“But in all seriousness Will is looking way better. How did you get him to agree to eat?”
Will who had been looking less cranky scowled again as I laughed.
“I threatened him with a skillet. Eat and walk with me or be banged in the head. I didn’t mean it, but he didn’t know that. He didn’t talk to me for almost a week, but he did eat and walk.”
“I wouldn’t need threatening. You cook really well.”
“Thanks.”
Will grabs the binder out of Tommy’s hand and glares at him.
“It’s not that I don’t like her food…”
“Just her company?”
“No I don’t hate that either. You know me when I work I’m forgetful. She is to. She sets alarms to remind herself to get up and cook when she’s writing.”
“At least she has alarms and listens to them. She doesn’t look on the verge of death.”
“He doesn’t anymore either. He’s still too skinny, but we are slowly putting meat on his bones. And making him build muscle instead of fat by making him take evening walks with me every day. Except when it rains or in winter if it gets freeing ass cold, I don’t do cold.”
“It’s good for him. He might live to see thirty now.”
“That’s still only six years until he dies.”
I sigh dramatically, jump off the bed and hug Will.
“I hope not if he dies in my care that can’t be good for my resume. If I can’t nanny an adult it doesn’t look good for me on the whole kids debate. Like as in should I ever have them or not.”
Everyone laughs and starts to shuffle out. Even Tommy jumps off the bed and heads back toward the leftovers. I think next time I need to make more. I let go of poor Will and go to the door but I don’t leave just yet.
“Will you don’t have to hide things because you are embarrassed. You pointed out last night embarrassing habits I have like the talking while I read thing.”
“Sorry I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
I hold up my hands to shush him.
“That’s not what I meant. I meant you don’t have to be embarrassed. I do crazy things in front of you, feel free to be nuts around me in return. I mean I threatened my employer with a skillet; my idea of weird is not like most peoples. If you want to go through all that stuff sometime we can find room for the important stuff and carefully pack up the rest. I would hate for something important to get ruined under there. That and who knows how long before bugs are there.”
He nods while blushing.
“Thanks.”
I smile and leave the room. So I next time I need more pizza and more bacon and eggs, but overall it was a successful first integration of me into their lives.
Thus my life fell into a pattern. Going to the Y and making friends with the people there, hanging out with Will for meals, evening walks, and Friday nights with the guys. I had plenty of time to write and still made all my deadlines, but I was getting a life outside of my writing, for the first time ever.
Chapter Four
“Will you need out of the house. It’s been raining for a week and you haven’t come with me to the gym to make up for the not walking. We are trying to build muscle not make you a piggy. Come on I need out of this house and you should get fresh air. Shopping will be fun.”
“Have you ever known a guy that likes shopping?”
I sigh. Since Saturday when the guys left it had been raining almost nonstop. It is now Thursday and it is finally sunny and warm. Will had worked on Saturday after the guys left and hadn’t taken Sunday off either since it has been so crummy. Bobbi had car trouble so I have been cooped up. I am going insane and if Will doesn’t agree to go out so I won’t go insane I am dragging him down with me.
“If I stay in this house one more day I will lose my mind.”
He continues typing something into the computer he is looking at. It looks like secret code to me. Is he doing coding for the government or something?
“So go out, you don’t have to stay. Just show me where leftovers are for lunch.”
“Come with me and I will buy you lunch. Please.”
How he can stand my whining while working I don’t know. I would have already agreed. Anyone being as annoying as me really wants company. Will isn’t quite as people smart as I am. Computers no problem, people …well he has a big duh spot in his brain where social etiquette is suppose to be.
“I’m working.”
“I know. You haven’t stopped since Saturday. It’s been almost a week straight. You aren’t even coming out to eat anymore, just eating in here and leaving dirty dishes piled by the door for me.”
“I’m eating everything you give me and we haven’t walked because of the weather. I can’t control the weather.”
“If you could you’d make it sunny all the time so you wouldn’t have to see me at all!”
I grab his breakfast dishes and dump them in the kitchen sink. Men. I am so bored and he and Bobbi are the only people I have met more than once really. Bobbi is stranded without a car, if he lived around here I could have hung out with him, but he doesn’t. So that left Will who ia annoying the hell out of me right now.
I grab my purse, a hoodie in case it starts to rain again, and stuff my feet in my shoes. I make sure I have my keys and leave. Fine, I’ll go out alone. It seems I don’t have much choice unless I want to ignore the call of the sun, and since it hasn’t made an appearance in almost a week I refuse to stay inside. Will can starve. If he needs to have leftovers pointed out to him he is an idiot. A helpless idiot.
I’m walking through the stores and find this cute shop. It has a lot of really sexy stuff. Not that I really think I will need it, my divorce is well underway and will be finalized as soon as it is approved by the courts, but still who am I going to dress up for?
There is a dress that is a dark blue and sparkly. It is like a painting I’d seen once and I love on site. It will touch the floor if I ware it with heels. It is gorgeous. Also, a really nice skirt that is simple and cute. It will be knee length which I never ware. I find a cute top to go with it.
