by Alta Hensley
I tried my best to smile and laugh despite what his girlfriend had just said. Sara quickly put on her fake smile and her fake sweetness. She leaned in and kissed Caine right on the mouth, slightly nipping at his lip. She pressed her large breasts against him, slid her hands down until they grabbed his ass and leaned over to his ear and whispered loud enough so I could hear.
“Hmmm Caine, you get me so hot seeing you carry all those big boxes. Let’s go to our room and let me show you how hot I am.”
I almost laughed out loud at Caine’s expression. Obviously he picked up on the fact that Sara was clearly marking her territory, like a dog pissing on a hydrant. He simply patted her back, gave her a kiss on her forehead and turned to me.
“So Neely, how does a barbeque sound? Coley is coming over in an hour so I thought we could cook out, drink wine and relax in the hot tub. How does that sound as a welcome back?”
I smiled despite the fact that I could see Sara seething, “That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait. What can I do to help?”
Caine began to turn out of the room and said, “Not a thing. I’m going to get the rest of your things so you can start to unpack and make yourself at home. You’ve had a long drive, and I’m sure you need to rest a bit.” As I began to open my mouth to protest, Caine put his hand in the air to stop me and sternly stated, “Not a request. Just settle in Neely girl.” He then turned away to get the rest of my stuff.
Sara waited until he left and glared at me.
“Just so you know Neely, if he had to choose between me and you, he would choose me in a second. So don’t push me to make him make that decision.” She then put on her flawless phony smile with her nauseating sweet voice and said, “Towels are under the sink if you need them,” and then she left.
I took a deep breath to calm down. What a bitch! What could Caine possibly see in that girl? It was eerie how she could go from ideal Stepford Wife to total killer lunatic within seconds. Without a doubt, I knew I needed to play nice. I didn’t want Caine to be put in an uncomfortable situation, or feel like he had to play referee. My hope of becoming friends with Sara now seemed hopeless, but I would at least try, or at the very least, I could fake it.
I looked around the room again to take the time to see all the little details which were put in place. It was obvious Caine wanted to make sure I was comfortable and felt protected. My bed had a gorgeous quilt folded over the end in case I got cold, the window had a special lock which had to be installed, but what really took my breath away was what was on the nightstands and dresser. In silver antique frames were different pictures of Caine, Coley, and me. There were pictures of us all laughing and goofing around, and there were pictures that touched my heart. One frame in particular was a picture of Coley and I posing for our prom picture. I couldn’t believe Caine took the time to dig up these old pictures. I didn’t even have a picture of my prom night. In fact, I didn’t really have any pictures left. I was so engrossed gazing at the pictures that I didn’t hear Caine come into the room. He walked over and put his arm around my shoulders.
“I thought you might like these.”
“Caine, I can’t believe how beautiful this room is! You didn’t need to do all of this. You have to at least let me pay you back for the furniture and…”
Caine quickly cut me off. “You’ve had a rough time lately, and it is about time someone does something nice for you. Besides, it was fun getting the room ready. I’ve been so excited to have you here.”
I lifted my head to look into Caine’s warm brown eyes, and stood on my tip toes so I could kiss his cheek. “Caine, I have never had someone care so much about me, or make me feel like everything is going to be all right.”
Caine lifted my chin so I was looking into his eyes again. “Neely, I promise you that from now on, things are going to improve for both of us. No more heartache, no more bastard ex-husband. You have a new job, a new home, and a new start on life. I needed this just as much as you. Lately, I’ve felt like I’ve been missing something, like my past was disappearing. Having you return brings that all back. I need you here, too.”
