Hot Tea

by Sheila Horgan

  I smiled, “I’m starting to get a few. Ideas.”

  His eyebrows danced and then he disappeared back into the kitchen.

  I could hear glasses being taken out of the cupboard, then things clanging around as if someone that actually knew what they were doing was working in a kitchen.

  He soon brought me a nice cold Pepsi. When the potatoes were done, he drained and mashed them. He remembered the rolls but forgot the veggies, which is even better, because I didn’t have to eat the veggies to be polite. I hate veggies.

  He brought everything out to the coffee table and positioned the low table so that when I bent over to grab for things, it all seemed rather graceful and my stomach didn’t do that weird thing where I have 3 little rolls around my waist. That drives me crazy, even though I know it’s just a part of bending over.

  We were all settled and eating when we were able to continue our discussion. Unfortunately, he hadn’t lost his place in the conversation.

  “So, tell me, how can you look in a mirror and not know how impressive you are? You’re a smart woman Cara, you must know that men find you irresistible.”

  I laughed again. Probably a nervous reaction, but you could tell that AJ wasn’t pleased. He looked pained.

  “I’m sorry. I come from a big family. Everyone has their place. Teagan is the beauty. You’ve seen her, I saw the way you looked at her on that first date. I’m not sure what changed your mind, if in fact it has been changed, but you looked at her the same way all the other guys do. Besides, I heard you tell Suzi that if you had only known about Teagan you would have moved here sooner.”

  “What are you talking about? Should I be worried a blood clot has broken off in your foot and lodged in your brain? Where is all this coming from?”

  “That first date. When you took Teagan out to Brewster’s.”

  “Hold on a minute. I didn’t take Teagan out to Brewster’s, I invited you both. And it wasn’t a date. And if it had been a date, I would have asked you, not your sister. And what was that whole thing about Suzi? When did you talk to Suzi?”

  “Ok, how about we do this one thing at a time. That first night you met Teagan, within seconds, you asked her to dinner.”

  “Fine, one point at a time. That first night I met Teagan, was also the first night I had free since moving into this apartment. What I wanted to do was ask you out, but then Teagan was here, and on top of that, how safe would you have felt if your new male roommate told you that he was having lewd and lascivious thoughts about you. Makes that little lock on your bedroom door seem flimsy, doesn’t it?”

  “Lewd and lascivious thoughts about me?” My brain kind of clicked over to another channel while monitoring the one I was on. Who says lewd and lascivious anymore? I use that phrase because Mom used it when I was a teen, but really, who else but an O’Flynn says lewd and lascivious. Was the man reading my mind? And if he was, then he was listening to the current argument and wondering if I was paying any attention at all. Back to the current conversation, I’d think about lewd and lascivious later. Guaranteed!

  I said to AJ. “But what about Teagan?”

  “Teagan is a very nice woman, and I’m sure that she is lovely in every way, but she has no interest in me, and I certainly have no interest in her. No disrespect to your sister, but she seems a little high maintenance. I’d be willing to bet she spends more on her hair in one month than I spend on mine in a year. I’d also be willing to bet that although she is dressed to thrill in public, she is a sweat pants and beer kind of girl.”

  “You’re good.”

  “You have no idea.” His eyebrows danced again. “I prefer a woman that saves her most feminine moments to share behind closed doors, not one that brandishes them in public.”

  “Damn, you are good.”

  “Again, you have no idea.” This time the dancing eyebrows were joined by a bit of a grin.

  “So what about you?”

  “What?”

  “Tell me about yourself. Suzi mentioned a bit here and there, but she said you are a very private person and wouldn’t appreciate her gossiping about you, so I really don’t know all that much.”

  “Suzi’s right. I am private. I’m also a little old fashioned. Scratch that. I’m very old fashioned. I believe that a friend is a person that has known you a long time, has earned the privilege of calling you friend. You know that saying, a buddy will bail you out of jail, a friend will be sitting in jail next to you. Something like that.”

  “I’m like that too. I always assumed it was a family thing. Teagan is my best friend. Even if she weren’t my sister, I’d still want to hang out with her. She has earned the title of sister and the privilege of best friend.”

  “I know. I like that.”

  “What else?”

  “I’m not sure what to say. I’m shy. I’m a moderate with conservative tendencies.”

  I burst out laughing. “I say the same thing. I’m not really political, but I’m conservative when it comes to things like spending money and family traditions. I’m pretty liberal when it comes to respect for other’s beliefs and tolerance and I’m a moderate in most everything else in life. All good things in moderation, right?”