I take everything into the dressing room and try them on, coming out to look at myself in the mirror. The skirt and shirt are nice and I decide to definitely get them. The dress. Well it is stunning but where would I ever wear it?
“That dress is amazing. You should get it.”
I look over to see a woman watching me standing in front of the mirrors trying to make sure my butt didn’t look huge. I blush.
“Thanks. But I have nowhere to wear it and no one to wear it for.”
She shrugs.
“Not now, but I’m sure you will someday.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“Oh, I’m not being nice. It’s just, look at you. You are the type of girl guys like.”
I laugh.
“Well that’s very nice of you to say, but I could be a harpy, you never know.”
“A harpy would assume she’s hot and wouldn’t need the mirror.”
I can’t help but laugh and nod.
“I have met a few of those.”
She smiles and pulls some leather pants off the rack.
“Here, try these on too. I’m getting a pair. We can be twins.”
I look her over. She is about three inches shorter than me, small boned, very petite. She has blonde hair and green eyes. With eyes like that she could get any guys attention easily too. I tell her so and she shrugs and laughs.
“Guys don’t look at eyes, they look at boobs and I’m flat in that department.”
I reach for the pants and try them on with the halter top I found. I don’t normally go for halters, but it is a new life and a new me. Maybe I could use some diversity.
“See they look even better on you than me. Of course your ass isn’t as flat as mine.”
I laugh. “I’m sure they look fine on you to.”
“Let’s find out. How about we spend the rest of the day hanging out and making sure we ca
n be friends. Then this Friday we can go out. I know this hot new club. It’s a secret from anyone over thirty. So we are sure to pick up a young hot guy or two.”
I thought about it. If we spent all day in public places it could work. I am looking to make friends and she is funny.
“Why not. Let me get dressed and pay for all of this and we can go hang out. I’m Trisha by the way.”
“I’m Cindy and lunch is on me.”
Wow a new friend and a free lunch.
By the end of the day I don’t want to go home, but I explain that I have to because I need to cook Will dinner. We agree to meet again tomorrow at the Y. She is going to join my yoga class. Apparently she lives around us and she goes to the Y too, she usually goes to the afternoon classes though.
I am excited to have a new friend. I walk into the house humming and swinging my bags. I got two new dresses, leather pants which Cindy talked me into buying and wearing out to a club this Friday, a new skirt, and cute new high heels that are very versatile and can be worn with anything I bought. Also, some new hoop earrings. Cindy and I will indeed match as she has the same heels, earrings, and pants. Her top is different. But just as revealing as mine.
“You look to be in a better mood.”
“I am thank you. By the way I’m going to be ordering everything for Friday night early, but I will have them deliver it at the same time as always. So you will need to set everything up. The ice, pizzas, and what not. I will leave the plates and chips all out so everything is easy to find.”
His eyebrows rise as he sits down on a stool in front of the island. I pull out the pork chops I am making for dinner and put together the shake and bake seasoning.
“You aren’t going to be here?”
“Nope. And I won’t be up for breakfast so you will have to fend for yourselves. I promise to be quiet when I come in.”
“Where are you going?”
“Out with a friend.”
He sits and waits for more information. I don’t have to give it to him. Although I’m not mad at him anymore, I don’t really care if he wants all the information or not. He said it would be okay if I occasionally went out with friends for the night. I can just pre-cook and he will have no reason to complain. Maybe if I mention that he will go back to ignoring me. Normally I like hanging out with him, but I’m trying to think of how to handle getting everything ready before going out. He is distracting me.
“Look, I will leave some bacon and sausage and pancakes pre-cooked so you only have to reheat. That way if I’m not back for breakfast it’s not an issue. Just go easy, I can only fit so many leftovers in that fridge so I can’t make as much as usual.”
“You plan to be out all night?”
I nod. “The club closes at 2 am and we plan to be there from open til close. I guess if we get to tired we might crash early. Don’t worry I will crash at their place and not bring them here.”
“Does this friend have a name?”
I nod. “Yes.”
How nosey. He is my employer not my boyfriend I don’t have to run things by him. I will still clean Saturday once I wake up and he said himself I could do as I please as long as the place is clean and he still gets fed.
“We just met today while I was out shopping. I think I looked rather lonely and pathetic by myself and we started talking when I was trying on a dress. We are going out Friday.”
“You are going on a date with someone you just met today?”
I roll my eyes and shrug.
“I wouldn’t call it a date. I don’t date girls.” I can’t help but laugh. He is being so churlish.
“Oh. Well a girl is better I guess.”
I shrug. “She said guys would notice us more if I was there. She’s barely over five feet three inches and she’s hoping my height will bring more of them to us.”
“I don’t think picking up strange guys is a good idea. There are some big weirdoes out there.”
“I’ll be fine. And like I said I’m not bringing anyone back here. I will still clean up Saturday once everyone leaves and makes sure you are fed. I’m not going to shirk my duties.”
“It’s not about that.”
