Complications

by Mj Williamz

  Susan checked the clock.

  “Oh, yeah. I can’t believe it’s after midnight.”

  “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

  “I guess it does.”

  “So you admit you had fun?” Mel said.

  “Yes. I admit it.”

  “And I was the perfect gentlewoman, was I not?”

  “You were.”

  “Okay,” Mel said. “So, fears dispersed?”

  “Not completely. But mostly.”

  Mel laughed.

  “I guess I can accept that. Do you want a ride home or are you okay to drive?”

  “I think I’m okay.”

  “Well, I’ll follow you to make sure you get home safely.”

  “You know you could just ask where I live.”

  “True. I could. But then I wouldn’t know if you got home in one piece. This way I’ll know. Now, come on. Let’s get going.”

  Mel followed Susan to a cute little bungalow. She thought how perfect it seemed for her. She wished she would be invited in, but Susan just waved from the door and disappeared inside. At least Mel had shown some chivalry as well as having behaved so well all night. She knew she’d scored points with Susan. Now she just had to be patient and try to completely win her over.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Joey was waiting for Mel when she arrived at the construction site the next morning.

  “You’re looking a little hangdog this morning,” Joey said.

  “Yeah. I was out a little late for a work night. But it was worth it.”

  “Yeah? Who’s the lucky lady?”

  “Nah. I was just at the bar shooting pool a little later than I should have been.”

  “Really? I’m a little disappointed. I do like to live vicariously through you.”

  “Well, to tell the truth,” Mel said. “My partner at the table was the new waitress. The one I was talking to the other night.”

  “Yeah? The real looker?”

  “Yeah. Her. She’s so fine, Joey. You saw her. Her jet-black hair looks soft as hell, and her blue eyes are in such contrast to her hair. It’s a combination I’m finding hard to fight. And she’s a lot of fun when she lets her guard down.”

  “Okay then, I’m glad you got her to let her guard down. So, any plans to see her again?”

  “I crashed and burned there. I didn’t get her schedule. I should have. But I do get to take her out to dinner. I lost big time in a pool game. But no details were set up.”

  “It’s something anyway. You’ll get to see her again as long as she’s working at Kindred Spirits.”

  “But not if she works afternoons only. Maybe she’ll work a night shift sometime. Or maybe I’ll waltz in just as she’s getting off shift like I did yesterday. I don’t know. I just know I need to see her again.”

  “Then it’ll happen. Now, come on, let’s get to work.”

  It was a hot summer day and the crew was pouring concrete. It was a thankless job, but one that Joey and Mel were particularly skilled at. They got it poured and sat in the shade to drink their water.

  “How you feeling?” Joey said.

  “Last night’s catching up with me. I drank too much as well as stayed out too late.”

  “So, after work you just want to go home?”

  “I’d like to try to catch some waves if you’re interested.”

  “I am.”

  “Or we could grab DJ from day care early and take him to the park.”

  “Now, don’t get me wrong. I love that little guy, but I’m already wiped and we’re only halfway through our day. I think surfing would do me a world of good.”

  “Okay. Sounds good.”

  “Why don’t you plan on coming over for dinner, too? I’ll grill some steaks and we’ll have a salad. It’ll be cool and refreshing. And you’ll be able to see the little man then.”

  “That would be great. Are you sure Samantha won’t mind?”

  “I’ll text her right now and ask.”

  “Let’s go. Back to work,” Brenda, the forewoman, called. “Only two more hours. It’s too hot to put in a full day.”

  “That’s a relief,” Mel said. “I’m frying out here.”

  “It’s in the mid nineties,” Joey said. “That’s hot for us.”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  They went back to work framing walls. Time slowed to a crawl under the burning sun, but they got through it.

  “That’s it for today,” Brenda yelled.

  “Thank God.” Mel said as she collapsed on the tailgate of Joey’s truck. She immediately jumped back up. “Holy shit, that’s hot.”

  “Why don’t you go get your board?” Joey said. “I’ll meet you at The Shack.”

  “You got it.”

  Mel drove home. She was barely able to keep her eyes open. But it had been worth it. Time with Susan was worth any sacrifice, she figured. She really had it bad for her. And she’d been on her best behavior the night before, so she was certain she’d made a good impression.

  She slipped into her board shorts and tank top and grabbed her board. She put it in the back of her van and headed off to The Shack.

  Joey was already there when she arrived.

  “Come on. The waves are lookin’ good, and I’m ready to cool off,” Joey said.

  They crossed the sand quickly as it was burning their feet and waded out into the water. They got on their boards and paddled out. The cool water felt good on Mel’s legs.

  “Oh yeah,” she said. “This is what I’m talking about.”

  They caught several waves, and then, as the waves started to flatten out, they sat on their boards and bobbed in the water.

  “You ready to head over to my place?” Joey said.

  “Sure.”

  “Go ahead and store your board in your van. We’ll take my car to my place. I’ll give you a lift back after dinner.”

  “Sounds good,” Mel said.

  Joey checked her watch. “Samantha is probably home by now. I’m betting you can help feed DJ.”

  “Right on.”

