by Naomi Niles
We hadn’t moved off the sofa. We had stayed up, wrapped in the warmth of a blanket, talking until sleep had claimed us both. We hadn’t spoken about anything deep, just little snippets of our lives that didn’t carry weight.
I didn’t want to wake Madison up just yet, just in case she felt the need to leave immediately. Things always looked different in the clear light of day, and a part of me was worried that she might have felt I had taken advantage of her. She had been visibly emotional the night before. Perhaps sleeping with her hadn’t been the right move.
I reminded myself that she was the one who had come to me. I just hoped that was enough. The thought of her leaving was somehow incredibly depressing. I was aware that it shouldn’t have been, especially not this early, but I couldn’t deny how I felt.
I didn’t know what about the moment reminded me of my mother, but I started to see images from my past form in front of my eyes. I shook my head to try and clear it, but I still kept seeing images from the one memory that had haunted me through my entire life.
I was thirteen, and it was late. Sleep fogged my eyes and made it impossible for anything to seem real. I tossed and turned in my bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. But despite how tired I was, there was a nagging in the back of my mind that told me something was wrong.
Thirst finally forced me out of bed and down the stairs towards the kitchen. The moment I stepped out into the hall, I noticed something was amiss. It took me a moment to realize what it was: there was a light on downstairs. Either someone had forgotten to turn it off, or someone was still up. I was so tired that my eyes were half closed, but I knew this house like the back of my hand. I walked down the stairs, seeing it all in my mind’s eye.
It was the living room light that was on. I decided to turn it off on my way to the kitchen. I turned the corner and came to an abrupt stop as I realized my mother was standing there with two bags pushed to the corner. She froze when she saw me, and we just looked at each other for a moment.
She was wearing a pale-yellow dress with puffy sleeves and a flowing skirt. It was combined with a black belt that cinched in her already tiny waist and made her look all the more fragile and delicate. Her brown hair was flowing around her shoulders in soft waves, and her hazel eyes looked alarmed – and perhaps a little bit scared.
“Mom?” I asked, with the question in my tone.
“Peter, darling,” she said, with a smile that looked shaky. “What are you doing awake at this time?”
“I wanted some water,” I replied, trying to get the blurriness out of my eyes. “What are you doing up?”
“I… Remember, I told you I had to go see my aunt for a few weeks?” she said, after a moment of hesitation.
“That’s next week,” I said, frowning.
“I just received a call from her a little while ago,” Mom replied. I wondered if it was just my imagination or if her voice was really shaking slightly when she spoke. “She’s very lonely, Peter…and she’s sick. She wants me to come immediately.”
“You didn’t say goodbye to anyone,” I said accusingly.
Her mouth tilted downwards as though she were about to cry. “I have to go now, Peter.”
I just stared at her, unable to understand what was happening. It didn’t feel real. Nothing about this seemed normal. Mom approached me slowly and hugged me without warning. It was a tight hug, and I was the one who pushed her away.
“Did you tell Dad?”
“I… I left him a note,” she replied. “He’s sleeping now, so don’t wake him.”
“Mom.”
“I love you, son,” Mom said in a voice that sounded choked. “I love you so much. Always remember that.” She leaned in and kissed me hard on the forehead. “I have to go now,” she said again.
She turned away from me, picked up her bags, and walked out of the house without a backward glance. As she walked through the door, I thought I saw a tear slip from her eye. I watched her get into the cab parked outside, and then it drove away. A few seconds later, the car turned the corner and the world was silent again.
I stood there for a long time, wondering if something important had just happened or if what I was feeling was just exaggerated. Suddenly, I wasn’t thirsty anymore. Nor did I move to turn off the light in the living room. I couldn’t explain it, but I just didn’t want to turn it off. I didn’t want to be surrounded by darkness…not just yet.
As Madison stirred and blinked her eyes open, I snapped out of the memory that I had tried so desperately over the years to forget. She stretched against me and smiled.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good morning,” I greeted back. “Sleep well?”
“Very well,” she nodded. “And you?”
“Best sleep I’ve had in a while,” I replied. “Now…how about I make you breakfast?”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”
I disentangled myself from Madison and turned to grab my boxers off the floor. She sat up behind me. “You have a tattoo,” she observed.
“Oh…yeah,” I nodded. “It’s the date of my father’s death. All five of us have the same one.”
“It’s a beautiful gesture.”
“It made us all feel a little better,” I nodded. Then I leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “I’ll get started on breakfast, shall I?”
Madison nodded, and I walked into the kitchen, feeling lighter than I had in years. The moment I turned the corner, I froze in place, realizing that someone was already in the kitchen. Sam was sitting at the table with an apple in hand and a cheeky smile playing on his face.
“Oh fuck,” I groaned. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I came to see how the date went,” Sam said, in a whisper. “And, boy…did I ever get my answer.”
“I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“I was stealthy about it,” Sam winked. “And apparently…so were you.”
“I don’t even know what that means,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.
Sam got up out of his chair and punched me playfully in the arm. “You scored!” he crowed. “I’m so proud.”
