One
I walked down the cracked sidewalk, leash in hand and a song in my head. My mother and I were taking our daily walk with our new dog, Daisy. She happily made her way down the street, tongue out of her mouth and her tail wagging. It was early in the evening, and a beautiful one at that. The sun had been out all day, and there were very few clouds. Cars drove by with their windows down and music up loud. Many were out walking their dogs or pushing babies in strollers. Some faces we passed were familiar and some were not. My mother was well known throughout the city for her yoga studio, which I’m beginning my training at this summer and I could not be more excited. We were walking down the street, talking away when I suddenly stopped paying attention and let Daisy's leash get loose. She took off down the sidewalk, barking and running towards a group of guys. One held a skateboard in his hand, and the other had his hands stuffed in his pockets. They were leaned against the record shop window, smoking cigarettes and talking. I ran after, my mother slowly behind me, laughing. I caught up to her and grabbed her leash, trying to catch my breath.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, I didn't think she was going to run off!" I said, leaning down to give the dog a pat.
When I looked up, both men were smiling at me. The one with the skateboard smiled and knelt down to pet her as well as the other guy. He was wearing a white tank top and cargo shorts, along with boots and backwards baseball cap.
"It's all good! What a cutie you are!" The guy with a skateboard said.
Daisy loved the attention and sat there, wagging her tail without a care in the world.
"Cute pup. Name?" The other guy said.
I looked up at him and I almost choked on the air I was breathing in at that moment. He was so handsome... His long hair was kept back under the hat and a low ponytail, and he has the bluest eyes I've ever seen.
"Me or the dog?" I asked nervously, just then my mom reaching my side.
Both men chuckled and the one in the hat lit another cigarette.
"Both, I guess." he smiled.
"That's Daisy." my mother said, taking the leash from me. "I'll meet you at home, sweetie." she smiled, and left me there with these strangers.
It was awkward for a moment before I spoke again.
"Oh, right. My turn." I said. "I'm Beverly. Well, Bev." I said.
"I'm Jeff and this is Eddie." The one with the skateboard said, using his free hand to shake mine.
"Nice to meet you. Again I'm so sorry about that." I laughed nervously.
Eddie smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head. His voice was so deep and mellow.
"It's cool. What are you up to right now?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, a light breeze blowing some of my deep brown curls in my face. I moved them away, tucking the long strands behind my ear. I shuffled my feet before answering.
"Well, I was walking my dog..but now I'm not."
They both laughed, and Jeff tied a bandana around his head.
"You skate?" he asked.
"I do, actually."
"Dude, cool. We should hang out then. Why don't you come back to our place?"
I looked at Eddie and he blushed a little.
"Only if it's okay with you." I said to him.
He looked at me and bit his lip, releasing it quickly.
"S'okay with me." he said, and I smiled wide..maybe a little too wide.
The three of us continued walking down the sidewalk and side roads. Jeff and Eddie lived in a house together on a quite busy side street, but Jeff didn't let that keep him from boarding. He was a little bit farther ahead than Eddie and I, so the two of us walked silently, our steps in sync.
"Eddie, right?" I said, breaking the silence.
He looked up at me and smiled. "Yeah."
"Do you skateboard?" I asked.
He chuckled, the rich sound filling my ears and sending my heartbeat through the roof.
"I surf. Well, used to." he said, sticking his hands in his pockets, occasionally rubbing his bottom lip with his forefinger and thumb.
"Really? So you're not from around here?"
"I've been here for a little while now, but I was born in Evanston, then moved to San Diego. I did a lot of surfing in California."
"Wow, that's really cool. I don't know anyone who can surf. What's it like?"
We reached their house, it was a two story home, a gravel driveway with a few cars already parked. There were three more guys sitting on the front porch when we reached it. I didn't think I could handle being around all of these attractive men.
"I don't think I can really explain it, you just have to feel it. If that makes sense." Eddie said, taking a seat on the front porch step.
I sat down next to him, and Jeff came out of the front door with another board, probably for me.
"Yeah, that makes perfect sense." I said to Eddie, smiling.