  They arrived at Joey’s house to find DJ in his high chair eating a banana.

  “Meow!” DJ cried out.

  “Hey, little buddy. How you doin’?” To his parents, she asked, “Is that his dinner?”

  “No. He was just starving so I gave him it as a snack,” Samantha said. “I’m afraid he’s going to grow again.”

  “What does he get for dinner?”

  “Steak, same as you and me,” Joey said.

  “How is that possible? Do you have to chew it for him first? Won’t he choke?”

  “No.” Joey laughed. “I just cut it into really small pieces. Don’t worry. I’m not out to kill my own son.”

  “I didn’t think you would be. I just didn’t know.”

  “You need to relax,” Samantha said. “Sit down. Have a beer.”

  Mel went to the refrigerator and helped herself to a Corona.

  “Thanks.”

  She sat on a bar stool and watched Joey and Samantha in the kitchen while keeping an eye on DJ seated next to her.

  “Can I get down?” DJ said, plain as day.

  “I don’t know. Let’s ask your folks. Can DJ get down?”

  “Yeah,” Joey said. “You want to play with him while we see to dinner?”

  “Sure.”

  Mel allowed DJ to grab her finger and lead her to the play room. She sat on the floor with him and played with building blocks. She pointed to letters on the side of the blocks and he identified them. She was convinced he was a genius.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Joey said from the doorway.

  “Did you know he can read letters?”

  “Do you know Samantha is his mom? Of course he’s a smart kid. And, yes. I knew that. We’ve worked hard with him.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  Mel picked DJ up and carried him back to his highchair.

  She sat at the table and enjoyed a fine meal.

  “You seem in a
better mood this evening than you were the last time you were here,” Samantha said.

  “Really? I must have been in pretty bad shape then, considering how tired and hungover I am today.”

  Samantha laughed.

  “Ah. Just like the good old days.”

  “But unlike the good ol’ days, she didn’t bring her lady friend home with her.”

  “Oh, but you have one?” Samantha raised her eyebrows.

  “I’m working on it.” Mel felt her face heat up.

  “Look at her blush,” Joey said.

  “Hey now, cut me some slack.”

  “You really like this woman?” Samantha said.

  “She’s really beautiful,” Mel said. “So my interest was initially piqued. But then we had so much fun last night. We ran the pool tables at Kindred Spirits until after midnight. She was great.”

  “Well, then I wish you the best of luck with her. What’s her name?”

  “Susan.”

  “Susan? Have I met her?”

  “I doubt it. She’s new in town.”

  “How new?”

  “Like two days new. Maybe three now.”

  “Wow. Well, it’s nice of you to show her a good time.” Samantha laughed.

  “I’m trying,” Mel said. “I’m trying really hard.

  *

  Susan woke Monday and stretched leisurely. It was eleven o’clock again, but she knew better than to panic now. She’d easily get to the bar by one. It didn’t take her that long to get ready. Although, when she got out of bed and made her way to her kitchen, she looked at all the boxes all over the place and chided herself that she had to unpack someday. Wednesday and Saturday were her days off. She decided to do nothing on Wednesday but unpack and settle in.

  She made her coffee and sat at the dining room table. She looked out the sliding glass doors at her backyard. She couldn’t wait to do some landscaping either. So far she was really liking Maybon Tir.

  Her mind drifted to the previous night at Kindred Spirits and on Mel…what was her last name? She’d have to find that out. No, she told herself. She wouldn’t. It wasn’t important. She sighed heavily. She couldn’t deny her attraction to Mel. It was gut level and probably only good for one thing. She could have a fling, but did she want to have one with Mel? Why not? She was good-looking and seemingly out for one thing only. Maybe Susan should flirt with her next time she saw her. But who knew when that would be?

  Susan got to work to find it as slow as the previous day. She spent most of her time studying the bartender’s bible. She felt like she was learning lots of recipes, if only she’d be given the chance to mix them.

  Around five o’clock, the place picked up and she actually waitressed for the last two hours of her shift. It felt good to be working and making tips. And once again, the patrons were all very friendly. She really liked her job. At seven o’clock, when her shift ended, she took off her apron and turned to the bartender.

  “So, tell me. I need a place to get a bite to eat tonight. What’s good?”

  “If you just want a quick burger, I recommend The Shack. It’s right across from the water. Food’s good. Price is right.”

  “Thanks,” Susan said.

  She drove to the beach and easily found The Shack. She went inside and found an informal burger joint with music blaring from the jukebox. A woman walked up to her.

  “Just sit anywhere you like,” she said.

  Susan sat by the window so she could watch the sun set over the ocean. It was still a little early for that to happen, but she wanted a good view, just in case. She asked the waitress if they sold alcohol.

  “We only have beer and wine. Nothing harder.”

  “I’ll take a glass of Chardonnay then.”

  “And to eat?”

  “A Swiss bacon burger.”

  “You want fries with that?”

  “Please.”

  The waitress walked off, and Susan sat back in her seat. She needed to get a grip on her eating. Both for financial reasons and sheer caloric intake. If she wanted to keep her figure, she’d have to stop eating like a pig. But not that night. She still hadn’t been to the grocery store. She would have to find one so she could fill her fridge with healthy foods. She promised herself she’d get up early the next day to do that.

