Infantry Read online

  It was the guy who was checking me out earlier. Practically stripping me with his eyes—which I could now see, as we were face to face, to be rich and dark like coffee. This time he met my eyes and gave me a quick and fresh smile, the kind normal people made and the polar opposite of the creepy grin he had given me earlier.

  He shook Max’s hand and then Tamara’s. She smiled at him with both her mouth and eyes, and I knew what she was thinking. Then he turned to me.

  “Hi,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m Derek. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Claire.”

  I forced an approximation of a professional smile and shook his hand. I couldn’t help but notice that his hand was massive and calloused, but his grip was solid yet gentle. “Nice to meet you, too.”

  “I got your card from Adam.” He wove it in the air like it was a free ticket to Hawaii, or something. It wasn’t even a fancy card and had only one line of color ink.

  “I appreciate complimentary networking.”

  He laughed and adjusted the collar of his dress shirt. I could see the beginnings of his collarbone peeking out from under the light blue fabric. I did my best to be unassuming about checking him out, unlike him, and from my brief observation I could tell he wasn’t a stranger to the gym. I had no trouble imagining him doing one-handed pull-ups and other crazy exercises that I’d never dreamed of being able to safely do myself.

  Adam patted Derek on the shoulder. “Max was telling me that you were single, Claire. So I thought it’d be okay to introduce you two.”

  I groaned internally and shot Max a scolding glance from the corner of my eye.

  Max raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I may have let it slip. But only with good intentions. You know I’m only looking out for you. I don’t just tell anyone.”

  Yeah, not just anyone—just playboys with really good hair, broad shoulders and muscular arms.

  “Really, Adam?” Derek frowned slightly, his voice carrying an obvious edge. “I came to give a second opinion on this place, not pick up lovely ladies,” he turned to me, “no offence.”

  I regarded him and took another sip of my wine. Tamara giggled.

  Adam shrugged and made a guilty smile. “Sorry— I didn’t really mean it like that. I just thought you could make some new friends before you’re deployed. It’s practically a time honored tradition to live it up before heading overseas.”

  “Oh, are you in the military?” Max asked, defusing the situation by changing the topic before I could.

  The muscles on Derek’s shoulders relaxed and he simply shook his head at Adam before addressing Max like this was something he didn’t like to talk about all the time. “I am. I’m scheduled to be deployed again in a week and a half.”

  A military man? That would explain his physique. But I wondered why he had looked at me in such a way earlier, if he hadn’t been trying to pick up ladies. Unless he just looked at all women like that. I suppressed a shudder and hoped nobody noticed. The last thing I wanted was to hang out with some creep who thought every woman was just something he could checkout without any repercussions.

  “But I don’t want to talk about that,” Derek continued. “When I’m off-duty, I stay off-duty.” He smiled at me warmly. “Claire, you did a great job with the place.”

  I accepted his compliment and made some small talk about the highlights of the project, then told him to pass on my card if he met anyone in need of an interior designer.

  “But I think I want to keep this card,” he said. “I might be growing attached to it.”

  Max laughed, and I tried to stop my eyes from rolling. Now things were coming together. He acted like he wasn’t some ladies’ man, but I could spot a guy who played games a mile away. He could only pretend for so long before he started spouting lines. Tamara couldn’t spot guys like this because she played games like that herself, but I wasn’t like that. The moment someone stopped being real was the moment I stopped caring about getting to know them.

  “Hey, I am sorry if Adam made you feel awkward earlier,” Derek said. He must have noticed my eyes twitch at his remark. “I’m really not here to pick up girls.”

  And just like that the snake started acting like the sheep again.

  “You could be,” Max commented with a sly smirk. “With a smile and smooth talking like that.”

  “Max, keep your hormones in check,” I scolded him playfully. “You’re the realtor. Stay professional.” Max had no shame hitting on guys who were obviously not gay or interested. He knew how to get away with it. I knew the hypocrisy as soon as I said it though, here to network but with wine in my glass and, potentially, being flirted with.

