Land of Entrapment

by Andi Marquette

  “It’s okay. I’m just a little...” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Surprised, I guess. I didn’t realize that Megan—”

  “She missed you really bad. And she was really pissed at Melissa for months. They had some knock-down arguments about it, too.”

  I tapped my half-full beer bottle against my thigh.

  “Look, Sage, I appreciate all this info, but there’s some stuff that I really don’t need to hear.”

  She looked at me, a trace of embarrassment and concern in her eyes. “Sorry. That was really shitty of me. Sometimes I just talk and—”

  “No, no. Don’t worry about it.” I changed the subject quickly to minimize her discomfort. “So Jeff mentioned that he saw someone poking around back there, too.”

  Sage’s brow furrowed in thought. “Yeah. I remember. It was about eleven and I heard him yell something out the back. He wasn’t sure who it was. I think it was probably one of Cody’s asshead friends.”

  I debated whether to tell her what had happened the night before. I decided I’d better for safety’s sake, if nothing else. “Someone was messing with the place last night, too.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “When?”

  “I was in my car trying to find him at two thirty-four AM, according to my car clock.”

  She stared at me. “What the hell?”

  “I think he had a key and he was trying to get it to work in the door. I don’t think he knew I was inside.”

  “Holy shit. What’d you do?”

  “I scared him off and then tried to find him.”

  Sage’s eyebrows lifted.

  “It’s okay. My friend Chris came by this morning to take fingerprints. She’s a cop.”

  She relaxed. “That’s a relief. Do you want to stay here tonight?”

  Nice offer. I felt a little thrill. “Thanks, but no. I had the locks changed. And Chris is staying over tonight. I’ll be okay.”

  Her eyes searched mine. The effect was wholly unnerving. “Any time you need anything while you’re here, come by. I don’t care what time it is.”

  I smiled, unable to look away. “I will. Thanks. So what else about those two guys—”

  “Later. Let’s eat.” She grinned, grabbed my arm, and pulled me toward the back porch where we joined Jeff at the grill. She fixed a burger for me, asking what I wanted on it. I watched her, bemused. She was a force of nature, this Sage. And a font of data.

  Hopefully I’d get a chance to pick her brain a bit more. She went back into the kitchen and loaded my plate with pasta salad and some sliced vegetables.

  Red peppers, carrots, and celery. “Do you want green chile on your burger?”

  “Please.”

  She handed me the plate and placed a plastic fork on it. I grabbed a paper napkin from the stack on the counter. “Make yourself at home.” She went back outside. I wandered into the living room where six people were already sitting around on a variety of chairs eating. Bowls of chips and other snacks sat on the table, which stood just to the right of the kitchen doorway as I entered the living room. I found a spot on the couch and took a bite of the burger. The tangy, earthy taste of fresh roasted green chile exploded in my mouth. I savored it, then introduced myself after which those of us in the living room chatted amicably about local politics, and what everybody was doing that summer, among other small talk. Sage reappeared and plopped down onto the couch next to me. Her thigh bumped mine and I wondered at the spark I felt shoot up my leg. She had two fresh beers and she handed me one.

  “Thanks.” I took the bottle and clinked it against hers, trying not to think about the fact that she hadn’t moved her thigh away from mine. She smiled enigmatically and ate her burger in silence. I finished and was about to stand up but she beat me to it.

  “I’ll take it. Just hang out.”

  I handed her my plate and watched as she bounced into the kitchen. She had a nice ass. Probably as toned and muscular as the rest of her. God, I’m like a dirty old man. And how fucked up would that be to seduce a friend of Megan’s? And somebody else’s girlfriend? The thoughts so disturbed me that I shuddered but I couldn’t shake the entirely pleasurable chills bubbling around in my stomach. I checked my watch.

  Almost eight-thirty. Chris had called earlier and said she’d be in around ten. So I had another hour or so to hang out with Sage. I liked that thought.

