Get Serviced

Upon realizing the possibilities of her words, Audrin hid her smile with another sip of wine. She wouldn’t commit to promising him another night like that — especially not if they were going about this “properly." But even so, she was committing to spending another night with him, just differently.

Audrin set her glass down carefully before looking up at Calvin once again. She read over his face cautiously as if searching for the fine print in this deal, but finding nothing more than him just wanting to take her out. What had him investing in her, Audrin still couldn’t wrap her mind around it — almost the same way she couldn’t wrap her mind around what had her curious in him.

"So semi-formal, you’ll pick me up, we’ll take your car, and I’ll be ladylike as you’ll be gentlemanly for a night of your choosing," she ran through the small and only details of their date as if confirming them. But only as she said it did it seem all the more real and that much more… exciting. Exciting and nerve wrecking for who knows how long it’d been since she’d done.. this. For Calvin to have her wanting to go on a date with him — now that said plenty for both.

"The way I see it, the only thing it’ll cost me is a Friday—no, Saturday night? If that works with you?" Audrin raised a brow knowing well that the vacancy of his nights were limited. But Saturdays were perfect for dates, giving her the whole day to prepare both mentally and physically if need be; if it went well, Sundays were quiet days in need of plans anyway, but if it didn’t, Monday would come soon enough to distract her.

Jokingly, he loosened his tie as he slouched back into his couch, as if coming home from a long day of work.  It was a rewarding day, however.  At least, the last ten minutes had been.  He'd successfully confirmed a day of intimacy with a girl he had become sure wouldn't reward him the time of day anytime soon.

Call him a bastard, but the thought alone was enough to spur a smug smirk.  "Other than the obvious fact that you want me and like class, what else do you want?  What else do you like?"

He didn't mean it exclusively for their date, of course.  He was legitimately curious.  As he'd realized earlier, there weren't many specifics about her that he had to go off of.  But if Calvin were truly planning on investing time into something that was inevitably fleeting, he had to at least insure that her departure wouldn't be his fault.  He had to cover all his bases, really do this right. 

And hopefully she would do the same.

Though he was still trying to play it cool, Calvin watched her from his peripheral vision.  The ice cream he'd suddenly found more appetizing was a good distraction as he awaited her answer.  Maybe it was too vague of a question?  Maybe she was too guarded a person?  Maybe she didn't care of he knew her and was just using the date as an opportunity to take advantage of his generosity . . .

"You must know what it’s like, too," he said, tempted to judge Calvin’s elbow but refrained from doing so. “It may start out that way, with the benefits and the friendship. But then there are feelings." He spat the word, as if it tasted like a vodka shot without a chaser.

Jeremy was quiet for a moment. Maybe, just maybe, he didn’t like the one night stands anymore. He cocked his head and smiled to himself. He knew that he could get any girl in this club, that much was obvious. But what do multiple conquests mean if the person getting it all still feels an emptiness? He shook his head and stared at his drink. How strong do they make these here? he questioned, feeling as if his brain was swimming around under that natural, messy fringe. 

"Don't you think," he began carefully, the tips of his fingers tinkering with the glass in his hand, "that after a certain point, emotions don't become a choice?"

People, he liked to believe, didn't choose to leave each other.  It was a flaw in the system that made them inherently flighty.  The nicety of making promises was another flaw in humans who thought they could surpass what was encoded in them for generations.  The greatest flaw, Calvin suspected, was that people didn't choose to fall for each other, either.

"At that point, you take what you can get," he inhaled sharply for a second before continuing, jaw tight, "emotions, none, whatever the hell you're looking for, they're not going to last.  So enjoy them while they're there."

Feeling restless once more, he leaned forward for another drink and knocked it back almost as quickly as he had poured it.  What he couldn't bring himself to admit to Jeremy as that he suspected he, Calvin, was one of those "surprising people."  And he didn't believe that in pretension.  He just knew himself well and, as foolish as he knew it to be, once Calvin felt an attachment to someone he gave them more.  Wanted more.

To her own surprise, it eased her own anxiety to know they were playing on the same level. Nothing wrong with her being nervous if he was, too. And Audrin couldn’t help but smile, finding it almost endearing how he literally changed into his business mode.

Lost mentally resetting herself to face Calvin in a more stable state, Audrin returned back to the present situation as he took the glass of ice cream from her hands to replace it with wine. She bit back a smile of amusement as she listened to him, swirling her glass of wine gently as a distraction — couldn’t let him know she was that pleased with the way things were going.

