Chapter 4
Fatal Attraction
"All great lovers are articulate, and verbal seduction is the surest road to actual seduction." - Marya Mannes
The room was unbearable squelching me in its heat. It had to be just me who felt this burning discomfort. Only I seemed to feel stuffy and suffocated. Everyone else carried on with their conversations men and women in gowns and petticoats alike. Yes, it was definitely only I turning into chard dust from the awkwardness of my predicament. It wasn't everyday if even any day that a lost love came stumbling back into your life. Even more unusual was that once that so called lover returned that you would have a bet to lose him all over again. He had made it clear over the years however that he had no interest in sparking things up again. Actions speak louder than words and Arnold's actions made it damn clear that Helga was a thing of the past. That was until he'd approached me now. I wouldn't over analyze it instead I'd do what Helga Pataki always did. I would get the job done as always; I never lost, ever, especially in a business investment. Rhonda wanted me to fail; I knew this by the boy she'd chosen for our bet. Let her think she's won for now; all is well that ends well.
Arnold broke the silence with his deep husky voice. "Bored Helga?" He pondered inquisitively. "Very much so, business is always tedious wouldn't you agree?" I answered indifferently. "Hungry?" Arnold asked taking my hand and wrapping it over his massive one. "Indefinitely, starving in fact." I added leaning towards him noticing as my scent wafted into his nose. He could never resist the scent of wild flowers; my trademark smell. "Then, how about you and I play hooky? I know this little pub down the road so how about I buy you a drink? Catch up, for old times' sake?" His Emerald eyes glistened with an earthy strength. His eyes half lidded as he exposed a toothy grin. His teeth were as white as winter snow's first fall. When he gave me that signature smile I could never deny him. "After you then I suppose." With that he extended his massive arm and I wrapped my slender arm around it. He was definitely all man and as I turned away I could hear Nadine hooting and whistling behind us.
He led me to a chrome blue Harley. "Allow me to introduce you to my leading lady. Her name is Pearl and she knows how to ride." Arnold joked as he extended his arms waving them impressively towards Pearl. I was impressed with his motorcycle it was obviously new and taken well care of. Arnold always took good care of anything or anyone who crossed his path. I was about to swing my heeled foot over to straddle the seat when Arnold laid his hand over my shoulder. "Safety first. Here I keep a spare helmet with me." With that he tossed a wide white round helmet. "It'll ruin my hair!" I complained as he persisted pushing the helmet towards me. "Alright; Alright!" I snapped. With that I crammed the helmet smashing down my blonde hair.
Loosely I wrapped my arms around him and he chortled. Arnold had a good natured laugh. He had the sort of laugh that was infectious. A laugh that made others joins in the fun as well. As he continued to laugh I couldn't help but do it too. For a few minutes we merely laughed together. It was nice to just relieve all the tensions from life, exceedingly healing. People walked past us like we were maniacs but it didn't matter too lost in our release from all the laughter.
"Why did you start laughing anyway?" I asked clutching my sides. "I laughed because you're always so hazardously guarded Helga. I mean instead of bravely being close to me you would risk falling off the bike into an all impending doom. Just because I'm capable of reading a book doesn't mean I comprehend the content." I knew when he said book he was comparing myself. Arnold had answered my question airily and casually yet it sunk into my thoughts deeply. "Listen here football head if I wanted a melodramatic false reading of myself I'd pay a shrink got it?" My voice was comical but an air of menace clung to it. "Wow haven't heard that nick-name in over a decade. Whatever you say Helga!" with that Arnold chuckled again revving the engine to life.
I clung to him wrapping my body against his back. As he drove I could feel every muscle tightening and loosening. The wind was biting my hands bitterly so I slid them under Arnold's jacket as he shivered in response. I felt his six pack spasm tighter my touch causing him tension. The wind whipped my hair in the breeze and I felt complete freedom. It was exhilarating as Arnold boldly cut through cars and lanes. I felt like a teenager again leaving our responsibilities with such wild abandon! It was thrilling and I felt secure wrapped around Arnold. How could something be so dangerous yet feel so safe? I wasn't sure but there was always something that was playing it safe when it comes to him.
"Here it is." Arnold beamed. It was a sports bar and majority of woman would have thought it as a bland date idea but not me. I wasn't amongst the majority. I enjoyed wrestling, football, and especially baseball. In my girlhood I was a tomboy but he knew this; he knew everything of my past, yet knew nothing of the present. I realized that it had been so long that Rhonda might as well of picked a stranger; for all I knew of him now Arnold was a stranger. Two strangers, one who was of purity and good intent; the other preparing for personal gain and conquest. These next ten days should be interesting let the games begin!
"Have you caught the last game? Well, I guess with your new outlook probably not huh?" Arnold said as he held the door open. My heels clicked loudly against the concrete as I made my way into the bar. "What do you mean my outlook bucko?" He irritated me with his know it all disposition at times. "I read your articles from time to time. Ms. Umpire has traded her baseball gloves for a tube of Lipstick. Articles about clean cover-up and not using box dye." Arnold teased as he poked my rib just below my bosom. "I know more about this game then you do guarantee. Did you read my political article about hunger? Face it Arnold I'm perfect a taste of feminist, spiced with sportiness, sprinkled with unquestionable sexuality. I am a woman of confidence and power. Can Mr. Goodie good handle a woman like me?" I leaned my face towards his peering up. I could smell his breath. His breath smelt just as it always had his entire life. The smell of big red wafted my senses pleasingly. Only fools fall in love I had to remind myself.
