Curves & Alphas: A Paranormal Box Set: (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (10 page)

As my fuzzy mind thought this through again, I figured that by next weekend, the soonest he could possibly be playing again, maybe I’d have the edits done as well. I’d wait to print it out til then. Stomach grumbling audibly now, I put back on my pants, washed my hands, and went to raid the refrigerator. At least now, I’d relaxed a bit. I had some hope to see him again, on my terms, my plan.

Chapter Six

Calling the club later in the day, I found out that Lex’s band hadn’t been scheduled to play again for another two weeks. While my heart dropped at the length of time, it soared immediately with the knowledge of anytime at all, and I found myself stunned by a short conversation.

“Can I ask who’s calling?” the older guy who’d identified himself as the owner, John, asked with a huffed-out laugh.

“Ah, sure. My name is Christina, I saw Lex play there last night. Why?” I inquired, perplexed that he’d ask such a question. Anyone could call to ask when the band was playing again.

“Well, you asked when Lex Robert’s band played again rather than referring to the band by name. So, I was just curious if this was the girl Lex had left with last night.

“Um, well, it is, actually. I still don’t get why that’s of importance, though,” I mumbled, perplexed by the whole conversation, and somewhat embarrassed. I hadn’t expected a conversation at all. I’d expected to be put on hold while whoever answered looked at the schedule, to be given a time and that’s it.

“Well, we all really like Lex around here. We haven’t talked to him since last night, obviously. Anyway, I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m an old man and an old softy according to my wife, so I’m taking the liberty. I’ve never seen him, in all the years that he’s played here, leave with a girl. I saw, a few times, the way he looked at you from the stage. It was the talk of the bar... well, those here who know him anyway.”

“Really?” I breathed out.

“Really. I just don’t get why you’re asking me for information on him. Didn’t you guys exchange information or something? Or, sorry, I’m probably being way too nosy there. Just care about the guy. Your call seems strange.”

“That’s sweet of you to care about him. Actually, we had a great time, I think, but the evening got interrupted abruptly, and I didn’t get his information,” I confessed what I could say without embarrassing us both even more.

“Ah, I see. Well, I can’t with good conscious give you his information, but I can tell you that he sometimes comes in on weekends that he’s off. He’s friends with other bands that play here. Drop in. Maybe you’ll get lucky,” he offered.

I found myself smiling after I’d hung up. I stared at the phone a few minutes, so grateful for the kind and generous heart of the man. Lex would be there on a Friday in two weeks for sure, but playing. If I could catch him this coming weekend, just watching another band, maybe I’d get a better chance to talk to him.

To know that many others liked him helped to ease my growing concerns as to his character, and confirm my instincts on the matter. He’d apparently charmed the owner of the bar. Thank goodness. He’d given me much more information than I’d have ever even thought to ask for. And, no other girls, huh? Interesting. Put a point in my favor.

Right after that call, my mood greatly improved, I made the call to Chloe. After telling her what had happened, she had both words of encouragement and heartbreak to give me.

“I wish I had the answers, but men, well, some men, can be complex creatures—you know that. He seemed pretty complex if you listened to his music, and I know you were hanging on every word. I could see it in your face, the way your eyes were wide and shining. You had this goofy smile on your face half the night. Maybe more,” she teased.

“Thanks, that helps a lot to know how goofy I came off,” I laughed even though I bristled inside, knowing there was some truth to her teasing.

“Ah, he’d have never noticed. When he looked at you he had that same glassy-eyed, boyish grin kind of thing about him. Come to think of it, that makes it even harder to understand why he acted the way he did last night. Maybe he overthought the whole thing. Maybe he freaked himself out with how well it was going. Deep or not, those creative types can have their idiosyncrasies, you know. Sounds like he doesn’t date much. Odd for the way the guy looks. Maybe he doesn’t do relationships well,” she thought out loud. I appreciated hearing someone else try to rationalize the whole mess out.

“Maybe. That could explain why he hasn’t contacted me again today,” I thought, hoping that was the case.

“After the abrupt way he left, I’d assume he’s mortified to face you again. Running into him at the bar may be just the reassurance of your continued interest he needs,” she offered.

“I hope you’re right.”

“When am I wrong?” She laughed wholeheartedly then, not even letting me get a snide comment in edgewise.

When she finally stopped laughing, I confirmed, “So, we are on for Friday night at the club?”

“We are.”

“And, Saturday night too if he doesn’t show on Friday?” I continued on tentatively.

“I already agreed,” she yelled a tad for emphasis into the phone. “What, you think I’m suddenly lying to you, or did this guy actually screw some of your brains out?”

“I’d venture to say the latter. Though, I’m trying to hang tough. Honesty, I have my moments. I hate feeling so desperate. Am I nuts to feel like this after such a brief encounter?”

“No. It hasn’t exactly happened to me, but I hear stories of love at first sight, or lust, all the time. Whether abrupt growth of feelings or just the best lay of your life, you have earned a few weak moments. Not like you have a ton of experience in the matter,” she stated without care.

“No, and I thank you for reminding me,” I snipped sarcastically.

“Anytime, dear. I always have your back.”

“Yes, even if it’s just to brutally offer me the truth. I appreciate it, though. As I do you spending hours with me on the phone this afternoon. Might as well say thanks in advance, too, for your spending hours with me this weekend.”

“Not like I had the luxury of any dates recently to use as an excuse,” she half-teased.