  “I’m inclined to agree with Max,” Tamara chimed in, curling a strand of hair around her finger.

  “But, well, since we’ve met, I don’t see why we can’t arrange to hangout again.” Derek tilted his head to emphasize that it was more of a question than a statement.

  Okay, I was definitely being flirted with. The glimmer in his eye confirmed it.

  Now I was back to how I originally felt when I saw him looking at me. Annoyed that he thought he could use a few lines to get to me, but also attracted to him and annoyed with myself that it was working.

  “A couple of friends and I are hitting up Club Montaz tomorrow night. You should join us.”

  “We’d love to!” Tamara beamed and puffed out her chest, showcasing what nature had blessed her with and not so much myself. It was clear Derek noticed. “That’s a great idea!”

  “Oh, I don’t really like to mix business with pleasure,” I said, running a hand over my bare arm. I suddenly noticed just how chilly the night breeze could be.

  “Geez Claire, loosen up a little,” Tamara said, tugging on my arm. “You’ve earned a night out after all the great work you’ve done. Right, Max?”

  “Honey, you’ve definitely earned a night out,” Max said.

  “What business? I’m gone in just over a week remember.” Derek said, obviously enjoying the fact that it was now four against one.

  I wasn’t about to give in so easily though. “You still have my business card right? So that makes you potential business.”

  Derek took one last look at the card and ripped it up. “There, now I’m no longer a potential client.” He looked at me and smiled, just daring me to mention the fact that without my card he won’t have my number now.

  Before I opened my mouth he looked at me and rattled off my full name, number, and address that was on the card. “I don’t need cards to remember things,” he said, looking like a kid who had just won a board game.

  “What, do have a photographic memory or something?” I asked.

  “No, remembering important things is one of the requirements of my job,” he said, holding the same look on his face from before.

  I was about to ask if he expects to remember all of that even tomorrow and his friend Adam chimed in, “Steel trap mind when he needs it.”

  “One of my many talents,” Derek echoed right after his friend, as if they had rehearsed it. And I wouldn’t put it past them if they did. I was beginning to come to a conclusion about this Derek guy. Sure he was hot, but most players are and I wasn’t going to sit on the fence about it anymore. Derek was a player through and through. He probably had a few girls on the line for his last week and a half. What better excuse to get laid and not have to worry about following up with a call or anything. Derek was trying to get his dick wet, as he probably called it, as many times as possible before shipping out.

  “Bring a handful of friends, of course,” Derek said. “It’s just for fun. Have a few drinks, dance. Just a group of people having a good time.”

  Yeah exactly, bring some friends just in case Tamara or me don’t work out, I bet, I said to myself, now even more sure than ever that I had this Derek guy pegged.

  “I’m not much of a club person...” I said. It was partially the truth. I hadn’t been to one in years. My usual excuse was being too tired from work, or too busy
for the same reason. But, in reality, I also felt a little too old to be frequenting the clubs.

  “Don’t worry—it’s not some crazy club for teenagers. It’s got a nice lounge area with a proper dance floor. Less spilled drinks on the floor. Going with only a couple of people isn’t fun, so we could use a few more.” With his attention fixated on me, he smiled. “And Claire. I’d like you to come.”

  A sudden elbow to my ribs made me stagger forward and I almost lost my wine glass over the railing. It was Max. “Go for it,” he said. “A little party is good for you. You’ve told me Tamara is always bothering you to hit the clubs with her anyway. Make it a girl’s night—but with some boys to even things out!”

  “Exactly!” Tamara said.

  “You’re both a bit too enthusiastic about this,” I mumbled to them. Everyone in this conversation seemed to be working hard to make me go, and it was strange. Now that I thought that I had this guy figured out, he seemed harmless. I was about to nod my acceptance when Derek pulled me aside and whispered so that no one else could hear.

