Autumn Chic Lit: Cafe Con Leche, Chapter 5

Miss previous chapters? Catch up on chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4.

“What do you mean, I’m a ‘tease’?” Matt asks during our nightly telephone conversation while I walk from my evening exercise class.

“Oh, don’t play dumb. You know you’re a tease.” I adjust my overnight bag on my shoulder and increase the volume on the side of my TREO.

Tonight, I’m going to shower and change in Matt’s room, before we go to a small house party for one of his basketball friends. We have been together for 3 months now and everything was perfect between us, except the fact that he was a tease. A lot of people seemed to love and support our relationship, but there were still many who hated that we are an interracial couple.

“How do I tease you?”

“You know what you do, Matt.” I blush, just thinking about his lustful tactics. “Kissing my neck, foot and back-rubs and all that winking you do. I mean, you’re very romantic and I love it, but you know what you’re doing, Matt.” He laughs on the other end of the line.

“I didn’t know I could be scolded and complimented at the same time, Jo. Thanks.” 

“You’re welcome,” I laugh as I sit down on the bench at the bus-stop.

“But seriously, Jo. I’m not trying to tease you. I want you, you know that,” I blush again. “But I just want the time to be right when we…you know.” He says shyly.

“Me too…” I say softly , feeling butterflies in my stomach.

“Well, don’t complain, because my ‘teasing tactics’ keep both of us happy. In fact I have some planned when you get here tonight.”

“A-ha! So you admit that you tease me?” The nightly campus bus stops in front of me, and I stand up.

“You caught me, babe.” He says as I step onto the bus. I smile politely to the bus-driver. The bus is almost empty except for a group of three pretty blond girls sitting near to middle. One seems to stare at me as I walk by. She looks familiar.

“I know. Well, I just got on the bus, so I’ll see you in a few minutes, honey.” I plop down on the seat, feeling a bit tired from my workout.

“Alright, babe. See ya soon.” I hang up and put my overnight bag on the seat. I check the time. 7:14pm. I begin going over my calendar in my TREO to kill time during the ride.

The group of girls at the front of the bus begin talking loudly. I look up and see two of them watching me while the one that was staring at me early is saying something to them. I raise my right eyebrow; something about them isn’t cool.

“She probably just a booty-call, Stacey. Like those basketball groupies.” I hear one say. The other two giggle at the comment.

“I just can’t believe he’s dating her. It’s totally a downgrade from you, Stacey.” I hear the other one say.

“I know,” Stacey says. “She’s probably a big slut.” The other two agree.

I laugh to myself and look up at the group again. They turn their heads and begin to whisper. Blond hair, babbling group of minions; it’s all clear to me now.

Stacey is Matt’s ex-girlfriend from Miami.

Matt told me about her: evidently it’s her life-long dream to be a trophy wife. Matt always called her a “manipulative, selfish B.” Matt never calls women “bitches,” I guess even when they deserved it.

I pull the cord signaling for the driver to stop at the next bus stop.

As I leave the bus, I make sure to look at Stacey’s group as I walk past them. I laugh to myself as I step off the bus.

Some people.

“She said that?” Matt said in disbelief as I re-counted my brief encounter on the bus.

“Yeah, she said ‘She’s probably such a slut.’ Now I’m not 100% sure it was her, but I think it was.” I say, sitting down in Matt’s desk chair.

“It probably was her. She’s such a B. But enough about her.” He says grabbing my hand and pulling me towards his bathroom.

“I have a surprise for you tonight,” He steps behind me to cover my eyes and push me towards to bathroom. “A nice bubble bath.” He uncovers my eyes. His bathroom is lit with black candles. The tub is full of water with thick bubbles covered with rose petals. On the closed toilet seat is a pink and black towel and wash-cloth set with a loofah. He’s bought a collection of personal care items for me, which he has laid out on the sink.

“Oh, Matt,” I say in shock. “This is beautiful. You didn’t have to do all this.” I say wrapping my arms around his neck.

“Well, I just wanted to give you a reason to stay here more often.” He kisses my forehead.

I let go of him and look at all the products he has. Everything from the type of deodorant I use to my favorite type of razor. It’s perfect.

I pick up the bottle of dark purple nail polish, identical to the one that I always use.