“Will you shut up?” I hissed. “Madison’s just down the hall.”
“You guys looked so cute, all curled up in dad’s old blanket,” he continued, with another wink. “But unfortunately, I didn’t see anything good because of it. She was all covered up. I did get a glimpse of some side leg, but that’s all.”
“You are such a pervert,” I sighed. “Now take that apple and get the hell out.”
“Aw, come on,” he said. “Can’t I stay for breakfast?”
“Are you freaking serious?”
“Oh,” Sam said, his eyes going wide. “Were you planning on an early morning quickie or something? ’Cause if so, I’m happy to stay here and be quiet until you’re finished.”
I grabbed Sam, forcing him into a headlock. He tried to break from my grip, but my will was stronger than his. The fact that he was laughing helped, too, because it clearly gave me the upper hand.
“Ouch, you fucker,” Sam whined. “That hurts.”
“Good, now get-”
We froze as Madison stepped into the kitchen with the blanket wrapped around her chest. “Oh God,” she said in shock, clearly taken off guard by Sam’s presence and our juvenile antics. “Sam…”
“Hi, Madison,” he waved to her from the headlock I had him in. “You kids had fun last night?”
Madison’s cheeks flushed with color as she secured the blanket around her chest, but she made no move to leave the room. “We did, thanks,” she nodded.
“Umm, bro,” Sam said sheepishly. “Would you mind releasing me? There’s a lady present.”
I released my hold on him and he shot me a glare before he turned to Madison. “Please excuse my brother,” he spoke as though I had started the whole thing. “He’s never known how to behave around company.”
Madison laughed, and I could see her relax. “I’m just
sorry to break up the brotherly bonding.”
“Bonding?” I repeated. “I’d rather not bond with this particular brother.”
Sam rolled his eyes at me. “He likes denial,” he said. “I’m his favorite. Anyway… I’ll just…head off and give you guys some privacy.”
“No, don’t worry,” Madison quickly. “Actually, I just came in here to tell you that I can’t stay for breakfast.”
I felt my heart skip with disappointment. “Why not?”
“I have to feed Polo and get ready for work,” she replied apologetically. “I didn’t realize how late it was. Can I take a rain check, though?”
“Of course you can,” I nodded. “Any time. I’ll walk you to the door.”
I followed Madison out of the kitchen while Sam tried to catch a glimpse of what was underneath the blanket. I smacked him on the head on my way out, and he responded with a loud, “What was that for, fucker?”
Madison was slipping on her dress when I walked into the living room. She straightened out her hair and gave me a smile. “It’s sweet how close you are with your brothers. It’s nice how well you get along with them.”
“We have our good days and our bad days,” I replied. “I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”
“Me, too,” Madison nodded, and I saw the sincerity in her eyes. “But I just started this job, it’s too early for me to start slacking off.”
“Understood,” I laughed.
“I’ll call you after work,” she said, as I walked her to the door.
“Great,” I replied, feeling a burgeoning sense of joy.
She wasn’t running away from me and didn’t seem to think I’d taken advantage of her last night. In fact, she seemed just as pleased to have woken up next to me as I had been waking up next to her. The sunlight fell onto her dark hair and brought out the gold in her hazel eyes as she stood in the doorway.
“Thanks…for everything, Peter,” Madison said, and I knew she was thanking me for more than just dinner.
“Anytime,” I replied, hoping she understood the depth of what I meant when I said that.
We held each other’s gaze for a moment, and I felt a little current of electricity fizzle through my body. I leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. Then I watched her walk back to her house, wondering how on earth I had landed in the middle of this relationship when it was the last thing I had ever wanted.
Chapter Sixteen
Madison
“Polo!” I greeted, as I walked through the door. “Hi, buddy!”
Polo jumped around enthusiastically, and I felt a twinge of guilt. I got down to my knees and hugged him tightly. “I’ve been neglecting you these past few days, haven’t I, boy? Don’t you worry; I still love you more than ever.”
Polo was easily appeased. I gave him his breakfast and let him out for a few minutes to relieve his bladder. Then, I went to my bare bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I noticed Polo pad in behind me. He was looking up at me curiously, as though he required an explanation.
I smiled. “I had a good night, buddy,” I explained. “Peter and I…we connected. I know, I know. It’s soon. But I just couldn’t help it. He’s…amazing.”
I turned back to the mirror and touched my neck. There were two hickies hiding in one corner, and I touched the sensitive skin there.
For some reason, I was reluctant to have a shower and after a moment, I realized why: I didn’t want to wash his smell off of me. If I concentrated really hard, I could still feel his hands on every inch of my body. I didn’t want to lose that sensation.
“I can’t go to work without a shower, though,” I sighed. Then I glanced at Polo and laughed. “I know, first-world problems.”
After my shower, I dressed quickly in jeans and a romantic green, off-the-shoulder blouse. I created two thin braids with my hair and draped them over my head to create an Alice band. I felt good and I wanted to show it, in some small way. I kissed Polo goodbye and headed for work.
