Meg's Moment

by Amy Johnson

  “Jack?” Megan’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he turned to see her dressed in a pair of men’s boxers, a tank top, freshly showered, her hair a curly mess on her head. Her eyes burned through him like electricity full of innocence and…desire?

  He tried to speak but his mouth went dry. He cleared his throat. “Yeah?”

  “I’m uh kind of tired.” She hesitated. “I was uh wondering if you might uh lay down with me and hold me. I could kind of use some company right now.”

  Oh Mama! “Sure,” was all he could spit out. He was shocked and pleased and harder than a nine iron. She could have asked him to assassinate the president and he wouldn’t have thought twice. She walked up to him and took his hand, leading him to the stairs. Oh Mama, Oh Mama, Oh Mama!

  Up the stairs and into the bedroom. Oh Yeah!

  To the unmade king size bed. Holy Shit! And then reached in a dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of purple shorts with neon green flames on them and tossed them to him. “Those might be more comfortable than your jeans.” Whatever you say, babe! I’ll wear a tutu and cluck like a chicken if that gets you hot.

  He said, “Thanks” instead and dropped his jeans. Megan turned her back to give him privacy and he yanked those puppies up and was beside her in an instant. The shorts were so tight he looked like the Incredible Hulk shedding his skin but he didn’t care. She turned around and threw her head back in laughter.

  “What?” he asked as if he didn’t know. If anything they worked to his advantage putting his entire package on display like a buffet at IHOP. Now if Megan would only hop on him…

  Her laughter roared. “Nothing, it’s just…I mean…Let me put it this way. Mickey never did those shorts justice.”

  “Mickey?” Purple and Green flames. Flaming! Oh hell!

  “Yeah, those are Mickey’s. I uh borrowed them from him once and never returned them.” Jack’s eyes went ridiculously wide and he was staring at his crotch deciding he’d boldly gone where no other man should ever go. Into another man’s shorts. He looked at the window and waved.

  Megan followed his gaze, “Who are you waving at?”

  “My hard on. I think it just took a permanent vacation.” To his departing anatomy he said, “Nice knowing you big guy. Come back soon. You hear?”

  She laughed again, giving him that crooked smile and those sparkling eyes and he surrendered. So what if he was wearing a drag queen’s hand me down shorts that were so tight his boys couldn’t breathe with flames shooting down his crotch. Could have been worse. Could have been Mickey’s G-String.

  She lay on the bed and patted the quilt beside her. His soldier came back to full attention and he was beside her in two strides. He lay down beside her and she cuddled, nestling her head on his chest and he froze breathless. She grinned and took his hand and slipped it behind her neck and snuggled closer. His jaw locked.

  “Relax, Jack. I don’t bite,” she said, her breath warm against the cotton of his tee shirt.

  “I might,” he said once he caught his breath. He wrapped her tight in his arms and when she pressed closer, their legs intertwining, skin smoldering to the touch, he bit her on the ear lobe. Just a nibble, a teeny weeny taste. Then he silently recited the alphabet backwards to get some blood back in his brain.

  ***

  Megan woke up in Jack’s arms to the sound of a car alarm going off. Jack was wide awake, staring at the ceiling, either oblivious to the shrieking sound or just ignoring it. She looked at the clock and realized she’d gotten over two hours of much needed sleep after a night of fantasizing about Jack. And now he was here in her bed, warm, hard, and unbelievably sexy.

  The damn car alarm was still going off. What’s the point of having one if you’re just going to ignore it when it goes off like that and wakes the whole freaking neighborhood? What a moron. Whoever that car belonged to, they deserved for it to be stolen, with them stuffed in the trunk.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “Who is it?” Megan asked.

  “Me,” a loud deep voice bellowed. Jack tensed a bit. Ted?

  “Come in, you got some ‘splainin to do.” The door swung open and Mickey towered in the doorway, a cocky grin on his face. He nodded at Jack.

  “Magnum,” Mickey said, then to Megan he said, “Whose Jeep is that parked out front?”

  “It’s mine,” Jack said. “Why?”

