Your Bed or Mine?

by Candy Halliday

  Not good.

  That expression is too stern and condescending.

  Zada changed her facial expression to stricken.

  Nope, too pitiful.

  I need to have a little pride left!

  She tried passive.

  Way too cold and detached.

  How about hopeful, but slightly pleading?

  Perfect!

  Zada started over again.

  “Rick, if you can’t …”

  Zada grabbed the telephone. The telephone she’d slept with all last night. The telephone she’d kept with her all morning. Just in case Rick called.

  Tish said, “Are you up?”

  “Already up and dressed,” Zada said.

  “Were you able to sleep last night?”

  “Yes,” Zada said. “Thank you for those sleeping pills. I was in bed by nine, and barely remember turning off my bedside light.”

  “Have you heard from Rick?”

  “No,” Zada said with a sigh. “Rick said he’d be home on Sunday. I guess Sunday is when I’ll see him.”

  “Coffee’s on,” Tish said. “Come on over.”

  Tish hung up before Zada could tell her she’d decided to skip coffee again this morning. Before the Fourth of July party started, she wanted to ride over to a new condominium complex not far from Woodberry Park.

  She needed more information: availability, prices, amenities.

  She’d thought everything over carefully. If they were going through with the divorce, Zada had decided she was going to give Rick Simon and the house. She also wasn’t going to waste any time making their divorce final.

  Better for her.

  Better for Rick.

  She hadn’t been kidding when she’d told Alicia she couldn’t stand the thought of living across the street from her. But that wasn’t the only reason she would give Rick the house.

  It was the right thing to do.

  She’d been living in a tiny apartment when she met Rick. Barely able to pay her rent from the money she made writing freelance articles for various magazines, and doing occasional secretarial work for a temp agency.

  She hadn’t had a penny in savings, nor had she contributed a dime to the purchase of the house. The success of her children’s books had come later. Thanks to Simon.

  And now, thanks to Simon, she was in better financial shape than she had been before.

  Simon.

  My sweet, beloved Simon.

  The thought of leaving him behind broke her heart, almost as much as losing Rick would break her heart.

  Zada picked up the phone to call Tish back. She then thought better of it. Maybe Jen and Tish would ride to the complex with her. She knew Jen and Tish would support her, regardless. That’s what friends were for; to stand beside you in time of need. Take your side in bad situations. Put you back together when you fell apart.

  As much as I love Rick, I am NOT going to fall apart.

  Zada made herself that promise and then headed across the street.

  When Zada bounced into Tish’s kitchen, sleep-deprived Jen looked over at Tish and said, “I thought you said after taking those sleeping pills, we wouldn’t be able to even get Zada out of bed this morning.”

  Tish shrugged and yawned herself.

  Zada looked from one to the other.

  “What happened to the two of you? You both look like you need to go back to bed.”

  Tish pulled the chair out she was standing behind.

  “Sit right here,” she said. “Jen will fix you a cup of coffee. I’ll be right back.”

  “Whatever,” Zada said, frowning at both of them.

  She walked over and sat down at the table.

  Jen hurried to the coffeepot, avoiding her gaze.

  “Okay,” Zada said, looking over at Jen who had turned her back to Zada conveniently. “I’m not stupid, Jen. Something’s up. Tell me what it is.”

  The something that was up walked into the kitchen.

  Zada took one look at Alicia and jumped up from her chair.

  Tish pointed a stern finger at her. “Zada, sit back down and don’t say a word. Alicia has something to tell you. You’re going to listen to her, even if Jen and I have to use force to keep your butt in that chair.”

  “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Zada,” Alicia said after she finished telling her everything she’d told Tish the night before. “Can you ever forgive me?”

  Zada finally said, “Yes.”

  “Thank you,” Alicia said.

  Zada got up from the table and walked across the room, her hand held out to Alicia.

  “Truce?” Zada asked.

  Alicia nodded and shook her hand. “Truce.”

  Zada said, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel like thrashing your brother from head to toe.”

  Alicia said, “And I’d hold him down while you hit him, if I weren’t afraid Alfie would enjoy it. My brother is into women who cause him nothing but pain and suffering.”

  “Too bad Tish is already married,” Jen said, sending Tish a that’s-for-making-fun-of-me-last-night smile.

  Tish laughed. “Why, Jen. I was just thinking the same thing!”

  Jen lost the smile.

  She looked back at Zada and said, “I know Tish doesn’t agree, but we have something else to tell you, Zada. You’re going to hear about it eventually, anyway. And I’d rather you hear it from us.”

  Zada put her hands on her hips. “Should I sit back down for this, too?”

  Jen looked at Tish.

  Tish looked at Alicia.

  Alicia looked at Zada.

  Alicia said, “Sitting back down might not be a bad idea.”

  By the time they finished telling Zada about their fiasco of a visit to SDS—from Tish’s always humorous perspective—Zada was laughing so hard, she was holding her sides.

  Alicia, Tish, and even Jen, were laughing right along with her until Zada suddenly stopped laughing.

  Zada stood up and put her hands on her hips again. “If Rick isn’t at the center,” Zada said, “then where in the hell is he?”

