“Greg, did you ever eat lunch?” said Sandy.
“Yeah. I drove through McDonalds.”
“We did Burger King.”
Greg opened the door.
“This is nice room,” said Rebecca.
It was 3:45 PM. They had driven all over The Woodlands in their two cars, checking the parking lots of apartment complexes for the dark green Jaguar. Sandy and Rebecca had convinced Greg that they all needed to stop and get some rest. So, they got a room at LaQuinta Inn.
“I don’t know about this,” said Greg. “I feel like we need to keep working at it.”
“But we’re all so tired we can’t strink thaight any more. I mean, think straight,” said Rebecca.
Greg was too tired to laugh. “I guess you’re right.” He sat down on one of the beds. “Well, I’ll lay down for a few minutes, but I doubt I’ll sleep.”
“That’s okay,” said Sandy. “Just try to relax for a while. You can have that bed to yourself. Rebecca and I will take this one.”
“Oh, really?” she said. “Rebecca and I?”
Sandy stammered. “Well, I mean if it’s okay with you.”
“As long as you don’t touch me.”
“Oh, sure. No problem.” He wanted to touch her. He wanted to touch her all over—but he didn’t want a bloody nose.
After Sandy had turned off the lamp, the room was black, except for the faint rectangular glow outlining the heavy drapes.
**********
“What’s this?”
“I wanted to do something special tonight,” said Crow.
“Why?” Chaucey had expected to plop down on the couch with a paper plate of Domino’s pizza and watch a movie. The usual.
“Don’t you remember? It’s our anniversary.”
Chaucey gave him a blank stare.
“We met one year ago tonight. And you invited me over to your apartment for pizza.”
“Oh, okay. Has it already been a year?”
“Sure has.” He pulled out the chair for her. “Please have a seat, Young Lady.”
Young lady? He’s only two years older than me, she thought. Intellectually, she was much older than him. But that was okay. She enjoyed his company. “So, what does the chef recommend for this evening?”
“Huh? Oh, the chef recommends homemade vegetable pizza, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.”
“Wow, you made all that for little ole me?”
“Yes, I did—because you’re so special. And because I happen to know that vegetable pizza is your favorite.”
“So, what kind of vegetables did you put on it?”
“All your favorites: mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives…”
“Sounds great.”
“…and carrots, cucumbers, bananas, apple sauce, mustard—“
“—you’re kidding, right?”
Crow suddenly looked worried. Then his lower lip began to quiver and he looked like he was about to cry.
“I’m sorry. It’s okay, Crow—it’ll be fine.”
His sad face morphed into a big grin. “I’m kidding. What do you think I am—an idiot?”
No, she didn’t think he was an idiot. Of course not. She laughed. “Very funny. I’m gonna get you for that.”
Crow brought the pizza to the table.
“Looks delicious.”
“Just like you.” He gazed into her eyes.
Even after a year, she wasn’t quite sure how to take those kind of remarks. But she knew he wasn’t trying to be crude—sometimes it just came out that way. “How was work?”
“Fine. The store’s on track for a record profit this year.”
“Really? Is that what your dad told you?”
“No. That’s what I told him. I study the books every day, you know. And I’m getting pretty good at understanding them.”
They ate in silence for a few seconds.
Crow suddenly got excited. “Oh, and I caught a robber.”
“A robber? Somebody tried to rob the grocery store?”
“Yep. It was a young guy—about 20. He had stuffed four DVDs in his shirt. I saw him doing it. And I hoped he’d change his mind and put them back—but he didn’t.”
“So, you stopped him as he was going out the door?”
“No. I had been keeping an eye on him. But then a lady asked me where the flax seed was, so I was telling her it was on aisle eight. And then she wanted to know—“
“—so, what happened?”
“Well, I looked up and he was gone. He was already in the parking lot. So, I ran out, and I saw him at his pickup, fumbling with his keys, trying to get the door unlocked. I think he got nervous ‘cause he saw me running at him. I was running as fast as I could.”