  Jeff came in and cranked the music louder. The living room’s comfortably worn hardwood floor looked like it lent itself to lots of dancing. Mike rolled up the rug and moved the various furnishings out of the way and sure enough, some people availed themselves of the space to do just that. I eased into the kitchen where Sage was busy cleaning up.

  I helped her, ignoring her protests. “Whatever,” I said. “You feed me, I help clean up. That’s the deal.”

  She laughed. “Fine.” She patiently directed me around the kitchen to various plastic and glass containers for leftovers. She made up two separate plates and covered them with plastic wrap. “Is Megan’s place open?” She asked.

  I looked at her, puzzled. “Yeah.”

  “Be right back.” She left quickly, carrying the plates.

  “Hey, Sage, you don’t have to—”

  “I’m not listening,” she called back in a sing-song voice as she balanced both plates on one arm and headed down the porch steps toward Megan’s front door. She reappeared a few moments later and crossed the yard to join me on the back porch of the big house. “No reason for food to go to waste.

  Besides, I know how you bachelors are.”

  “Oh, really?” I cocked an eyebrow, wondering how she knew I was single.

  “Nobody eats shitty food when I’m around.”

  I laughed. Sage was like nobody I had ever met.

  My mom would call her a “free spirit.”

  We went back inside and Sage soon engaged in animated conversation with Rob and a woman who had introduced herself as Jenny, bringing me into the dialogue. I didn’t know how long we chatted, but after a while, Sage excused herself to go to the kitchen and a heterosexual couple that was about my age left.

  I heard Jeff out on the front porch talking to three other people. Most people had already left and cigar smoke wafted into the house through the open front door. The music blared in an empty room. Time to go, I thought reluctantly. Maybe I’d be able to talk more to Sage later. I turned back toward the kitchen just as the music switched to a popular salsa number.

  Sage appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. “Oh, my God. I love this song. Can you salsa dance?” She looked at me pleadingly. “Jeff denies his heritage and refuses to do any kind of Latin American dancing.

  Please tell me you can dance.”

  I gauged the situation. Chris had taught me and said I was pretty good for a gringa. Well, what could it hurt? It wasn’t like Sage was dissing Jeff. He was right outside and it was possible to see us through the front window. “Sure. I’ll dance.”

  She bounded across the floor. “And I’ll bet you lead, right?” she asked mischievously as she held her hands out in the correct position for this particular tune.

  I smiled and placed my right hand carefully against the small of her back and took her right in my left. She placed her left hand on my right shoulder.

  “Ready?” I bobbed my head in time and began moving. It had been a while since I had done this, but like riding a bike, once you know, it sticks. This particular beat called for a modified box step that was easy to follow. Step, step, slide...

  A good leader instills confidence in a partner and someone who follows well can pick up on the rhythms of the leader. Sage clearly knew what she was doing.

  She followed me easily and gracefully, teeth flashing as she grinned. Her eyes were half-closed. Step, step, slide. Turn. Arm extension. Bring her back... She eased closer to me so that her pelvis was nearly touching mine. My palm at the small of her back felt like it was burning. Oh, God, I thought. This might not have been a good idea.

  “You’ve got that h
ip thing down,” she said appreciatively, watching my waist. I was glad the lighting was dim beneath the low ceilings. She couldn’t see me blush.

  “Practice, practice, practice,” I said with a mock long-suffering undertone. “You know how gringos are—takes them a bit longer.” I caught her eye.

  “Whatever,” she laughed as I guided her over the floor. “You were born with it.”

  I led her into another turn and arm extension as the music ended. With a quick flick, I pulled her back, snapping her into my arms, like old-fashioned tango dancers. Too late, I realized it might have been a mistake. I was all too aware of her breasts against mine and the heat I felt rolling over me in waves didn’t have much to do with exertion, though we were both breathing heavily. Dancing’s a workout.

  Among other things.

