by S. M. Shade
I told Airen if he wanted someone else, I’d let him go without any drama, and I have to honor that, even if the thought makes my chest ache. Things have been wonderful between us, but I knew it was temporary until someone better came along. I hope she falls for Joseph, even though I know I’m only delaying the inevitable. It’s only a matter of time. After all, I’m not the last woman alive.
Airen crawls into bed and wraps his arms around me. “Do you want to talk?”
I can’t take this out on him. No matter how I feel, he hasn’t done anything wrong. That you know of, anyway, my inner voice insists, always the optimist.
“No, I’m fine. I’m just tired. I missed you.” I kiss him and rest my face on his chest, inhaling his scent and rubbing my cheek across his silky hair.
“Me too, darlin’.”
Surprisingly, I fall asleep.
* * * *
Jayla and Sara hit it off right away. They stay up late listening to music and giggling like typical teenage girls. It’s a joy to see. The house is crowded, however, and when I encourage Airen and Joseph to install the panels in the other house first, they agree. I hardly see them during the day because they’re so busy. I decide to give Mandy the benefit of the doubt. It isn’t fair to dislike her because she’s attractive. It’s no different than how I’ve been treated because of my appearance.
I really should get to know her. We have so many questions for each other. She doesn’t have much in the way of personal belongings, so we decide to go shopping. Jayla and Sara accompany us, and it feels sort of normal. A “girls at the mall” type of day which makes me smile. After Airen lectures us and insists I take the small .22 pistol with me, we finally escape.
“Is he always such a worry wart?” Mandy asks.
“Yes,” Jayla and I answer in unison, laughing.
“He means well, but he’s definitely overprotective. We have had some close calls, so he pretty much hates letting us out of his sight.”
“You call being kidnapped by a crazy man a close call?” Jayla asks.
“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?”
“You were kidnapped? What happened? How did you get away?” Sara asks, incredulous, then immediately apologizes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“I don’t mind.” By the time I’ve finished my Mr. Disgusting story we’re pulling into the parking lot of a department store.
“I’m sorry you had to kill him,” Sara says, “but at least you got away.”
“Damn girl! Don’t feel bad ya killed him. He deserved it! You’re lucky he was probably too drunk to rape ya,” Mandy exclaims.
Wow. Tactful is not a word in this woman’s vocabulary. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, and I hope I never have to again.”
“Why didn’t Joseph come to the rescue along with Airen?” Mandy asks.
“We hadn’t met Joseph yet. He and Walker came after that.”
Of course, that led to the story of finding Joseph so sick, but this time Jayla did the telling. We choose two carts from the front of the store and flip on the electric lanterns. It’s a sunny day, but only the first few aisles of the store are illuminated through the doors.
“Where to first?” Jayla asks.
“Clothes, I need some shorts and blouses,” Mandy replies.
Sara and Jayla wander into the juniors section while I head for a stack of jeans. Mandy follows me.
“I guess a few pair of jeans would be smart now that we’re living in the middle of the woods. What size are you looking for?” she asks.
“Size ten, and no boot cut or flares.”
“I need a six.”
Bitch.
“Maybe a four now; I think I’ve lost a few pounds.”
Skinny bitch.
“Here are the sixes,” I offer, moving aside so she can see them. I pull out a pair of light blue jeans with sunflowers embroidered down one leg. I love sunflowers. Yes! Size ten. They get tossed in the cart.
“So, how long have you and Airen been together?”
“We met in October, but we’ve only been together since the beginning of April.”
“Abby, he’s fucking gorgeous!”
I can’t help but grin. “Don’t I know it? He’s also a really sweet guy.” And he’s mine. “He loves the kids, and I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Did I mention he’s mine? “Or Joseph,” I add.
“Have you and Joseph ever?” She raises her eyebrows.
“No. We’re close, and so are Airen and Joseph. I’d never cheat on Airen, and Joseph wouldn’t do that to him either.”
She looks at me with a sly grin and asks, “So no three way action? Not even a kiss?”
Did she just ask me if I had a threesome with them? Seriously? “No.”
