The Best Thing Never Expected

         “Congratulations to Serene for finding her dream job and running like the wind from collections.” Bobby said calling for a toast by raising his glass of water.
         My co-workers and I raised our glasses and beer bottles in agreement of the comment. We were all celebrating my final day of working at the Brown's collection agency at Lucky Stars Sports Bar and Grill, our usual hang out after work. I just received a new position at a small publishing company as an editorial assistant. Sticking with tradition I was treated to a farewell dinner by my co-workers who in the past four years had become my family.
         “To Serene for begin the first one of us to get out alive.” Monique added. She had started the same day as I did at the agency and from then on we had been inseparable. We all raised our glasses taking a another drink.
         “So, what are you going to be doing again?” asked Laura, my now former boss, as she finished off her pecan chicken.
         “Assisting the editor with editorial stuff I guess.”
         “You mean getting coffee and picking up dry cleaning. Girl you got it made.” Latrice joked as she drank the rest of her beer then called for the waiter to get her another.
         “Hey, at least it’s better than getting cussed out day in and out because people can’t pay their bills.” Keith, who sat the farthest away from me, said with a small laugh. Even though he was usually the life of the party, that night he had been quiet and pensive.
         Everyone grunted with agreement.
         “I’m just trying to get my foot in the door. Besides, this job gets me one step closer to interviewing the stars of my favorite TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” I said with dreamy eyes. I was knocked back to reality by a piece of the bread that pelted my forehead.
         “Didn’t they cancel that show?” Monique asked. She threw another piece of bread but I successfully blocked it.
         “Yes, but the actors are still working. I’m bound to make it big as a celebrity reporter one day and when I do watch out James Marsters, I’m coming for you.”
         “Who?” They all questioned in unison.
         “Never mind,” I said remembering that they weren’t Buffy fanatics like me.
         “Looks like it’s almost closing time, why don’t we do our final farewells.” Laura said in her bubbly tone. “I’ll start.” She turned towards me and took my hand. “Serene, I have really loved working with you for these past few years. You were a star employee and a star collector and I know you will do well with what ever you do.” She took a napkin off of the table and dabbed her watery eyes. “All of you are like my children and it’s going to be so hard to letting you go.”
         I gave her a hug. “Thanks momma, I’ll miss you too,” I said jokingly, making her body shake with laughter. I wiped away the approaching tears in my eyes.
         “I’m next.” Bobby said excited and anxious.
         “I didn’t know you had so much inside of you that you wanted to say to me.”
         “I don’t, my girlfriend just called and said she’s only waiting outside for a minute, after that I’m walking home.”
         “Come on Bobby, we'll take you home.” Monique offered.
         “That would be nice but the couch is never a comfortable place to sleep. So Serene nice working with you, you're awesome, I gotta go.” He got up and rushed out of the door.
         “Bye Bobby,” I called after him.
         Latrice made a whipping motion and Monique added the sound effects.
         “Okay whose next?” I asked rubbing my hands together greedily.
         “I’ll go,” Latrice said. “Girl you know that you will be missed.” She pressed her hand to her chest and pretended to hold back tears. “Who is going to calm me down if I get some knucklehead on the phone trying to get an attitude with me because he doesn’t think he needs to pay his bills." Everyone let out a laugh. "But for real, you are so special and I wish you the best at your new job picking up dry cleaning and getting lunch.” She gave me a big hug.
         “Monique, it’s your turn.” Latrice turned towards her.
         “Good luck at your new job. I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch,” she flashed a quick mischievous smile my way.
         “Keith you’re the only one who hasn’t said anything and the restaurant is about to close.” Laura said putting on her coat preparing to leave.
         He sat quiet for a few seconds playing with one of his many beer bottles. “I guess I want to tell you to stay the same and don’t change a thing.”
         “Oh my goodness. That sounds like something you would write in a year book to someone who you hardly know.” Latrice said placing her money down on the table. “You couldn’t come better than that Keith, Mr. Smooth Talker.”
         He shrugged his shoulders. “That’s how I feel.”
         “Keith please,” she said rolling her eyes as she got up from the table. “Come on Laura we can walk out together.” Laura was already out of her chair ready to leave.
         “Bye you guys,” I waved to them.
         “I’m going to go to the bathroom and then we can leave,” Monique said leaving Keith and me at the table alone.
         I moved down a few seats until I was sitting directly if front of him. “You’ve been pretty quiet tonight. Are you okay?”
         Keith had also started the day that Monique and I started and although we were really good friends at work we never hung out outside of work like Monique and I did.
         “I’m okay. I’m just sad to see you go.” For the first time that night he looked at me.
         “I’m sad to go. I’m really going to miss you all.”
         “You know, I meant what I said about never changing and staying the same.”
         “Yeah right, Keith.”
         “I’m serious.”
         “So you think I shouldn’t change anything about myself.”
         He shook his head no.
         “Not at all?”
         He shook his head no again.
         “I’m perfect just the way I am, huh. If that’s the case I think you have had one to many beers. ” But what he said next made me feel foolish not to believe everything he had said to me.
         Keith moved the beer bottles to the side of the table in order to reach across and grabbed my hands and placed them in his. His hands were warm and a little sweaty. Thinking back he was probably nervous from what he was about to tell me.
         His eyes looked lazy from the drinking and smoking he had done but his voice was clear and full of honesty. He intently stared into my eyes.
         “You are perfect just the way you are. You are the best person I know. You have your own mind and opinions. You’re the funniest, kindest, gentlest woman I have ever met in my life. I only hope that I can be half the person you are one day. Yes, you are perfect just the way you are and I love the way you are and I love you.”
         I didn’t say anything at first. I had to be sure of what my ears had just heard. No, Keith couldn’t love me like that I thought. He must be talking about the love friend's share. To make the situation more comfortable for me I broke the silence.
         “Keith, those are the sweetest words anyone has ever said to me. I love you too and we will always be friends.” I got up and walked over to his side of the table. I sat down in the chair next to him. I encircled my arms around him, giving him a polite friendly hug. He accepted it for the moment but instead of releasing the hug he held on longer.
         In my ear he said, “I don’t think you understand Serene. I love you. I have loved you from the first time I saw you. And I’m going to miss you so much. I didn’t want to let you go.” He hugged me closer and tighter. I could only return the gesture. I was in a state of shock.
         Finally he released me from his arms but held tight my shaking hands. “I could kiss you on the lips right now.” He moved closer to me but Monique’s voice interrupted the spell we were under.
         “Okay, ready to go?” she asked totally unaware of what had just taken place. She concentrated putting on her gloves not noticing how close Keith and I sat or that we both still embraced each other's hands.
         “See you around,” Keith placed his warm lips on my forehead. They lingered longer than they should have. For some reason I noticed that. He got up and gave Monique a quick peck on the cheek and wave bye to both of us.

***

         During the car ride home I had replay over and over again what Keith had said to me. Part of me still didn’t believe that a person could feel so strongly about me and me not having a clue. But as I thought back to all of the affectionate gestures I took as his random flirtations with the female population of the office, I realized that there had been truth to his words. His friendly embraces at the end of the workday that only I received. His handmade personalized Valentine’s Day cards he made only for me. And his always overprotective, jealous demeanor when I talked about my date for the weekend was expressed only with me. I smiled to myself at the thought that Keith Parker loved me. And I loved the fact that he loved me for my inner self not anything superficial. I turned and looked up to the sky. Small stars crowded the dark blue heavens as my heart was crowded with feelings of excitement and joy, and the wonderful feeling of the best thing I never expected.