I turned into Caine’s chest and took in his scent. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer. I didn’t want to pull away. I wanted to stay this way, in his arms, forever. Tears were beginning to burn the back of my eyes, and I was doing everything I could to hold them back. Caine stroked his hand down my hair gently. The simple gesture of affection caused the tears to finally flow. I just needed to release all the pain and anger I had built over the past few years. Caine just held me and continued to stroke my hair. Caine didn’t say anything, he didn’t try to find the right words, he just let me cry and let me be with my emotions. He held me like he did during the days after my mother died. Giving me the silent comfort I so desperately needed. Even after I stopped crying he continued to hold me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had hope. Caine slowly pulled away and smiled so big, laugh lines formed around his eyes.
“I don’t like it when you cry, Neely,” Caine stated as he wiped away the tears from my eyes.
“I know. I’m sorry,” I sniffed.
Caine placed his calloused hands on each side of my face and slowly kissed my forehead. His lips were like fire on my skin and electricity shot through me. I wasn’t sure if I should press my body closer, begging for more. Or run to the other side of the room before I embarrassed myself. Before I could really grasp everything that was going through me, Caine gave me another big ‘brotherly’ bear hug and spun me around in a circle. With one quick move, Caine was able to reestablish our comfortable and platonic relationship. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that the closeness had come to an end.
“Neely, I want you to be happy here. I’m glad you’re back, and this is gonna be a blast. Just like old times. Now start unpacking, and meet me on the back porch with drink in hand! We got a barbeque to get ready!”
Chapter Three
“NEELY where are YOU! NEELY?”
I knew right away my best friend had just walked in the door. Before I could even turn to find her, Coley came charging out onto the back porch and wrapped her arms around me. Her curly hair was haphazardly pulled up, reminding me of her casual bohemian style. The long skirt she wore seemed so feminine and yet so chic. I envied her relaxed style that always seemed so free.
“I’ve missed you so much! I can’t believe you’re back for good!” Coley squealed without letting loose in the slightest.
I laughed and barely could squeeze out, “Me? What about you, little miss world traveler?”
Coley pulled back and shook her head. “Nope, I’m staying. I can write anywhere, and now that I have my most favorite two people under one roof, I have no desire to leave. Maybe I should move in too.” She turned and winked at Caine.
Caine paused flipping the steaks and walked over to give his sister a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Not on your life sis. I would have to kick your ass every night and tie you to your bed to keep you out of trouble. You’d send me to an early grave. I remember those days of living together, and my old ticker can’t take it.”
Coley laughed and pushed Caine in the shoulder. “You always were an old fuddy duddy. I can’t help that I live life.” She then looked back at me. “You better be careful Neely, he likes to play boss all caveman style. You don’t know what you got yourself into.”
Caine grunted and banged his chest with his fists. “Me Man, you Woman, go get my beer!”
Everyone was laughing as Sara came out on the porch. She looked quickly at Coley and then went to Caine who was back flipping the steaks. She began to rub her hands on his back and placed little kisses on his neck. He turned to her and gave her a quick kiss on her lips, then went back to cooking. She wasn’t satisfied with a simple kiss, so she began to lower her hands inch by inch down his pants. Her tiny hands raised his shirt slightly and pushed down the top of his boxers. Revealed was the small patch of hair leading down to his groin. I could see the bottom ripp
le of his six pack abs. I waited anxiously for her to lower his pants even further. Caine quickly grabbed her hands and gave her a warning look. Sara gave a little pout and began to caress his back again.
Coley snapped me out of my yearning stare when she whispered, “She’s a little bitch, you know. I swear she is so insecure in that relationship. I can’t really blame her though. She’s just another notch on my brother’s belt, and she knows it.”
I turned to her and grinned. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so. She actually threatened me to watch myself or she could make Caine kick me out.”
“Yeah like that could happen. Whatever. She’s here for right now, but he’ll soon get bored and move on to another pretty face. It’s what he does. He moves them in quickly to play house and then he kicks them out just as quickly. I hope you’re all right with seeing a new face every couple of months.” She let out an evil sounding laugh. “Or more like hearing a different moan or scream at night.”
I looked back at Sara trying her best to molest Caine and murmured, “Don’t remind me. I think I may have to get ear plugs for the night. There isn’t much wall between our two beds.”