  Where in the hell Rick was, was standing under a hot shower in his Days Inn motel room on the outskirts of New Hope. He turned off the water, got out of the shower, and toweled himself off. He found no comfort whatsoever in the fact that he now knew it took exactly one and a half fifths of tequila to get him so officially shit-faced drunk that the photo disappeared from his memory.

  That is, the photo disappeared from his memory until he woke up lying on the motel room floor earlier.

  Rick also found no comfort in the fact that he now had thirty-seven missed calls on his cell phone. As far as Rick was concerned, their nosy neighbors needed to butt out of their business.

  That’s why he had no intention whatsoever of showing up at the Fourth of July party. He didn’t need Tish or Jen pulling him aside, trying to influence his decision.

  His mind was made up.

  And he already knew what he had to do.

  For his sake.

  And for Zada’s.

  But would it be difficult for him?

  God, yes.

  Rick grimaced, just thinking about it.

  He only hoped Zada would realize how difficult what he had to do would truly be for him.

  Rick let out a long sigh.

  He’d never be able to show his face in Woodberry Park again.

  Zada looked for Rick’s face in the crowd all day.

  She’d looked for Rick during the sack race, her leg tied to Jen’s as they hobbled toward the finish line. They’d won the race, and got the first door prize of the day.

  She’d looked for Rick during the annual men versus women Fourth of July volley ball tournament. The women had won the championship for the first time ever. Charlie and Joe had both conveniently blamed Rick’s absence as the reason they lost the tournament.

  She’d looked for Rick during the kids’ relay races that were held at the clubhouse pool. Tish had been so excited Mark was ahea
d that she accidentally fell into the pool. Joe had been more embarrassed than Tish when he’d pulled her out.

  Sopping wet, Tish had still looked like a fashion model.

  Zada had heart-achingly searched the crowd for Rick during the annual Fourth of July picnic—probably her lowest point in the day. Happy families sitting all around her, everyone laughing and enjoying each other, only reminded her even more of Rick’s absence.

  Of all people, Alicia had been the one to come over to sit with her. They’d never said a word to each other. They just sat there, pretending to enjoy the picnic.

  But Zada didn’t miss the irony that the person responsible for Rick not being there was the one person who had come to her rescue so she wouldn’t have to sit alone.

  She’d looked for Rick again later that night, as she handed out sparklers to all of the neighborhood kids before the big fireworks show started. Sparklers Rick had bought for the occasion. Sparklers Zada wished Rick had been there handing out himself, instead of her.

  That’s the last time she’d let herself look for Rick, right before the fireworks. It was her favorite part of the party.

  That’s when she’d finally accepted Rick wasn’t coming.

  Not for the fireworks.

  And not to walk her home.

  As soon as the fireworks ended, Alicia started looking around for Zada. She finally found her, already heading down the path from the clubhouse—alone.

  Alicia hurried to catch up.

  Zada didn’t say a word when she did.

  And that was okay.

  As bad as Alicia felt for causing trouble between Zada and Rick, she knew Zada felt worse.

  Alicia knew that kind of pain. Being alone. Everyone else all paired up and happy.

  She was responsible for the problem and she’d see Zada through it. If it meant nothing more than walking her home.

  Zada finally looked over at her.

  They had just reached Owls Roost Road.

  Zada said, “Just because we called a truce, Alicia, doesn’t mean we’ll ever be great friends. I think you know that as well as I do. So, you didn’t have to walk with me. I’m not some suburban charity case.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” Alicia said right back. “I’m not walking with you. You’re walking with me.”

  Alicia’s gut instinct had been right: The last thing Zada wanted was sympathy. And she didn’t intend to give her any.

  In fact, she and Zada were actually a lot alike. That was the main reason they were always butting heads.

  Zada said, “Are you always this annoying?”

  “Always,” Alicia said. “Just like you are.”

  Zada snorted.

  But she didn’t disagree.

  They were starting up the incline to Owls Roost Road, again in silence.

  Until Zada looked over at her and said, “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m giving Rick the house.”

  “You mentioned that already,” Alicia said. “You can’t stand the thought of living across the street from me. Remember?”

  Zada stopped when they reached the top of the hill.

  Alicia stopped and turned to face her.

  “Okay,” Zada said, hands on her hips. “I’m tired of dancing around the issue, so let’s get to the heart of the matter. I want something cleared up once and for all.”

  Alicia said, “And that would be?”

  Zada’s eyes narrowed. “You know exactly what that would be. Rick! I want the truth, Alicia. Are you interested in Rick? Or aren’t you?”

  Alicia couldn’t help herself.

  She burst out laughing.

  It was the wrong thing to do.

  Zada lunged forward.

  Alicia jumped back. Just not far enough.

  Zada managed to grab Alicia’s arm as she fell. Alicia landed right on top of her. Had they not been standing at the top of the hill, they both would have popped back up like two jacks-in-the-box.

  The hill made sure they didn’t.

  Alicia and Zada rolled down the hill in a human ball of flailing arms and legs, landing in a ditch at the side of the road. A muddy ditch to be exact, compliments of the summer thunderstorm the day before.