“Joseph’s a cutie too, but Airen, Jesus.”
She pronounces it jay-sus. “He was a model before the plague,” I explain.
“Ya love him?”
“Of course.” She has thrown three pair of jeans and five short and top combos into the cart. “What about you? Did you meet Sara right after the plague?” We can hear the girls giggling from a few racks away.
“A few weeks after. Found her sittin’ on a curb, cryin’ for her mama. Meek as a mouse, that girl.”
“Poor kid,” I reply, shaking my head.
“I never had kids. Didn’t want’em, but she was the only other person alive, and she’s pretty well grown, so I kept her with me.” She shrugs.
Jayla and Sara join us before I can respond. “Do you think Dad would let me wear this?” Jayla holds up a very short skirt.
“Hell, no,” I reply with a laugh.
“You call Airen, Dad?” Mandy questions.
“Yep, Carson does too.”
“He can be my daddy.” Mandy laughs, and Jayla looks at her in disgust.
“He’s my dad, and Abby’s my mom,” she replies coldly.
“Relax, I’m just kiddin’.”
We continue to shop, choosing books, movies, and CD’s, but Mandy’s comment has successfully killed the lighthearted camaraderie. I’m trying not to judge her. I really am. I want to give her a fair chance. Honestly, though, I just don’t like her.
It’s almost dinnertime when we return. Joseph jogs over to help us unload the bags and boxes.
“Did you girls have fun?” He grins at Jayla, dimples shining, and she nods in his general direction before heading straight indoors.
Staring at me in confusion, he asks, “What was that about?”
“I’ll talk to you later,” I promise, shifting my gaze to the rear of the truck where Mandy’s gathering her stuff.
* * * *
After a few weeks, it’s clear no one is particularly fond of Mandy. She’s loud, abrasive, opinionated, and vulgar. Sara is frightened of her, and the rest of the kids avoid her. Airen does the same. Joseph is polite and distant, but none of us are outright rude to her. My patience is wearing thin, however, because she has been flirting with Airen almost constantly. Blatantly flirting and staring at him. She seems to take joy in doing it in front of me.
I’ve tried not to react, because I don’t want Airen to think I don’t trust him. I do, especially since he seems horrified and revolted when she hits on him. Her personality and lack of character override the big boobs, flat stomach, and pretty face. She occasionally makes eyes at Joseph as well, but only if he’s showing affection toward me. If he hugs me or kisses my cheek, she’s quick to compliment him, usually while batting her eyelashes. Why is she competing with me for Joseph? I think she assumes I’ve been with him as well.
Lately, she has been making little comments to Airen about Joseph and me. He ignores her, but it’s pissing me off. Today the bitch went too far. It’s our usual movie night, and I manage to locate one of Joseph’s favorites.
“Thank you.” He beams as I show him the copy of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and kisses my cheek before heading to his room to put on some sweats. Mand
y’s eyes narrow and her lips press together as she watches him bounce out of the room.
“Popcorn tonight?” Airen suggests, as he enters.
“Sounds good. I’m going to take a quick shower,” I tell them, starting down the hall. “Don’t start without me.” Now, I didn’t exactly intend to eavesdrop, but I didn’t try hard not to hear them either.
“Airen,” Mandy drops her voice. “You’d better keep an eye on Joseph with Abby.”
“Why is that?” he asks, sounding bored.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she mumbles.
Yeah, right. That’s exactly what she wants. She assumes if she can break us up, he’ll go running into her arms.
“Then don’t,” Airen warns.
“But when I came in, they were kissing! Like, really kissing, you know?”
What? I’ll kill this bitch! Lying, hateful whore! Surely, Airen won’t believe it. Will he? I listen as he manages to call her a liar without actually saying the words.
“I trust Abby and Joseph. They’re close, and we’ve all been through a lot together,” he states, nonplussed. He walks in the hall before I can even attempt to wipe the look of shock and hatred from my face.
Caught, I rush to the bedroom, spinning to face him as he follows. “I didn’t!” I gasp, trying to form words while my anger is tying my tongue. “She...that bitch...I’ll...”