Coley laughed out loud and hugged me again. “Come on. Let’s get a drink for us and my caveman brother, Caine.”
We walked into the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine and grabbed a beer for Caine when Sara pranced in.
“Oh I got it. I can bring Caine the beer.” She quickly snatched it out of Coley’s hand and then with the syrupy voice again said, “Coley, it is so nice to see you again. It seems as if you’ve lost weight since the last time I saw you. You must share your secret.” Sara smiled and quickly returned to Caine with beer in hand.
Coley murmured, “I really hate that girl. I just want to knock out those wonderfully fake whitened teeth right out of her mouth.”
I laughed, “Hey be nice. This is my new roommate you’re speaking about. Could her teeth be any whiter? How in the hell does she get them like that?”
Coley shrugged, “I don’t know… white-out?”
We were laughing so hard and mimicking her phony voice when Caine yelled for us to come outside and keep him company. Apparently the accommodating Sara, rubbing her boobs all over him, wasn’t enough.
“Oh before I forget. I made plans for us to meet up with Kendall and Rebecca tomorrow night for drinks. You don’t start work until Monday right?” Coley mentioned as we were walking to the back porch.
I smiled. “That sounds great! I haven’t seen either of them in a really long time. It’ll be great to catch up. And yup, Monday morning is the first day of my new job.”
Caine took the steaks off the barbeque and put them on the patio table which was already set up for dinner and turned to us.
“Let’s eat!”
We spent most of the meal laughing and telling stories of what we had all been up to lately. It was a perfect evening to be sitting outside enjoying a meal, a good glass of wine and my best friends, minus the crazy who sat glaring for most of the evening.
Finally, Sara spoke up in her falsetto voice that I was beginning to hate. “So Neely, why did you leave your husband? Or did he leave you?”
Caine’s eyes shot daggers at Sara, and he slammed down his beer on the table. “Sara! That is none of your damn business! She doesn’t want to talk about it! And that was rude to…”
I interrupted with, “It’s fine Caine.” I didn’t know why I was trying to help Sara.
“I left my husband because I wasn’t in love with him. I wasn’t attracted to him. I didn’t respect him. In short, I detested being in the same room with the man. Everything about him was… weak.”
I took a second to take a sip of wine.
“But mostly I hated how I acted when I was around him. I was mean, cruel, and I purposefully would say things to hurt him. He’d cry like a baby, which made me hate him more. I was awful towards him.”
I looked down at the table and sighed. “I didn’t like who I was becoming so I needed to get out.”
Everyone sat at the table in silence for a moment. Caine looked fiercely at Sara, and Sara refused to look in his direction. I looked at Caine and was happy I wasn’t on the receiving end of his glare. He looked pissed. He obviously saw what Sara was trying to do. I was happy he wasn’t blind to her manipulation.
Coley clapped her hands and stated, “That’s because you don’t need a boy. You need a man! And tomorrow night my, dear friend, we’re going to hunt until we find one.”
I laughed with Coley and hoped it would be as easy as that. But Coley was right about one thing; I wasn’t interested in anyone who wasn’t strong enough to handle me. I didn’t want a weak minded ‘yes’ man. I was looking for a real man.
Sara cleared her throat and spoke again. “Well if you were so awful and cruel to him, then why wouldn’t you work on yourself rather than divorce?”
“Sara, that’s enough!” Caine warned.
Sara refused to look at Caine. “I’m just saying, that it sounds like you were the problem. So who is to say that you wouldn’t treat another man the same way? How are you going to change your behavior?” She paused long enough to look into Caine’s angry eyes and started to squirm in her chair. “I hope I didn’t insult you, I was just trying to help,” she added for Caine’s sake rather than mine.
“Sara, this is something you know nothing about,” Coley inserted obviously holding back her anger.
Sara smiled sweetly at Coley. “Well in my opinion…”
Caine shoved back his chair and stood up. He grabbed Sara by the arm and leaned down to whisper, “Up now! You and I need to have a talk.”
