Love Is Madness

I did it. Finally, I have officially moved to West Hollywood, California. I am sitting on my bedroom floor listening to my CD player while unpacking boxes. My cell phone rings. I answer it to my cousin Stevie asking, “Hey, princess. Make it to Cali, yet?”

I reply, “I’m unpacking as we speak. Why? What’s going on?”

“There is a killer band playing the Whiskey tonight. You in?

“Dude, I literally just got in and started unpacking.”

“Kiddo, you don’t need to start unpacking until tomorrow. That means hang up the phone and start getting ready for the club, and look nice. Will you please do that?”

“I guess, I could go.”

“See you in little bit.”

“Alrighty then. See ya laters.” I hang up my phone. I grab my one-piece, black, velvet catsuit out of my box that has the word concerts written on the side. Going over to the box labeled underwear, I decide to wear a sexy black bra and black lace thong panties. I contemplate between thigh high heeled boots or stiletto shoes. With a huge silver belt, the boots would look the best. I take a quick fifteen-minute shower. With my Sean Paul cd playing, I hurry to get dressed, blow dry and brush my long, straight, reddish-brown hair, and put on my makeup. Suddenly, there is a knock on my door.

I open the door only to find Stevie has brought a friend along with him. I invite the two of them to have a seat on my couch and ask if they would like something to drink such as coffee, soda pop, or water. Stevie requests a water and his friend wants a coffee black with sugar. I bring the drinks to the two men, and I take my seat. Stevie makes the introductions of his friend, Shane Luciano and myself. Stevie’s cellular phone rings. He excuses himself to go into the hallway of the apartment complex to answer the phone, and tells Shane and I to continue talking. Quietly, I say, “So…”

Shane asks, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What brings you to Cali?”

“I thought this would be the best place to start a band and maybe write a screenplay or something like that. How do you know my cousin, Stevie?”

“We both do the whole music thing.”

“That’s cool.” I notice Shane staring at my huge boobies. “My eyes are up here, Buddy.”

“I apologize.”

“It’s okay.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you are one beautiful woman.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I take you out, sometime?”

“Only if you can go five minutes without looking at my chest.”

“Deal.”

“Sure, I will go out on a date with you then.”

“What types of things do you like to for fun?”

“I like to sing, dance, write, shoot pool, race cars, stuff like that, but I really want to learn how to surf. I think that would be an amazing experience. What stuff are you into?”

“Music, photography, reading, working out, shooting pool, shopping, and traveling to different places.”

“You know, you’re a good-looking guy. Why don’t you have a girlfriend? Something wrong with you or are you just a player?”

“What? I just haven’t met a woman who has intrigued me enough to take out, until you.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Look! Stevie has been bragging on about you, since the day I met him, and even more so since you told him you are moving out here to Cali.”

“Yeah. What has he said?”

“You’re too pretty to be as smart as you are, for one. You are a very talented singer and dancer. You’re really creative. You’re adventurous, kind, caring, and you are the most honest and loyal person he knows.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and if you are what Stevie makes you out to be, then you are the woman I have been look for my whole life.”

“Did he tell you I can’t cook? I mean the fire department from back home banned me from trying to cook on Saturday nights, so I wouldn’t interrupt their bingo game.”

“Come on, you’re cooking can’t be all that bad.”

“I have melted a coffee pot handle by boiling water.”

“For real?” Stevie walks back in the apartment. He asks if we are ready to walk over to the Whiskey because he has to get there due to equipment issues. Shane says to Stevie, “Dude, you can head over there. I can escort Miss Amara over whenever she’s ready.” Apparently, Stevie is cool with Shane’s idea because he gives me a hug and says he will see me later.

I ask Shane, “Do you think there is enough time to have a quick shot before we head out. My cousin doesn’t know I drink.”

“He doesn’t?”

“Nope. To him, I’m still the little girl that can do no wrong, and I don’t want to disappoint my own favorite cousin.”

“Sure, take your time.”

“Do you want a shot?”

“What are you pouring?”

“It’s called Sex with an Alligator.”

“What’s in it?”

“Midori and pineapple, then the Chambourd goes in, and finally I will use this spoon to top it off with Jagger.”

Seeing how the shot looks he says, “Wow, that looks cool. Yeah, I’ll try it.”

I pour another shot, “Here you go.”

We do our shot, and he asks if I am ready to walk over to the Whiskey. I am. I grab my purse, and we walk out the door. I make sure it’s locked; we head out.

