by Susan Stoker
Chief tilted his head so he could take her deeper, and she reciprocated by pressing her chest against him. He thrust his tongue in and out of her mouth, mimicking the act of making love. She groaned and moved her hand until it was fisting the hair at the back of his neck.
He reluctantly pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. “Ayóó ánííníshní, Soph.”
“Ah yo, Ah knee nesh yay, Chief.”
He smiled. He could definitely get used to her saying that to him. Although when she found out what it really meant, she’d probably be embarrassed. And maybe even a little pissed at him. He’d just have to make sure she really did love him before she found out.
“You have plans tomorrow?”
“Just the usual. Laundry, grocery s-shopping…you know, s-stuff that I don’t have time to do during the week. You?”
“I told Diontray I’d go in and see him. Then I need to pop into the fire station near his school. He said he would like to join their junior fire trooper program. He’s not quite in high school yet, so if they let him in, it would be a special favor kind of thing.”
“You want to get together tomorrow s-sometime?” Sophie asked.
The butterflies in Chief’s stomach twirled and flitted with her question. “Let’s play it by ear, yeah?”
When she bit her lip in confusion, Chief hurried to explain. “I don’t want to move too fast, Soph. You made it clear tonight that you were confused at how quickly things were going. If I had my way, I’d haul your butt over to my house and never let you leave. But we’re both adults and have responsibilities. So I’m going to slow things down. Let you know for sure how much I like you. But just because we don’t see each other doesn’t mean we won’t talk. Can I call you tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” she said, the sparkle back in her eyes. “I want to know how your visit with Diontray goes and what the chief of that other s-station s-says.”
“Then I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“Oh, and Soph?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t mow my lawn,” he ordered, and tried to sound stern, but knew he failed when she smiled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do. I can see that the grass is getting too long. But I’ll take care of it from here on out for both of us.”
“I’m perfectly able to cut the grass,” she protested. “I’ve been doing it s-since I m-moved in.”
“Let me do this,” he said softly, leaning into her, putting his hand on the back of her neck and caressing her sensitive nape with his thumb.
“Oh, all right. It’s not like I even liked doing it anyway,” she mock complained. Then she smiled. “And if you do it without a s-shirt, I can ogle you from m-my window. Better than the creepy neighbor eyeballin’ m-me.”
“That is very true. Another reason for you to keep your sexy butt inside,” Chief told her. Then he kissed her briefly once more, careful to keep it light this time. “Go on. Get some sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Chief.”
“Night, Soph.” He let go of her and stepped back.
She gave him a cute little wave and entered her house.
Chief waited until he heard the deadbolt latch then wandered back over to his place. Before he headed inside, he looked up at the stars twinkling overhead. They weren’t very clear, since the streetlight near his driveway threw too much light to be able to see them as he had earlier. As he’d done the last time he’d left Sophie at her house, he sent up a silent thank you to the stars. He couldn’t stop smiling as he entered his house.
Chapter 11
“Guuurl, please tell me you finally did the deed,” Autumn said a month later.
Sophie wrinkled her nose at Autumn. “Do you think about anything other than s-sex?”
“Nope. Not when I’m not gettin’ any and I know my friend, who’s dating one hell of a hunk of man, isn’t either. So?”
“No.” She held up her hand to forestall the protests she knew were going to follow her answer. “But it’s okay. I m-mean, I want him and I’m pretty s-sure he wants m-me too, but we’ve just been…going with the flow.”
“It’s been over a month. What are you waiting for?” Autumn asked.
Sophie could feel the eyes of all three of her friends on her, but looked at her oldest friend as she answered. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling we’ll both know the time is right.”
“So, what? You just hang out and watch television?”
Sophie thought about Friday night. She’d been late getting home because she’d stopped to talk to Tadd before she left work. Chief had been waiting, and he met her at her car door with a kiss. He’d told her he had dinner ready at his house and to take her time relaxing before she came over.
