Imperfectly Perfect

As I sat in my mirror, I took deep breaths to ease my nerves. I was trying to do my eyeliner with a cute little flick that look like a wing. The only problem, my hands were shaking as I got ready for my evening. I can't believe I listened to my sister. Usually, she was the voice of reason... Except for this time. Enter the contest she said. It will be fun she said.... This is how I ended up on a Friday night, doing my makeup and praying I don't make a complete and total fool of myself.

Once my nerves settled down a bit, I manage to finish doing my makeup and styling my coils into some type of socially, tame, acceptable hairstyle. Strolling down the hall toward the bathroom, I flipped on the light and gave myself one last courtesy look. Each strand of hair, curled and waved in an effortless yet elegant manner. Each curl laid artfully as specifically placed there for an added effect. My makeup was subtle but expressive. My eyes were done in hues of pale pinks and shimmery pink satins while my foundation gave a soft natural glow. I opted for a fairly neutral nude gloss just to add shimmer and fullness to my already sculpted lips. The black lace dress that I wore reach my feet effortlessly as it swished around my ankles. On my feet were a dainty pair of strappy, black sandals the aided in keeping the dress from sweeping the ground.

I received a text confirmation that the limo service had arrived at my door. Completely unsettling every drop of a calm vibes I had collected, I grabbed my crossbody and exited my apartment.

Walking to the curb, the driver stood silently near the door. Before I could reach him, he nodded his head in an imperceivable bow and opened the door. Offering a hand, I ducked into the plush interior and thanked him softly. My nerves rose to the occasion like the swells of Lake Erie. I tried to take deep breaths, but I knew who was in the limo with me. And I knew he had all eyes on me.

The man looked like a dark prince with almost vampiric beauty. His warm cinnamon eyes were rimmed and smoked in black and kohl. They almost glimmered from the darkened canvas. The lips were thin but did not take away from the guarded smile he wore. The skin on the man had an ethereal luminosity. It looked like alabaster reflecting the light of the moon at high tide. The only blemish was the tattoo on his right hand that looked like dragon hide peeking from its human container. The man’s hair was a thing to behold. Its length was to mid back but it was a pretty copper blonde that was styled in lush, loose waves. Thinking of my own appearance, I felt my heart pick up the pace of its internal, self-imposed race.

“Take a sip.” His voice was rich as dark chocolate and decadent as velvet on polished skin with a sweet accent. The shaking of my hand did not completely betray me as I took hold of the glass. The slight nod of his head made me blush as his lips curled into a smile showing rows of white teeth. At first sip, I let the wine sit on my tongue and bloom. The rich, red wine has a berry taste that cliché-esque, reminded me of chocolate covered raspberries at first but a pleasant note caressed me. There was something deeper than that. It almost seemed like something masculine but with a swirl of bright notes balancing out in a nice flourish.

Our browns sought out each other as I noticed the vehicle moving through the roadways. Subconsciously, I commended the driver on how smoothly he navigated without the slightest whisper of the car taking off. The man reached into his breast pocket to pull out a smoke, but his eyes flickered back to mine. I waved it off. Most of his fans knew he was a smoker and I kind of hoped it was because of me. What girl would not hope that their idol or fan crush would need to settle their nerves around them? To relieve the same jitters you were experiencing because they are in your presence? Asking about his flight in seemed to be a solid place to start. Of course, he was cordial and media training would have it but I sighed internally. I felt handled. I felt as if he was only going through the motions and just being polite as what was expected and demanded. Peering out the window gave me a chance. I noticed the familiar curve of 9th street as you came from Orange Avenue. We were near some of our sport’s teams major venues.

“I have fond memories of when our baseball stadium was called Jacob’s Field. That was when our team seemed to do very well in their divisions and all the fans rallied around them. Amazing how time lulls and crashes with force and delicacy all in the same moment.” I looked back to him as he peered up at our field in wonderment. We drove around and he quietly asked questions. I smiled as he told me of times in a large but small city. I listened in rapt attention as his accent and words swirled around my cottony brain. Each sip of wine made my focus shift to him. He seemed so very human in that moment. His face never belied his age, but his eyes were deep and spoke of time held wisdom.