  “Damn,” she breathed, staring into my eyes a little too long. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure. Thanks for dinner.” I managed to break the moment and poked my head out the front door. “Hey, Jeff. Thanks for the invite. I’m heading home. It’s a long way, you know.”

  Laughter. “No problem. Catch you later.” He waved at me from the darkened porch.

  I made my way to the back porch, smiling and nodding at the people I had met. Sage had apparently gone to the bathroom or something because I didn’t see her. I decided I needed to get back to Megan’s before I started to enjoy being around her a little too much. A few of the people who remained made nice comments about my dancing. I murmured my thanks and finally made it to the back porch. I was almost to Megan’s front door when I heard Sage from the big house.

  “Hey!”

  I turned, glad to see her again in spite of myself.

  “Thanks again,” I said, waving at her as I stood under Megan’s porch light.

  She leaned against one of the pillars that supported the porch roof. “I figured out what K.C.

  stands for.”

  “Oh?” Given our interaction that evening and my assessment of her personality, I figured she’d tell me.

  “Killer Cute,” she announced. “Good night.” And she turned and went back inside.

  Shit. I watched her close the door behind her. No.

  No way in hell am I following up on this. I exhaled and entered Megan’s place. I shut the security door. And hold on, but she’s with Jeff. Isn’t she? Or is she? Kids today! I turned on the TV to distract myself and went to put my sleep wear on.

  I was sitting on the couch watching the ten o’clock news when Chris arrived, which made everything feel better. She came in and dropped her duffle bag on the floor. She had changed into shorts and tee before she left work. I got her an iced tea from the fridge. Chris didn’t like to drink alcohol this late. We talked about her day and mine. She was glad I got the locks changed and she was still waiting to hear about the prints. The day after tomorrow I’d hang out with the gang unit. That was good news. I told her what Sage had said about Cody and his friends. I also told her about Sage.

  Chris grinned. “So she’s an omnisexual hottie, huh?”

  “They should name hurricanes after her.”

  She laughed. “Sounds like she might be a lot of fun, esa.”

  “No. I mean, yes. I’m sure she’s a blast. But I am not hooking up with Megan’s friends. There’s something really wrong about that.”

  “What? She’s of legal age.”

  “Barely! There’s got to be at least ten years between us.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not talking about marriage, amiga. Maybe a summer fling is what you need.”

  I was sitting on one end of Megan’s couch. Chris had her long legs stretched out and her bare feet on the coffee table. I’m sure Megan would’ve had a cow if she saw that. “No. Nope. She’s with Jeff, for chrissakes. And I’m not here to hook up with anybody. I’m here to do a job.”

  Chris laughed softly and turned her head to regard me. “So how are things going with Melissa?”

  I groaned. “Damn, you sure know how to ruin a mood.” I sighed. “It’s weird, being here.” Chris waited for me to elaborate, as I knew she would. “I feel guilty,” I said with a sigh.

  “About what?”

  “I was thinking today that maybe if I had at least stayed in touch with Megan, maybe she wouldn’t have hooked up with somebody like Cody.”

  “I thought you might guilt-trip yourself about that.”

  “Shit, do I have any secrets from you?” I reached for my own bottle of tea.

  “That’s just how you are. Sometimes you think you’re Superwoman, and you should be able to save the damn world.” She reached over and squeezed my knee. “I’m here to remind you that you are an awesome human being, but you are not omnipotent.”

  I looked at her in mock horror. “You are really bursting my bubble here.”

  She rolled her eyes then became serious. “Megan made a choice. It was a bad one. We don’t know for sure why she made it or what she was feeling or why she thought Cody was the guy for her. There’s nothing you can do about that. Maybe it would’ve been different if you’d kept in touch with her. Maybe not. You know her history. Megan has a hard time making healthy choices and to suggest that you might have been the person to change her is arrogant, esa.”

  She regarded me for a moment. “Make sure that helping her now is about her and not necessarily you.

  Though I know you’re tangled up in this.” She took a swallow of tea.

  “I hate it when you’re right.” I pretended to pout.

