Love of Truth

by C. T. Oliver

  “Dude, that was two years ago. I’m surprised your dick hasn’t fallen off from lack of use.”

  “Well, thanks for checking on my package for me. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been kinda busy the last few years, you know, trying to stay afloat in law school. Not to mention following your ass a couple of times up some mountain in the middle of nowhere.”

  Ben laughs. “Yeah, good times, man. Hey, we should do it again soon. Maybe after your bar exam.”

  “Sure, set it up,” I say. My attention drifts from Ben. Our neighbor is pedaling up the drive path with the cutest little smile on her face. As she hops off her bicycle and turns in our direction, our eyes lock. For a moment, I swear I can see a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Man, it’s like I don’t even exist,” Ben chuckles.

  “Shut up, numb nuts. Let’s get this shit cleaned up. We gots us some waves to catch tomorrow.”

  Chapter 5

  I put away the bicycle and head back into the house to get dinner ready. Larry and I enjoyed our little shopping trip downtown. While strolling through a toy store, Larry found himself attached to a mini-sized stuffed hippo. Of course, I couldn’t say no to him. When we got back he happily trampled off to play with his new friend while I start dinner.

  “We had a nice time didn’t we, Larry? I think Blu is going to love those skeins of yarn we picked out for him. Don’t you think?” I ask Larry as I start the poached salmon. He simply gives me a few soft barks and goes back to nipping the hippo’s ear.

  I am desperately trying everything to keep my mind from drifting back to the gorgeous guy next door. Even if that means having a one sided conversation with Larry. I don’t understand why he keeps creeping into my thoughts. Even throughout the downtown stroll I found myself wondering about him. Who he is? Where he’s from? How long is he planning on staying at the McDonald’s house? What’s more shocking is that I am this curious in the first place. It’s been such a long time since I’ve shown an interest in the opposite sex that I’m a little befuddled.

  After dinner and making sure Larry took care of his business for the night, I decide on a bath. I can’t remember the last time I had enough time for one. The bathtub is one of my favorite features of this house. It’s an egg shaped tub that has steps leading up to it. It is big enough to fit six people comfortably. Laying back in the mint citrus scented bath water with a glass of dessert wine and my iPad, I dive back into the story of the adventurous guy and the talented beautiful journalist. I’m entranced by the characters’ actions toward each other. Their ways of showing each other their love, their passion, and that they care for each other.

  For a while, I didn’t understand why I’m so addicted to these stories. I later understood, other than a form of entertainment for myself, it’s also my way of coping with my insecurities with relationships. It’s just safer to lose myself in someone else’s happily ever after.

  A couple of chapters into the book I find myself squeezing my thighs together, and an ache is throbbing where there has been no sensation in a long time. Feeling a little naughty from half a bottle of wine, I set aside my iPad and skim my right hand down my stomach and in between my thighs. I can’t even remember the last time I did this, but for some reason I feel the need for the release stronger at this moment than ever before. My index and middle fingers push the lips aside, and I feel for my sensitive clit. It’s amazingly responsive tonight. My touch brings on a jolting rush that spreads down my thighs and builds in my lower stomach. Rubbing up and down on my clit to my opening, I can feel how strong my need is. Dropping my head back against the wall, images of gorgeous guy’s sexy grin flash through my mind. I bring my left hand up and touch the hardened nipple of my left breast. The sensation is getting stronger so I resort to rubbing the areola while my right hand works my clit. My index finger rubs the head of my clit and with the movements of my hips, up and down within the water, waves of lightning radiate out from my mid-section throughout my body and down my legs. The image of gorgeous guy looking at me before I stepped into the house this evening is the last to flash through my mind before I open my eyes and try to calm my breathing.

  “Wow! That was interesting.” I peek my head over the edge of the tub and look around to see if I got caught. I’ve always been one to feel a little shy after an orgasm.

  I climb out of the tub and dry myself off. I throw on my favorite bralette and hipster and go about getting ready for bed. Looking into the mirror as I brush my teeth, I guess I have to face the truth. I have a crush on the gorgeous guy next door and I don’t even know the first thing about him. The question is, am I going to do something about it?

