Harley's Choice (17 page)

I heard a couple of the men behind the
cameras shout something about Kyle Mallory and then we were
swallowed by the media mass as well – I was never going to get out
of here at this rate.

Kyle pushed us through and the security guys
held back the media as we stepped into the ballroom. The doors were
closed once we were inside, completely blocking the entire dance
from the prying eyes of camera lenses and annoying flash.

It was done up nicely in the school colors
and a DJ spinning mixes from the graduation year. It was well done
and I wanted to dance. “Oh come dance with me.” I pulled him onto
the floor. We danced through three fast paced songs and sat out the
first slow dance. We sat laughing at the table talking to no one
but ourselves. It has been a long time since I’ve had the freeness
in a conversation, without having to lie or skate the truth.

He spoke of a new book he was planning and I
found a subject in which I could lose him in. We spoke of the new
book in detail ignoring the music and everyone who happened by
until. “OH MY GOD IT’S KIT CARSON!” a blonde on the other side of
the table screamed. I looked up and found him immediately and him
me. Kyle also looked and frowned and I looked again and there not a
foot behind him stood Cassidy the blonde who made her point so very
clear this morning.

I went to stand and rip every hair out of
her pathetic weave when Kyle pulled my hand and forced me to sit.
“Let it be, you know she means nothing to him. He’s here for you
and no one else you know this.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about I
wasn’t going to do…much.” Kyle pulled my chin down to look at him,
his green eyes entrancing me, “Ok, I was going to break every
finger she touched him with in three places.”

“That’s my girl.” Kyle laughed and stood “I
shall go rescue your man from the demoness bitch.” He walked
through the crowd and stood next to Carson. I watched Kyle say
something to Carson respond and then Kyle walk out the door with
Cassidy I stood and walked toward them with murderous intent.

I was half way to the door when I was spun
and dipped and then waltz to the dance floor. “Where were you
going?”

“Nowhere” I smiled up at Carson as he danced
me across the floor.

“Good then dance with me angel.”

“Why Mr. Carson I didn’t know you could
dance.”

“Only with an angelic partner such as
you.”

“So you dance, sing and act, is there
anything you can’t do?” He seemed to be thinking about something
then he looked into my eyes. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure I
wanted to hear what he was going to say so I threw in a monkey
wrench. “So I see your wife found you.”

“M-my what?!” his steps falter briefly

“The woman you walked in with. She ran into
me before the cooking class and told me she was here to give you
some good news.” I smiled coyly “Congratulations by the way.”

“Christ what has that bitch been saying
now?” his eyes flashed with deep rooted anger.

“Now, now, I’m the only one who’s allowed
murderous thought.”

“What’s your going rate?” He smiled at me it
was nice to be able to joke about it, and have him joking too. I
smiled back.

“For what, for problem solving, you’d have
to contact the office. For sex, keep smiling like that and promise
me sin by sun up. For life…you can’t afford me, I eat too much.”
His laughter turned heads in our direction. “Sir you are causing a
scene.”

“Ma’am may I remind you who I am?”

“No I know who you are.”

“And I you.” His blue eyes flashed “Let’s
blow the popsicle stand!”

“Oh, but the award ceremony hasn’t happened
yet.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, please I do so want to stay and watch
it.” I honestly pouted.

“Alright I shall stay with you until Kyle
returns.”

“Where did he go anyways?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Just tell me.”

He took a deep breath and shook his head.
“You’re going to get angry.”

“No I won’t I promise.”

He rolled his eyes and cocked a brow. “He’s
helping Cassidy with her luggage to the penthouse with the promise
that I shall join her in a bit. Now, don’t get that look. You know
I’m not going to her.”

He was right I was getting angry for
nothing. I shook off the mood and smiled. I knew that he’d be in my
bed by the night end…him and Kyle if I had anything to say about
it. “May I cut in?”

“I’m flattered Rebecca but I don’t swing
that way.” I was really starting to get annoyed with this
woman.

“I-I wasn’t talking to you.” Her eyes
narrowed at me. “I was wondering if Kit would care to dance with
me.”