“So, you got there before he could get the door open?”
“Not quite. He got it open, and got halfway in. And that’s when I slammed into his door at full speed.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. He told the police I nearly cut him in half.”
She started laughing.
“But that was a lie. He was definitely in one piece. He was just real sore.”
“You’re a hero, Crow.”
“Nah. Just doing my job. What about you? Anything exciting happen today?”
“No. Just the usual. Although, there was one guy who really got me ticked off. He made me so mad I just wanted to tear off his head and stuff it up his butt.”
Crow started laughing loudly. He couldn’t help it—he was a loud laugher. “I’m sure he deserved it.” He wondered which part would hurt worse—the tearing off or the stuffing up? He laughed even louder.
“The jerk wanted me to do his first job free so he could evaluate my skills.”
“Doesn’t he know you’re the best?”
“That didn’t matter. He just wanted to con me into working for free.”
“But that boat don’t fly. Right, Chaucey?”
“Yeah. That boat don’t float.”
Crow took a bite of pizza and thought about how beautiful Chaucey was—even when she was mad.
When they had finished eating, she helped him clear the table and wash the dishes.
“Thanks for your help, Chaucey.”
“No problem. Now let’s get the movie going.”
“Okay.”
As she turned to walk toward the couch, he was right behind her. He couldn’t resist. He sniffed her hair.
She spun around as though a jewel thief had robbed her of a priceless necklace.
“What are you doing? Did you just sniff my hair?”
He hesitated. “Yes. Chaucey, I need to tell you something.”
“No, no. Don’t.”
“I’m in love with you.” He wished he hadn’t blurted it out. He had wanted it to be romantic.
“No. I can’t do this, Crow.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve got to go.” She hurried out the door, and across to her apartment.
He wanted to run after her, but he knew it would only make things worse. Had he just ruined everything? He wanted her to be his girlfriend. But he didn’t want to destroy their friendship.
Crow had finally reached out for her love. But he had squeezed it too hard in his big, strong, clumsy hands. He hated himself for upsetting her.
**********
Sandy was enjoying his nap so much he didn’t want to wake up. He was on his side, and his back was cool. But his front was cozy warm, against Rebecca. What an amazing dream. Her firm butt felt wonderful nestled in his lap. And the feeling was growing stronger by the second. His right arm was wrapped around her, his hand gently cupping her right breast.
He began to massage her nipple with his thumb. She moaned ever so faintly and arched her back slightly, forcing her rear end tighter against him. He responded by pushing a little harder against her.
It was unquestionably his best dream ever. And it seemed so real.
There’s something about taking a nap in the middle of the day when you’re dead tired. He could remember a summer camping trip at the lake. That first day, after swimming all morning and most of the afternoon, he took a nap before dinner. He dreamed he was still in the water, floating around and playing games with bright-colored fish. Thank goodness his mom woke him up when she did. He was just about to pee in his pants.
How long would this dream last? And how far would it go? He couldn’t wait to find out. Then he heard Greg snore. Poor guy, he thought. But why was he hearing Greg snoring? This was his sex dream—he didn’t want Greg interrupting it.
But what if it wasn’t a dream? What if he really was spooning Rebecca? What if he really was caressing her breast?
She twitched, and he realized—it was not a dream. He was a dead man. He released her breast and pulled his arm back.
Rebecca sat up.
Sandy was frozen in the dark. He couldn’t see anything. At any moment her fist would be launched toward his head or crotch. And he’d never see it coming. But he deserved whatever he got. He had gone way over the line. But, in all fairness, he had thought he was dreaming. Would she buy that? Doubtful.
“It’s nighttime—almost seven o’clock,” she said. “We’d better get up.”
Is that it? Sandy wondered. Or is she just waiting for the right moment? He pictured the three of them at a nice restaurant, talking and eating, when suddenly she would pick up her steak knife and stab him right through the heart, and then calmly and casually say, “I warned you.”
Or maybe she didn’t even know what he had done. Maybe she had slept through it. Or…maybe she liked it.
|