  Climbing into bed I feel the effect of too much wine and an intense orgasm. It doesn’t take more than half an episode of How I Met Your Mother before I drift off to sleep with Larry curled by my side, his head resting on his hippo.

  I feel as if someone is placing hot opened mouth kisses down the back of my neck. Pushing my hair aside and nuzzling into my neck. This is a nice wake up call. To have a man wake you up so lovingly. Hot breaths and a wet cold nose on my neck pull me back to reality.

  “Oh Larry, thirty more minutes please? We’re on vacation.” Larry continues to nudge my neck with his nose and I know better than to wait thirty more minutes.

  I pat the nightstand for my glasses then throw on a loose racerback tank over the bralette and wrap myself in a wool scarf. I gather Larry in my arms to head downstairs, only on the way to the door, Larry whimpers, trying to get my attention back to the bed.

  “Okay, we’ll bring your little friend, too.”

  Downstairs I let Larry out in the fenced backyard and go back inside to make coffee. Ten minutes later, with French pressed coffee in my ‘We are happy to serve you’ mug Pen got for me while in New York, I step back out into the fresh morning air. Making sure Larry is still having the time of his life, I raise my face up to feel the fresh misty breeze that can only be experienced near the ocean. The chill of the air biting on my skin is a stronger wake-up call than the hot coffee in my mug.

  Loud whimpering and yelping pulls me out of my daydream. I quickly set down my coffee and rush down the deck to find Larry. I look to the left side of the lawn and see Larry’s hind legs flailing. He’s wedged at his mid-section between two wooden pickets on the fence and is vigorously trying to get loose. His flailing is giving him an abrasion making him whimper louder.

  Kneeling down I try to grab a hold of his hind legs so he won’t further hurt himself. “Larry, please calm down, let me help you.” I try to be as calm as possible but there is panic in my voice. I hate that he is hurting.

  “Hey there, little man,” comes out of nowhere. The smoothest calming baritone voice I have ever heard. It’s like melted chocolate blanketing me on the outside and warm cognac burning me on the inside. From the looks of it, the voice is having the same effect on Larry. He has stopped flailing, giving me time to think of way to get him out.

  Pushing aside the effects of his voice to my insides, I focus on Larry. “I can’t see a way of getting him out without hurting him more in the process.” I lift my face to meet the most gorgeous face and mesmerizing teal-gray eyes. His eyes are piercing but calming and gentle. For a second I feel as though they are looking straight into my soul.

  “If you don’t have a problem with it, I can just rip out one of the pickets. I think that’s the best way to get him out.” He kneels on the other side of the fence, examining a possible way to get Larry loose.

  “Yes! Do it, I don’t want him to hurt anymore,” I’m petting Larry’s trapped body hoping to soothe him.

  With a yank, a picket is ripped from the fence and Larry falls limply into my hands. “Oh my God, he’s bleeding!” I exclaim. I see shards of wood imbedded in his skin.

  “You should take him to the vet, he could have broken ribs,” he says in a calm voice.

  “Oh! Oh God, thank you!” I toss over my shoulder, already half way into the house with Larry.

  I quick
ly wrap my whimpering puppy in a towel and throw on a pair of yoga pants and a cardigan, then dash out the door with him gently cradled in my arm.

  Outside, standing by the SUV is gorgeous guy. “Hey, I know we haven’t met, my name is Craig. I don’t think you should drive if you’re feeling frantic, and it looks like you don’t want to let him go, so why don’t I drive you?”

  Trying to catch my breath from the Olympic qualifying sprint out to the SUV, I think about the situation at hand. He’s right, I don’t want to let go of Larry, and I only have a vague idea of where the vet clinic is. It would be better to have someone else drive. Craig doesn’t seem to pose a threat. Actually, just the opposite. I look up into his face and he offers me a smile. I feel a calm blanketing me in a rather worrying situation.

  “Okay, thank you,” I whisper.