  “All?”

  “Well, I’m sure there must be something out there that doesn’t follow that rule, but I haven’t found it yet.”

  “Maybe I can help you with that.”

  The man is quick. Probably a photography thing. Quick reflexes to get the perfect picture and all that.

  One second I was sitting there on the couch having a pleasant conversation and the next he was sitting on the couch right beside me, looking into my eyes with his great big green eyes looking all intense and sexy.

  He said in a voice I’d never heard before, “May I kiss you?”

  Really, who asks that any more? But it worked. Every single cell of my being screamed, yes, please, do that!!!

  Me, being the dink that I am prone to be, didn’t say anything; I just kind of leaned in for the good stuff. His thumb ran over my collarbone. He let his fingers wrap around the back of my neck. He kind of tilted my head down and kissed my forehead. Then my eyes. My cheekbones and moved toward my ear. Right when I thought he was going to go for my ear, and drive my crazy, he moved down to my jaw line, and got me most of the way to insane. He followed my neck down to my collarbone where he’d started with his thumb.

  The combination of anticipation and maybe a bit of confusion, since he wasn’t following the guy script, so I had no idea what he was going to do next, and, well, we will just say that the boy has skills. Anyway, he had my full attention.

  His hands, of course, had moved south. But instead of the regular trajectory that males follow, his thumb just wandered around where my ribs should meet boobage, if I had any.

  I’m sure Bernie could describe it better, her being the queen of erotica and everything, but the simple truth is, one second I was munching on really well prepared fried chicken, and the next AJ was munching on me. The AJ munching thing was better. I’m just sayin’.

  When next I was cognizant of myself and my surroundings, I was splayed on the couch, breathing a little heavier than is ladylike, with AJ kneeling next to the couch, smiling at me.

  Being the healthy all American girl that I am, I was about to spring up and pounce when AJ stood and pulled me up.

  Yay!

  I started toward my room, when he caught my hand, flicked me around, and started to dance with me again. We danced to a very long song, or maybe two short ones, since AJ was the only one that could actually hear the music playing in his head, I’m not sure.

  When the songs were over, he deposited me back on the couch, calmly walked into the kitchen and started clanging things around. Moments later, he came back to the living room with cookies on a plate, some ice cream in my grandmother’s sundae glasses, which I almost never use, and all the paraphernalia needed to prepare dessert, which, of course, includes a pot of tea.

  I argued with mysel
f for a moment or three, then decided, what’s the point? If AJ can’t deal with a woman prone to blurtation, then I’m the wrong girl for him anyway.

  So blurt I did, “Can I ask a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Is there a reason that you keep dancing with me, and get me 43 kinds of all hot and bothered, and then you smile and walk away? How come you keep walking away? Is it something I’m doing? Not doing? I don’t get it.”

  “43 kinds? I didn’t realize there were 43 kinds of hot and bothered. I can’t wait to learn each and every one of them.”

  “Cute. Care to answer the question?”

  “I keep walking away because if I don’t, things are going to go down a path I’m not ready to bring them down yet.”

  “Yet? So that means that you may choose, at some time in the future, to go down that path, but until then, I’m just supposed to hang out and wait for you to make your move?”

  “Well, that isn’t exactly the way I would phrase it, but the concept is similar.”

  “Is it really? Just how would you phrase it then?”

  “I would say that you are special. That you deserve to be courted, not just seduced. That with everything I am, I want to do both, but until I’ve done a proper job of the former, I’ll not allow myself to do the latter.”

  “Good answer.”

  “Cara, I’m not in a hurry because I intend to be around for a very long time. I have been thinking of moving out of the apartment though. I’m not sure you are safe just 15 feet down the hall from where I sleep. I’m not so sure I’m safe either.” He smiled his most brilliant smile.

  I admit. I was a little bit proud. I’m not sure which side of it I liked better, me not being safe because I’m irresistible, or him not being safe because I’m a little dangerous. Although, come to think of it, he’d been doing a fine job of resisting me so far.

  I chose not to think about that and said, “I don’t want you to move out. You just moved in. Besides, I thought you were on the road a lot. If you’re gone, I can’t be all that much of a temptation.”

  “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. You are a temptation local or long distance. Women like you are why men crossed the seas. Why war is waged. Why mountains are climbed. Why toenails are cut.”

  I burst out laughing. I love a man that can break the tension with a quick comment, knows when to break the tension and when to let it build, and do both with care.