I was lost in the blue of his eyes, and the charm of his smile. I just hoped it wasn't obvious that I was drooling all over him.
Jeff patted my shoulder, and I turned my head to look up at him.
"For you, madam." he smiled.
I stood up and put my hair behind my ears, exposing my tattoo of the sun behind my left ear.
"Dude, sick board." I grinned.
"Oh yeah, Bev these are the guys. Stone, Dave, and Mike. Maybe you've heard of our band?" Jeff asked.
I turned to look at the guys on the porch, chain smoking cigarettes and drinking beer.
"Band?" I asked. "Cool."
Stone laughed, tying his hair up into a scrunchie.
"Yeah, Pearl Jam. We're kinda in the middle of recording our first album."
"Wow, that's awesome you guys. I didn't know I would make such talented friends." I laughed.
"What do you do?" Mike asked me, strumming a beautiful acoustic guitar.
I could feel Eddie's eyes on me. I looked down at him for a second, and he looked away.
"Well, I'm kind of training to be a yoga instructor at my mom's studio, and I skate. Nothing special."
"No, no. Yoga's cool. I mean, I've never done it but that's cool man." Dave said, flipping some of his hair out of his eyes.
These guys were so nice and laid back. I was so confused as to why they wanted to hang out with me.
"Cool dude. Alright let's shred it." Jeff said, pulling my arm.
We skated up and down the street, Jeff even taught me how to do a couple of tricks that I didn't know of before. He was so goofy and so fun to be around. Every now and then I would look back at the house and the guys would all be sitting together with a pen and a notebook, or Eddie would even be watching me. Every now and then I would wave and he would smile and wave back. The sun started to set, but I was having too much fun with Jeff to worry about going home right now.
"So tell me about the band." I kind of asked Jeff, holding hands in a friendly way as we slowly cruised back to his house, the wind blowing my waist-length hair back.
"Well I play bass. Stone and Mike, sometimes Eddie do guitar, and Dave drums. Eddie sings, too. We were gonna be named Mookie Blaylock but we had to change it to Pearl Jam. What about you? Any musical talents?”
I looked up at the sky, taking in the beautiful surroundings.
“Not really. I was in choir in elementary school but that's about it.” I laughed.
“Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you still have a voice in you somewhere.” Jeff said, holding my hand a little bit tighter.
I blushed as we walked up the now empty porch steps. Music came from inside of the house, in the basement.
“We practice down there, if you wanna check it out. If not I could walk you home or something.” Jeff kindly suggested.
He went to his refrigerator and grabbed himself a beer, and one for me.
He held it out to be but I politely shook my head.
“I don't drink..but thank you.”
“Yeah, how old are you anyway?”
“Twenty. What about you all?”
He led me down the stairs to the basement, the sound of the most beautiful voice singing that I've ever heard. I didn't even listen to Jeff as he answered my question. I was too mesmerized by Eddie sitting before me on a wooden stool with his hands cupping the microphone in front of him. His hair had been taken out of its hat and ponytail, and now a long and wild mess. My eyes raked over his toned arms and chest. His tank top was thrown on the floor. It was definitely starting to get hot in here.
“Bev?” Jeff asked, nudging me, thinking nothing of Eddie’s singing.
I snapped my head towards him in the stairway. “What?”
He chuckled and pulled my hand with him, leading me to a recliner chair. He pulled me into his lap, casually wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I asked if you wanted to hangout this weekend.”
I blushed in embarrassment. I kept watching Eddie, and as the song he was singing ended, he looked up at me, a lost expression on his face. Then he smiled, and stood up. I hoped he was coming over here. It was odd because I wanted attention from Eddie but I was so comfortable with Jeff, and I loved sitting here with him as he played with my hair, waiting for my answer.
“I'd love to.” I replied, once Eddie reached us.
“Love to what?” He asked.
Dave was putting away his drumsticks, Mike was unplugging amps and Stone continued to strum away.
“Oh Jeff just asked me to hang out this weekend.” I smiled.