As we begin walking to the venue, he asks, “Amara, may I hold your hand?”

I reply, “If you want.”

As Shane looks down to grab my hand, “I didn’t realize how tiny you are until just now.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“It is its own thing. Honestly, I totally like it.”

“Look, Mister, I have two rules when it comes to dating me.”

“What are they?”

“Don’t ever lie to me or cheat on me; other than that, I just go with the flow because when you love someone, everything should just come naturally.”

“I get ya.”

“And to be perfectly honest, I want to be in a seriously committed relationship. I want to one day get married and have a family.”

“That’s cool. My little sister has already tied the knot with a decent guy, so I would like to have that one day.”

“Yeah? I have this six-month rule. Say I become your girlfriend, it would take you six months to get down my pants.”

“You think you can resist my charms?” We both have a little giggle.

“Darling, I have rules, and my rules are not meant to be broken,” as we continue laughing, “Besides, I will have you begging.”

“Oh, really?”

“You have no idea.”

As Shane opens the door, I walk inside The Whiskey itself. With my hand in his, Shane leads me to a back corner table reserved for VIP guests. He pulls the seat out for me. With sincerity, I thank him, but I wonder if he is acting like a gentleman just to score with me. A waitress comes to the table to take our order. Shane asks what I would like to drink. I’ll have a shot of Sex with an Alligator, a Jagger Bomb shot, and a Coke chaser. Shane tells the waitress that we will take 2 Sex with Alligators, 2 Jager Bombs, a Budweiser beer, and a Coke. I ask if he’s ever done a Jager Bomb. He says they are okay. As Shane and I debate alcohol, the waitress comes back with our shots. Shane tips her, and asks me which shot we should do first. The alligator is first followed by the Jager Bomb immediately after. He lifts his glass. I ask, “What are we toasting to?”

He says, “To meeting you, Sweets. Are you ready for the toast?”

“What? You have a speech or something?”

“Something like that, Sweetheart.”

“Okay. Go on with your bad self.”

“The warmth of the sun is in your smile. May you and I get to know each other a while. This toast I make to you. May all your dreams come true. Cheers!”

“That was really sweet, Shane. Thank you.”

We down the Alligator, as I like to call it. He sits back down and says, “Damn, girl!”

“When are you going to start to woo me?”

“Woo you, now? Next you will be saying I have to ‘court’ you?”

“You could say that. I’m not one of those girls that puts out right away.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a virgin?”

“No! But you can do me when you love me!”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, I’m not the type a girl who just has sex with a man just because we are dating. I will only have sex with a man I love and who loves me in return, and if a man can be faithful and go without sex without cheating on me, he is worth me giving myself completely over to him. And I feel six months is long enough to know if he will be loyal and love me for life. Or am I wrong?”

“Do you really think a man can go six months without sex?”

“The right guy would wait a lifetime for the right girl.”

“You have a point my dear.”

“My rainbow aura makes me a rarity in life and it subconsciously attracts people to want to get to know me. Shane, I even bet you are at this moment intrigued by me. You are attracted to my personality, and can’t explain why because we just met. Am I close?”

“Maybe I just think you are hot.”

“That isn’t the only reason you want to date me. You are curious. You are drawn in by my charisma.”

“Okay, I admit it. The moment I looked into your eyes tonight, I felt I have to know everything there is to know about you, and not just the things Stevie was saying.”

“I’m surprised he has said anything at all because my wonderful cousin has always been over-protective of me. You must be such a really good guy for my cousin to have us meet and at my place of all places. And for some reason I like you too which is weird if you are a good guy.”

“Why is that?”

“I only attract assholes except for my dead fiancé.”

“Wow. Sorry to hear that, Amara.”

“It’s been over ten years since Mason passed away. Feel like getting us another shot and check out this band my cousin so wanted me to check out; probably for the magazine I own, but still?”

“Baby Girl, to be honest it wasn’t the band he wanted you to check out; it was me. You might not believe this, but Stevie has two pictures of you in his office, and I asked about the pictures and you; he told me. I let him know I thought you to be beautiful, and we got to talking and I convinced him to introduce us and he said the day you move here is the day he would. Isn’t today the day you got here?”

“Yes.” As I continue chuckling about the timing, “What pictures does he have?”

“A Homecoming Dance picture of the both of you and one of your cheer-leading pictures.”

“Can I ask you a stupid question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Who did you think I was to him?”

“Honestly, I thought you were an old girlfriend he never got over.”