  “It’s got a shovel sticking out the front window, babe. Didn’t you hear the alarm?” Yeah he’d heard it but he’d have had to leave the bed of a half naked woman to deal with it. The man had priorities. Jack stood quickly looking for his shoes. “Nice shorts. I used to have a pair just like them.” He shot Megan a look mixed with pride and a little you-go-girl.

  “They look better on him,” Megan pointed out.

  “Remember I got points for size,” Mickey reminded her then when he turned his attention back to Jack, “Does that truck come standard with a shovel or was that an add on?” Jack didn’t see the humor in it as he bolted to the door and down the stairs. Megan threw the sheet off and followed with Mickey right behind her.

  “So, how’d he score?” Mickey whispered.

  “He didn’t, we just cuddled.” Mickey frowned at the lack of juicy details. “But he kisses great. Oh, and he bit me.”

  “Where?”

  “The ear lobe.” She was flushed pink and smiling like she’d just had an orgasm that had required firefighters to hose her down. Mickey rolled his eyes.

  “Heteros are so boring,” he said.

  Once outside Jack disabled the alarm and removed the shovel. On the spade of the shovel, written in big, black letters were the words: Pay up or we shoot the dogs.

  “The Madrino’s?” Megan asked, feeling extremely guilty about Jack’s truck and fighting angry about those assholes threatening her dogs. Jack didn’t answer her but she knew she was right.

  “Those low down SOB’s. They touch my dogs and I swear to God I’ll kill them with my bare hands.” Megan was screaming and sobbing and Mickey put his arms around her as Jack took out his cell phone to call the cops. “What kind of person threatens innocent dogs? Why can’t they just kill Ted and get it over with? I could live with that, but not my pups.”

  “Don’t worry Meg, we’ll keep the pups safe,” Mickey said.

  “Oh my God, Granny! Where’s Granny? She must have been kidnapped otherwise she wouldn’t be missing the action.”

  “Granny’s fine. She went to the adult shop with Josie,” Mickey answered and the look on Megan’s face said she was clueless. She really had led a sheltered life. “The adult shop as in erotica, sex toys…”

  “I got it,” Megan said, reminding herself to strangle both Mickey and Josie in her spare time. They were seriously corrupting her grandma. Like that was possible.

  When Jack was off the phone Megan said, “Jack, I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the window. This is all my fault.” She covered her face with her hands and Jack took both of her hands in his and kissed the back of first one and then the other.

  “It’s not your fault, Meg. Don’t worry about it.” More kisses. “I have insurance to cover the window. I’m more worried about you and the dogs…,” He looked around then said, “…and your grandmother. Where is she?”

  “Porn shop,” Mickey reported and Jack shook his head stifling back laughter.

  “You think they’ll hurt my dogs?” Megan asked, “because if they do, I’ll…uh…well I’ll do something and it’ll make a marble up the butt look like a picnic.”

  Jack laughed. He was irresistible when he laughed. “We can take the dogs to Steve’s place until this is over.” Megan was shaking her head. “Or do you have any ideas? Your parents?”

  “They’re still avoiding me. Mom’s on Zoloft and Dad is probably glued to the set. It’s Sunday, football you know.”

  “Okay I’ll call Steve.”

  “No wait, Mickey can take them, right Mickey?”

  “Uh…”Mickey tried to protest but Megan cut
him off.

  “You got my granny kicked out of the nursing home and now I’m stuck with her so you are taking the dogs.” He opened his mouth to protest again and she put a finger to his chest and said, “You’re lucky you only have to put up with two sweet puppies. I’m stuck with Granny.”

  “Granny’s buying porn. I’ve got popcorn. I’d rather take her.”

  Megan and Mickey argued until Mickey finally caved and they went to get the pups along with all the doggie gear Mickey would need to care for them. As they were loading the pups the cops showed up to respond to Jack’s call.

  “Nice threads, Westin,” said a young cop named Weaver. Jack looked down at his flaming shorts, grinned at Megan and went back in the house to put on something a little more masculine.