  “Hey,” Derek said, with a look that was less like a boy who had just beaten his friends at monopoly and more like a teenager asking his father if he could borrow the car, “Just come join us for a little bit. You don’t have to stay late, or drink more than you want to. No pressure. I just thought I’d invite you. We could get to know each other better. You’re young, vibrant, a little edgy, and pull off that dress like no one I know could.” His voice trailed softly, making his compliment sound genuinely innocent, even though he flashed his perfect teeth and suggested a hint of something underneath.

  My cheeks turned warm and I smiled. Player or not, he sure knew how to throw a curveball my way, which I was finding out was something I wasn’t immune to. A little fun would be nice. Perhaps I had misjudged Derek when I saw him earlier—maybe it had just been the wine speaking to me when I thought he was looking at me with gross intentions. Tamara was clearly already onboard, and the other girls would probably be psyched to go, too. And I didn’t have to work over the weekend since the next project wasn’t due to start for a couple days. Maybe a little dressing up, a little dance, and a little alcohol would be good. It would be a detox from work and life.

  All these thoughts were the result of me shifting from doing this out of peer pressure to me actually wanting to go. Even if this was all just a game to Derek, I couldn’t deny he was good at it. Whether I like it or not, I was excited to see what other tricks he had in his bag.

  “We’re going, right?” Tamara leaned into me so far that I was worried she’d lose balance on her heels.

  “Fine,” I said, rolling my shoulders back to meet Derek’s unspoken challenge. “I’ll come.”

  Chapter 3

  I spotted Derek from across the street waiting at the front of the club, his cheekbones highlighted red from the neon glow of the sign above him. He was with two other men, one laughing and holding his side, the other leaning against the brick wall, watching the steady flow of people pass a rather massive bouncer. Tamara and Shay were going on about some new store opening in their favorite downtown mall, and Megan had her arm looped around mine almost possessively.

  “Guys. That’s him.” I nodded towards Derek and the two who I assumed to be his friends.

  “My, my, my,” Tamara said, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. “Even dressed casual, he’s a looker.”

  “Go for it,” I said, but only half-feeling the words. I was kind of liking this casual look he had going on. Tamara scoffed, which gave me a surprising amount of relief.

  “I saw you two last night. He was totally locked on to you, and I’m not about to cock block my girl, especially since one is so desperately in need of a good cock.” She didn’t get too much emphasis on the last letter in the word before Shay butted in.

  “Tamara. I thought you were seeing that pilot anyway.” She pointed out.

  “I only saw him twice,” Tamara said. “Not married to the guy.”

  “Huh. On the phone it almost sounded like you were.”

  Tamara scoffed, Megan laughed. I found my eyes insistently looping down Derek’s body as we approached him. I noticed that his legs were quite long and I wondered if they made him a good runner. Was he was a runner? Or maybe he swam. My mind went back to the image of him doing the one-handed pull-ups and pushups. He probably was an excellent swimmer and runner since his job, as a soldier probably required it.

  “Claire,” Megan said. “You’re blushing already.”

  I tried to pull the color back inside. “No, I’m not. Just a bit nervous—it’s been a while since I’ve been clubbing.”

  Megan rubbed my arm and smiled. “Fret not. I’ll be your wing woman.”

  We scurried across the road before the light changed, our high heels clacking against the asphalt. But it was too young in the night for the sound to transmute into any impressive echoes. A dozen feet away from him, Derek’s eyes lit up in recognition and he waved.

  “Hey, hey, hey, glad you could make it Claire Hadlin from apartment #4 at 3468 West Blackwell Street. Can you still be reached at?” he rattled off my number like it was his own. He wore a charming, slanted grin, but it made me wonder if he had already been drinking. I shunted the thought aside, remembering that we had all taken a ‘courage’ shot before heading over ourselves.

  “Okay, I get it, you are good at remembering things,” I said and we exchanged introductions of our parties. One was Steven, the other Rob—or Rod. I couldn’t quite hear over a guy’s sudden scream from being jumped on by someone from behind, which I assumed to be a friend as well. I just nodded.