It felt like all I could do around Eddie was smile like an idiot. He looked lost in thought and Jeff’s hands traveled to my thighs, resting them gently on the fabric of my black shorts that I typically use for yoga. His fingers brushed against my skin and I suddenly got goosebumps. Eddie watched his hands with an unreadable expression.
“Cool.” He said, sullenly.
He went back up the stairs, but I continued to sit with Jeff.
“Hey where’d Ed go?” Mike asked.
“Upstairs.” Jeff said.
We both watched him follow after Eddie, then Stone said he was going out with someone, but kept insisting it wasn't a date.
“Dave are you going to hang out down here with us?” I asked.
He shook his head and carried a few vinyl albums upstairs with him. There were crates of albums everywhere down here.
“Nah. I gotta get going, thanks though. See you ‘round kiddo.” He said, patting my head on his way out.
I turned and looked down at Jeff, stretching my legs out across his body and the chair.
“Maybe I should get going too..”
Jeff’s eyes roamed all over my exposed body. I was only in cropped t-shirt I had made myself, large white sleeves hanging off of my shoulders, my belly ring out for everyone to see.
“It feels like you just got here.” He said, and tucked a strand of fallen hair behind my ear.
My heart raced a little more. I couldn't tell if I liked Jeff that way. But my body told me I did, and I went with it. It was just the two of us down here anyway. I straddled him, and he placed his hands on my hips. It really felt like I knew him before tonight.
“I'll stay a little longer, but then I have to go.”
He smiled. “Cool.”
We stared at each other for a few moments, he licked his lips and gently cupped my face with his hands, pulling me down slightly so he could kiss me. He was gentle and soft, his lips kissing mine over and over again, slowly. My hands pulled the bandana off of his head and my fingers went through his hair. His grip on my hips tightened, one hand traveling up my back and into my hair. I sat up straight, taking over the kiss and Jeff’s hands went for my ass. I sat up on my knees and pulled my shirt off over my head, my body taking complete control over the situation. Jeff’s mouth covered my neck in hot and wet kisses, and we met again in a soft kiss, his tongue massaging mine. He groaned, one hand still on my butt and the other groping one of my breasts underneath the bra I had on.
I couldn't believe I was actually sitting here and doing this with someone I had just met today. I felt a strong connection with Jeff, one that I don't think I've felt with anyone else before.
I reached my hand down, feeling his hard on through his shorts. He pulled away from me, a sharp breath escaping his swollen lips. He pressed his forehead to mine as I continued to feel him.
“Bev..” He said.
I stopped and he looked at me, lust in his eyes.
“Next time.” He smiled shyly.
It was completely dark out now, and we heard footsteps approach the basement door.
Jeff reached beside the chair and handed me my shirt. I put it on and kissed him one last time before the door opened. Eddie stood at the top of the stairs with a telephone in his hand.
“Phones for you.” He said to Jeff.
I stood up, letting Jeff leave the room. After handing off the phone, Eddie came down the stairs.
“Hey.” He said.
I folded my arms over my chest. “Hey.” I said, and he smiled a little. “I should get going.” I added.
Eddie shrugged.
“I’ll drive you home.” He said. “Where do you live?”
“Oh you really don't have to.” I blushed. “I'm actually not too far from here, about five minutes down the road.”
“It's not big deal. Let's go.” He said, and led the way up the stairs.
Jeff was still on the phone, so I just waved and he gave me a thumbs up. I didn't know where Mike was, otherwise I would have said goodbye.
Outside, Eddie opened the passenger's door to his truck for me, and I hopped in. He shut it after I had put my seatbelt on. We were both quiet when he got in and started the car. I watched him as he drove, and he stayed focus on the road ahead.
“You're staring.” He said, the sound of a smirk on his lips.
I blushed and looked out the window.
“Am not.”
He chuckled. “Thanks for hanging out today.”
“Thanks for having me.” I giggled, and he pulled down my street.
“It’s not a problem, it was actually really nice hanging out with you. To be honest, I noticed you walking down the street before your dog ran over to us.” He said, rubbing his bottom lip.
I sat there staring at him, waiting for him to look at me at least once.