“Sorry about that. Could be worse: you could hook up with the love-them-and-leave-them type.”

“Are you kidding me? After the night you described, I’d take it even if I were given in advance the knowledge that I’d never see the guy again! Not saying that’s how it’s going to go down for you,” she quickly added,” but seriously, sex like that, a connection like you just had, it doesn’t happen very often even if you sleep around.  Hold onto that to get through this week, and more if needed.”

“I will. I’ll get through. I have my wonderful job to distract me,” I stated, almost not getting the lie out without laughing.

“You call if you need me any time this week. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock Friday night. That way you can drink all you want, no matter what mood you find yourself in,” she offered.

“You are the best!”

“I know.”

~~~

So, in true friend fashion, Chloe sat with me Friday and Saturday, back in the club with me hoping to run into Lex.

“This is getting stalker-ish,” Chloe teased, but with a slight edge to her voice that I recognized as boredom.

The band that had played last night hadn’t been bad, but I thought that Lex’s band, The Pragmatics, had ruined me for any other. Never thought I’d have a favorite band any more than I could pick a favorite book, but now I did. The band that played tonight, however... well, they simply sucked.

Still alternative rock, as it seemed to be what this club was primarily known for, but this group’s lyrics rarely made sense. Actually, I preferred it that way considering how bad the music itself was. When they did make sense, they’d proven disturbing so far. I’d read, by way of review, that this club had fallen out of people’s places to be for a few years until an overhaul last year. Apparently, now it had been rated a wild card that was all too often overlooked according to one reviewer whose bio claimed her as in the know about nightlife here in the city.

Last night, the band had played a much more dance-beat kind of rock. Their followers had given a blatant disregard for the fact that the place had no dance floor. Seeing them dance between the tables in clothes that could be considered costumes had had an appeal all of its own. The real show had been on the floor of the club, rather than from the band itself. They could have been a jukebox for all the people seemed to care.

Tonight, no one moved from their chairs except to get booze and snacks. The roar of the crowd outdid the volume of the band. Rude, but, after a few minutes of noise pollution, anyone would see why. Every once in a while their guitarist’s hand would slip or something, and the electric guitar would screech or make some awful noise like that, making themselves known again. Sad, really. I actually felt bad for them. To look at their faces, they appeared scared and humiliated. I could identify.

“This band is horrible. I’m well aware, as is my last nerve ending. Can you please just stick it out with me a little longer? If he doesn’t come in by ten, I’ll give up and wait out another excruciating week with just my obsessive thoughts to haunt me,” I overdramatized.

“You owe me, girl. Big time!” she spat back, though I knew she didn’t mean it so much as she’d forced it to sound.

Chloe remained the queen of overdramatization. She should have tried her hand at acting, but she’d never been interested in being in the limelight. She wanted the practical in life, the whole husband, family, and picket fence fantasy. I loved that about her, on top of a thousand other things.

“I know. Start asking any time,” I mused.

I went back to my merciless staring at the door. I did at least like the ambiance of this place. It had more wood and brick, with a bit of old metal, than all the chrome and black with neon lights other clubs had. By the time I went home from them, I saw purple and blue spots in my line of vision. This place looked more like a loft apartment, one I’d give my right hand for. I could only dream of owning such a place, of course, thinking of paying for it only out of royalties for my stories. I’d never have to leave it. I could order in my groceries and write on a large desk overlooking the city. Ah, dreams. I currently had a lot of them. Daydreaming remained my favorite hobby. I’d been over-indulging all week, too.

“You know,” I continued, picking back up from Chloe’s stalking comment since she’d given me a roll of her eyes yet again, “it can’t be considered stalking unless we actually follow him where he is, right?” I half-teased, half-inquired. I’d never gathered myself a stalker. Never thought I’d have someone in my life worthy of stalking. My avoidance techniques had been perfected until I’d thrown them all out the window last weekend. Even guys I’d dated a few times, even slept with, I’d never let get as close to me as I had Lex.

“Oh, sure it can. The intention is there. Only thing holding you back is the lack of knowledge of where the poor sap is,” she laughed.

“Right. Although, if he breaks my heart, I can’t imagine trying to see him again. In fact, I’d never return to this place again,” I admitted, my heart already thumping in my chest despite the weight I felt it had on it.

“He might just break your heart, hon. Some guys are idiots. Anything feels right, or too good to be true, and they bail. They just can’t handle the idea of real feelings or commitments.”

“I can’t imagine Lex is that way. You heard his songs. I told you what he said. Why would he talk like that at all if real feelings scared him?” I asked, honestly not buying that horrific situation.

“I don’t know. I can’t come up with any other reasonable explanation. The guy did a complete flip. After hours of being too good to be true, he turns into mute and stupid. He just up and splits without so much as a word.”

“Yeah, I remember it well.”

I blinked back tears as I had done numerous times this week. The attack no longer kept me up. Lex had, though. I didn’t dream about him or my wolf. In fact, I hadn’t dreamed all week. What I had done was lay awake for hours either reliving my one night with him, or dreaming of seeing him again. Either way, I’d cried at some point nearly every night. Masturbation had become quite a regular event as well.  I’d changed.

The door opened, and I stared. This time, the third guy in had dark waves like Lex. I jumped up, my heart racing a hundred beats a minute before it plummeted into my stomach once I’d gotten a good look at the guy’s face. Chloe’s hand on my arm startled me.