I mentioned gaming and he grinned. Reaching over, he exposed a screen and opened a discreet compartment. Inside were wireless controllers for the Switch docked in the limo; my eyes lit up as I saw games I had played as well as titles I had not. Going for rock, paper, scissors to determine what we would play left us laughing at the continuous draws we had. He won with a rock to my paltry shears… it seemed that I had neglected to sharpen them once again. He gave a rich smile that made me reach again for that bold delicacy that left its berry imprint on my tongue with the swirl of a woodsy taint at the roof. I saw him gesture toward the screen, ever the gentleman. Settling on a game that did not pit us against each other, we began familiarizing ourselves with the controls.

His voice was a deep husk that dripped of sumptuous suggestion and decadent promise. Each word spoken was wrapped in that polite accent and hid the sultry nature. He spoke of times he played games against his fellow bandmates and how he often teased the younger member who played drums. Spoke of times he and the bassist played pranks on anyone in the vicinity… except the vocalist. While the game loaded, I poured him another glass of the wine and his eyes had a surprised sheen. He said a quiet thank you as a swallow disappeared down his elegant throat.

As time wore on, we had cleared many of the mini challenges and there was plenty of choice language that flowed from more difficult paths. I asked if there was another stop on our date and he smiled softly, the wine softening his features into charming nobleman.

“Is there anywhere you want to show me?” he handed me a bottle of water from the on-board cooler and uncapped his own.

I thought for a moment and looked at the window. I noticed we were not to far from the city marina. Nodding my head, I turned to kneel in the seat and ask the driver to change routes over the intercom. He agreed and I felt the vehicle move to another lane. The warm, whiskey-colored eyes regarded with wonder as if the surprise were a sudoku puzzle on my face.

“Please be patient. You’ll see a deeper part of me.” I felt a touch warm from the wine we had graciously tasted until we drank to the bottle’s limit. An unwanted chill went through my body as the crisp breeze caught me off guard. He saw the shiver with hawk like eyes and patted the seat beside him. The wine had done its purpose to relax me and allow me to enjoy because I moved to his arms with no hesitation.

Though he was much smaller than me, his frame radiated warmth like a hot spring. He had a scent on his skin that held traces of smoke, sandalwood, vanilla musk and something that had no true verbiage. It was as if the scent remained unnamed just for me to spend time contemplating it closest origin. All- together, it paired with the glasses of wine I had demolished on an empty stomach made the bridge of my nose and cheeks warm with a flush. I felt the limo begin its slow from the speeds on the freeway. Smiling, we had reached my point of peace. His face held this cool inquisitiveness that almost made me shrink back as if I had made a wrong assumption. Yet, I didn’t care about his media trained distance. This was a small glimpse into me, and I had no reason to not share it.

“May we take a drink outside? I want you to see this.” I felt my fingers lightly play over the teeth of my purse zipper. My eyes took in the little crab charm that swung from the metal circlet. Feeling him shift more than I saw it, he retrieved a small bottle of sake that I recognized as Tozai Snow Maiden. I saw him delay sitting back as he was looking for something special. It dawned on me. He was looking for o-choko, the special cups that normally were used for serving the alcoholic rice wine properly. Softly tapping the hand with the tattoo and feeling a fleeting thought of his skin’s texture, I suggested the shot glasses used for more potent drinks like tequila and vodka. He grinned and gently grabbed two. I sat up from his arms as we heard the driver’s door shut. Suppressing a shiver at the loss of warmth, we stepped out the vehicle and he adjusted to his full height.

I carefully stepped amongst the loose stones and sand till we reached the outer most pier close to the lake’s edge. The sky was clear and home to the blanket of eternity. We were on stage and the stars were the flashes of the crowd. The waves of the lake were small, almost dainty compared to a normal day of their rambunctiousness. Sitting on the large boulders closer to the shore, he sat the glasses down and opened the drink. Methodically and smooth as the drive had been, he poured my glass first and then his own. I thanked him and took a deep inhale. The smell of water and sea life washed over me with the brush of cologne in the wind.

“To a date that was planned and completely unexpected.” His voice was a husky purr that made the original wine flush return with secondary purpose. Letting out the breath I unintentionally held, I sighed the word like a filtered prayer.

“Kanpai.” We both took a sip enjoying the slight fruity notes so different from the full, rich, berry laced wood pile we drank merrily earlier. I smiled as he moved closer as he saw that deceitful shiver run down my frame. As I sat there and chattered happily about the constellations and stars that were visible that night and where to look using our phones to research, I could not help but think about how the night was perfectly, imperfectly, perfect.