  ***

  That afternoon Megan and Jack sat at the kitchen table dining on Dairy Queen. Granny was on her ‘date’ with Steve, where she was undoubtedly trying to molest him at the Bingo Hall. Mickey had taken the pups to his house and promised not to dye their coats hot pink. Spot had been fed and was now swimming fishy laps around his bowl. Josie had stayed to chat for a while after dropping Granny off. Seemed that she and the good doctor had been pretty hot and heavy the past couple days. She said his bedside manner was incredible. Since she said it with a lick of her lip Megan was pretty sure she didn’t mean medically. Nonetheless, Megan got the impression that Josie may have met her match. Hope Dr. Ross could keep up.

  Megan had finally talked to her mother and was assured that first thing in the morning her mom would scout out old folks homes for Granny. When Megan mentioned the brick and shovel incidents hoping to convince her mother that it wasn’t safe for Granny to be at Megan’s her mother simply laughed and told her to either quit making up stories or make up better stories next time. Megan finally gave up, figuring that if worst came to worse she could drink all granny’s moonshine while Granny chased the bad guys around with pliers.

  Ted was another bit of unfinished business. He’d stalked around the yard for a while then knocked on the door endlessly until he finally gave up and sped away in the U-Haul. He’d called and left message after message begging for forgiveness and wanting to come home. Megan finally disconnected the answering machine and unplugged the phone again. The house was now quiet.

  She took a bite of BBQ brisket and stared at Jack who was effectively stuffing his face directly across from her. He’d stopped by his place when they’d gone on the food run to grab an extra change of clothes, shower and shave. He looked delicious in his Semper Fi tee shirt and snug Jeans, his hair still damp, and his dimpled chin now smooth. If he were on the menu at Dairy Queen the place would be swarming with women all the time, each ordering a BBQ plate with a side of Jack for desert. That made Megan wonder why he was still single. What was wrong with him?

  “Jack.”

  “Mmmm?” he said through a mouthful of potato salad.

  “How come you’re not married?” Jack wiped his mouth on a napkin and took a long drink of his soda.

  “I’m not married because I’m divorced,” he said and Megan thought, No shit!

  “Yeah, I surmised that, but why did you get divorced and how come you’re not with someone now?” He frowned and sculpted his mound of potato salad into what looked like a volcano. “What I mean is, well you are so good looking and you seem to have great inner qualities. I’m just wondering why some woman hasn’t snatched you up yet.” He took a bite of the volcano.

  “Maybe I haven’t allowed myself to be snatched. I’m waiting for the right woman.”

  “But what if she never comes along? You just going to be alone?” Megan asked, wondering if there really is ‘a right one’ for anybody. She thought Ted was hers and look where that got her.

  “She already has.” He locked gazes with her and his eyes were full of a heat she’d never seen before. It was scary and downright sexy at the same time. She contemplated making herself an ice pack. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  She raised a brow and tried to hide her disappointment that he’d already picked out Ms. Right. “What do you mean she doesn’t know it yet? Have you told her?”

  “No,” he said pinning her in place with his eyes.

  “Then you have to tell her. If she’s the one, you can’t let her get away without at least telling her how you feel.”

  He frowned and rubbed his jaw. “It’s a long story.”

  Megan looked at her watch. “I’ve got plenty of time. Let’s hear it.”

  He hesitated, his eyes studying her face. “When I was fifteen I went to school one day and there she was, dressed in her cheerleading outfit, sucking down a milkshake, and laughing with her friends. She was like a fantasy; gorgeous, sweet, popular. But the thing was, she didn’t know it. She was shy and reserved and that only made her more desirable.” Jack paused and Megan thought what a putz. He was still pining over some cheerleading slut from high school. Loser.

  “The first time I saw her I knew she was the one,” he continued, “There she was leaning on a brick pillar, pom poms in hand. She tilted her head up, swung her long brown hair off her shoulder, and laughed at something someone said and then she looked directly at me with eyes bluer than the sky and smiled a sweet crooked smile and I melted on the spot. I’m talking total evaporation. It was love at first sight. I was toast.”

  Ok change that to mega loser. “So? Did you ever tell her? Ask her out?”

  Jack shook his head. “I wasn’t in her league. I was a scrawny dork. She dated jocks and the cool guys. She deserved someone better than me.” His eyes flashed something that looked a lot like hurt and Megan mentally changed his status back to just plain old loser. She took his hand and he flinched then relaxed into her grasp. Poor guy, she felt the same way in school. Josie was always the hot one and Megan was just the average, smart girl that everyone asked out after Josie shot them down. Not that Josie shot many of them down.