  Alicia reached up and wiped the mud out of her eyes.

  Zada did the same.

  They looked like two raccoons glaring at each other.

  “How dare you laugh at me!” Zada yelled.

  “I couldn’t help it,” Alicia yelled back. “You are such an idiot if you can’t see that Rick Clark is hopelessly in love with you. He has that dreamy can’t-live-without-her expression on his face every time he looks at you! It’s enough to make a person sick.”

  Zada’s mouth dropped open and closed again. “Dreamy?” Zada asked. She smiled. “Really?”

  Alicia groaned.

  She pulled herself up and brushed herself off. “I take it back,” Alicia said, looking down at Zada. “Rick isn’t hopeless. You’re the one who’s hopeless!”

  Alicia stomped back up the hill.

  Zada stomped up the hill right behind her.

  She finally caught up.

  “So?” Zada said. “You really aren’t interested in Rick?”

  “You figure it out,” Alicia said.

  She turned her back on Zada and marched up her driveway. She was almost to the door when Zada yelled her name.

  Alicia turned back around, hands on her hips.

  “Thanks for walking me home,” Zada called out and waved.

  Imagine that, Alicia thought with a smile as she turned and opened her front door. There still might be hope that she and Zada could eventually become friends.

  Chapter 20

  Simon jumping off the bed awoke Zada from a restless sleep. She sat up, pulling the bedsheet with her, and looked across the room. She always left her bedroom door open in case Simon needed to go out during the night.

  Zada tensed. Her bedroom door was closed. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the darkened bedroom.

  There!

  In the shadows.

  A man’s silhouette.

  He moved toward the bed.

  He was dressed all in black.

  Black hat.

  Black shirt.

  Black cape.

  Sinister black mask, hiding his face.

  Zada wanted to cry out, but she didn’t.

  Her excitement quickly overrode her fear.

  He stopped by the side of the bed.

  Dark blue eyes peered out at her through the mask.

  The look in his eyes told her what he had in mind.

  He reached out and pulled the sheet from her hand.

  Slowly.

  Methodically.

  Inch after inch, he exposed her body.

  “Why are you here?” she whispered.

  His answer was to pull a sword from its sheath.

  The glint of a blade flashed in the darkness.

  A small excited cry escaped her lips.

  His eyes never left her face.

  But he used the tip of the blade to toy with her.

  Lightly.

  Seductively.

  Purposely.

  He ran the tip of the cold steel across her bare foot.

  Zada shivered.

  The sensation, incredible.

  The danger, more of a turn-on than she ever imagined.

  Upward the blade moved.

  Threatening.

  Tantalizing.

  Taunting her tender flesh.

  Upward.

  Along the inside of her right thigh.

  Zada moaned.

  Across her abdomen.

  Zada moaned louder.

  Right up to the valley between her breasts.

  “Take the top off,” he ordered. “Slowly. There’s no need to hurry. I hope we have the rest of our lives.”

  Tears filled Zada’s eyes.

  Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of her silky top.

  They couldn’t work fast enough to suit her. />
  Zada ripped the top off and threw it aside.

  His gaze traveled downward to her lacy thong.

  He ran the tip of the sword lightly across the fabric.

  The sensation took her breath away.

  “Off,” he commanded.

  “And if I don’t take it off?” Zada asked.

  “I’ll take it off for you,” he answered.

  Slowly, she removed the thong.

  She was exposed now.

  Completely.

  In more ways than one.

  Her heart, full of an undying love for him.

  Her body, naked and waiting for anything he wanted.

  He lowered the sword, and placed it on the bed.

  Those dark blue eyes, still holding her captive.

  Zada smiled.

  Seductively.

  Rick wasn’t prepared when Zada slipped off the bed. She picked up the sword before he could stop her. Rick laughed when she pointed it at him—nervous-like.

  “This wasn’t part of your fantasy,” Rick reminded her.

  “My fantasy,” Zada said. “My prerogative to change it until it suits me.”

  Rick didn’t like the tone in her voice or the gleam in her eye. He walked over and turned on the bedside light. When he turned back around, Zada placed the tip of the sword lightly against the waistband of his pants.

  “Be careful with that thing now, Zada,” Rick told her, and he meant it. “It isn’t a toy.”

  “Have you talked to anyone?”

  What?

  Rick said what he was thinking. “What did you say?”

  “Have you talked to anyone?”

  “No,” Rick said. “Why?”

  “No one?”

  “No,” Rick said. “The last person I’ve talked to is you.”

  She moved the blade up the front of his shirt.

  Rick gulped.

  The blade moved up to his neck.

  Rick was afraid to gulp.

  Lightly.

  Slowly.

  Thankfully, the blade moved up to his chin.

  Rick held his breath.

  The blade moved lightly across his lips.

  Up to his nose.

  Their eyes met.

  Zada smiled.

  And knocked the hat right off his head.

  “Jesus, Zada!”

  Rick frowned at her.

  “Take the cape off,” she ordered.

  “Put. The. Sword. Down,” Rick pleaded.

  “Do you want me to take it off for you?” she asked.