  Chapter 6

  I help her into the passenger seat, and run over to the other side. As the SUV starts, the memory seating sets in and the seat pushes me into the steering wheel. I’m hugging the steering wheel until I finally figure out the setting.

  She lets out a soft laugh. “Sorry, I’m kinda short.”

  The sound of her laugh gives me this feeling happiness that I can’t quiet fully explain. It’s like my heart is lightened, and I feel as though a weight I’ve been carrying for years has just fallen off my shoulders.

  “It’s okay. And your dog will be okay, too.” I find myself wanting to comfort her and make her feel happy.

  When I stepped out of the house this morning, the only thing on my mind was getting down to the beach and diving into the ocean with my board. The last thing I expected was to see my neighbor dash down her deck half naked to tend to her dog. Hearing her dog whimpering in pain made me spring over to help.

  In the midst of the panicked moment, I couldn’t resist a chance to take in the sight of my neighbor. What I saw absolutely floored me. While I was interested in what I saw from across the yard yesterday, up close, she is breathtaking. Even now as she sits next to me, I have to steal glances at her. Her glasses give her a sophisticated and intelligent look, but sexy at the same time. She has no makeup on, but has the prettiest complexion. The smattering of freckles on her cheekbones are a direct contrast to her sophisticated glasses and make her look younger.

  Her eyes are big with dark lashes and beautifully shaped eyebrows. They are onyx-colored and seem bottomless and dreamy, even though they are surrounded with worry and anxiety. They remind me of Audrey Hepburn’s eyes. Yes, I know what Audrey Hepburn’s eyes look like. Anyone that has ever been in my mom’s presence knows what Audrey Hepburn’s eyes look like.

  Her tank top does nothing to hide her bra and chest. I would bet my bottle of Macallan 1926 that her skin is silky soft to the touch.

  “I hope so. He’s such a good dog. I’ve only had him since Christmas, but I’m really attached already,” she says softly, petting her dog’s forehead with her index finger.

  I pull out of the block and head towards town. God, her voice is sweet and soft. Though it’s laced worry, it’s succinct and confident. It matches her appearance, strong and independent. Even in her panicked state, she’s calm and rational, not in hysterics like most girls would be. I admire that about her.

  “It happens, and with a cute little guy like that, it would be hard not to get attached,” I chance a quick look over at her. She nods and answers with small smile. I feel my heart damn near stop and start beating again to a different rhythm. Cliché, yes, but that just happened.

  “I’m Amelia, by the way. Thank you for your help. Both earlier and now.”

  Amelia. What a beautiful name. It suits her. If I were to guess, I would say she is a woman with beauty and brains. “Sure. If anything happened to my dog, I’d like someone to lend a helping hand.”

  “You have a dog? I didn’t notice a dog,” she says in a soft and low voice then her face follows with a slight blush.

  I chuckle, guessing Amelia might be embarrassed by the idea of sneaking peeks at her neighbor. “It’s okay. I’ve been noticing you come and go, too. No, Ciara, my German Shepherd is at home with my mom. I’ve been too busy the last few years to take good care of her. Plus, she and my mom are joined at the hip. That makes it easier being away from her,” I say, turning the SUV into the center of town.

  “I think the clinic is on the next block. I hope it’s open,” she says, staring out the window.

  Stopping in front of the vet clinic, I jump out and dash over to her side to get her door, but she’s already halfway to the clinic’s door. Oh yeah, she’s the independent type all right.

  Luckily, the clinic is open and Larry is in an exam room and x-rayed in minutes. Thankfully he doesn’t have any broken bones, but his wounds do need to be cleaned out and he is given antibiotics for good measure. While Amelia is in the exam room with Larry, I text Cory and Ben telling them to head to the beach without me. Surfing is not something I have a desire for anymore today.

  Chapter 7

  Coming out of the vet clinic, relief washes over me. Larry is fine. He is going to be out of it for the day due to his wounds and the medication the vet gave him to keep him comfortable.

  Heading out to the car, I’m finally able to reflect on what has happened within the last hour. Gorgeous guy or Craig, is here with me, in my car, and has stuck with me for support. Support that is rather new to me, but I welcome it. He exudes calmness and comfort, which I find, I rather like. A lot.