  Her dinner came and she devoured it like the carnivore she was. She loved a good burger. Her ex-girlfriend, Dorinda, had tried to get her to go vegetarian, and she’d tried. But that was all in the past, and now Susan could eat whatever she wanted.

  Susan shook her head. Thoughts of Dorinda were not welcome. She had been the wrong person for Susan and she knew that. Even though they’d had some good times. Susan told herself not to think about those. They were through and life went on. She had a new life and she was finally happy.

  She paid for her dinner and walked out to the parking lot. She saw Mel getting out of a truck by a beat-up old van. She walked over.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “Hey back,” Mel said, all smiles. “What are you up to?”

  “I just finished dinner.”

  “Me, too.” Mel waved to Joey as she drove off.

  “Huh?” Susan was confused.

  “I had dinner at Joey’s. We caught some waves after work then I went over to her place.”

  “Oh. Good for you. I’m sure you know how lucky you are to have such a good friend.”

  “I love that family. I feel like I’m part of it, you know?” Mel said.

  “That’s great.”

  “So, can I buy you a drink?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  They walked into The Shack and took a table by the window again.

  “Hey, Mel,” the waitress said.

  “How you doin’?” Mel said. “Can we get a Firestone Pivo and a…what do you drink besides lemon drops?”

  “I’ll have a Chardonnay.”

  “Did you work today?” Mel asked.

  “Yep. I had an afternoon shift. So I studied cocktails some more. I did get to waitress a little this evening, though.”

  “Good.”

  “How was your day?”

  “Hot. Fucking hot. Excuse my language, but it was brutal.”

  “I’m sure. I wouldn’t have wanted to be outside in that sun today.”

  “No. The waves felt great this afternoon, but working in it? Not so much.”

  “Can I ask you a question without offending you?”

  “Uh-oh. That sounds ominous. I suppose you can. I mean, you should be able to.”

  “If Joey was off work,” Susan said. “Why wouldn’t she be with her son instead of with you?”

  “DJ goes to preschool. So he’s learning stuff all day. Plus Samantha is there with him. Once in a while, Joey will pull him early, but it’s kind of important that he keeps his routine.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Two. And he’s about the cutest two-year-old you’ll ever see.”

  She pulled out her phone and showed Susan a picture of the little towhead.

  “Oh wow, look at his blue eyes,” Susan said. “He’s a cutie.”

  “He looks just like his mama.”

  “She must be a very attractive woman.”

  “She is,” Mel said. “Joey was hooked on her from first sight.”

  “But you weren’t?”

  “No. She’s not really my style.”

  “And what is your style, Mel?” Susan said

  “I’m beginning to wonder about that.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. I try so hard, but always end up alone. I don’t know if I have a type at all,” Mel said.

  “Well, I refuse to try. I want to be alone. I’ve done the relationship thing and now I’m single and happy.”

  “I’ve been in relationships, too. They don’t seem to last long, though. I don’t know what it is about me. It’s like I wear a shirt that says, ‘Hurt me.’”

  “The thing about relationships, you leave yourself vulnerable. I don�
�t plan to get near one again.”

  “What about casual dating?” Mel said.

  “Maybe. I think I could do that.”

  “Well, we have a date for dinner, right? That’ll be casual. No strings attached, right?”

  “Yep. When is that, by the way?” Susan said.

  “Friday night. I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Hey, I hate to do this, but it’s getting late,” Mel said. “Can I walk you to your car?”

  “That would be great.”

  Mel put her hands in her pockets and walked next to Susan to her car.

  “So, I guess this is good night,” Susan said.

  “I guess so,” Mel said.

  Susan leaned back against her car door. Strangely, she wanted Mel to kiss her. She wondered if she would or if she would have to kiss Mel first. Her stomach was fluttering like she was a school kid. She felt her legs quiver as desire rolled over her. She looked at Mel’s green eyes and thought she saw a desire that matched her own. What harm was there in a kiss? She wasn’t offering to marry Mel.

  “So, I’ll see you Friday night?” Mel said.

  “Yeah. I’ll see you then.”

  Susan watched Mel walk off and thought that she’d totally blown that chance. But she figured there would be more. Or at least she hoped there would be.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Mel climbed into her van and watched Susan drive off. Damn, she was hot. And Mel wanted her in the worst way. But Mel wasn’t sure she could just keep it casual with Susan. There was something about her that had Mel wanting to settle down and build that white picket fence. But Susan was gorgeous, and Mel wasn’t about to turn down a casual fling, if that’s what Susan wanted. Then why hadn’t she kissed her? She got the distinct feeling Susan had wanted a kiss as they said their good nights. Mel wished she had. But she knew her hormones would be in overdrive if she had, and they were already fairly revved up.

  Susan was long gone out of the parking lot when Mel finally came back to reality and fired up her old van. She drove to her house and parked out front. She walked toward the front door, her thoughts still on Susan. She almost missed the figure sitting on her porch.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” Mel said.

  The figure stood and walked toward her slowly.