Authors: Marie Medina
She lowered her eyes, unsure what to say.
He tipped her chin up and made her meet his gaze again. He smiled roguishly. “And there’s also the fact that we were made for each other.”
“Were we now?” She laughed.
“Oh yes.” He ran his hand over her pussy again, and she shivered. “We were molded for one another, absolutely and positively made to fit together.”
She laughed and then smiled up at him, and then she ran her fingers through his hair and rested her hand on his neck. “I can believe that.”
“Good,” he whispered before pulling her into another long kiss.
As she fell back into his arms and gave in to the kiss, she felt him moving deeper into her heart and savored how complete she felt there in his embrace.
* * * *
Erik sat next to Jeremiah on the floor and watched Susan unwrapping their lunch. David hadn’t shown up yet. Erik didn’t want to suggest David might not want to be around him, but he had the impression Jeremiah wasn’t very upset David hadn’t arrived yet. Did Jeremiah have the same suspicions he did? Erik didn’t see how he couldn’t, especially since he knew David so much better and saw him with Susan so much. Had Susan spoken to him about David? He thought he remembered her mentioning she might ask his opinion, but she hadn’t said anything else about that.
Susan handed each of them a sandwich and a bottle of water. Her phone beeped just after she sat down. She jumped up to grab it and read the text. “David just finished up. He’s driving over now.”
“I thought he usually did the chat thing on Thursday and Friday nights,” Jeremiah said.
“The Saturday person cancelled, I think, or maybe couldn’t work the whole shift? I can’t remember,” Susan replied.
Erik held back an exasperated sigh. Of course, David had explained this to Susan, not Jeremiah. Likewise, he had sent a text to her instead of Jeremiah. He still remained silent. He didn’t want Susan thinking he was going to act differently now that he’d told her he was in love with her.
Jeremiah turned to Erik. “Is it true there’s something in paint that makes you crave alcohol? Somebody told me that once.”
“I’ve heard that. The toxins in paint can bring on a craving. Some people say your body thinks it needs to flush after breathing all that in. Others say you’re trying to maintain the buzz. The chemicals definitely affect your body, so it’s not that far off.”
“Then I say we go out for a few beers after we’re done here.”
“That sounds great!” Susan said. She looked at her watch. “David can’t come if he doesn’t hurry up and do at least some painting.”
Jeremiah looked like he wanted to say something. Was he holding back because Erik was there? “How many people work for the website? Odd they couldn’t get anyone else. You’d think David would want to be here.”
“Well, he did help me with the bathroom, so he has done his share of painting. Once the trim dries we’ll just have those two small walls left. It looks great so far.” She looked at her watch again. “He’ll be here by the time we get done eating.”
David actually arrived about fifteen minutes later. Jeremiah and Susan had headed back upstairs, and Erik had stayed downstairs to wash his hands in the bathroom. He emerged as David entered.
“Hello, David,” he said.
David gave him a rather weak smile. “Hey, man.” He turned and locked the door.
That greeting was the exact opposite of the friendly and jovial one he had given him in front of Susan. “Glad you could make it. We’re about to start on the last stretch. Then we’re gonna go out for a few beers after we all clean up.”
David nodded. “Sounds good.” He set a bag down by the wall. “I brought Susan’s bag. She left it on her bed. I figured we might go out and she’d want to change.”
Erik had several questions. Had Susan packed clothes to change into or had she packed a bag for staying at his place that night? How had David known it was on her bed? The one time he had popped up to the second floor to use the bathroom, all the bedroom doors had been closed as if that was the usual way of things. Jeremiah had brought a backpack, so wouldn’t Susan have remembered that she’d packed a bag as well?
“Great,” he said, glancing at his own clothes. “I think we’ve all managed to avoid any splatters, but I’m sure Susan will appreciate the thought.”
David stared at the floor at Erik’s feet. His gaze moved to the stairs, and then he moved closer. “I have one thing to say, okay?”
“Sure. What’s up?” He steeled himself for anything.
David looked at him seriously. “I don’t know how much of the shit that got whispered around in college was true, but if you screw around with Susan, I will do something about it.”
Erik almost smiled.
Finally, we have the truth and an honest confrontation.
“Then let me be equally blunt, David.” He stepped even closer. “I’m in love with her. If her feelings are all you care about, if you truly want nothing more than her happiness, I can guarantee you that you have nothing to fear.”
Instead of backing down, David shook his head. “Her husband just died. You can’t rush in like this and try to sweep her off her feet.”
“It’s been a year. I think she’s ready to have her own life again. And I’m not rushing in. I’ve known her for over a decade, even if we were apart for several years. I don’t think you and I really have much to say to each other. Either say your piece and bow out or tell me bluntly that you intend to compete with me.” He wanted to point out that he was contradicting his promise to Susan, but mentioning that they’d discussed him might make the situation worse. He wanted to end this and get upstairs before they were heard.
“Then consider this a very blunt declaration.” He threw his wallet on the table and took off his watch before rolling up his sleeves. He headed for the stairs, but he turned at the last minute. “Just remember that I’m her friend and you’re her boyfriend. The levels of trust are very different.”
Erik nodded, and David went up the stairs. He quickly followed him. He agreed with David, and normally he might’ve been worried. He’d been honest with Susan, and he had no intention of playing childish games. He had the feeling David’s obvious jealousy would trip him up sooner or later. He’d have to be on his toes to be sure he didn’t stumble as well.
* * * *
Susan watched David with interest. The woman at the bar was cackling her head off at whatever he was saying. “Well, she’s very pretty.”
Jeremiah made a face. “Not pretty enough to justify all that.”
Erik looked like he was trying to hide a smirk, but she couldn’t be sure.