The whole time I was driving, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Nor could I stop the barrage of memories that kept hitting me over and over again. I relived each moment a hundred times and each time they were just as thrilling to recall.
“Morning, all,” I greeted as I walked into Whitney’s that morning.
“Well, well,” Whitney observed, with raised eyebrows. “Someone’s in a good mood.”
Whitney’s hair was platinum blonde today, and it held streaks of bubble-gum pink. It was amazing how good it looked on her.
“I’m always in a good mood,” I argued, trying to tone down my ridiculous smile.
“Sure, sure,” she nodded. “I have a customer coming around in ten minutes. I want you to take her.”
“No problem,” I replied, grabbing my supplies and twirling around the room. I noticed Whitney and Lola exchange a glance, but I ignored them and set up my station.
I spent a pleasant morning with middle-aged Ms. Tallis who had just found herself a new boy toy and wanted a look to match. I styled her hair in a new, young style, drawing inspiration from my mood. When I finally finished, Ms. Tallis clapped her hands together and beamed.
“Perfect,” she said. “I look ten years younger.”
“He’s not going to know what hit him,” I assured her.
The moment she walked out of the salon, I turned and came face to face with Whitney. “Whoa,” I said. “Didn’t see you there.”
“I don’t know how you can see anything at all in your state,” she said slyly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said innocently.
“Bull,” she shot at me. “Come with me.”
“Why?”
“To take our lunch break.”
“It’s only eleven o’clock,” I pointed out.
“Well, I’m hungry,” Whitney replied. “And, I have a half hour before my next client. Now be a good little employee and follow me.”
I shrugged and did as I was told. The moment we were cocooned in Whitney’s tiny office, she leaned in and narrowed her eyes at me. “Spill,” she demanded.
“Umm…there’s nothing to spill,” I said, trying to force my expression into one of confusion.
She sat back and rolled her eyes at me. “You are so transparent,” she said. “I can smell it on you.”
“What?”
“The sex.”
My eyes went wide with shock. “Are you serious?” I asked. “How can you possibly know?”
“Because I have extremely superior instincts,” Whitney said, winking at me. “That and I think I spy a couple of hickies on your neck.”
“Oh God,” I said, grabbing my neck. “How did you even see those?”
“In addition to superior instincts, I also have superior observational skills,” she replied.
I laughed. “I wish I had some of those.”
“Stick with me and maybe I can teach you,” she said.
“I wasn’t aware it was something that could be taught.”
“It sure can,” Whitney nodded. “But nothing comes for free, you know. I expect to be paid in full, starting with the details of your night of amour.”
“Couldn’t you just dock my pay or something?”
She shot me a deadly look.
I laughed. “All right, fine, I’ll spill. I did have sex last night.”
“And?” she pushed. “Who was the lucky guy?”
“Umm…Peter.”
“Burbank?” Whitney asked in shock.
I laughed at her reaction. “Yeah.”
“Wow, you move fast.”
I gave her a guilty smile. “I know.”
“Hey, don’t get me wrong,” she said quickly. “I totally approve. In fact, I’m extremely impressed. Now, how was the sex?”
I blushed a little. “It was good.”
Whitney rolled her eyes at me. “For God’s sake, Madison. I’ve been working my butt off on this salon for the past few months, which means I haven’t had time to get out there and
get laid myself. Which means I’m forced to live vicariously through you. So you’re going to have to do better than ‘It was good.’”
I laughed. “Well, let’s put it this way: it was orgasmic.”
“Really?” Her eyes went wide. “How orgasmic was it?”
“Somewhere around the three-point range.”
“No way! Three times?” Whitney gasped. “Damn it, I’m so jealous.”
I laughed. “He’s a really good guy, though,” I said. “There’s something about him that just…makes me feel safe. I’ve never really had that before.”
“Let me guess: you usually pick the losers?”
“Every time,” I sighed. “But this time, I really think I’ve broken the habit. Peter’s different. He cooked me dinner last night, and he pulled out my chair for me. He even walked me home in the rain.”
“Sounds like a gentleman,” Whitney nodded approvingly. “Though I can’t say that I’m surprised. He always seemed like the polite type.”
“He’s more than just polite, though,” I insisted. “He’s thoughtful and kind and just a nice guy.”
“Wow, you’ve got it bad, haven’t you?”
“I don’t know about that,” I said hesitantly, even though I knew she was right.
“Wait, hold up,” Whitney said, holding up her hands.
“What?”
“So you didn’t actually spend the night with him?”
“I did,” I nodded.
“So, he walked you home this morning?” she asked. “But it wasn’t raining this morning.”
“He walked me home last night after dinner,” I explained. “And I sort of…went back over and…threw myself at him.”
Whitney looked at me as though she were seeing me in a completely different light. After a few moments, she started clapping. “You made the first move, huh? Color me impressed.”
“I wasn’t exactly thinking straight,” I replied. “Or I would never have had the courage to do that. I was just a little emotional last night and needed some comfort.”
“And he gave it to you in spades, by the sounds of it.”
I laughed.
“Please tell me you fucked him in the rain?” Whitney asked.