I shrug. “I’m just saying Will. Look, you didn’t want to hang out today so I made a new friend. It’s not a big deal. I’m just not the type of person that can sit around and do nothing all the time.”
“I wasn’t doing nothing I was working.”
“I know. I didn’t say anything about you. I’m just saying I need to be around people. Bobbi is having car problems and you were working. Alice goes to morning yoga, but she works afternoon and evening shifts. I’m finding stuff to fill my time when I’m not writing.”
“Just be careful okay.”
“I will.”
I pop the pork chops in the oven and poke holes in the potatoes and set them in the oven on the top rack.
“Dinner should be ready on time. You don’t have to stay out here until then. I will come get you when it’s done.”
I grab my bags off of the couch and take them into my room.
I unpack the clothes and remove the tags. I get the skirt and pants put away when Will comes in. I am trying to figure out how to put a halter on a coat hanger when he knocks.
“What’s up? I promise I’m not going to let dinner burn.”
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry about earlier. It was a really important job. I had a deadline and I almost didn’t make it. I wasn’t trying to ignore you this past week. Or upset you.”
“It’s fine Will. I myself understand a few things about deadlines.”
He nods and sits on the foot of my bed. I give up and shove the top into a half empty drawer in the bureau. I grab the dresses and very carefully get the tags off. I put the knee length one on a hanger and in my closet.
“Is that what you bought?”
“That, a pair of pants, a skirt, the halter I couldn’t get on a hanger, a new pair of heels, earrings, and this.” I pulled out the shimmering blue dress. His eyes pop out.
“Yeah I know, it’s the most unrealistic thing ever. I don’t have anywhere to wear it, but Cindy said to go for it cuz I would one day. I hope so. I was thinking about signing up for dance classes at the Y. Learn to tango and waltz. I always thought it would be fun to learn. If they have a competition at the end maybe I could wear it.”
“You want to learn ballroom dancing?”
I nod and smile, hanging the dress up carefully. It cost a pretty penny and nothing is going to touch it, including my other clothes.
“My mom never put me through it as a kid so I’m not scarred for life.”
“My mom did.”
Will ballroom dancing…I can’t picture it. The more I try the more my brain hurts. I can picture him in a tuxedo though. He looks healthier now. He isn’t as pale, has meat on his bones, and he gained some muscle. His arms are still a bit skinny because Bobbi can’t convince him to lift weights because, according to him, sore arms would interfere with his work. At least his legs aren’t chicken legs anymore. He is starting to look normal. The guys congratulated me on getting him to eat when over last Friday. I have been here about three weeks and he looks so much better each week.
“It’s hard to picture you doing anything like that even as a kid.”
He shrugs. “I never cared for it.”
“Maybe you would like it more if you liked your partner and were doing it willing. I’ve heard that makes a load of difference. The teacher at the Y said to bring my own partner if I could because dancing with someone you don’t know or trust is unnerving and makes it harder to learn.”
He shrugs.
“Maybe.”
I sit on my bed and lounge against my pillows.
“Yeah, well if you like the person I think it would be romantic.”
“Why?”
“Oh just holding them close, doing a special dance just between the two of you. It’s like no one else in the world exists.”
“You are a romantic
at heart at you?”
He lies down next to me and stares over at my giddy self. He likely thinks I’m a nut.
“Yeah, what gave it away?”
“Probably all those novels you read with all the half-naked men on the cover. I don’t know how men can stand it.”
I laugh so hard I almost fell off the bed.
“That’s not the point of those books. I have never wanted to be with any of the lead characters in any of the books I read or write. Besides, if you read my romance novels you would see the guys aren’t like most of the others out there.”
“What makes them so different?”
“Well most heroes in romance novels these days are arrogant, manly men types that need to be taught about love. They are the ungettable get, that’s what they represent and girls are mostly after the kind of guy that no one else can tame.”
“Sounds appealing.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Yeah I don’t think so either. Who wants an arrogant ass that always gets his own way and makes you behave a certain way? I read them for one reason only.”
“Why?”
“Because no matter how manly the guy is they get brought to their knees by that one woman. They fall in love and are like every other guy.”
“So love conquers all huh? Such a romantic.”
I nod. “Yeah that’s me. But hey, you gotta believe in something in life or there’s no point. I figure love is a good one to believe in.”
We are silent a moment while I contemplate the chances of him thinking me a crazy woman. I figure they are pretty good, but I can’t tell. Will has one thing about him that stumps me. No matter how much I know about him he has one hell of a poker face. Sometimes his face will be contemplatively blank and you don’t have a clue what he is thinking. He wears that face now. Probably thinking about committing me to an institute, but hey, I’m not the only girl to think like this. I am just the only one brave or crazy enough to say it out loud.
“So what are your male leads like?”
“Generally more introverted, kind, shy, and a bit geeky since I relate to them better so I can write them better. I like normal people. No one can compete with someone superhuman. I want normal people falling in love with other normal people. So people believe it happens. So it’s realistic for girls that need something to hang on to until their Mr. Right comes along.”
His & Hers Page 4