Standing in Lela's quaint bedroom, Neil could see himself in there spending many nights with her. He admired her beauty as she peacefully lay in her bed. He imagined himself sliding into her silky sheets and not coming out for months. Not like this, he reasoned with his aching body.
With lustful eyes, Neil asked Trey, "You think we should change her into some nightclothes?"
"I'll get her some when y'all leave," Tonya said as she pulled herself out of Trey's arms.
"Good try, man. The only way you are going to see Lela undressed is if she is awake and willing." Trey turned off the light and exited the room holding Tonya's hand, with Neil following close behind.
"I just wanted to make sure she was comfortable. You know, man, nothing more."
"Riiiight. Come on, man."
***
Neil woke up the next morning with Lela on his mind. When she kissed him in the parking lot, his first instinct was to push her away, but her lips were so sweet and soft he got lost in the kiss. There was a connection to her that he could not deny.
He was taken aback by the few intimate hours they shared. He usually didn't drink, but after walking in on Larna and her girlfriend in bed yesterday, he needed something to help him relax and just kick it. The night out at The Foxy Lady had done the trick.
Lela captured his attention without even trying. Usually, the thought of women in the club scene was for one-night stands, then business as usual by Monday morning.
This Monday morning, as he sat at his desk pressing to finish a project the advertising committee was working on, he had a different feeling he wasn't quite ready to follow up on. His wounds were still fresh from his soured relationship, so instead of chasing something new he focused on Naytek. He chalked Saturday night up to a good time and kept churning through the pile of work on his desk.
It probably was the alcohol working on both of us anyway, he told himself. His belief was if something was meant to be, it would become a reality in due time.
"Mr. Johnston, there is a Larna Darby on line one," the temp secretary buzzed Neil's personal line.
"Tell her I am in a meeting. As a matter of fact, whenever she calls, just take a message." Larna was the last person in the world he wanted to talk to.
He thought of Lela often after that night. Even after he transferred to Atlanta, he thought about her and what could have been, until often turned into ever so often, and ever so often turned into rarely.