  “Where’s Adam?” I asked, obviously expecting him to be there with Derek again.

  “I can call him if you want,” Derek said, “but I think him and Max hit it off last night and the two of them are going out to a club that’s more their style tonight.”

  I knew exactly what that meant. Funny that I had no idea Adam was gay, but now I knew what my next meeting with Max was going to be all about. I guessed that I’d soon know way more about Adam than I would ever want to. It also took me by surprise that Derek was good friends with a gay man. I assumed that macho players like Derek wouldn’t be comfortable enough with that. Derek had been full of surprises up until now though, so it was silly of me to expect anything different.

  “Claire, have I mentioned you’re looking great,” Derek said to me while flashing his white teeth as we headed into the club. I could feel the bass of the music through my heels and Derek’s eyes travelling along my bare legs as he put his arm around me to usher me into the club. The bass and his scent practically washed me over, pulling me from the slight chill of the streets and pushing me into the pulsing womb-like atmosphere of the club.

  “Uh, thanks,” I said, thinking maybe my sparkly skirt was too short, but also charged by the fact that he quickly took note of whatever skin I chose to keep exposed. I had a hard time with that compliment from him. When he was just a player to me, I could easily pass off his compliments as part of his game and roll my eyes whenever they came my way. Somehow this compliment felt different. I felt like he meant it, and I wasn’t ready to deal with that.

  We took up a circular booth to the side of the dance floor and Rob—or Rod—waved to the bartender to bring us some drinks. It seemed like he knew the bartender because our drinks came quickly and the bartender was way too nice and charming. Even if Derek wasn’t a full on playboy himself, he definitely hung out with players.

  Derek and Tamara ended up sitting next to each other. I purposely took a seat at the edge of the booth, both for easy washroom access and so as to not get elbowed with every minuscule motion from my neighbors. I could see the space he left between him and Tamara though, and the lack of space he left between us. The club was noisy and it had its own smell, but somehow I could get Derek’s scent over all of it. Citrus and confidence is the only way I could describe it. Across from me was Megan and next to her was Steven.

  Steven a
sked Megan and I about our jobs and hobbies, typical small talk. He was polite and Megan was particularly reciprocative, nodding at the words he somehow projected over the music without spitting. She was slowly draining the drink in her glass and I nodded along, taking long sips of my drink frequently and finding my gaze drifting over the rim to Derek, who was paying attention with his head to the other conversations at the table. His body, though, was right up against mine, and even though we weren’t talking, I felt like his attention was still fully on me.

  He leaned over and said something into Tamara’s ear. She nodded and grinned, then said something back into his. His head jerked towards Shay and he said something that sent her into one of her giggling fits. She started choking and a short frenzy of half-serious laughter broke out.

  My drink didn’t taste as it should. I needed to get a new one.

  I was about to wave down the bartender when I was suddenly pushed out of my seat.

  “Come on,” Megan said, gently nudging me with urgency and laughter in her voice. Her false lashes exaggerated the flicker of light in her eyes. “Time to dance. Relaying the message from down the line.”

  Tamara and Shay led us toward the middle of the dance floor. The strobing lights above made curves of bare skin shine, and the music played with its audience like puppets on strings. We danced without knowing how, without thinking of steps or what song was actually playing. I moved to the beat of the music that vibrated throughout my whole body. It felt awkward to just dance for the fun of it, but the alcohol helped.

  Megan kept to my side, brushing off strange guys trying to grind into her. Tamara was demonstrating the fact that she had professional dance training to anyone who would watch—and there were many. Shay danced a bit with Rob—or whatever his name was. And then with Steven. We kept more to ourselves, or at least I thought we did, until I noticed Derek had vanished.

  I kept dancing, swinging my hair side-to-side, pretending my eyes were just dancing to the beat and not actively searching for someone. But why did I care where Derek went? Even though he invited us here in the first place, he could do whatever he wanted.