Before replying, Audrin rose a finger to pause him as she took a sip of the wine, letting it fill her and prep her for proper business. “First of all, I do believe the actual scene of the crime is just right there," she gestured with a small nod of her head to the direction she vaguely remembered his bedroom to be.

"So as for location…" Audrin chewed her lip for a moment in thought: although The Vane was the place to go, going there on a date was quite the risk; even though he bar tended there, going with a date rather than a flirtatious group of friends might make getting past the bouncer with her fake unnecessarily difficult. Or maybe a part of her didn’t want to go there for a date — she often went to hook up, so it didn’t seem like the place to go for a proper date as she requested.

"Surprise me," she said decidedly after. “It’ll add to the excitement and may give you an edge. But… I will need an agenda of things you plan to do — dinner, movies, drinks — and an estimate of what this will cost me."

"Cost has such a negative connotation, doesn't it?" he said, pulling a sour face.  "Especially in regards to my proposal."

The business metaphor, he felt, only went so far.  In the end, he didn't want her to think of going out with him as some sort of transaction where she'd have to lose out on something just to gain him.  He wasn't presumptuous enough to assume that he was enough to make up for whatever she felt she was missing after . . . That wasn't how one sustained a relationship, and he knew this from witnessed experience.

But even with the uncomfortable bump, Calvin didn't feel any less inclined to take her out.  If she really did feel that being with him involved loss, he'd have to overcompensate with the perfect date.  A few places immediately came to mind--places he knew any girl would love. 

It was then that he realized how little he knew about Audrin specifically.  The most he had gathered was that she was a wary type who loved food and performed well in the bedroom.  There was certainly enough chemistry to keep him interested, but he still found him second guessing the options he'd come up with for their date.

"Regardless, the attire will be semi-formal.  Think cocktail, but classier."  He added the last part a bit hastily, remembering the last time he'd seen her dressed for cocktails.  As sexy as Calvin'd found her to be, he didn't want others encroaching on her during their date.  So he'd have to take one for the team, and have her dress a bit more modestly. 

Carefully, she looked Calvin over. It seemed like every encounter they’d have would always go down this path. Every encounter but one — and that one already had a set destination that required little conversation to get there. She bit her lip as her grip on her glass tightened. He was right though; the rum made the ice cream sweeter. And as kind as that was to her anxiety, the direction the conversation went in nullified that effect.

If Calvin was going to bring the conversation this way, then Audrin would follow — he was the host after all and it would’ve been rude for her to ignore that. Ignoring that much and setting it aside to fester would only allow him to bring it up against her later anyway. She didn’t come over expecting to explain herself, but she also didn’t expect to have this visit go without addressing certain things. Calvin didn’t seem the type to let go of what he thought was important anyway. At least, not easily.

Taking another bite of her ice cream, Audrin took a moment to pick her words before speaking: “Of all the reasons I’ve been hesitant to invest, the only one you should really be concerned about is your lack of a proper presentation to request my investing in… this. ‘You’re sexy, intelligent, and we had great sex’ isn’t a good enough pitch. Any one can tell me that."

Her voice had become lecturing almost and Audrin swallowed back the guilt welling in her throat. Calvin had indeed done more than that; what, with putting up with her own difficulty for so long. But that wasn’t it. She knew he’d done more, but as he’d said, knowing didn’t make a difference unless there was opportunity to use it.

"You can’t fault me for leaving that night," she said quietly, eyes focused on the ice cream sitting in rum. “We both went into it looking to get something from the other and we both got it; I didn’t have any reason else to stay or think I should. The contracts we made that night only entailed that much; only after did either want more…"

"…I just need a reason. A better proposal to invest." Audrin nodded to herself, swirling the glass lightly in her hand for a moment to distract before looking up at him with a certainty in her eyes.

It was surprising to him that he was suddenly rising to the conversation.  The initial impulse was to feel rejected, yet again, but somehow he was inspired.  Even setting aside his ice cream on the coffee table, he turned to her with squared shoulders and a smug grin.  This was business, more than anything, and now that he'd realized that . . .

Sitting before her only lasted so long before his antsiness took over--and soon enough, a better idea.  He held up a finger to pause the conversation as he sat up from the couch. 

Quickly, his feet padded over the hardwood floor as he made his way to the coat closet.  A bit haphazardly, he threw on his best sports coat and precariously slipped into a tie.  On a normal day, he'd feel repulsed with the way he'd disgraced a suit.  But hopefully she'd find it charming.

A proposal, after all, called for classier methods.  His next trip lead him back into the kitchen, where he picked out two no-stemmed, but deep, wine glasses.  The color crimson always seemed to suit him better, so he chose a red wine.  They had more punch than white wine, or maybe that was just in his head.