Sara sighed and stood up with the upmost grace. She allowed Caine to lead her into the house and down the hall to their room.
I turned to Coley who was obviously angry. “Wow, was she for real? Amazing how she can insult someone without even losing her smile.”
Coley took a sip of her wine. “I’m sorry, Neely. Don’t let what she said get to you.”
“I won’t.”
But truthfully, what she said hurt. Sara only stated what I had been battling with for a while. How do I know I wouldn’t be uncaring and hurtful to whomever I dated? I disliked Sara immensely, but her questions rang true. Why did I act the way I did? And was it really realistic to think divorce would change the way I behaved?
As if Coley was reading my mind, she reached for my hand and squeezed gently. “Hey, you are a wonderful person, Neely. The past is the past, and it’s time to move on. Learn from your mistakes, but don’t think you’re doomed to repeat them. And don’t let that bitch succeed in her mind games, all right?”
I nodded and smiled. “Thanks Coley. You’re always able to cheer me up.” I looked back to the house. “Where did they go? Do you think they’re fighting?” I paused to see if I could hear any shouting.
Coley shrugged and avoided making eye contact. “I’m sure they’ll be out soon, and Sara will be a whole new person.”
“Yeah right. Sara can act like a new person, but deep down she’ll always be a loon,” I laughed.
Coley smiled. “Let’s get our swim suits on and relax in the hot tub. I’m sure they’ll be out to join us soon.”
Moments later, Coley and I were drinking our wine and enjoying the comfort of the hot tub. I was listening to Coley describe Prague and all her romantic adventures. She was in the middle of describing a sexual encounter when she shut her mouth mid sentence. I looked over my shoulder to see Caine and Sara standing with suits on and a bottle of wine. Both of them seemed like all was forgotten. There was no anger, or sulking, or even a sign that they were fighting. In fact, Sara seemed calmer, and more at ease. She looked like a model in her revealing bikini. I couldn’t help but feel gigantic compared to her. My insecurities were quickly replaced with pure lust. Caine was absolutely stunning standing before us. He was tan, and muscular, and just plain delicious. Had I not noticed this before? I felt a shiver work its way between my legs. I couldn’t hel
p but look at his firm biceps and imagine them around me. I took a sip of my wine and somehow managed to look at the glass. It had to be the wine…the wine and the fact that it had been a long time since I last had sex. It had to be that.
Caine raised an eyebrow at Coley. “Are we interrupting something?”
Coley blushed. “No. It’s about time you two joined us.”
They both climbed in, and Caine took the bottle of wine and refilled all of our glasses. His leg brushed mine under the water, and I felt my heart stutter. I tried my best to look at my surroundings and ignore the fact that I suddenly wanted to straddle his lap. My mouth felt dry, and the lump forming in the back of my throat was growing larger by the minute.
Caine was absolutely gorgeous! When did this happen? I closed my eyes and took a long steady breath to regain my composure. We all sat in silence for a few moments before Caine broke the silence.
“Now this is Heaven! I have my favorite women all around me,” he exclaimed as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back.
In the corner of my eye I caught Sara’s expression change from relaxed to anger. She obviously didn’t like being categorized in the same company as Coley and me. She crossed her arms and glared in my direction. Most likely because of the wine, I had the courage to confront her, rather than ignore, like I had been doing all night long.
“Is something on your mind, Sara?” I asked.
She sat up straight as if she was preparing herself for battle. “Not really.”
I decided to press on. “Are you sure? You’re staring at me like you want to say something.”
Sara moved herself closer to Caine’s side. She snuggled herself under his arm. Oddly making me feel jealous. “I was just wondering what it felt like not to have any family.”
“Excuse me?” I asked in disbelief.
Was this girl for real? How could a simple statement, delivered so sweetly, feel like a knife to my heart? I was struggling to find a response but was stopped short by Coley and Caine.