As I almost chock on my pop that I spit out, I say, “Oh my Lord! You have got to be kidding? Even if he wasn’t my cousin, he is like ten years older than me, and OMG just NO! Look, I was desperate for a date to Homecoming that year because my boyfriend and I broke up like one week before Homecoming and the Queen could not and would not show up without a good-looking guy on her arm, besides he just got signed to a major label and had a music video playing on MTV at the time, so I thought it would make Brady Smythe jealous, and since Stevie never liked Brady, he was my so-called date.”

“All Stevie said about it was that his baby cousin needed him there, and there he was.”

“Shane, is it weird that I am totally comfortable with you? I mean I feel like I can tell you any and everything.”

“No. Feel like getting out of here and taking a ride?”

“A ride? Where?”

“I was thinking cruising along the Coast on my bike for a bit.”

“Is this your way of trying to seduce me?”

“No. Babes, I respect you way too much to do that.”

“Well, as long as you respect me, I’ll guess I could go with you. Do you have an extra helmet?”

“Just put on these sunglasses. It will work. Trust me!”

I really hope I’m right about the reason Stevie introduced me to Shane. Stevie has always had my back. Ever since my older sister Carol married his favorite cousin Bill, Stevie has kept his eye on me and he has always treated me like one would treat their youngest cousin. Shane extends his hand. Before I put my hand in his, I let him know I want to say bye to my favorite cousin, Stevie. We go to the back stage area, and I tell Stevie thank you for introducing me to Shane and I’ll call him tomorrow or something.

Shane and I walk back to the apartment complex. The moment we get to the motorcycle, he begins to sing the song “I Wanna Be with You” by the Backstreet Boys. Shane singing that song is so adorable, I can’t help but smile. I still can’t help but wonder if he is being genuine or if he has an agenda. I think for a moment about calling my mom to get her opinion on the matter. I look at the time and realize it is after eleven o’clock at night in the Midwest. I really would hate to wake her up, so I decide against calling her. I suppose I could wait to call her in the morning. I could always call my older brother. I let Shane know I need to go upstairs, change my shoes, and I need to talk to my older and wiser brother, Billy. Shane tells me it’s all good for us to go back into my apartment to do what I need to do before I leave with him.

We walk into my apartment, I let Shane know to make himself comfortable. I grab him a quick cup of coffee, and head into my room to grab my black, turquoise, and purple Nike tennis shoes. Once the shoes are on, I go back into the living room to call my older brother, Billy. As the phone rings, I put it on speaker. He answers, “Hey-lo.”

I say, “Hey, Billy. What you doin’?”

“Chillin’ with Mary and her kids. Why? What’s up?”

“I’m going on a motorcycle ride with this really hot guy that Stevie introduced to me earlier tonight.”

“What kind of bike?” Shane says it’s more of a crotch rocket, “Amara, do you trust this guy?”

“Yeah. It’s weird but I feel connected to him. I mean I feel like I know I can totally trust him.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“He’s a drummer.”

“No, I mean for a day job. What does he do?”

“And I said he’s a drummer.”

“Is he at least talented?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard him play. He is friends with Stevie.”

“You make a valid point. Stevie wouldn’t bring you around anyone unless they were good people.”

“See, Billy.”

“What’s this guy’s name?”

“Shane Luciano.”

“Alright. Go. Have fun but call me when you get home.”

“Thank you. I will. I promise.”

I hang up the phone with my older brother. Shane and I walk to his motorcycle. He helps me on, and we begin our little ride. We take the exit to Venice Beach, and we pull over at the beach itself. He asks if I want to walk the shoreline. I do. He helps me off the motorcycle and we walk hand in hand toward the ocean. I let Shane know how beautiful I think the atmosphere is. The way he smiles lets me know he is glad I like it. He asks if I would consider this our very first date. I do. As we continue walking, he points out the constellations in the night sky. We spend a couple of hours talking on the soft sandy beach. It’s getting really late and Shane asks if I’m ready to head back home. Although I don’t want this night to end, it must; therefore, I let him know I’m ready to leave this beautiful night scenery. We walk back to the motorcycle, he helps me on, and we leave Venice Beach.

We arrive at my apartment. Shane walks me to the door, and asks if he could kiss me goodnight. I let him know he could, but trying to have sex with me is a whole other story. He gives a chuckle then asks if he may. I nod my head that he may give me a kiss goodnight. His kiss is soft and sweet, perfect for a first date.

I close the door behind me, call my brother to tell him all about my date. He tells me that he is happy for me. I finally go to sleep.