  Chris smiled and pulled at the wrapper on her bottle. “Are you feeling guilty about Melissa?”

  “No, really,” I grumbled. “I totally hate it when you’re right.”

  Chris sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. It was her “well?” expression.

  “Yes,” I said, exasperated. “I don’t know why.”

  “Maybe because three years has allowed you a little space to see a bigger picture.”

  I nodded, thinking about that. Had I let Melissa into my apartment that day she came by to try to talk to me, would Megan be in the position she was in now?

  “Don’t second-guess,” Chris interrupted my ruminations. “The past is done. But maybe you’ll learn something from it.”

  “I keep wondering what would have happened if I’d tried to work it out with her.”

  Chris shrugged. “Nobody can say. You did what you thought you had to do, based on the information you had at the time. You know what they say about hindsight.”

  I drummed my fingers on my thigh, thinking about the picture of me with Melissa at Taos Pueblo.

  “Are you feeling anything for her?”

  I glanced up at her. Chris always knew how to nail me to a wall. “I don’t know. I mean, there’ve been a couple of times that I thought maybe I did, but then when I think about getting together with her, I don’t feel anything. I think it’s just the past coming up.”

  “If she asks you, would you get back with her?”

  I shook my head. “Right now, I’m going to say no.

  I haven’t talked to her but my gut’s telling me no.”

  Chris leaned forward and picked her bottle up off the coffee table. “Esa, I’m going to tell you something that I think you need to hear.”

  I looked at her, a twinge of anxiety in my stomach.

  When Chris said stuff like that, it usually meant it was something I didn’t want to hear though it most likely was true.

  True to form, she launched right into it. “Melissa’s not good for you. In the beginning, I thought I’d give her a chance because she loved you and you loved her. But as time went on, it didn’t feel to me that she was trying to move beyond her demons, especially where Megan’s concerned.”

  “I’m not perfect, either.” I said it defensively and I knew she heard it in my voice.

  “I know that.” Her tone was gentle. “But Melissa didn’t give you the opportunities to grow into yourself or in the relationship. You both got stuck.”

  “Well, maybe I
’m not very good at

  communicating, either.”

  She shrugged, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve never had that problem with me.”

  She was right. I kept my mouth shut.

  “And I know how you are. You started working a lot when Megan went into rehab before Melissa had the affair.”

  “Maybe my working was a cause for Melissa.” I said the words before I considered them. I hadn’t really addressed that angle before and here it was, breaking the surface of old anger.

  “All she had to do was talk to you.”

  “I could’ve talked to her. I didn’t.” I crossed my arms over my chest protectively.

  “Maybe you didn’t feel welcome to. Don’t get me wrong here. There are two people in a relationship and even in situations like this, fallout comes from both sides. But I never felt you two were a good match.”

  “Why are you telling me this now? Why didn’t you tell me then?”

  “It wasn’t my place. Melissa isn’t abusive and she’s not an asshole. She loved you and treated you well. But it wasn’t something I felt was right for either of you. Now, it’s been three years and both of you are in different places in your lives. So if you do go down that road with her again, I’ll suspend judgment again. But I’m telling you my feelings on the matter, because I care about you and because you deserve someone who’s in it with you, who can work through the hard stuff, and, frankly, who forces you to deal with things. That is, someone who keeps you from going off the deep end into your work.”

  Chris’s words dug into the inner spaces of my past. I hated that, though I knew she was right and my reaction demonstrated that on some level, I recognized it. “Dammit,” I sighed, mock distress in my tone. “Why don’t you just hook up with me? It would be so much easier. I wouldn’t have to negotiate all this bullshit.”

  She laughed. “You know I’m not that type. I’m not the marrying kind. But if I was, you’d be at the top of the list.” She reached for her tea. “Except you’d have to live in your own damn place.”

  “Well, yeah. You’d drive me crazy if we tried to play house. And I know I’d drive you insane. I get really anal about stupid shit.”