A lot of things were.

Once more, he plopped onto the couch and sat before her.  Gently, he took her ice cream from her, setting it next to his own.  He was tentative more so because he was scared of her appetite, but he needed her full attention.  To appease her, he handed her a glass of wine.

"A proper date would, sadly, require you to be more lady like than the last time I met you," he began loftily, not ready to accept all the fault for putting this off for so long.  "Not that I mind a lady to be so forward . . . You can be again, if you say yes to said date. And if said date goes well--two factors I'm absolutely confident over."

To refresh himself, as well as his ideas, he took a sip from his own glass.  Then, he began again.  "A proper date would also require classier transportation than a taxi.  So we'll take my car to . . . would it be bad to return to the scene of the crime?"

She took her glass of ice cream, taking a moment to look over it and purposely lag behind. Watching Calvin walk away to get a drink and head to the couch, Audrin found her stomach knotting. Something about the way his back stayed straight and strong — even cold — stung her, but he was expecting her to follow. After all the harsh attacks she’d landed on him, he still beckoned for her to follow and join him. Here she practically asked him to let her stay; him having her stay wouldn’t be any lethal punishment to her. If anything…

With another sigh, Audrin braced herself. This wasn’t so bad, she tried convincing herself as she followed him to the couch with her glass of ice cream in hand. They were just having ice cream. And a kindness for a kindness, she’d thank him later, try being less difficult — that’s all he wanted, right? Well, no, but it was a start.

Audrin sat on the couch, though a good distance away from her host. Still, she eyed the bottle of rum he’d taken out of his cabinet. “Ice cream and rum…?" She questioned, though with much curiosity. “Always fancy, aren’t you?"

Once the light laugh that escaped her settled, Audrin picked away at her ice cream, well aware of the possibility he could be watching her. Only Calvin ever poked at her eating habits so often here, Audrin found herself feeling self conscious. Being too gluttonous in front him may not leave the right impression — even if she often said she hardly cared about others’ opinions.

"I usually go with vodka myself," she added casually and quietly between tastes. “Though not often. I… don’t have opportunity to get a hold of better and it usually comes at a greater price, given my situation. I owed a friend a lot last time I asked for whisk—a favor…"

He shrugged and handed her back her cup, letting her decide for herself.  As he dug into his own serving, he made sure to at least raise an eyebrow so she'd know he was still attentive to her story.  It wasn't a bad thing that she spoke so much, even if it was unexpected.  At least they had something to fill the silence.

There were, of course, other things they could do to fill . . . the blanks.  But talking seemed to be more promising at the moment.  He'd already confirmed they had sexual chemistry, but as she'd shown him in the last few weeks, that wasn't going to be enough.  Not if he really wanted her to stick around.

"Party foul--you should just have to pay for the cost of the bottle.  Friends fund fun," he proclaimed, shaking his head.  "Or maybe you're just crazy.  And think you owe people when they're only trying to be nice."

As he said it, he stared resolutely into his cup.  Calvin tried his hardest not to wince, realizing that he was treading into dangerous territory.  Why bring up bad things on a good night?--Because if he didn't, they'd be brushed aside only to be mentioned again when her foot was already out the door.

Audrin took a step closer to the counter, still keeping her distance, but close enough to examine the ice cream Calvin set out. As she read the labels and looked at the pictures, she found herself sneaking glances at her current host. He had all the right to be irritated with her, to not want her here, to dismiss her like nothing. She hadn’t given him reason for otherwise.

Once she realized she fidgeted with the hems of her skirt again, Audrin sighed to herself and fold her arms. She drew a breath, hoping to ease the rapid pace her heart beat at. This wasn’t a bar she could hide any weaknesses with alcohol. This wasn’t a half drunken visit she could dismiss hesitance for something else. This was her putting herself out there — or in the lion’s den — intentionally to test herself and find her own answers regarding one Calvin King.

"I’ll make this easy on you; name your price and I’ll pay quickly so you don’t get any more tired of my presence here," she said with a firm voice. Audrin straightened up and looked Calvin in the eye; even if they weren’t in that same setting they were three weeks ago, there was still a pull in it. A pull that fueled her curiosity.

He had said the ball was her court as if he’d done everything he could and was now tired of playing. Admittedly, making him play — or even playing with him — when he’d shown his seriousness was wrong. But Audrin believed there was still so much this man could do. Maybe not in regards to her or whatever they were, but in general.

If he wanted her to give the ball back, he’d get it back.

