For the second time this evening, I found myself up close to my handsome stranger with his arm wrapped around me once more. Only this time he wasn’t saving me from a fall.
Considering how low cut my dress was from behind, he had no option but to rest his hand on my bare back. I could feel his fingers gently move across the small of my back until they found their position. His other hand held mine and we began to move slowly with the music.
“I believe we missed the chance to properly introduce ourselves, I’m Callias Varela.” He said as he smiled down at me. “Or ‘Cal’ for short.”
“Avannah Goldhawk, but just call me Ava” I said with a grin.
“That’s a lovely name.”
“Thank you. So what brings you out to a military ball?”
“I’m here for an old friend.”
“Are you in the military?”
“No, not anymore. I haven’t been for quite awhile.” He looked away as if he was trying to think of something to change the subject.
At that point the song had ended. I wasn’t ready for our moment to be over so I was relieved when he asked me if I wanted to join him outside for some fresh air. He escorted me out to the back where there was beautiful garden decorated so elegantly with those little white Christmas lights. We walked around the garden together just making conversation. I was curious about him, especially after the brief conversation I had with my brother. Could there really be more to this handsome man?
“So who is this old friend you are here with?” I asked.
“Well, I am not really here with anyone. I came in honor of an old friend. We fought together in numerous battles. He died in the last war we were in together, and that was when I decided to leave.” He looked down. “I still come to functions like these to honor and remember him.”
“Sorry to hear that. It’s good that you still honor his memory though.”
He looked over at me and smiled, and then he reached into the jacket of his tux and pulled out a white rose. The same rose I dropped earlier. “I believe this was yours.” He said as he handed it to me.
My fingers touched his hand as I took the flower. I glanced up to meet his gaze and everything seemed to slow down. Every detail of the moment began to fall together as if to create the perfect memory. The soft glow of the white lights, the warm Arizona breeze that moved my hair across my shoulders, the way his hand felt against mine, and the dull roll of thunder in the distance. My momentary trance was broken by the feeling of rain drops beginning to sprinkle down on us. A few rain drops turned into many and soon we were caught in a nice little downpour. Cal took his jacket off and held it above my head as we hurried back towards the building. We took cover in the doorway, Cal had put his jacket around me and we stood there for a moment. Though Arizona rain is hardly ever cold, I feigned a chill just to have an excuse to stand closer to him. To my delight, he took the bait and put his arm around me.
Just then I noticed the time. It was already nine o’clock. “As much as I hate the thought of calling it a night, I’m gonna have to be taking off soon.” I said to Cal.
“This early?” He said as he looked down at me with disappointment.
“I know it seems a bit early, but I have a two hour drive home, maybe even longer in this weather.”
“That’s quite a drive, where do you live?”
“North of here. In the Verde Valley area.”
“I know where that is. I travel to Flagstaff a lot and I like to pass through that area when I feel like taking the scenic route. It’s very pretty up there.”
“It’s the only place I truly feel at home.”
“Well, I would really love to see you again. Perhaps I can call you next time I pass through the area, and maybe take you to dinner.”
“I would love that.” I said with a smile, hoping not to blush. I gave him my number then excused myself to go find my brother. My evening here had ended a lot better than it had started. Jared was just as ready to go as I was. His wingman duties were done as far as he was concerned considering the girl he was talking to would not stop talking about her ex the whole night.
Jared had me wait in front of the building as he went to get the car. The rain had stopped already, typical Arizona storm. It only rains just enough to make ground slippery and Jared didn’t want to have me slipping and falling in my heels …..again. I slowly strolled across the street and enjoyed how clean the air smelled. I still had my rose, and I held it up to my face to catch the combined aroma of rose and desert rain thinking this would make for a perfect candle scent. And, of course, I couldn’t get my mind off Cal and felt a spark of excitement at the prospect of our future date. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent again as my mind wandered. A loud noise caught my attention; it was the sound tires made when they have lost their grip on the road and slid out of control. I opened my eyes to see Jared running towards me, screaming at me to move. Two bright lights came towards me from the left faster than I could turn my head to see what they were. And just as the lights were at their brightest, everything went black.