Freeform (3 page)

“Not sure it matters.”

A small look of surprise comes across her. “You...you heard that?”

“I've got ears.”

“No one ever hears me.”

“Well I will. I'll always listen. I'm good at that.”

Very good in fact. Wanna know a secret? Most people are only interested in telling their own story rather than hearing yours. Luckily for me, I prefer life that way.

She tries not to smile as she states, “I'll be taking you to the condo your aunt is renting you, which isn't too far from the office. There's a planned dinner with your family later this week. Once I've secured the details, I'll give you the information needed. Do you need me to stop anywhere before I take you to the condo?”

“No.” The idea of trying to survive dinner sets off a timer in my brain.

Need to bail before then if at all possible....I've done a miraculous job of avoiding my mother every time I come to town. I don't plan to break tradition.

My eyes admire the city outline, my family's legacy dead center like it's the heartbeat. I lift my finger to lightly trace the buildings in the air. Each motion is fluid and every structure unique.

I may constantly be leaving this place, but it doesn't change the indisputable allure the city has. Do you know how many times I've tried to capture its essence? No sculpture, drawing, or painting has ever done it justice. It's almost as if no matter how much time I put into creating a work to resemble it, something is always missing. Maybe this time while I'm here I can figure out just what that is. Maybe that's why Fate isn't pushing me to leave so quickly. Maybe for once, it'll let my greatest unfinished piece actually find peace.

June

I pedal faster on the stationary bike in hopes of burning away any lingering sexual tension.

Did you see him yesterday? No. I mean did you
really
see him? Tanned, toned, and basically one audition away from a role on Baywatch. I didn't even know they made men that tanned. What'd he do? Tan on the goddamn sun? Oh! And did you see his smile? The way it tugs a little higher to the left...I swear it alone would be worth losing my job over. Wait. No. I didn't mean that. I couldn't mean that. Nothing is worth losing my income over. I have rent to pay. Bills to pay. Groceries to buy. Student loans to hopefully stop drowning in.  I have too many things to check off for a
smile
to be the reason I'm out on my ass. But...if I'm being honest with you, and
only you
, I've never seen a smile that makes me wanna spread my legs like my ankles are allergic to each other.

The irritation over the situation moves my feet faster.

Eight weeks of gawking and staring and drooling over the astonishing artistic anomaly isn't going to go well. I just know it. There's this ache in my chest as if trying to announce there are life altering consequences lingering in the background.  Maybe there's some sort of pill I can take to at least dial back whatever it is he's naturally doing to my hormones. Any suggestions? Seriously, I will take anything necessary not to let my unused lady parts ruin the highest paid job I've ever had.

“You okay?”

The voice startles me out of my thoughts and my right foot slips off the pedal. It continues winding around knocking into my shin. “Ou...”

She giggles and sheepishly apologizes, “Sorry.”

“It's okay, Jaye. You know I'm clumsy.”

She climbs onto the bike beside mine and begins to pedal slowly, pushing buttons then  asks. “Probably didn't help that I scared you?”

Probably not.

“Just thought you heard me the first time.”

I offer a smile. “Sorry. I was...lost in my own head.”

Well, I was talking to you, but we're not gonna tell her that. We don't want her thinking we're crazy.

“Work bothering you again?”

“You could say that,” I mumble.

“What's that crazy boss of yours got you doing this time? Nothing with baby goats again, right?”

Long story, but let's just say they're not city animals and definitely not rooftop fans.

“No. She's got me watching her nephew for the next couple of months.”

“That doesn't sound so terrible. Unless you hate kids.”

“Which I don't.”

Her flawless face, lights up. “I love kids...I think I want Archer and I have to have a dozen someday.”

That's a lot of kids. They're not one of those things that really are cheaper by the dozen. I hope she knows that.

After gently patting my face dry, I sigh, “The problem is he's not a kid. He's a twenty-six year old tatted Greek God that I'm pretty sure even Zeus would be tempted to give Olympus over to based on his smile alone.” She begins to giggle and the rest of the words fly out of my mouth without waiting for me to give them more thought, “I don't know what I'm gonna do. One look at him and my brain turns to mush. Speaking in a way that makes sense is now a miracle. My brain basically goes back primal, lost in the jungle for too long, mouth click noises are now the only form of communication you know, kind of instinct. It's ridiculous.”

She breaks out into more laughter this time hiding it behind her coffee colored hand.

I don't have many friends outside of Jaye Jenkins and we haven't even been friends
that
long. I don't exactly have time to go searching out new people to hang out with. My time off is so sporadic it makes doing just about anything personal impossible. Not that there's anything personal I really wanna do anyway. I don't usually add a box for personal time outside of the gym or the occasional drink with Jaye who is equally as withdrawn as myself. We're not shy per-say, we just...have a tendency to keep to ourselves besides our loved ones. The two of us met one day during yoga class at the beginning of this year. One of those shared snickers at something ludicrous the instructor said. We were both the only two who snickered. Afterwards, we ended up talking for a bit at the juice bar. We did that up until a couple months ago when she suggested we branch out a bit. Most of the time she brings her sweet boyfriend along with her. It's not like I mind. He's an attractive, genuinely nice guy. Told her to find me one and she laughed like I was kidding. I was kidding....There's not room for a boyfriend in my life right now. No. Work. Family. Work. Gym. You can see the pattern. I would take casual sex at this point though. Look, I haven't had it in....in an amount of time that would grow back my virginity if that were scientifically possible. That's what this whole Tucker thing is about I'm sure. I'm just sexually deprived. Extremely sexually deprived. We're talking hallucinations that Chris Hemsworth is standing beside my bed asking me to be his Thor princess.