“How did you know which products to buy?” I’m say amazed, holding up the bottle of polish.

“Shawnie let me into your bathroom and I just wrote everything down. She helped me get some of the more personal care items for you. That stuff is under the sink.” His cheeks flash a little red as if he’s embarrassed.

I bend down to look under the sink. A box of tampons and sanitary napkins sit idly underneath.

“Aww, babe. You didn’t have to do all this.”

“It’s nothing,” He shrugs. “But go ahead and take you bath and then we’ll have dinner before we go to the party.”

I sigh in disbelief. 

The bath was great. I sat there soaking for a few minutes. Matt had filled the water with aromatherapy bath beads and Espon Salt. Dinner was a beautiful candle-lit homemade Italian dinner Matt made for us from his grandmother’s recipe for parmesan pasta and garlic bread.

Although the food was delicious, his cooking skills aren’t what impressed me--it was the effort that he put into everything; his desire to please me and keep me happy.

After dinner we had brief make-out session on his bed and then went to the party at his friend’s apartment. We were having a great time, just hanging out with his basketball friends, listening to music, and playing the Nintendo Wii.

Matt beat all his friends in Wii Boxing.

“Come on, Jesse, I thinking fighting Shawnie would be more difficult than this.” Matt says while he and Jesse punch their Wii controllers furiously toward the Wii sensor at the top of the TV.

“Shawnie, you’re gonna let him talk to me like that.” Jesse said over his shoulder to Shawnie who was sitting beside me on the couch. Her thick wavy hair was pulled back into a high messy ponytail, showing off her high cheekbones.

“Baby, it really pains me to watch you get your butt beat,” she responded sarcastically.

“KNOCKOUT!” Matt throws his hands in the air victoriously. “Who’s next?” He says looking around.

“I’ll play you.” A voice says from the living room doorway. I look up and see Stacey and her two friends walking through the doorway. They all are wearing really short dress shorts with heels and low-cut shirts of different styles. Stacey’s shirt is semi-sheer. I hear Shawnie say “Oh Lord.” beside me. I had told her earlier about what happened on the bus.

Matt looks at Stacey, his body language is suddenly uncomfortable, frozen in his spot.

“Nah, actually I’m tired now. I’m done “ He hands his controllers to Jesse.

“What’s wrong, Matt? Afraid you’re gonna get beat? ‘Cause from what I remember, you used to like to play with me.” Stacey says walking forward towards Matt. Her friends watch me suspiciously.

“Yeah, and you like to play games. Sorry, I’m not interested.” Matt turns to start walking back towards me, but Stacey grabs his arm. Jesse retreats to sit beside Shawnie.

“Come on, Matt,” Stacey pulls him back and puts her hand on his chest, Matt pulls back to avoid her touch but she still holds his arm “I know what you like and I could give you all the things your girl is missing.” I uncross my legs and prepare to stand up.

Matt yanks his arm away. “Like what? STDs? Drop it, Stacey. I’ve traded up.” Everyone chuckles at his comment. Matt sits next to me on the couch, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and coaxing me to sit back. The whole room is silent and watching Stacey and her friends. They seem dumbstruck, as if their whole plan to crash this party didn’t include being rejected by Matt.

“We’ll see Matt. Give me a call when you finish your community service project.” She tries to stare me down.

I stand up. Matt grabs my arm.

“Seriously, sweetie. I don’t know if you’re drunk or stupid, but you should go.” I narrow my eyes at her and her friends.

“And take your STDs with you.” Shawnie says standing up beside me.

Stacey looks from Shawnie to me evaluating if they should put up a fight.

“What are you gonna do? Hit me?” Stacey smiles arrogantly, glancing from me to Shawnie.

I pull forward threateningly, Matt still holding me arm. “For your sake, don’t give me a reason to.”

There’s a pause and Matt stands up and puts his arm around me, pulling me closer. 

“Let’s just go, Stace.” One of the girls says. The group turns around and leaves the apartment quietly.

“I see what you mean now, Matt.” I say as he wraps his arms around me seconds later.

“I’m ready to go, honey.” I say turning to get my purse.

“Yeah, let’s go. I’d love to put more work into my 'community service project.'” He smacks my butt playfully, and I laugh, partly out of relief.

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