“At least he’s talking to a woman,” Susan said. “Maybe she’s not the best candidate, but if he meets some new people maybe someone will turn up.”
David leaned closer to the woman and smiled, saying something else. She laughed even louder, and then she gestured to the bartender. He handed her a piece of paper, and she scribbled something down.
“I think he just got her phone number!” Susan said. She looked at Erik. “If he starts bringing her over to the cabin, I’m moving in with you!”
“If only it were that easy, I’d set both your friends up with frightful cacklers,” Erik said.
She and Jeremiah burst into a fit of laughter. Jeremiah recovered first. “Don’t get your hopes up. I’m not that desperate. Not yet, anyway.”
“Oh really?” Susan said, holding back a fresh laugh.
He looked at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That girl who wouldn’t stop calling?”
Jeremiah groaned. “Girl is right.” He turned to Erik. “She was twenty-two and absolutely crazy to settle down. I’m not against it, but we didn’t click. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I thought she’d tire of me on her own.”
Susan shook her head chidingly and turned to Erik. “He wouldn’t sleep with her, which of course was good since he wasn’t serious, but the problem was that was the very thing that made her believe he
was
serious. She thought he was being a gentleman because he saw her as his future wife.”
Erik chuckled. “What fun! And how did that end?”
Susan and Jeremiah looked at each other. “She’s dating the minister at the Episcopal church. It’s been implied they’re about to get engaged,” she said.
“Really?” Erik asked.
Jeremiah nodded. “And that’s great. It also shows that I am not desperate, so your point backfired on you. If I were, I would have jumped at the chance.”
“I meant you paying her any attention at all showed at least a tiny bit of desperation. She batted her lashes, and you couldn’t resist asking her out. You should’ve recognized the signs right away. And how young she was. You two were not on the same level.”
He shook his head. “If you say so. She seemed very mature to me.”
David slid back into the booth next to Jeremiah. He held up the piece of paper like a prize. “Success!”
Susan raised her eyebrows. “You sure about that?”
David looked straight into her eyes. “And why not?”
She wasn’t sure how to phrase her answer, and Jeremiah beat her to a reply.
“She’s a little abrasive, isn’t she?”
“How so?”
“Well, kind of loud. Bit of an annoying laugh.” He paused. “And wasn’t she flirting with another guy when we walked in?”
“That guy’s the band promoter. They know each other. She’s in here all the time.” He folded the piece of paper and shoved it in his wallet. “Besides, every woman can’t be perfect.”
David scanned the room. Was he purposely not looking at her? Surely he wasn’t doing this because of their talk. Picking up a random woman in a bar did not seem like David at all. She totaled up in her mind how many beers he’d had, and she came up with three. Too many to drive but not enough to be making poor decisions. Then she remembered he’d had a few shots with the woman. Should she say something to Jeremiah at the first chance? She could whisper to Erik, but she thought it better not to involve him. It worried her though. A week ago he’d said he couldn’t imagine dating at all, let alone dating a stranger. She felt a twinge of guilt. He was upset because of her rejection. She’d hoped he would get over it quickly, but following his wife’s death, even a year later, rejection from an old friend had to sting more than usual.
He stood up suddenly and headed for the bathroom. He missed knocking a pitcher of beer over by mere inches when he scooted between two tables.
“Jer, I think he’s had too much to drink. Or at least too much in this time frame. We ate just a few hours ago, then we split this monster plate of nachos, but he didn’t have any and who knows if he’s had anything since this morning. If he got on the chat and then came straight to the shop, he might not have had anything.”
Jeremiah sighed. “Maybe you’re right. We all rode together, so he has to leave if we do. Let’s settle up and head back to the house.”
He went over to hostess and spoke to her briefly. David returned from the bathroom and sat down. “So what now?”
“Jeremiah’s getting our bills. We’re gonna head back to the house and watch a movie or something.”
David looked between her and Erik. “Aren’t you two going out?”
“Well, we have to go back to the cabin to get my car anyway, but we may just stay in. We’ll see how it goes,” Erik said.
She touched his leg gently, appreciating the help and how diplomatic he was being.
David nodded slowly. “I need to go back to the store and get my car actually.” He looked outside. “It’s not that far. I could walk the couple of blocks.”
Susan knew he’d get mad if she said she thought he shouldn’t drive. What could she say? She squeezed Erik’s leg, hoping he would think of something.
“I’m not sure you should drive,” Erik said.
David laughed. To her surprise, he looked at her instead of Erik. “What do you think?”
Erik didn’t let her speak. “There was a cop sitting on the side of the road just past Third Avenue. What if he stops you at random? You’ve definitely had too many to get pulled over.”
Susan breathed a sigh of relief. Surely David wouldn’t argue with that. Yet he almost looked like he was going to. She could tell he was grinding his teeth, which he only did when he was upset. Then he looked at her and smiled. “You guys are right.” He looked at Susan. “Could you drive my car home? You just had one and you ate all those nachos.” He turned his head sharply to Erik. “Do you mind?”
“Of course he doesn’t,” Susan said. “They can drop us off, and we’ll be right behind them.”
Jeremiah came back with the bills. He handed one to David and one to Erik. “You guys ready to head out?” he asked as he collected credit cards from them.
“Yeah,” Susan said. “I’ll drive David’s car home if you guys will drop us off.”
Jeremiah just nodded and took their payments back to the hostess. She was glad Erik had stepped in, but she had felt his leg tense under her hand. If he was jealous, that was too bad. She wasn’t going to let David drive. He could get over it. David wasn’t behaving very well, but she was the only one who knew why. Talking to him on the drive home would be good.
Erik nearly put a hole in the receipt when he signed it, and she rubbed his leg before they got up. He patted her hand but didn’t say anything. They all filed out to the car in silence. When they got to the shop, Erik got out and walked her to the car.