  “Jack, I can’t imagine you as scrawny. And even if you were, it was the other way around. If she couldn’t see beyond the packaging to what was inside, she didn’t deserve you.” He raised her hand to his mouth and lightly kissed her knuckles. “I’m telling you Jack, high school was awkward for everyone. Me for instance. I was totally invisible, completely average.” Jack tried to hide his surprise at that statement. She couldn’t possibly not know how beautiful she was and still is. “I hung out with Josie, so I just looked like the schoolie side kick. The straight A, honor society geek with no curves, and a best friend that looked like a walking Barbie Boll. If it weren’t for Josie no one would have ever even known I was alive. And even then I think they just dated me to try their chances at Josie. She was the real prize.”

  What, was she crazy? Jack laughed. “Megan, I appreciate the support, but I find it hard to believe you were anything but beautiful. You may not of known it but I’d bet the bank everyone else noticed.” I sure as hell did.

  “You’re sweet,” Megan said then changed the subject. “So what happened to this girl? Have you tried to find her?”

  “Last I heard she married some blockhead idiot who had no idea what he had and he broke her heart. I believe she’s divorcing him.” Megan took her hand back from Jack and felt her heart shrink in disappointment. Little Miss Pom Poms was back on the market and Jack was obviously still in love with her. He’d go after her and this bimbo would be a fool to let him get away. Megan forced a cheery smile.

  “Well that’s perfect, for you anyway. All you have to do is find her, win her heart, confess your love, and live happily ever after.” She tried to sound perky but her voice came out more like a robots. She didn’t want the cheerleader heart stealer to have happily ever after with Jack. She didn’t know if she wanted it either, but she sure didn’t want some shallow, stuck up snob to have him. He deserved better.

  “Lucky for you, you’re a private detective. Finding people is what you do.”

  I already found you. “Yeah lucky for me,” Jack said in a distant voice. After a mom
ent he took a swig of his tea, wiped his mouth and said, “Megan I need to talk to you.”

  At the same time she said, “I want to talk to you, Jack.”

  “Go ahead,” they both said in clumsy unison.

  Jack grinned and gestured for Megan to go ahead. She folded her hands together on the table, took a deep breath and began, “Jack, first I want to say thank you for everything you’ve done,” she gave a shy smile, “including dealing with Granny and putting up with my mother. I swear my dad is normal. Kind of. Anyway, you have been wonderful and I don’t know how I could possibly repay you.” I can think of a number of ways Jack thought, but decided to keep that quiet for now. “Also, I owe you a major apology.” Megan frowned and met his eyes, her eyes electric blue and full of sincerity and truth. “When I called you that day and uh asked you to help me locate those guys I, uh, well I had no right to blackmail you the way I did.” Jack nodded and smiled and Megan shook her head and continued. “I also have to apologize for thinking of you as a lowlife. I acted shallow and stupid and now that I’ve gotten to know you I see what a wonderful person you are and, well, I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. I wasn’t looking and I’m so sorry for misjudging you.” He took her hand, his eyes molten chocolate and burning a hole through her.

  “Megan, you don’t owe me any apologies.”

  She was shaking her head. “Yes, I do. I have been behaving like an idiot…”

  “Megan…”

  “- and I promise I’ll make it up to you...”okay, that sounded promising.

  “Megan, I’m the one…”

  “-because I really value our friendship.” Ouch! The f word. Not good. Not sure how to proceed, Jack simply nodded and said nothing. He had planned to tell her how she had been the girl that had stolen his heart so long ago and that she still held it but the whole friend thing shook him. He knew that they were a whole lot more than friends, or at least he hoped she didn’t swap tongues and share erotic cuddling with her other friends, but he wasn’t sure if she was dumping him—before she ever picked him up—or if she was too shy to pick him up, or if she was too confused to know what she wanted which was really frustrating the hell out of him. In fact his eyes were probably crossed as he tried to mull this over and figure out what he wanted to do.