She’d changed into a pair of super-soft leggings and a long T-shirt, then had wandered over to his place. The house had smelled delicious; he’d made a cheesy potato soup that had been cooking all day in his Crock-Pot. They’d eaten, she’d called her mom and introduced her to Chief via FaceTime, and then they’d snuggled on his couch and watched the movie Hidden Figures.
Afterwards, they’d made out, talked about his upcoming work shift and whether she’d heard anything new about when the building next to the hospital would be coming down, and other general chit-chat. They’d made out some more, then he’d walked her back to her house.
“Yeah, we just hang out and watch TV,” Sophie told Autumn, summing up their nights.
“Seriously, I don’t know how we’re related,” the older woman said.
“Uh…we’re not related,” Sophie told her.
Autumn waved her words off. “You know what I mean. Related, friends, whatever.”
Sophie chuckled. Desperately wanting to change the subject, she turned to Quinn. “Driftwood text you this weekend?”
Quinn blushed and nodded.
“And?”
“And nothing. I’ve told him that I’m not interested, but he’s being stubborn.”
“M-Maybe you s-should give him a chance,” Sophie told her friend. “Chief tells m-me that he’s really into you.”
“No, he’s not,” Quinn protested. “He can’t be.”
“Why not?” Tory asked, speaking up for the first time.
“Look at me,” Quinn said, putting her hands on her hips.
“I’m looking,” Tory said a little belligerently.
“I’m hideous,” Quinn bit out. “There’s no way he’s really interested in me. We’d be like Beauty and the Beast, except I’m the Beast.”
“Quinn,” Sophie said softly.
Autumn apparently wasn’t in the mood to be gentle. “That’s bullshit,” she said harshly. “You’re beautiful. Out of all of us, you’re the one most likely to be on a runway.” She held up her hand, forestalling the protestations she knew Quinn was going to make. “Yeah, you have a birthmark. A big fucking birthmark. So what.”
“So what?” Quinn laughed, but it was a bitter sound instead of a humorous one. “All my life, I’ve been made fun of because of this.” She gestured to her face. “Freak, witch, monster…I’ve been called all that and worse.”
“By kids,” Autumn fired back. “Immature children whose parents didn’t teach them basic decency. Quinn, your hair is to die for. Thick, lush, and a color of brown I can’t even describe it’s so unique and beautiful. When you want it to curl, it does. When you want it to be straight, it stays that way. Your skin is flawless. You have lush lips that, if I was a lesbian, I’d want to suck on all day and all night.”
Sophie choked back a laugh, but Autumn didn’t even slow in her tirade.
“You’re tall and willowy. Your arms are muscular, but still feminine. You can eat like a horse, but don’t seem to gain weight. You are perfectly proportioned, with nice boobs that aren’t too small or too big, and your eyes carry so much pain that every time I look into their green depths, I want to slay dragons for you. I know
that mark on your face and neck bothers you, and because I didn’t grow up with it on my face, I can’t know exactly how it feels, but if you think for one second that I give a shit about it, or Sophie or Tory does, you’re smoking crack. We like you, girl. Just as I hope you like us for who we are. Sophie stutters…does that make you like her less? Tory is freaky smart and so introverted, she’d never talk to anyone if it wasn’t for us. Does that mean you don’t want to be her friend? And me—I’m a divorced, too-smart-for-my-own-good cat lady. You gonna stop talking to me because of it?”
Autumn’s words echoed throughout the lab and no one said anything for a long moment.
Finally, Tory broke the uneasy silence. “I’m not that shy. Jeez.”
Everyone giggled.
“It’s different when it’s a man,” Quinn said softly.
“He’s a good guy,” Sophie told her. “Chief talks about him all the time. S-Says he always volunteers to do other people’s s-shifts at the s-station. He m-might come across as a playboy, but apparently he’s really not. He’s been on lots of first dates, but not m-many s-second ones.”
Quinn bit her lip. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?” Autumn asked. “Finding a man who worships you and living happily ever after.”
