No Rest for the Wicked
Vincent wraps his meetings with the venture cap firm that had done the first round of funding. Dinner invitations are exchanged and he declines, stating that he has enjoyed the day but needed some time to collect his thoughts and prepare. He headed toward the car and climbs into the backseat, the driver doesn’t even try to get out and get the door. “Where to sir?”, the driver Chris asked.
“No where until you stop calling me sir and start calling me Vince.”
Chris his 20 something driver now a bit flustered “OK where to Vince?”
Vincent laughing heartily responds heartily “Well it’s been a suck ass day. Do you have a bed time?” Vincent asked with out pausing long enough for anyone to actually form a response let alone a slightly befuddled kid. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, he said in his best Jack Nicholson impression which sounding nothing like him.
“To the hotel I need to change.” So Chris points the black Lincoln toward Mission College Boulevard, sure the hotel was a chain but it had a real gym, after a day like the one he just had he needed to head to the gym.
“Look man, I need to be at the office by 9:00am and at the airport by 10:00, I’m not going to need to go out to night.”
The car comes to a stop in front of the long covered walkway.
“Ok Vince I’ll be here by 8:15”
“Thanks” and with that Vincent faded into the distance of the long walkway into the hotel. A quick workout and a few calls back east for status and input from the team there on the deal. Around 6:45 Deb arrives, she is an old familiar friend. They go back more than a few years to the very first week of college, meeting at a Terps football game in the student section. They were never officially a couple over the years they had sent more than their fair share of time together. He was a geek and she was a free spirit who ekes out a meager living on the fringe of the main stream San Francisco Art world. Deb is wearing a flowing purple crushed velvet skirt, crinkled white blouse. “Nice look Hippie” as he hugs her
“Thanks, I’ve got some tofu in my purse for you” she responded continuing on “Noodles in Palo work?”
Pausing “ I was thinking drinks at the Fault Line and then maybe noodles in Palo. OK?” As the two old friends headed towards her tired old white Toyota Corrola. Vincent in a black pin strip suit and white checked shirt. Debs naturally dark red hair has a few purple and light blue highlights adorning the sides and back. Maybe, as most children will tell you usually means no, unless the issue continues to be raised, but 7 minutes later the couple finds themselves being seated at the overly crowded noisy micro brew. California in general, in particular Northern California, is a bit of an anomaly, the kind of place where a good micro brew can have a high end eclectic menu and an absolutely amazing wine list. Vincent orders one glass of Pale Ale and then moves on to his standard cola to accompany his Tie Chicken Skewers and Vegan Garlic Mushroom Caps. Deb orders a Sauvignon Blanc and a Caesar Salad. It’s funny how people come to know each other, without it ever being spoken the two had lost any fleeting intention of wondering up to Palo for Soba Noodles.
When they met, Deb was more the all American Girl, more of a preppy and a cheerleader than anything, her fashion sense at the time was more towards the Country Club set. Her legs while thin had always had enough not only tone but strength in them to have an alluring athletic shape, they hadn’t changed. Her face still soft and smooth and round, hair despite the odd color additions still soft and flowing, her look as fresh as it was the day they met. She had however evolved from young and preppy to sensuous and stylish. Vincent on the other hand had changed his body, he was no longer the odd lanky kid but a man of power and strength. Other than that he hadn’t changed much, sure his suits cost a lot more but his jeans were always still Levi’s he had gone from boat shoes, to loafers to Steve Maddens for his casual footwear. If there was a past he thought of them as nothing more than just very close friends, not ever stopping to think that she may or may not view their past in the same way. Vincent on his third coke and Deb on her second bottle of water as the meal was ending. While they had caught up on work, and art and fashion they hadn’t yet taken the time to catch up on life. “I’m Tom-less now”, she began. Tom was a jerk in his mind, Deb was sweet and soft, Tom didn’t appreciate that. Tom was rigid and structured, she was flowing and free.
“I’m sorry to hear that” he replied.
“No, it’s ok. Its been a while now”, she said confidently then she started reminiscing about both of their pasts, remembering fondly one person or another. He just listened, for him they were in the past but she seemed so happy recalling other times they had had together. As time wore on, “So are you seeing anyone Vince?” Looking for the right answer deciding that she knew him far too well, “Always looking for Miss last night.” Neither of them was surprised by the answer. It came to a point beyond annoying for the waiter they kept holding his table during the entire evening and drinking water and Soda but it was now far too late and time for the establishment to close. They headed to the parking lot she stepped through the parking lot wandering and swaying. Talking with her hands and over exaggerated hand gestures. All the while he’s leaning back onto the hood of her car just listening, she still seemed so hopeful, like her dreams hadn’t slipped beyond her grasp, and thinking all the while how beautiful she was. As the door of the Fault Line was locked and the last of the staff wondered out to leave, the cool evening air finally convinced them to get in the car and head back toward the hotel. Where she continued to talk, and he continued to listen, they sat there by the valet. “It’s late why don’t you stay?” he offered.
“Why so I can be Miss last night?”
He was smiling a tired worried smile “Yes of course, oh the indecent things I could convince you to do.” “Would I like it?” she asked playfully
“In ways you can’t even imagine my dear”, turning the car off.
“So how could I refuse? I’ll have strawberry sauce on the side” she said pulling a gym back out of the trunk while Vince gave the Valet his room number and a few dollars tip for tolerating them being parked there. Vincent handed her a room key and he picked up the house phone on the way in and ordered their dessert… two pieces of cheese cake and as many quarts of strawberry sauce as they could spare. Walking down the hall with two bottles of water in hand toward the elevator as she let herself in to see a two bedroom suite with a living room filled with fresh flowers. She thought they were standard fare for such a room, but he in fact had the room filled with flowers just for her. Vincent followed moments after finding her in a pair of gray sweat pants, a tank top and in the process of taking her make up off. They had been friends for too long to worry about such things as make up. Shortly after the cheesecake arrived and despite being accused of being a pervert since two quarts of strawberry sauce showed up she continued to talk. Vincent continued to listen falling asleep on the couch, she through a blanket over him and headed off to one of the bedrooms. He stirred slightly, she kissed him on the forehead and he told her he loved her. In truth he always had, it just was never meant to be, he couldn’t be like that with her.
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copyright 2008 Michael Malflic
