a drink.
He looked at it. "What is this?"
"It's called the New Me Gimlet."
He cocked an eyebrow at me, giving me a look before taking a sip. He sputtered before swallowing. "That's awful."
I laughed. "It's a bit of vodka with apple juice and a bit of cider. I might have added some lemonade. You said you don't drink and you're driving…"
"Can't you just get me a beer?" He asked, with a smirk.
"No, I needed something combined so I could name it and make a symbolic reference to letting go of all the drama, nonsense, and other distractions in favor of having fun," I smiled.
He nodded. "Oh, yeah, we needed that type of fun either way. I can do that," he said, taking another sip but grimacing a bit. I grinned at him.
"Cool. Your brother is already here." I walked away to take another order. After fulfilling it, I walked back to Carter.
"So where are you going tomorrow?"
"Ugh, what?" I respond. I was honestly confused by his questioning.
"Where is your boyfriend taking you for Valentine's?" Carter asked me.
"Nowhere I… I don't have a boyfriend." I could feel the light of the heart reflected on my flushed cheek. I darted my gaze away from him, looking down. I don't know if I was shy because he was asking or because I just didn't have a boyfriend in the first place.
"Oh, I thought that guy, the one at your house —" Carter started.
"Josiah is just a friend," I said quickly, cutting him off, not wanting to go down that road. For as long as I knew Josiah, I wanted him to be my boyfriend in college, but it never happened. I want to tell him how I feel, but the voices in my head made me hush up, so I kept it deep inside. Thinking about it now If I had told Josiah before, maybe things wouldn't be the same. Josiah was now one of my closest friends because I finally let go of my feelings for him.
"I see… so, if you had a boyfriend, where would you want him to take you?"
"Here would be cool," I simply answered.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm a huge kid. That's the reason why CJ and I have good chemistry and get along so well," I said.
"One of the reasons," he said, flashing me a seductive grin. His brown eyes are so dark, like molten chocolate. Suddenly I became hot under the gaze he was casting at me. My heart started pounding, and my brain was spinning. What ought I say or do? My focus starts to wander. The way he was looking at me caused my insides to turn.
"I've got to get back to work," I replied, trying to make myself look busy.
"Alright. Make sure you find me during your break. So we can play a game." I smiled and nodded.
I turned to face the other guests in the room, fulfilling someone's order, and then began to wipe the countertop at a distance from Carter. I stared at him from the corner of my eyes. I had been acquainted with Carter for more than a year, ever since the hospital incident. At first, he hated my guts and despised my presence. Who wouldn't? I was the sister to the brother who was cheating with his fiance. I might as well be seen as an accomplice who kept CJ so those two could have fun. Yet that was far from the truth.
However, CJ kept wanting to see me, and so did I. Carter tried to put a wedge between us, but it didn't work. He eventually learned that I had no idea about the matter and was as clueless as him.
I watched as he sipped the last remains of his drink. The way he smiled as the dimples form in his cheeks. I wasn't sure, but I believed he was always attempting to get to know me since CJ made me a part of his life. I figured Carter had to accept that too, especially given my relationship with CJ. Or was he just trying to spend time with me? Or perhaps I was the one who was constantly overthinking his actions.
I exhaled heavily and bent down to begin looking for more mixtures in the cooler. When I raised my head to look at Carter again, there he was, grinning at me. Instantly, I could feel my own cheeks turning red. Was it just in my mind, or did he also have somewhat pink cheeks? The mere thought of it made me grin at him, as I turned away. It caused me to feel so lite like the cloud in the sky. I slightly shook my head and mixed the orders as requested, pushing the thought aside.