  God, he is even more gorgeous up close. Now that I’m not focused on Larry, I’m hyperaware of him. He’s wearing a plain white t-shirt, cargo shorts, and boat shoes, but he looks as though he has just stepped out of a magazine spread. His hair is dark chocolate brown, and long enough that I can imagine running my fingers through it as I press my naked bod—damn, Amelia. Calm down. Man, even his eyes are gorgeous. They’re bluer up close, and they’re so mesmerizing. I can see myself staring into those for days. Goodness, get a hold of yourself. Taking in a deep breath to calm myself, but I am lost in his scent. Fresh body wash, clean laundry, and his own scent envelopes me the in the confined space of the SUV. Great, even the way he’s driving the SUV has me captivated. The way he moves and carries himself, with ease and confidence, adds a sense of mystery to his allure. Man, he is getting to my head and if I’m not careful, I could see myself crushing majorly on this guy.

  “Thank you again for your help. I’m sure there was something else you needed to do besides spending your vacation at the vet clinic.” I attempt to make small talk as he pulls out of downtown.

  He chuckles, and I can feel the sound vibrating in my chest. “How do you know I’m on vacation?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

  “Well, unless the McDonalds had a son they’ve been stashing away the last five years that I’ve known them, I’m deducing you are tenants of their beach house.” Yes, I know I sound like a smart-ass, but sarcasm annoys the crap out of me.

  “I could be a relative,” he fires back with a giant grin seemingly enjoying this game. Little does he know, I have been spending the last three summers with the McDonalds.

  Going in for the kill I say. “The McDonalds have two sons and a daughter, all with blonde hair and blue eyes and are in their late thirties, early forties. Secondly, they are Easterners. They prefer the Hamptons rather than our shindig. Lastly, the only McDonald who truly appreciates the Oregon coast is Robert McDonald, Sr. because he has duel Ph.D.s in marine biology and ornithology focusing on different species of Pelicans, and he is only here during the late summer months. Shall we try again?” I look at him with a triumphant smile across my face.

  “I take it you make a point to get to know your neighbors?” His excitement in this little game is making his blue eyes brighter.

  “The ones who aren’t being mysterious or vague, I suppose.” I narrow my eyes at him.

  “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be so vague then. Yes, I’m here to hangout for a week with my brother, Cory, and our buddy, Ben. Enjoying what Oregon has to offer. The
re was nothing better for me to do this morning besides helping out a hurt puppy.”

  He takes a quick look over at me and I can feel my heart speeding up. Even though he is talking about Larry, he makes no attempt to look at the sleeping puppy in my lap, but rather he’s taking in every feature of my face.

  Oh God, my face! I have no make-up on. I must look like I have no eyebrows or eyelashes! Goodness, and my breath smells like, hmm, stale coffee and a couple of breath mints I popped at the vet when I remembered I hadn’t brushed my teeth. I’m surprised I’m able to fit into the SUV right now with the bed teased hair I’m sporting. Yup…I am at my best, looking like the corpse double on the next CSI episode sitting next to GQ gorgeous guy.

  Feeling his stare boring into me like he can see my deepest darkest secrets, I look out the window to see we are nearing the house. “Well, I can’t thank you enough. Maybe, I can make it up to you. How about I make dinner for you guys sometime this week?” I ask, a little too brightly. Damn girl, calm your face.

  “I think we’d like that,” he says, pulling up to the house. He dashes out to get my door before I even lift Larry in my arms. Hmm, what a gentleman.

  I can feel the heat from his body on my back as he walks with me up the porch. At the door he pats Larry’s head a few times. “Well, make sure little man gets his rest. Maybe I’ll swing by later to check on you both?” His smile is warm and charming which only enhances his handsomeness.

  Caught off guard by his smile, I let out nervous laugh, instantly wincing with embarrassment. “I’m sure Larry will be okay. I think you’ve done enough for us today already. Let me know what night you guys want to come over this week.”