“Really?” I asked him with a hopeful tone.
Finally. He turned his head to the side a little and chuckled deeply.
“Yeah.”
“I feel bad. I feel like I only spent time with Jeff tonight when you were the one who asked me what I was doing after walking.”
Eddie shook his head.
“Turn left here.” I added, and he pulled into my driveway.
My mother had turned on the outside and porch lights. She was still awake, it seemed. The light was on in the kitchen, and the large bay window to the living room. The tv was playing some game show.
“Don’t feel bad about it.” Eddie finally said. “I’m just glad you had fun.”
He stopped the truck, and as I unbuckled, he came over to my side of the car and opened the door. I stepped down and he grabbed my hand to help me. He closed the door firmly, and I leaned against it, and he had one arm out and his hand was pressed against the truck. He trapped me as I was getting lost in his eyes again.
“What were you singing earlier? It was beautiful.” I said, almost breathlessly.
He tucked my hair behind my ear, gently. His hands were soft and warm. It seemed like everything about this man was warm and kind.
“I don’t have a name for it yet, but just something we wrote on the porch today.”
“That’s really cool. And I know that’s all I keep saying but..” I said, laughing a little, “I mean it.”
Eddie smiled, and his teeth were so dazzling and his smile so charming.
I had to be honest, he’s definitely more attractive than Jeff. I suddenly regretted spending my time with Jeff, because if I end up liking Eddie, he might feel led on. But it was just a couple of kisses, right? It didn’t mean anything.
“You’re really cute, you know that, right Bev?” He said, shuffling his feet.
He ran a hand through his messy and sexy hair and I blushed. My heart was going to beat out of my chest.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked, and he smiled even wider.
“I’d like that. Is it okay with your mom? I don’t want her to get upset or anything.”
I laughed.
“Trust me, she’ll probably love having you there more than she loves having me there.”
He laughed, too. We walked to the door, his hand on the small of my back the whole time. I was so thankful that he had put another shirt on. I opened the door and held his hand, guiding him in where my mother was already standing. She was in her yoga clothes, her hair a sweaty mess.
“Hi mom. Remember us? This is Eddie.” I laughed.
She laughed and welcomed Eddie in with a wave of her hand.
I closed the door and slipped off my vans.
“Come in, welcome.” She smiled at him.
“Thank you, Mrs…”
“Stone.” She added, still smiling and genuinely happy to have a guest.
“Stone, thank you.” Eddie said.
I came up next to him and my mother led us into the kitchen.
“Can I get you guys anything? Did you have dinner, sweetie?” She asked me.
Eddie and I sat down at the kitchen table, he was admiring the cheesy 1970s tablecloth upon it.
“Um I didn’t, but I’m fine.”
“Did you eat, Eddie? I have some leftovers in the fridge I can heat up.
“Oh, that’s okay, thank you.”
My mother opened the fridge and stood in front of it for a few seconds, gazing upon the items inside.
“Well, I think I’m going to heat up these veggie burgers I made the other day. And if you want one, it’ll be there.”
I sighed and stood up, going over to the coffee pot.
“Do you want some?” I asked Eddie, and he ran his hand through his hair again and I suddenly felt weak.
“Yes please.” He said.
My mother put the burgers on buns and a plate and set them in front of Eddie, patting his shoulder and going up to her room. I came back to the table with two cups of coffee, cream and sugar. I put a few spoonfuls of cream and sugar in my cup and stirred it before taking a cautious sip. Eddie drank his black.
“Sorry, she can be a bit too welcoming sometimes.” I said, stirring my spoon in the mug in front of me.
He laughed, and my stomach erupted with butterflies.
“Don’t be. She’s great. I can see where you get your kind nature from.” He said.
I reached for a burger the same time he did, and we both happened to want the same one. Our hands touched, his covering mine, and he looked at me.
“I don’t think I’m that hungry anymore..” I whispered, his eyes glancing down at my lips.
“I don’t think I am, either.” He said, and his lips nearly brushed mine.
Our chairs had already been so close together that the distance was nothing. He took his finger and gently hooked it around my chin, and kissed me.