Life As We Know It

Chapter 3

Amy's P.O.V:

After the party I helped Shane clean up as Duke and Karma try to put Emma down to sleep. Apparently feeding a baby icing is a bad idea, it makes Emma super hyper.

As I go around the dining room table cleaning the cups and plates off the table and putting them in a trash I am listening to Shane talk on and on about Emma.

Don't get me wrong, I love Emma to death; she is the most precious thing on this Earth, but hearing about her first blink and her first burp is a little annoying. I tell Shane by the time she is 2 she would be burping and blinking likes a pro.

I walk to the place where Karma and I were forced to take the picture. I smile to myself. I know Karma hates me, I mean we didn't start our relationship on a good start. I do admit (only to myself) that I messed up and should have been more prepared for our date 5 years ago, but I had my reasons. I kind of feel like I have someone watching over me because Karma is still in my life, not the way I want her, but I will take it either other way.

Flashback

Shane kept talking about this Duke's best friend Karma. He kept saying that she is perfect for me and would balance me out. I had no clue what he meant. He says I needed a woman who would love me for the right reasons and tame me down. When he said this I rolled my eyes.

Yes I do slept with a bunch of women, and yes I never feel satisfied afterwards. I guess you can blame my ex-girlfriend Reagan.

Reagan and I dated for 7 years. We meet when I was a sophomore in high school and lasted till the day of my graduation. Yes you heard right, Reagan dumped me the day of my graduation of College because she met another girl who could "satisfy" her. I was so heartbroken. After graduation we planned to move to California together and start our lives. She was going to be a huge DJ at a major club downtown and I was going to start filming some short films to help get my career started. We even went to California and bought a house.

So after she dumped me I had to start back to square one.

I had to sell the house in California and got pretty much nothing back. I lost all my money on the house that I had to move back with my parents for 3 years and I couldn't find a decent job.

So I guess I learned that love isn't real. After Reagan I hadn't been in a serious relationship and only hook up with girls because I have needs. I know I am pathetic but what can I say.

So when Shane told me he set me up on a blind date I was annoyed. I told him I wasn't interested but he persisted. He told me this girl was the one.

So when I went to pick this girl up I didn't intentionally mean to be late. For real, my car wouldn't start and the only way to go pick her up was with my motorcycle. I knew it would be a bad idea and I had too much pride to ask her to pick me up. So when I knocked on the door I was going to apologize but when I saw her I felt the wind knock out of me like I did with Reagan. This girl was beautiful, she had long red hair, her eyes were deep green and she looked amazing in the dress and heals she was wearing. For a couple of seconds we just stared at each other. I hate to admit this but when I felt the air get knocked out of me just by looking at her, I knew I had to ruin this date and never see her again. I couldn't fall for some one again and get my heart broken.

So when she asked me where the reservations where, I knew she would get annoyed if I said "where ever you want to go". I did have reservations at one of the best restaurants in town. I decided that if I am being this outgoing (going on a blind date is the most outgoing I have ever been) then I should go all the way and make this night special.

So I was right, telling her I didn't have reservations really annoyed her. After she hit me with her heal and kicked me out of her car I went home. I hate to admit but that night, I couldn't stop thinking about Karma from then on.

I guess Shane noticed I started to daydream because I feel his hand on my shoulders shaking me back and forth.

I break out of my daydream and see he smiling at me.

"You know, you could ask her out again, and maybe not be an hour late or an asshole," Shane says with his hands on his hips.

I roll my eyes. "Not going to happen" as I walk off continuing to pick up the cups and plates.

Karma's P.O.V.

The Next Day

It has been a long day, don't get my wrong I love my job and making pastries but sometimes my clients are a pain. Today I had a client who has a daughter who was allergic to everything. The mother told me that her daughter has to be careful on what she consumes and ask me for all the ingredients in every pastry. It was quit annoying. Then I had this other little kid who ran in to the table and broke the vase on the after these two incidents I had to take a deep breath and try to calm myself.

I know things like this happen but I get very anxious when something goes wrong. Like I said before, everything has to be perfect.

I have to look my best, act my best and pretty much be the best.

I guess you can say this obsession of being perfect started in High School. When I was a freshman I got the opportunity to be in the national science conference and won second place. That is an honor to everyone but my parents. The same night my adopted older brother had a basketball game and they chose to go to his game instead of my conference. Yea, it is mess up huh? Want to know what is funnier, his team lost the game and he got suspended for two weeks because he got into a fight with another player.

So after that I learned to gain my parents attention I had to be perfect and number one. I guess that is why I am so competitive.

I graduated High School and College with honors, bought my own apartment right after college, and own my own business at the age of 25. To me these are great accomplishments but to my parents my brother Zen is still the star of the family.

When I met Duke in College he helped me gain my confidence, attitude and pushed me to accept who I am and follow my dreams.