"That is.. if you’d rather I not stay. But since I came all this way…" Audrin let her voice trail off as she sized him up, though with a softer look. She couldn’t bring herself to saying she wanted to stay, but everything in her felt like it said that enough.

Maybe Audrin was the same as him, nervous more often than not.  And that at that moment, she was choosing to show her vulnerability.  Regardless, Calvin wasn't feeling entirely warm to her at the moment.  Well, he was, but he shouldn't be.  

This was the woman who had him jumping through hoops for weeks.  He'd done so willingly, of course, but one couldn't deny that he lost a few grains of dignity along the way.  As much as he wanted to be the one playing with the hems of her skirt, he had to equal out the playing field.

While she spoke, he pretended not to consider her words too carefully.  Instead, he opened all three cartons and began searching for bowls.  Getting a better idea half way through, he decided on tall glasses.  Though he was meant to be putting her off, Calvin ended up scooping her some of each flavor.

When she finally shut up, he grinned a little and slid the cup towards her.  "I already charged you," Calvin began with a sigh, more upset at his own kindness than anything.  "You were supposed to get six scoops.  I deducted your fee."

Grinning a little, he grabbed his own cup and headed for the couch.  He paused for a moment at the liquor cabinet, choosing his favorite bottle of rum, before continuing his mini trek. 

"Fee number two--for entering my place again--is that you have to stay and eat that.  Here.  With me."

As much as it took courage to give the first knock, standing around and waiting for the door to open took even more courage. Already, Audrin could feel her own anxiety welling up inside of her and telling her to high tail it back to her own apartment where she could settle down with a nice cup of tea. That, more than anything else, seemed to soothe her nerves and that was exactly what she needed after having a busy day and misplacing her keys.

While she settled the key situation with the landlord, a part of Audrin couldn’t seem to quite settle down just yet. A friend had long ago told her 21 days of abstinence would break an addiction. However… although Audrin had done a fine job of keeping that rule in mind, she hadn’t quite done a fine job following that rule.  How many times had she talked to him over those 21 days? They hadn’t done anymore than that — her whiskey stunt counted as nothing — and a part of her hoped that maybe he’d get tired of her before anything else, move on, and they could call it a day.

What part was that? Audrin scoffed to herself as she found herself knocking on the door to 10A once again. The stupid part? No, that part was obviously the one knocking again. What would she even say to him once he opened the door? What was she expecting to get from him? Many times he offered something and more to her, but Audrin couldn’t wrap her mind around as to why he would do that. History told her men she wanted only returned the feeling when convenient. 

Maybe, maybe that would be okay again. Or at least until she figured out if she really wanted him like that. But the way Audrin readjusted her billowy light knit sweater enough to reveal just enough of her shoulder painted her a color she disliked, as did the way she straightened out her skirt. Maybe she should’ve showed up here in a little black dress if she wanted to get anywhere — that definitely worked 21 days ago.

After knocking again and not receiving an immediate answer, Audrin huffed to herself. Biting her lip, she fidgeted with the hems of her skirt. How desperate could she be? And what would she even say to him once he opened that door — if he was even hope to open it, that was.

"Hey, remember how you said you had dozens of ice cream cartons stocked up awhile back? I was just wondering if you—" The moment she practiced the dialogue to herself unfortunately was the exact moment the door opened. After all she’d said, it was too late to take a word back and so slowly and hesitantly, she continued:

"…still… had them… And… since you’re closer than the convenience store and all… I’d be willing to blo—buy. Buy. Buy them off of you."

This was a different Audrin from the one he'd met at the bar.  It was the Audrin he suspected she normally was, given her behavior from conversations.  In the lines of her bare shoulders he read a confidence that--under closer inspection--seemed more like a secret hesitance.  Yet here she was anyway. 

In any other event, the effort would have made him smile.  But he frowned anyway as he stepped back to let her inside, gesturing wordlessly.  More than anything, Calvin was confused as to why she'd chosen tonight.  And why she still seemed so unsure.  That was a thing he'd initially liked about her, after all.  The fact that she at least seemed much more sure than he was on a daily basis.

Once she'd shuffled in, he let the door shut behind her.  Calvin turned in his spot, not actually making any move towards her.  Mildly, he replied to her earlier inquiry.  "I'm not a fat fuck.  Almost all of them are still in the freezer."

With a dejected sigh, he headed for the kitchen.  Opening the freezer allowed him the opportunity to hide his face and there, he gave a small chuckle.  She was such a liar--but if she was going to be difficult about her real reasons for coming here, then so was he.