We took a seat at the back of the bar. As we ate we made bets taking shots for each score the opposing team made. It was as if we'd never broken up. People looked at us with approving smiles assuming we were an old couple. My heart sank an anchor weighing me down in dismay. Had I sacrificed just one last time what would my life be like? I had always given myself completely to Arnold given up anything just to see him smile wasn't that love? What about self love though? Was it wrong to appreciate my capabilities? Was it wrong that I chose my education over a high school romance? If I hadn't chosen business over pleasure would I have been coming to this bar every weekend sharing a round of drinks with my dreamy husband? These questions anchored me silently to my chair. I swore to myself not to think about it anymore for the rest of the night; better yet not to think of it so long as I lived. It's over!
"Do you think all is fair in love and war?" I demanded of him my buzz boarder lining towards wasted. Arnold cocked his head back and the sensual scent of cologne and whiskey encircled around our booth. He wrapped his hand behind his neck rubbing thoughtfully. "Yes, I do think so." He flashed me that sweet charming smile of his. "Good answer." I approved. "Good questions." Arnold reasoned. His response was all the fuel I needed to unburden my conscious. This was a war and I was in it to win it. The bet was in full swing and I would win. It's your will against my will and I will win!
"I can't drive you home. I need to sober up a bit. How about I walk you back to my place its close. Then from my pad I'll call you a cab. What say you Blondie?" Arnold slurred slightly. I had never seen him drunk before. My curiosity enticed me. He would be like any other man a sloppy pig all over me on the way home I was sure of it. I needed him to be a sloppy jerk in order to ease my conscious a little more. I agreed to him walking me to his house.
Wow the sky is clear you can see every star!" I crooned in amazement as he held the door to the outside world for me. "Thank you," I told him; he brushed it off as if it was nonsense, no matter how smashed you were, not to do things such as holding the door open for a lady. "Blue always flattered you the color matched the complexity and depths of your blue eyes." I peered up at him and his ivory skin stained a flushing shade of champagne. "That's rather deep for a first date." I brushed off the compliment ignoring how just his presence made my heart skip a beat as if I had just snorted a line of cocaine. He silently took my hand and I squeezed it. I had forgotten how captivating he was to the very fiber of my existence. We listened to the hollow echo of our feet tapping as Arnold led the way in a silent comradeship.
We got back to his place. It was a nice bachelor's pad. It wasn't unkempt like most bachelors' pads. It was a comfortable flat with a balcony. It was decorated with paintings and family photographs. Lavish plush furniture built up the living room and there was a guest room beside what was clearly his bedroom. A nice first apartment that housed a nice guy who led a nice life. I was such a wildebeest a disgusting monster. I accepted myself for what I was.
"Can I keep you?" Arnold asked but it was heavily lidded with a brittle resentment. We were wasted. "I'm gone like the wind baby, it's like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. I always slip through the fingers." We glared at one another from across the room. "You've been caught before. You're like a bird you always fly away. Yet, somehow you always end up right back in my cage of passion. They say if something loves you release it; if it comes back then it's yours. You're my free bird and babe you flew back." Arnold ran his fingers through my hair he was always gentle yet he held such masculine power and pride in himself. I wanted someone to want me; someone to keep me. More like I need him to want me; needed him to be my keeper like he'd been since the melancholy day in the rain. Finder keeper looser weepers.
"You could always lie with your words but your boy betrays you Helga." Arnold whispered in my ear as he lightly pressed me against the hall way wall. He lifted me into his arms pinning me against the wall my legs open wrapped around his waist. "You want me. I'm the sugar to your spice, the nice to your naughty, and the ying to your yang." He said into my neck chocking me in the pleasant scent of big red. "Oh, Arnold I missed you." I moaned trying to reign in my hormones. My hormones screamed to hell with Rhonda's bet to hell with my job even!
"Can I keep you Helga?" Arnold spoke his lips tickling as they brushed ever gracefully against my own. He wasn't kissing me merely just talking allowing my lips to acknowledge the movements of his words. "Oh, Arnold." I wanted; my brain shutting down.
He inhaled deeply before crashing his lips against mine. We tasted of Jack Daniels and long neglected wanting. My hands dug into his back scratching and tarring at his shirt. Our bodies began to press tightly against each other as we wriggled one individual pressing just right or turning right on queue. We were teasing and taunting one another waiting to see who would crumble under the need that was growing warmer and warmer between us. Finally I had enough I shoved him away from my body and he obliged. He staggered away from me seemingly stunned by his own lack of chivalry.
"Call the cab!" I demanded and he obeyed. We sat in silence until it came. "Why would you do this Arnold?" I Demanded. "I guess a drunk man does and says what the sober man wishes to say and do." He spoke shamefully. "See you around Arnold." I slipped my number under his phonebook. I had scribbled my number on the bar receipt. I got in my cab consumed and overwhelmed by all my feelings from the encounter. Now, I was still in the game but I wasn't so sure if I wouldn't throw in the towel. This was going to be the most athletic effort I'd ever put into a sport; the sport of playing the field. It was going to be a long and intriguing ten days and when everything was said and done I wasn't so sure I would win at my own sport anymore.