He really inspired me. In high school his dad forced him to train every day in MMA fighting. He was actually amazing; he was considered a professional boxer at the age of 18. He does admit he didn't have a childhood and when he realized he was gay he had to hide it from the boxing world. He told me that his dad didn't mind that he was gay, but the media would eat it up. The fact that he would be a gay boxer would change the perspective of him in the boxing universe.

After a couple of years of knowing him he confined in me and told me he was going to come out to the media. I was shocked at first but knew this is what he wanted, he just want to be honest and open about his life and meet a guy who can mentally and physically challenge him. I knew he meant sexually challenge him because there is no way in hell someone could be three time winner of the champions.

Then one day Duke met Shane. Shane was a massive fan of Duke and I guess they hit it off. I remember the first time Duke introduced me to Shane.

We were at a local diner downtown. For the first hour everything was fine, we were actually getting along and laughing. Then I guess after too many drinks his questions started to get way to personal.

"So Karma, how is your love life? Duke told me you're with this stud Liam. I bet he isn't giving you orgasms huh?" Shane asked me as I stare at him blankly shocked. Shane continues, "I know this girl, oh man, you would love her! She would probably give you so many orgasms you wouldn't be able to walk the next day."

I look at Duke as he awkwardly looks at me and mouths "sorry".

I roll my eyes and ignore Shane. If this girl is a friend with Shane I am sure I would not like her. And Liam is a good lover; I mean sometimes I have to imagine stuff in my head to get off and sometimes he gets off way to fast but other then that I he was amazing.

I look up from my beer and see Shane eyeing me. God this guy is annoying.

"So Karma, let me introduce you to my best friend. I think you two would hit it off. I see that you are very stressed and uptight, this girl can loosen you up girl!" He exclaims as he claps his hands.

I would never forget that night. After that night I never thought Duke would marry this man and have a baby. I do admit Shane changed a lot because of Duke and he loves him with all his heart. I am a little jealous of them because I am ready to be in a serious relationship and ready to settle down. I want a life partner and eventually have kids. I want someone to look at me the way Shane looks at Duke. I want someone to fall asleep with at night and be the first thing I see in the morning. Duke tells me I will one day have this life and I need to be patient, but my patients are running out.

The only good thing that happened today was a girl name Liza came by the shop and gave me her business card. I did initiate it because I told her about a drawing we are having and the winner would win free pastries for a week, but she was very pretty and interesting. She asked me why I decided to open up my own business and told me she has been wanted to come in the shop for a while, but never could find the right time. I found out she is a pediatrician and has her own practice. She dropped her card in the cup on then said "Let me know when I can take you out on a date". My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

After I closed the shop I did my normal routine, make dinner then take a hot bubble bath. As I sit in the tub with candles surrounding my tub I pull out 4 business cards. I swear I have the worst luck. Within this week I had 4 Liza's come into my store and drop off her business card.

I had a business card of Liza Health in my right hand as I dial the number in my left. I hear the phone ring and lady answer the phone on the other side.

"Yes, This is Karma Ashcroft and I am the owner of Nadler's Bakery, you dropped off a card today and I just wanted to say yes, I would go out with you." I say through the phone. I hear a long pause and the women said, "Ma'am, I am straight, please don't care back because I have a husband and kids.

I hear the dial tone on the phone and give a big sigh. I tear up this business card and move on to the next.

I dial the number of a Liza Kris and found out she is into woman but that I am not her type.

The third business card was the worst as Liza was the wife of a man who is 90 years old. I had to explain to him I had the wrong number and he threated to call the cops. As this older man is yelling at me through the phone I hear a beep and see Theo is calling me. Theo is a cop for the Austin Police, he always told me if I ever need anything to call him and he would help. He is a good man. I met Theo back at Shane and Duke's wedding and found out he is dating Lauren who is Amy's stepsister. I actually love Lauren and was so happy when her and Theo got married. Lauren and I are actually really great friends and we both annoy Amy, which is a win for both of us.

I try to tell the older man that I need to go but he keeps talking, I hang up on him and answer Theo's calls.

I hear what he is saying but I am having trouble processing it through my brain. I can only make out Duke and Shane, car accident and that I need to go to the hospital right now.

I quickly get out of the shower and blow out the candles. I put some clothes on and rush to the hospital still trying to process what Theo told me.

I pace around the hospital waiting for Theo to come towards me. Right now he is talking to a doctor. My emotions are running like crazy as I expect the worst but hope for the best.

A couple of minutes later I see Theo walking towards me and his face expression says it all.

He reaches out his hand and grabs m shoulder.

I look up waiting for him to start talking.

"Karma, your friends Duke and Shane were in a bad car accident, Duke was driving and he had a stoke. While he had the stroke he crashed the car into a tree, neither of them survived." He says speaking slowly. As he is telling me this awful news my eyes water and I break down.