“That’s fucked up,” Eric grimaced.
“So, he burst in…” Kat motioned for me to continue.
“And then the police showed up and we were both naked. Apparently, there was something about a murder and a dead body. Something about chalk,” I said, my brows furrowing. “He thought because she didn’t show up to work that she had been murdered.”
“Wow, she must really take her job seriously,” Carly said.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. It was weird, and the whole time, my dick is just hanging out. It was…one of the weirdest situations I’ve ever been in.”
“Weirder than being outed as gay?” Eric asked.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Just one day, that’s all I wanted with her. But then it all got fucked up, and now…hell, I don’t know what’s going on.”
They were all quiet, watching me with pity. It was pathetic. Hell, I was pathetic. I was chasing after a woman that would never want me the way I wanted her. I was doomed to be miserable, with or without her.
“You know, it’s really a shame Joe isn’t here,” Robert said. “This would have been a great story for the town Facebook page.”
Charlie
“So, you skipped work to stay home with Will all day,” Nathan said to me as we drove over to get Oliver.
“Yeah, so?”
“So, that sounds serious.”
I rolled my eyes. “That sounds like a great day of fucking until someone came over and ruined it all.”
“Hey, I had legitimate concerns. Besides, you weren’t answering your phone.”
“You still shouldn’t have called the cops. If Will had been dragged down to the station, that could have messed up his whole career.”
He huffed out a laugh next to me. “It’s so cute to see you all worried about a man.”
My brows furrowed at the comment. “I resent that. You make it sound like I don’t care about the men I’m with.”
“Well, you never cared about what would happen if anyone found out we were screwing.”
“That’s different. It’s only frowned upon for us to be in a relationship. And fucking isn’t a relationship.”
“Still…I’m just saying that you’re awfully concerned about him. Maybe you should consider the fact that you feel more for this guy than you’re letting on.”
“You’re just saying that because you want tickets to all the ballgames.”
“Well, that’s partially true, but I really do think this guy is different.”
“And you can think that all you want, but I’m never going to want marriage again.”
“What about just living together?”
“Especially not that,” I retorted. “Then he’s going to want more, and it’ll just become messy. No, it’s better if things stay the way they are.”
“And you think he’ll go along with that?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t he?”
“Um…because it’s pretty damn clear that the man is already in love with you.”
I snorted out a laugh, then burst into a full laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me. There’s no way you could know that.”
He sighed, looking out the window. “Alright, I’m gonna tell you something, but you have to promise not to freak out about it.”
“Oh God, did he tell you that he loves me?”
“No, worse.”
My stomach twisted. “Alright, just lay it on me.”
“He and I have been plotting for the two of you to run into each other.”
I frowned and glanced over at him. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he thought the only way that you would pay him any attention was if you thought he wasn’t interested. And frankly, I agree.”
“Wait, you really think I’m that shallow?”
“Shallow? No. Closed off from any kind of affection that looks like it could turn into something more? Absolutely.”
“I’m not closed off,” I said indignantly. “Just because I don’t want a relationship doesn’t mean that I’m closed off.”
“Okay,” he said, holding up his hands.
“And what’s wrong with not wanting a relationship? Do you know every thirteen seconds, there is a divorce in America? And did you also know that there are nine divorces in the time it takes for a couple to recite their wedding vows?” I heard his heavy sigh across the car, but I wasn’t done yet. “And did you also know that if you and your partner have been previously married, you’re ninety percent more likely to get divorced than if it was your first marriage?”
“Will’s never been married,” he pointed out.
“Exactly, which still leaves a forty-five percent chance that we would get divorced.”
“You know, for someone that doesn’t believe in marriage, you sure do know a lot of facts about it.”
“No, I know a lot of facts about divorce, because I’ve already been there.”
“Fine, you’re right. I’m wrong. There is no logical argument I can make for you and Will to consider ever getting married.”
“Thank you.”
“Aside from the fact that Will is nothing like Kyle and you haven’t even given him a real chance. The guy seems to be infatuated with you, and you still won’t give him a chance. Which is just ridiculous. He’s handsome, has a good job, respects your time, and most of all, he’s crazy about you. But hey, you’re right, there’s no logical reason for the two of you to see if this could go somewhere.”
Silence filled the car as I seethed next to him. Who was he to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do when it came to marriage? I was the one that had already been through it. He had no idea what marriage was really like. To walk into the kitchen every morning and see that not only were the dishes still on the counter or in the sink, but the food had hardened to them. Or to walk into the bathroom after a man used it and have to deal with that smell. I could go on and on with my reasons, but Nathan was a man and he would never truly understand.
“I think we should just drop the subject.”
“Why not,” he grumbled. “I only want what’s best for you and for you to be happy, but let’s pretend that this is really about some fantastical situation you’ve created in your head.”