I watched as Carson’s eyes narrowed at
Rebecca “Mr. Carson please and I am sorry but it looks like my
dance card is already filled.” He nodded to the line of women at
the edge of the dance floor all looking longingly and expectantly
at Carson. His eyes asked and I nodded with mine and he waltzed me
off the floor leaving Rebecca with her eye wide and her jaw
flapping in the wind.

“You better come back for me.” I told
him.

“Always.” He answered quickly and went off
to the beginning of the line and danced away.

“I have had just about enough of you
Hairy.”

“Ah there is the Rebecca we know and have
always hated.” I turned slowly towards her venomous voice.

“Listen, you hogged him during the cooking
class and now on the dance floor. You have been completely
selfish.” She whined, totally unbecoming of a twenty-eight year
old.

“Rebecca you are married.”

“Pah!”

“Wow, such behavior. Look Rebecca you stay
with your friends and I’ll stay over here. Leave me alone or you’ll
wake up bald.” Her eye widened and she put a hand to her straight
blonde hair and stomped away.

I walked to the punch bowl and poured me a
cup and then walked to the table where I had sat before to let my
feet rest a moment. I heard the foot steps behind me and knew they
were not Kyle or Carson so when the man spoke I was not surprised.
“Harley, Harley Shelton right?”

“Yes,” I looked up to the man standing in
front of me. He looked vaguely familiar but couldn’t place him.

“I was wondering if you would care to
dance.” Dancing was a personal favorite pastime so I nodded and
followed him to the dance floor. “I have seen you throughout the
weekend and have been waiting for a moment to say hello.”

“Well then hello…it’s Tim, no Tom right?” I
questioned as his face faded ten years back and I was finally able
to recognize him, he really hasn’t changed much.

He smiled bashfully. “Yes that’s right.
Thompson Felding. I, well I…”

“It’s nice to see you Tom, now just spit out
whatever it was you wanted to say.” I have no patience for those
who hem-haw around.

“I wanted to say I have always admired your
strength for dealing with Rebecca and the nasty bitches in High
School and I had a crush on you from sophomore year to
graduation.”

“That’s one of the nicest things I have
heard this weekend thank you. For curiosity sake why didn’t you
ever approach me in school?” as if I didn’t know. He was the kicker
on our football team, he was one of them that stood around well the
tormenting went on, all though sometime in the sophomore year he
was absent during the daily razzing, I now knew why. He just looked
bashful again, not a good emotional look for men. “So what are you
doing with yourself now?”

“I am junior partner in a law firm. I’m up
for promotion in six months.”

“Oh, well congratulations.”

“Yes…it keeps the bills paid and the child
support paid.”

“Divorced then?”

“Yeah, married Darcy,”

“Darcy Hershberger?”

“Yeah, we got married at twenty and had two
kids before twenty-three all while I was in law school and by the
time I was doing my internship the hassle got too much. Seventy
hour work weeks and weekends down to nil took its toll. She took
the kids and moved in with her mother and I got the bills.”

Ah yes, yet another reason never to get
married. I honestly didn’t know what to say so I just nodded
solemnly and was saved from having to make any comments by the end
of the song.

The DJ announced he was going to up the beat
of the music and I told Tom that I wished to sit down. He led me
back to the table he found me at and took a seat next to me. Oh
boy… “So I saw you dancing with Kit Carson?” I waited I didn’t
think it needed a reply “How’d you two meet?”

“This afternoon in cooking class, he just
walked in and was assigned to be my partner.”

“That must have been nice.”

“I suppose it was a bit distracting really,
he hardly did anything and he sang to me.” I laughed thinking back
to it.

“So the rumor you and Kyle, our class
success have been close.”

“Tom we were always close, what would make
one think that just because we didn’t see each other for ten years
we wouldn’t have reconnected, honestly I didn’t know that my Kyle
was
that
Kyle. It was a big shock.” I smiled. “I did get him
to sign the book I had just bought to read; now I’m afraid to crack
the spine.”

“All you have to do is ask and I’ll sign a
dozen of them for you.” Kyle’s voice startled me.