“Of being hurt again,” Quinn fired back.
“Fuck that,” Autumn said. “How are you ever going to find someone to be with if you don’t try?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Look. I’m not saying you should call him up and offer to have his babies. But what’s the harm in getting to know him? There’s no rule that says you can’t be friends with a man before you date him. There’s no better way to find out if a guy really likes you than by playing hard to get.”
“I don’t want to play games with him,” Quinn insisted. “I just don’t want to start something and find out he’s just one more guy who’s fucking with me.”
Sophie put her hand on Quinn’s arm. “Just talk to him. You’re a good judge of character. You’ll be able to s-see if all he wants is a roll in the hay or if he wants m-more.”
“What if we’re together and people laugh at us?”
Sophie could see the past hurts in her friend’s eyes and it made her feel a little stabby. “Fuck them then,” she said softly. “If Driftwood is any kind of m-man, he won’t let anyone laugh at you. Not ever. And if he does…he’s not the kind of m-man you want or need. Give him a chance, Quinn. I never thought a guy like Chief would ever look twice at m-me. And I’ve never been happier.”
“You’d be happier if you got him in bed,” Autumn said dryly from behind her.
Sophie rolled her eyes at Quinn and got a smile in return.
“Since I’m the shy one and never suggest it…I think we all need to go out and have a few drinks at The Sloppy Cow tonight. Soph’s been busy lately on the weekends with Chief. Autumn, I guess you’re home petting your four hundred and thirty-three cats, ’cause that’s what crazy cat ladies do, and Quinn is home pretending a hot, hunky fireman isn’t texting her. We need a women’s night out.”
“It’s M-Monday,” Sophie informed her.
“So?”
“Yeah, so?” Autumn echoed. “Let’s do it.”
“But we have to work tomorrow,” Quinn protested.
“Whatever. I’m not sayin’ we’ll get so drunk we’ll forget our names. Just a drink or two. And girl-bonding. What do you say?” Tory asked.
“I’m in,” Autumn said immediately.
Sophie looked at Quinn and shrugged. She got one in return and they both said, “Sure.”
“Yay!” Tory exclaimed. “Five-thirty at The Sloppy Cow. It’s a date!”
* * *
Sophie hugged her knees to her chest and leaned against the brick wall behind her.
“You didn’t need to bring more blankets,” Tadd told her. “You’ve already brought me enough to start my own hotel or something.”
Sophie smiled over at the homeless man and reached out to pet Charlie, who was sitting between them. The Australian Shepherd had his head on his master’s knee and was snoring slightly.
Mark had sat with them for a while, but had gotten bored and gone back inside the hospital.
“It’s chilly at night.” Sophie told Tadd something he probably knew better than she did. “I worry about you and everyone else.”
“Frank and Sam are good to go,” Tadd told her, referring to two other homeless men she’d met. “And Blythe told me to tell you thank you.”
“S-She doing okay?” Sophie asked.
Tadd shrugged. “As well as anyone can be in our situation. But I’ll tell you somethin’…she’s not like us.”
“What do you m-mean?” Sophie lowered her legs and turned so she was sitting with her legs crossed, facing Tadd.
“I don’t know her story, but she reminds me a lot of you.”
“M-Me?”
“Yeah. Like, if you suddenly had no place to live and no money. She’s simply not cynical enough to be living out here with us. She’s…vulnerable.”
“What can I do?” Sophie asked immediately.
“Nothing.”
“But—”
“Look,” Tadd interrupted. “I know you want to save us all, but you can’t. Some things you just can’t fix. I’m watchin’ out for her. You know I got her back.”
“If s-she’s in trouble, will you tell m-me? M-Maybe I can get Chief to help.”
Tadd smiled at the mention of Chief. “Now that’s a good man. You did good there, girl.”
“Now you s-sound like Autumn.”
Tadd knew about her friends who worked at the lab because she talked about them all the time. Every now and then, her friends would grab lunch and bring it down to give to Tadd or some of the other homeless men and women who hung around the hospital.