  “Tell me Cara, how am I going to court you properly, if we are living in the same apartment?”

  “You’re assuming a lot. What if I choose not to be courted?”

  His face fell in on itself, “I… I’m not sure what to say. I just assumed you felt the same way I do.”

  “Well, what if I want to skip courting and go straight to seduction? Could that be arranged? Just how does that process work? Is there paperwork I need to fill out?”

  His smile lit up the room.

  “Sorry Beauty, that isn’t going to work. I won’t be seduced by your suggestion of my seducing you, but it was a great try.”

  “So, how exactly does this whole courting fantasy you have going in your head work?”

  “Well, one of the reasons that I thought I should move out is because I thought it would be nice to get to know your family. I know how important they are to you, and I know that your mother would not approve of us living in the same apartment while we date. Your father might kill me. And your sister will never let you live it down. Of course, all of that is just a guess, based on what Suzi has told me, but you have been a pretty constant subject of conversation between Suzi and me for a long time, so I’m pretty comfortable with it.”

  I smiled, “Sorry, you have the characters in this play a little confused. My mother is more likely to kill you. My father might not approve, but would never say anything, because he has a strong live-your-own-life policy. And Teagan would just be happy for me, besides, any and all drama that surrounds me, will keep the limelight off of her and Jessie, so it can only work to her advantage.”

  “I see. I’ll have to think about all of that. In the meantime, I’m going to straighten up the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”

  I didn’t say anything. For the first time in my life, I decided that I would just sit back and see what happens. I decided not to try to drive this particular boat. Or do you pilot a boat? And why a boat? Probably because it doesn’t really qualify as a runaway train. Yet. I should really go and get my psyche checked. Even I’m beginning to worry about the way my brain works. Why it wanders around like it does.

  We spent the rest of the evening watching movies and eating popcorn with way too much butter and even more salt, just the way we both like it.

  We cuddled on the couch, till the wee small hours. When I started to drift off, AJ escorted me to the door of my room, kissed me on the forehead, and said goodnight.

  It wasn’t until I’d taken my shower, put on my best smelly good stuff, and wedged myself between my cool crisp sheets that it dawned on me. As much as AJ had thrilled every cell in my body, he’d yet to kiss me on the lips. I rededicated myself to flossing more regularly, and fell asleep.

  EIGHTEEN

  I caught my phone on the second ring. It had to be Teagan because no one else would dare to call me so early in the morning. I about bit off her head, “I swear to God, Teagan, this had better be good, cause if it isn’t, I’m telling Mom exactly what you said yesterday, and she’ll have you in Confession so fast it will make your wee little head spin.”

  “Good morning Cara. This is Billy.”

  “Oh, sorry. I thought you were Teagan. I was up late last night. I’m a little grouchy.” Poor Teagan, I’d just told the family priest she had things she needs to confess. She’s gonna kill me.

  Billy, because he is nice like that, didn’t even acknowledge my screw-up, “No problem. Your mom suggested that I give you a call. I ran into her at the grocery store last night. She said that you were going through Bernie’s stuff and organizing it.”

  “Teagan and I are doing it. Mom asked. Is there something Bernie promised you Billy? Should we be keeping our eyes open for something?”

  “Oh, no, nothing like that. I have a family here in the parish that is in need of someone to do the same thing for their family that you are doing for Bernie. Actually, the man that died was in the parish. His brother is out in Washington state and won’t be coming here to sort things out. He asked that I make whatever arrangements I see fit. When your mom said you were sorting things out for Bernie, and that you are between jobs, I thought maybe you would be interested. I’m not sure how long it will take, or what all is involved, but I can assure you it will pay very well. I don’t like the brother at all, and I don’t mind telling you, it won’t bother me to send him a large bill. He has money. It won’t be a burden for him.”

  “It was really nice of you to think of me Billy, but I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m not sure I’m qualified.”

  “Cara, just what qualifies someone to do a job like this? This man didn’t have a lot of material things, I just don’t want to call and have some anonymous organization come in and go through his personal belongings. Cara, I know it isn’t very priest-like of me, but I just don’t trust that some corporate entity would be as honest and as respectful as you would be. That’s all the expertise I’m really asking for.”

  “Can I think about it Billy?”

  “Sure, but I need an answer some time today. If you choose not to do it, I need to try to find someone else.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll take a shower, talk to Mom and Teagan, and have an answer to you before noon.”