“Hey! I was beginning to wonder if I was to
finish this night alone. Your buddy has pushed me to the back
burner.” I laughed as I pointed to the dance floor where Carson
stood surrounded by a gaggle of women all clamoring for his
attention.

Kyle shook his head and looked to my
companion. “Tom right? I remember you from geometry class.”

“Yes, that’s me, and can I say it’s an honor
to meet you. I’ve read all your books.”

“Tom, you’ve met me several times…”

“Er, yes, so should I say congratulations on
your success? I’ve still read all your books.”

“Thanks Tom, now if you don’t mind I’m going
to steal away this lovely lady and she and I are going to attempt a
rescue mission on my friend Casanova.” He took my hand and pulled
me away.

“It was nice to see you again Tom, good luck
on getting the partnership.” He seemed to beam with pride and then
stood and walked into the mix. “Why are we rescuing him?” I asked
as we walked onto the dance floor.

“A couple of reasons, one; they are doing
the award ceremony soon and he wanted to be out of here by then and
two; the bitch won’t stay upstairs for too long.”

“Just let me have five minutes with her and
she’ll never show her weave wearing skinny ass in public again.” I
mumbled and he laughed…I guess they think I’m cute when I make
these promises because they both laugh at my statements like that.
“No really, I was just thinking about plucking her hair out with
tweezers. What is it with me and removal of hair tonight?”

“Whatcha mean kitten?”

“Well I told Rebecca if she didn’t back off
of me she’d wake up bald.” He stopped and I bumped into his back.
He turned and looked at me and threw his head back and laughed.
Everyone within a twenty foot radius stopped and looked at him.
Then to make it worse he picked me up and swung me around.

“That’s my girl!”

“Kyle put me down you’re causing a scene.
Really it was just a threat.”

“Yes but you did it…” Just call me Simple
Sam because I had no idea why he was so happy about that.

“What are we cheering about over here?”

“Mr. Carson!” I had to hold myself back from
running to his arms. I was becoming too comfortable being around
these two. I was still scared, but I was almost eighty-five percent
sure I was in love with them both. Both of them and I knew I
wouldn’t be able to choose. When I was with one I missed the other
and didn’t feel like I was standing on two feet without both
nearby.

“We’ll talk later over dessert.” Kyle
whispered to our threesome causing both of them to look at me. I
swallowed hard. “They are about to do the awards and she’s not
going to stay put…”

Carson mumbled some very naughty words and
then took my hand and kissed it. “It was a pleasure to meet you.
It’s good to know my old friend has someone so beautiful to stand
beside him.”

I blushed. He was a natural actor through
and through. “The pleasure will be mine…and please don’t be a
stranger. Kyle talks about you often and I think he misses his
friend.”

“Rightly scolded ma’am and yes the pleasure
shall be yours.” He smiled a smile that I was beginning to call his
‘I’m going to be a bad boy’ smile and clapped Kyle on the shoulder
and walked out of the ballroom.

The DJ called us to seats and introduced
Rebecca again. “What did he mean ‘the pleasure will be mine’?”

“You said that when you should have said the
pleasure was mine.” Kyle’s smile distracted me.

“What?”

“You said ‘The pleasure will be mine’ when
you should have said the pleasure’s mine.” I flushed and Kyle
rubbed my hand, smiled, slid his chair next to mine and put his arm
over my shoulder.

I found out it was so he could play with
bruises. Really I should have let them believe they hurt. The first
time caused me to jump the second time caused me to exhale heavily.
“Do it again and you won’t be around for your award.” I threatened,
he chuckled but put his arm down and I missed the warmth.

“And now for the razz awards for in good fun
and friendship we recognize the following people.” Rebecca
announced three names for the worse dressed the least changed and
the wallflower. People laughed and had a good time. It was nice to
see that people have matured; this would have never been cool to do
in school. “And finally for the votes of the best dressed: Marcy
Furgeson!” Marcy went up and she really was quiet stunning in a
white off the shoulder number her legs were long and toned her
pixie hair was pokey and the lips red.

Good choice I thought “She looks good, but
nowhere as amazing as you.” Kyle whispered in my ear.