I gritted my teeth and refused to respond to his comments. But there was one thing that I was very interested to know. “You said that you were plotting with him.”
“You make it sound so devious,” he sighed. “He just wanted to know where you were so he could see you without looking desperate.”
“So, is that why you weren’t worried about me being murdered in my apartment?” He didn’t say anything. “So, Will was my stalker, and you helped him.”
“Well, it was really just the one time that it was successful.”
“What do you mean?”
“At the bar. The rest of the times, he tried, but at the grocery store, you ran into your friend and he had to abandon ship. And then the other times, he just couldn’t figure out how to approach you without it seeming obvious.”
“What about at the flower shop?”
“Nope, he really was in there shopping for his mother.”
“Well, at least I can go home at night without worrying about being murdered,” I muttered.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you. At least then you would have asked him to come over to protect you.”
“I could just ask you,” I pointed out.
“You could, but I’m not the man you want. Face it, Charlie, you like this guy. He’s the one you want to call. He’s the one you want in your bed at night.”
I glanced over at him as I pulled the car into Kyle’s driveway. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked without an ounce of hesitation. “I’ve told you, I like the guy. I think he’s perfect for you. Now you just have to open your eyes and see that.”
* * *
After Nathan left, I was fixing dinner for Oliver and I, watching him play a video game in
the living room. I really had this burning desire to see Will, even though I should just be spending time with Oliver. But Oliver was getting to the age where he didn’t really want to spend time with me. Most of our time together consisted of him huffing and sighing, complaining that he just wanted to do his own thing. The sad truth was, he was getting older, and his mom just wasn’t cool enough. If only I could find a way to connect with him…
I bit my lip as I looked down at my phone. What were the chances he would come over here? We had just seen each other earlier today, and it hadn’t exactly ended well. Still, there was a chance that he could connect with Oliver in a way that I couldn’t. I picked up the phone and dialed his number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, so I know you just saw me earlier today…”
“But you miss my dick,” he said, a slight grin in his voice.
“Well, that’s true.”
“And you want me to come over and give you some.”
“That would also be true.”
“Well, I might be persuaded to come over.”
“Really? How can I persuade you?”
“Food is always a really good way to a man’s heart.”
I grinned, biting my lip. “Well, you’re in luck because I’m making dinner right now.”
“Perfect. I’ll be over in twenty.”
“Great, Oliver and I can’t wait to see you.”
“What?” he started, but I hung up before he could say anything else. I chuckled to myself and glanced at Oliver, still staring at the damn TV.
“Hey, bud. How about we turn off the TV for a little bit.”
He didn’t answer. He just stared at the screen and pretended not to hear me. Or maybe he really didn’t hear me. He was so focused on the game that it was entirely possible he hadn’t heard a word I said.
“Oliver!”
“What?” he whined.
“I’m talking to you.”
He sighed and paused his game. “What?”
“Don’t talk to me like that,” I scolded. He huffed and grumbled a sorry under his breath. “Excuse me?” I asked in the same tone my mother used to use on me.
He sighed again and sat up. “Sorry.” It was still a shitty sorry, but it was better than the first.
“Will is coming over for dinner.”
“Ugh,” he groaned, throwing himself onto his back and tossing his arms over his face. “Why?”
“Because I want him to come over. I thought we could all hang out.”
“But I just want to play my game.”
“Well, you can forget about your game for one night.”
“Fine,” he grumbled dramatically.
“Why don’t you go clean up for dinner.”
The sighing continued as he dragged himself off the floor and stomped down to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Tossing the dishcloth on the counter, I marched down the hall and opened the bathroom door.
“Mom!” he screeched from where he was standing, peeing into the toilet.
“What have I told you about slamming doors?”
“Mom, I’m going to the bathroom!”
“I don’t care what you’re doing. You will not behave like that in my house.”
“Fine! Can you shut the door?”
I turned around but didn’t shut the door. I heard him flush and then he washed his hands. I turned back around. “Now, I want you to open and close the door quietly one hundred times, and if I hear it slam even once, you’ll start over.”
He gave me a dirty look and I glared at him. Another dramatic sigh, and he started the task of opening and closing the door. I went back to the kitchen and finished with my concoction of pasta, chicken, vegetables, and alfredo sauce. I really hoped Will liked it, because I wasn’t the best cook. I heard the door progressively close louder and louder, so I walked around the counter and glared down the hallway at my kid. When he felt me staring at him, he sighed and started over.
I quickly answered the door when I heard the knock, swinging it open to see Will standing there. “How did you get up here?”
“Your downstairs neighbor let me up,” he grinned. “Apparently, she thinks I’m charming.”
“Apparently, she’s delusional,” I grinned up at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and giving him a kiss.
When I stepped back, he looked past me warily, then stared at me when he heard the door opening and closing.