“You hear any more about when the city’s gonna knock down our home?”
Sophie’s smile died. “No. But you know how s-slow things happen. I’m trying to push for them to get you guys all relocated before it does, but no one s-seems to care.”
Tadd shrugged. “Won’t be the first time we’ve had to bug out and change homes.”
“I wish you’d at least consider going down to the s-shelter,” Sophie complained for what she knew was the thousandth time.
Tadd simply smiled at her with his toothless grin.
“I know, I know. You don’t like the kinds of people who hang out there.” Sophie recited the excuse he’d given her every time she’d brought it up.
“We’ll be fine,” Tadd soothed. “People like me, Frank, Sam, and my Louise, we’re survivors. They’ll knock down this hunk of concrete and sticks and we’ll simply find another to occupy.”
“I’m gonna m-miss you,” Sophie whispered, looking down at her lap. “Who am I gonna buy coffee and pastries for when you’re gone?”
“Soph,” Tadd said, emotion clear in his tone. “I have no doubt you’ll find someone else to take under your wing. It’s what you do. What you were placed on this earth to do. But how about this? I promise to come back and see ya now and then.”
“You will?” Sophie asked, looking into the older man’s eyes.
“Promise.”
“Okay then.”
“Okay then,” Tadd echoed. “But for now, me ’n’ Charlie are still here. We’ll be here every day until they steal our house from us.”
“Then I’ll keep bringing coffee and s-snacks until you have to m-move,” Sophie told him, putting the last word in air quotes.
* * *
“How’s your day been?” Chief asked later that afternoon.
Sophie smiled as she walked toward her car with her phone to her ear. “Good. Yours?”
“Not too bad. I’m ready for this three-day shift to be over though. I’ve missed you.”
Sophie felt her heart melt. “I m-miss you too.”
“I won’t get home until late tonight, so seeing each other might not work out. But what about tomorrow? Dinne
r?”
“You can call when you get home,” Sophie told him.
“Soph, it’s gonna be like two in the morning when I leave the station. Later if we get a last minute call.”
“I don’t care,” she said softly.
“How about this?” Chief said. “I’ll call in a couple of hours if I can. We can talk for a while. Then when I get home, I’ll shoot you a text.”
“I’m going out with the girls tonight,” Sophie informed him.
“You are? It’s Monday.”
She giggled. “I know. That’s what I s-said too. It’s just been a while s-since we’ve gotten together, and after talking this m-morning, we all decided it’s been too long. We aren’t going to s-stay out too late. Just a drink or two.”
“Sounds like fun. You’ll be safe?”
Sophie felt the butterflies in her stomach flutter. They seemed to always take flight when Chief did or said something sweet. “Yeah. I don’t expect to drink that m-much, but if I do, I’ll take a cab or Uber home.”
“Good. I’ll take you to get your car tomorrow if need be.”
“Thanks. That’d be great.”
“Right. So how about this. You call me when you get home tonight. That way I won’t interrupt your girl time.”
“S-Sounds good.”
“Be careful and I’ll talk to you later,” Chief said.
“Okay. Later.”
“Ayóó ánííníshní, Sophie.”
“Ah yo, Ah knee nesh yay,” Sophie returned. She made a mental note to look up what endearment that was in Navajo. Chief said it every now and then. Not each time they spoke, and not even every time they saw each other, but enough that she craved hearing the beautiful words spoken from his lips. She knew she probably butchered the foreign-sounding words, but he never criticized her attempts. In fact, he’d told her he was honored she even attempted to use his language.
She hung up the phone and sat for a long moment in her car, soaking in the good feelings speaking with Chief always left in her. He was a good man. She didn’t know why she hadn’t pushed to further their physical relationship, except the speed they were moving felt right. She wanted him to make love with her, but she didn’t feel as though he was holding back for any weird reason. It was as if they were both content with getting to know each other inside and out before moving forward.