Airen presses his lips together, struggling not to laugh. “Come on, Abby. I know better. Give me some credit.” He shakes his head in amusement. “That was a pretty pathetic attempt.”
“I’m going to beat her ass!”
“No. You aren’t going to let her get to you like this.” His voice is calm when he takes my hand and rubs his fingers down my palm, releasing my fist I hadn’t realized I’d clinched.
“She’s trying to break us up!” Can’t he see that?
“She’s so jealous of you. I’ve seen her reaction when we’re together or when Joseph spends time with you. Even when she sees one of the kids speed past her to go to you, it burns her up.”
“So I should just put up with it?” I demand hotly, glaring at him.
“No, we’ll have her out of the house soon. In the meantime, I intend to show her she can’t get between us. Any of us,” he adds.
What does he mean? “Has she tried anything with you when I’m not there?”
“She flirts, as you’ve seen.”
“Has she tried to kiss you?” He’s signing her death warrant if he says yes.
“No, and if she takes it that far we’ll throw her out on her ass, I promise. It’s movie night, and I think you should cuddle up with me and show her she didn’t win. In fact, we should have some fun with it.” A mischievous grin crosses his face. “Let me talk to Joseph.”
“Why?”
“She’s trying to play us against each other and make me jealous since she hasn’t been able to make you jealous by flirting with me. So let me and Joseph handle it, and you just play along.”
“Fine.” A small grin forms on his lips, and he runs his fingers down my cheek. “Are you laughing at me?”
“No. I’ve just never seen this side of you.”
“The pissed off and ready to choke a bitch side?”
His musky scent fills my senses as he leans in and whispers into my ear, “You’re jealous and possessive. It’s sexy.”
A wave of heat sweeps through me, and I want to drag him to bed, even though I’m pissed. I can’t get distracted. I need him to understand I can’t tolerate this any longer. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but there’s only so much shit I’ll take. If some guy were acting like that with me...”
“I’d have hit him a long time ago,” he admits, wrapping his arms around me. “We’ll take care of it, darlin’. Take your shower, and I’ll talk to Joseph. Be ready to be lavished with affection.”
“I think I can suffer through it.” I giggle, and he gives me a sweet smile. This might be fun.
He’s as good as his word. After my shower, I drape a towel around my shoulders to shield my shirt from my wet hair and dress in a thin pair of blue sleeping shorts with a white camisole.
Joseph sits at one end of the sofa while Airen lounges at the other end. The kids are watching their movies in the bedroom.
Airen pats the couch. “Come sit with me, darlin’.” I curl up beside him as Joseph dims the light and starts the movie. Without a word, Airen takes the towel and starts to dry my hair, something he’s never done before.
Joseph tosses me one end of the blanket he’s using. “Here, sweetheart, you have goose bumps.” He grins, and I smile at him as I thank him. He never calls me sweetheart, and I probably shouldn’t like the sound of it as much as I do.
“Mmm, Air, your hands feel good,” I moan.
Whatever reaction Mandy hoped to achieve from her little stunt, this isn’t it. I can practically see smoke coming from her ears. When Airen’s finished with the towel, we scoot closer to Joseph to share his blanket. When Joseph puts an arm around me and pulls me against his chest, my eyes dart to Airen, but he just smiles at us as if this is nothing out of the ordinary. They are so over the top affectionate it’s laughable. Anyone else would be able to see right through it.
“Go ahead and stretch out,” Airen invites, pulling my legs into his lap. Joseph grabs a pillow, and places it across his thighs, shifting me until my head rests in his lap. While we watch the movie, Joseph plays with my hair, and Airen rubs his hand up and down my leg. Oh, I could get used to this. I can’t believe Mandy can’t tell it’s all a show put on for her benefit. It’s so difficult not to laugh.
“Bathroom break,” Airen announces and hops up. While he’s gone, Joseph stretches out behind me and wraps an arm around my stomach, burying his face in my hair. Mandy’s eyes dart between the sofa and the doorway. She wants Airen to catch us so bad. Damn, this bitch is clueless.