Before the conversation can continue, my cell phone vibrates with a text from my boss.

Boss: Cupcake. Chocolate. No icing with sprinkles.

I roll my eyes at the message.

What exactly are the sprinkles going to stick to?

Boss: Pick up my bracelet from Elizabeth's too.

“You okay?” Jaye's voice questions.

The moment my mouth twitches to reply it vibrates again.

123-555-8989: I need you to take me to get art supplies please.

A heavy unhappy groan escapes. “Ugh. I have to go.”

Good to see neediness is a family trait.

She offers me a warm grin. “Try to have a good day at work. Maybe we can get dinner later this week?”

“If Tucker is anything like Brandi, I wouldn't bank on it.”

Another sympathetic smile if offered.

I give her a wave and reply to both quickly.

I can do this. This is what I get paid to do. Handle crazy demands at crazy times. I'm a professional. I'll treat Tucker the same way I do his aunt. I'm sure all the feelings of desperation for his mouth on mine, my neck, thighs, and lady lips will pass once I get used to his overbearing charm. And of course just as soon as I adjust my shower head to the setting that is known for vibrating away the lingering problem between my legs.

**
 

I enter the condo with the key I was given and innocently call out, “Hello?” Not receiving any immediate response, I stroll past the formal dining room table, around the corner, and past where the open kitchen and living room connect. In the new area, I cautiously repeat myself. “Um...Hello?”

The echo of the empty one story condo stands up the hairs on the back of my neck.

My voice weakly tries once more. “Tucker?”

Why would he tell me he needs art supplies then disappear? Wait. You don't think he disappeared, disappeared do you? You don't think he's left already, right? Was the text just a distraction to buy himself some time to come up with an escape plan or to execute one? Holy shit! Oh no! Oh no...no no no! He couldn't have left already! Shit! What if he
did
?! What if he's gone?! How can I lose him already? He just fucking got here yesterday! We haven't even reached the one week point where extra precaution should be taken! Ugh. I'm really not in the mood to be fired today....Guess I could put job hunting on the list underneath picking up my mother's prescription.

Frantically, I knock and open the door closest to me. The small empty bedroom looks untouched. I give it a quick extra examination looking for any possible proof Tucker may have been in it. After not finding any, I dart down the hall for the next door, repeating the process, swiftly but thoroughly. As I reach the door at the end of the hall, I say a mumbled prayer of hope under my breath and knock. When there's no answer, I open the door exposing another barren room. The emptiness inside it clogs my throat.

I'm out of a job... I'm out of a pay check... I'm out of the art world... What the hell am I gonna do with an art history degree outside of art?

I give the room a final look before opening the door to my right, assuming it's the bathroom connected. With the idea it's probably as abandoned like all the others, I enter with the same defeated expression only to find a surprise instead. My hands instantly fly over my mouth.

Lord have mercy....Are you kidding me!?! Was that the sound of my ovaries exploding or yours?

I drop my hands to shriek, “Why are you naked?!”

Tucker cocks a smirk, blue eyes shimmering with trouble. “Left my floaties in Hawaii.”

My eyes give his wet naked body another glance before my hands cover them.

I couldn't fucking help it! He looks even more delicious wet! Those cut abs. Those perfect pecs. The happy trail that acts like a runway to his cock. Mmmm. No. I didn't actually see it...Do you really have to ask if I wanted to?

“I meant why are you still wet?” I grit my teeth. “Err..um...in the circle thing filled with water?”

There's amusement in his tone. “You mean the bath?”

“Uh-huh.” Doing my best to calm more than just my flushed face, I mutter on, “I mean I sent you the thing on the phone with the words to tell you I was coming.”

Oh hell, I wish he was making me come.

Another wince escapes and I try to correct again. “Here. Driving in the car over here to...pick you up. I just assumed you would be ready to go to the place with the things for the making of the stuff.”

Wow. See what I mean. Pretty sure, cave women had an easier time communicating than this! Geez, I gotta get a grip, which I know will not happen if I open my eyes and get another glimpse of those cut muscles you would break a tooth on if you bit one. Which I...I...I don't want to do. I'm not a biter. I mean...I don't think I'm a biter. My sexual exploration is rather low...I'll admit those hard abs of his would be worth exploring with my tongue.  What did he do to get those anyway? Live in a gym since birth?

Tucker chuckles. “You mean, the art store?”

“Mmhm,” I try to hold my composure. “So...why are you still in the bath?”

“I have no concrete concept of time. Hazard of living so freely I guess.”

“Okay then.” Shutting my eyes, I use one hand to reach behind me in search of the door frame. “I'll just...living...room wait.” Another annoyed sigh drops from my lips. “I mean. Wait. I'll just wait in the living room.”

The sound of water moving creates an imagine that will be haunting my dreams for the next several days.

Or years....

“If that's what you want beautiful. I don't mind company.”

Really?! Because this is fair! First guy to cross paths with me who I wouldn't mind sleeping with, who just openly offers, and I'm getting paid to entertain him. Not sure if that's prostitution, but it's making me feel very Pretty Woman like in the
wrong
ways.

I don't retort. In my attempt to back out again, I bump into the edge of the counter and groan, “Ou...”

“Careful, June Bug,” Tucker says on a small laugh. “You really should watch where you're going.”

“It would be easier if you weren't naked and emerged in water.”

“Which part is the more crucial aspect to be changed? Me naked or me in water?”

Don't...don't answer that.

Thankful to have found the door frame, I grab it, spin my body around and allow my eyes to finally open. “Take time your.” I shake my head. “Take your time. I'm on your schedule now.” I quickly shut the door behind me before rushing out of the bedroom, making sure to repeat the action. The moment it's closed the back of my head hits it with a solid thud.