“He was slamming the door. So, now he’s opening and closing it one hundred times.”
“Wow,” he said, sounding surprised. “Remind me to never slam doors around you.”
“Well, there are certain occasions that call for it.”
“Yeah?”
“I can think of a few,” I said teasingly.
“Mom!” His smile vanished and he stepped back like he had to be on his best behavior. “Can I be done?”
“Did you close the door one hundred times?”
I heard a heavy sigh and then the opening and closing continued.
“So,” Will said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Do you want to tell me why you told me just before you hung up that Oliver was here?”
“Well, would you have come over if I said he was earlier?”
He glanced toward the hallway and then sighed. “Probably not. But you’re going to have to explain to me why you would want me here with your son when you’ve been pretty clear that all we’re doing is fucking.”
“Well…Nathan told me about what you and he were up to, and…I guess it made me think about some things.”
“Some things like what?”
“Well, just that maybe I like you a little more than I want to admit.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me intently. “So, does this mean that you want to try for a relationship?”
I flushed red, almost getting hives at the thought of having a relationship. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I do like having you in my life. So, maybe we can work something out.”
“Something more permanent?”
“Something where you have your place and I have mine, but we’re more involved in each other’s lives.”
“That sounds suspiciously like the same situation we already had.”
“Well, it’s not. You would be allowed to come and stay over, on the condition that you respect my time,” I added quickly. “You can’t try and get me to stay in bed the next morning.”
“You were the one that told me to call off work,” he pointed out.
“That was a one time thing. And if you start snoring, sleepovers will have to stop. I can’t stand it.”
“I can deal with that,” he agreed. “Then again, if you stayed at my house when you don’t have Oliver, we could always sleep in separate bedrooms.”
“Then what would be the point in staying over?” I asked, challenging him.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to him. He leaned in close, like he was about to whisper something dirty in my ear. A tingle ran down my spine and I had to suppress a shiver. “So that I have the pleasure of knowing that you’re with me.”
I pulled back and looked into his eyes. He wasn’t teasing or lying to me. He was serious. He just wanted me there.
“Mom…ugh, Will’s here.”
I jerked out of his grasp and shoved my hair out of my face in an attempt to gather myself. I grinned at Oliver, going for cheery instead of freaking out. “Yes, he’s here. I thought we could play a board game or something tonight.”
“A board game? Mom,” he groaned, dragging it out like it was the most horrible thing in the world.
“Yeah,” Will scoffed. “Who wants to play a stupid board game?”
Oliver glared at him. “You’re just saying that because you’re sucking up to me.”
“Oliver!” I said, shocked that he was being so rude.
“Oh, I’m totally sucking up, because I really like your mother. And if you stay on my good side, you get things like tic
kets to hockey games and baseball games. I’d even take you to them.”
“Really?” Oliver’s eyes widened.
“Are you bribing my kid?” I asked.
“Yep,” he said without hesitation. “So, what are we having for dinner?”
“Pasta,” I responded, almost dazedly, watching as Oliver seemed to rethink how he was going to behave toward Will.
“So, you go to games?” Oliver asked.
“All the time.”
“Will was going to be a professional baseball player for the Cubs.”
“Really?” he asked, eyes wide.
“Yeah, but I got injured and had to quit.”
Oliver dropped his eyes to the floor, seeming to be thinking about something. “Could you teach me to play?”
Will crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a stern look. “Well, that depends.”
“On what?” Oliver asked with rapt attention. Oliver’s frustration seemed to vanish and now he was suddenly dying to know how to get on Will’s good side.
“Well, you have to behave for your mother.”
“I’ll do it,” he said, nodding vigorously.
“And you have to tell her that she’s skinny and beautiful. This is very important. Women need to hear this shit.”
I slapped him on the arm, partially for telling my kid he had to basically say anything to a woman because we were that vain. And second, because he said shit.
Oliver turned to me. “Mom, I think you’re skinny and beautiful.”
Will turned to me and winked, and honest to God, I felt my whole face flush and a grin creep over my lips. I rolled my eyes at Will. Okay, a woman did like to hear that stuff.
“Go set the table,” I said, unable to wipe the smile off my face. I turned away from Will because I couldn’t keep looking at him, knowing that I was red as a tomato. He stepped up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear, “I think you’re skinny and beautiful too.”
He was so getting laid tonight.
Will
I stood under the steam of the shower, wanting to stay there forever. I wanted Charlie to join me in the shower, but with her kid here, that wasn’t happening. Besides, I had to get to school today and Charlie had to leave for work soon. I shut off the water and flung the shower curtain open. Sitting on the toilet was her son, Oliver. He was staring at me, not in a weird way, but more of an inspecting type of way. It was weird. I snatched the towel off the hook of the door and wrapped it around my waist.
Textbook Approach: A Small Town Romance Page 21