A Thousand Word Thursday Story from Tam Ames

Late … Again

The light from the sun shining on my face was what woke me, I think. When I sat up with a jolt, I literally gasped in pain. My head felt like it was about to disconnect from my body. I grabbed my hair as if I could physically hold it on. I was swearing off tequila … and killing Marcus. Yeah, I could blame Marcus; he’d been buying all night, not my fault.

When my head had firmly reattached itself to my shoulders, I looked at the clock. Eleven fifteen. Not so bad, considering it was after four when we left the last place, and I didn’t have to be … Holy fucking shit! I was going to be late! This time my stomach gave a heave, and a lurch, and my head was suddenly a minor problem. Fuck fuck fuck! Why hadn’t someone woken me? Alan would never forgive me if I was late - if he even stuck around to see if I showed up.



I untangled myself from the hotel sheets, and raced straight into the shower. I took the time to shave, because it had to be perfect, perfect for today anyway. I grabbed the garment bag out of the closet, and groaned as the pieces in the bag came out one after another. Who the hell made tuxedos so damn complicated? What was wrong with jeans and a t-shirt?

When I had most of the outfit on, I thought properly, I was left with only the tie, and ten minutes. There was no way I could get the tie done up, and down to the courtyard in ten minutes. I shoved on my shoes, bunched the tie in my hand, and raced out of the room, realizing I’d left the room key and wallet in my other pants. I hesitated for a moment, but I had no time, and I began furiously pushing on the elevator button willing it to come faster.

I slumped against the back wall of the elevator, and ignored the knowing glances from the family with young kids. The doors opened in the lobby where I resisted the urge to hurdle over the youngest kid, then raced down the hallway to the courtyard waiting area. I had - I glanced at the large clock in the lobby – three and half minutes. I could make it. I grimaced at the untied tie in my hand.

Oh, Alan was going to be pissed. He was always early, I was always late. It was the way it worked for us. As I flew into the room, Alan turned and looked at me, his arms crossed. He, oh so casually, looked down at his watch.

“What? I’m on time. Almost.” I held out the tie. “I was, um, having issues, and I … oh shit. I’m sorry. I know you said be on time, and I planned on it, but then Marcus said we had to go out since it was my last night, and then I was sure I set the alarm, but maybe I set it for PM not AM, and no one came to find me, and I tried to hurry, but this damn suit as so many pieces, and my head hurts, but the tie makes no sense.” The whole time I’d been babbling, he’d crossed the room toward me, holding my gaze. Oh shit, he was going to change his mind. I just knew it.

That threw me into another bout of babbling. “Please Alan, don’t go. Just wait, can’t you forgive me? I’ll try harder, I will. I’m getting better.”

He stopped right in front of me, placed his hands on either side of my face, and looked into my eyes. “Hush baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

I think I physically sagged when I heard that. “You mean it? Really?”

“I’ve waited over two years for this day, I’m not about to leave now.” He leaned in to kiss me, and I thought my heart would explode. I grabbed him, and squeezed him so tightly he grunted. I heard snickers from the other side of the room, and realized both of our fathers, and our two best friends - including a damn smug looking Marcus - were standing watching us. I felt myself flush, but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Alan gently pried the tie from my hand, and put it around my neck. “Come on. Let’s get this on, and get the show on the road.” He stopped, and stared at me for a minute. “I meant what I said, Cam. I’ve been waiting for this moment for over two years; since I saw you knock down that kid on the skateboard as you tried to catch the bus, which you missed by the way. Now today, I get to fulfil a dream, every day with you for the rest of my life.”

I started to get teary eyed. Oh shit. Not in front of my dad. When I heard a sniffle, I saw my dad discretely wiping his eyes. Huh. Who knew he was a softie?

Alan finished with my tie, and straightened my tuxedo. “Okay baby. Let’s get this show on the road. We’re only ten minutes late, that must be a record for you.” I gave him a pouty face, and he laughed. “We have over a hundred friends out there, some anxious mothers, and a minister all waiting for us. Are you ready?”

I held his hand tightly. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.” We got in formation, with the best men and our dads, and I took a deep breath. I meant it. Alan was the best thing to ever come into my life, and I wasn’t going to ever let him go, and I swore I’d work harder on being on time. Really I would. Sheesh, why does no one ever believe me?

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Aw, poor *snicker* boy! *snort* That was cute Tam!

Tam has more cuteness for us -- her new story, Winterlude, is out now from Torquere Press, and I have a shopping trip to make!

Eric hates the cold weather and his broken down car, which means venturing out on foot into the sub-zero temperatures. Navigating the icy sidewalks, he runs into Omar, literally. An impromptu hot coffee on the cold day finds that tattooed and pierced Eric, and government IT guy Omar might have more in common than they expected. When Omar is called away, before he can get the guy's number, Eric believes it may only have been a pleasant winterlude to temporarily distract him from the cold, or is there a possibility his winter will get a lot warmer?

Buy it here. You can check out Tam's news here on her blog.