“You smell so good, Abby.” Whiskers tickle my skin as he nuzzles my neck.
“You mess with my neck, and you have to put out,” I joke. “It’s a rule.”
He chuckles as his fingers brush my hair out of the way, and I feel his lips on the back of my neck. Oh God.
“Joseph!” I whisper fiercely. I know I should pull away or get up, but I can’t make myself do it.
His lips are soft, his mouth so hot, sucking the sensitive skin, sending tingles and a flash of heat radiating through my body.
The tip of his tongue glides from my nape to the soft spot below my ear, and he nips my earlobe before murmuring, “Sorry, I shouldn’t take advantage.”
“I liked it,” I admit, staring at my hands. “But Airen wouldn’t.” I stare at him pointedly.
“I know. I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.” He flashes me a charming smile, all dimples and sexy lips.
“I’m irresistible.” I giggle in agreement. Let Mandy run that back to Airen. He’d never believe her now. Smiling again, he pulls me closer to him. When Airen comes back I see him start to smile, but quickly reign it in.
“Do you want a soda?” he asks me, behaving as though the sight of his friend wrapped around his girl like a vine is a normal occurrence.
“Yeah, thanks. Joseph’s feeling me up again,” I remark as he walks to the kitchen.
“Behave yourself with my girl, buddy,” he says, handing me my drink.
“But she’s so soft,” he argues, running his hand down my arm. The soda can emits a hiss when I open it and offer Joseph a sip.
Mandy’s chin is on the floor. My chest hurts from holding in the laughter. Airen sits on the end of the sofa and puts both mine and Joseph’s feet in his lap. The movie resumes, but the real show is Mandy. She’s not looking at us as her face shows a shifting run of emotions. Incredulity, anger, jealousy, confusion. Finally, she announces she’s tired and stalks off to bed. Airen glances at Joseph, and they crack up while I hide my face in the blanket and laugh until my eyes water and my sides ache. When the laughter dies down, I hug them both and kiss Airen.
“Thanks, guys, that was priceless.”
After our hilarious movie night, Mandy seems to take a break from the constant flirting and scheming. I assume she finally got the message. She spends more and more time at her house, cleaning and preparing it for her and Sara.
It’s hot for the last week of May. I make a big pitcher of iced tea and decide to take some to Joseph and Airen while they’re working. The house is next door, but it’s far enough away that it can’t be seen from our house. A thin line of trees separate the two properties.
As I pick my way through the trees, I spot Airen coming down a ladder propped against the siding, and I have to stop and marvel at the pure sexiness of my man. He’s magnificent in a pair of cutoffs, his bare chest shimmering with sweat. Tanned, muscular legs ripple as he steps down, biceps straining as he shifts the ladder. Whew! Get a grip, Abby. When I start toward him, Mandy comes out of the house and that was not what she was wearing this morning.
Tiny black shorts barely cover her ass, and a bikini top is stretched to the limit over her breasts. I’m waiting for it to pop off and shoot across the yard like a rubber band. She jiggles over to Airen, giving him a predatory smile. I can’t hear what she says, but he shakes his head and starts back up the ladder, oblivious to the fact she’s staring at his ass. I know what this bitch is up to, trying to lure him in and seduce him while I’m not around. She’s sweet to my face while she’s working on him every chance she gets. I think of all the days she’s been here with him. What the hell has she been doing? Where the fuck is Joseph?
I’ve given Airen an out, permission to leave me if he can be happier with someone else, so he wouldn’t cheat, would he? I haven’t seen anything except her flirting with him, and he ignored her. I can’t let this irrational jealousy get the best of me, but I’ll be watching closer from now on. Mandy notices me as I emerge from the trees.
“Hot out here, isn’t it?” she asks.
“You seem to be handling it well.” She smiles and shrugs, and I resist the urge to rearrange her face.
“Hey!” Airen calls, surprised. My eyes soak up the flex and pull of his sexy back as he climbs down and flashes those devastating eyes at me.