Love Sick

by HJ Bellus

  Memphis begins laying gentle kisses on my jawline. He takes his time covering every inch. He stops at the shell of my ear, dragging his tongue up and down it. It sends chills from the base of my spine to the tip of my toes. My insides clench when he begins whispering.

  “We can enjoy this cruise together. Experience new things while discovering each other. Neither of us can predict what our future holds, so it’s not worth running from it.”

  “I’ll get attached, Memphis. I’ll be in Iowa and you in California.”

  “What if this is something we shouldn’t walk away from? I wouldn’t want to regret something like that for the rest of my life.”

  “Yeah.” I nod, feeling his nose run up and down the outside of my neck. “And when you break my heart?”

  He stills and doesn’t answer for a long time. This right here is my biggest reservation because deep down I know I’m falling in love with him. Instant love does exist and to those who don’t believe it can take their negativity and shove it up their ass sideways. We are walking proof of it. It’s a leap in head first or walk away call. The shitty part is my head and heart has decided for me. It’s the lingering question of how I will handle it when we part ways.

  “I’m worried about my heart, Sunshine.” He pulls his head up and kisses me. There’s no tongue or much movement. We remain lip to lip for several beats. I soak it all in. It’s now or never. True or false. Fifty-fifty chance here.

  We pull apart. Memphis takes a step back and brushes his hand through his messy coppery hair. I’m learning it’s the way he styles it or gets out of bed with it like that. Knowing Memphis and how effortlessly everything is around him, I’m guessing it’s like that when he wakes up.

  “I had to step back or I wouldn’t let you go.” He grins then takes a long drink of his coffee.

  I peer down to mine to see more sloshed out than I thought.

  “Hey, sexy.” A voice breaks into our conversation.

  An employee walks past us. She’s far from Memphis’s norm, so I know she’s not a client or anything of the sorts. She’s old enough to be a grandma to a grandma. Salt and pepper hair, not even five feet all, and she walks with a slight limp

  “You ready for another show, good lookin’?”

  “Willing and ready.” She’s slowed her pace to finish her conversation with Memphis.

  He takes a step back and turns his back to her. He wiggles his ass, bends over, staying there for a few seconds, and then stands back up. I have a death grip on my coffee cup, surprised it doesn’t combust in my hands as Memphis proceeds to gyrate his hips. The man has moves like make your panties wet moves.

  “Atta’, boy.” The woman waves and carries on like what happened is a normal occurrence.

  Memphis gives me shy smile. I didn’t think the man had it in him to get embarrassed.

  “Who was that?”

  “Crotchety Carla?”

  I raise my eyebrows, encouraging him to go on.

  “She’s my side piece.” He laughs at his own joke. “Too soon?”

  I sucker punch him in the abs and glare at him.

  “Okay, okay. She sold me the candy and cigarettes last night. We bonded over my ass.”

  “Go on.”

  “I could tell she was having a bad day so I brightened it with my ass.”

  “Bare and you smoke?”

  “Jesus, no not bare, Raylan. I smoke when I’m pissed.”

  I hide my smile behind my coffee cup, too entertained by this story. “Looks like you made a friend for life.”

  “Yeah, she’s a cool cat.” He shrugs, taking a drink of his coffee.

  “So, how do you take your coffee?” I ask him, deciding if we are doing this then we better find out every single detail about one another, or as much as we can.

  “Two sugars no creamer.”

  “Nasty.” I shake my head. “I hope that’s not in here.”

  I know it isn’t by the color of liquid on my hand.

  “I went the safe route and got some girly shit for you.”

  I press the edge of the cup to my lips, staring at him, never breaking eye contact. He gives me full on smolder. Does the man ever stop? The sweetness hits my lips, and he outdid himself for sure.

  “A white chocolate mocha. Perfect, but next time make it a skinny.”

  “Like hell, I will.” He looks as if someone slapped his puppy. “That ass of yours is perfect. Hell, I bet those tits are, too, but I wouldn’t know.”

  “Soon enough, Love, soon enough.”

  An unwelcome voice pours ice water down my spine. I shudder and squeeze my eyes shut. Just because he broke it off or quit his job doesn’t mean Iris would disappear. I had hoped she sure would, but not my luck. Memphis and I both whip our heads in her direction. Iris is in a designer swimsuit cover-up with delicate gems scattered throughout, paired with another designer pair of heels and windshields for sunglasses. Designer I’m sure from head to toe. To me, it looks like she stumbled into a vat of ugly with a side of tacky.

  My jaw drops wide open when I see she already has another man on her arm. And not one her age either. He may be younger than Memphis and my God he’s built, tanned, and has a model face. Did she pull him out of her suitcase?

  I’m shocked Iris doesn’t give us a sideways glare when she struts past us. The man gives Memphis a chin jerk. “Hey, man.”

  “Hey,” Memphis manages to get out.

  Then they’re off the boat set to explore the island. I’m left whirling in my thoughts of what the hell just happened. I have to be trapped in a third dimension somewhere because nothing adds up.

  “You know him?” I point at their fading backs.

  Memphis grabs the back of his neck, gripping it with all of his strength. My warning that I’m not going to like his answer.

  “Truth,” I warn him.

  “Iris brought him in to punish me. Made me watch them go at it. The thing was it wasn’t close to punishment, but more of a reward.”

  “Oh.” I snap my mouth shut with a lead ball in my stomach. “I’m going to go.”

  He nods his head, biting down on his bottom lip. Moments earlier, I was ready to grab his hand and drag him off the boat. We’d spend the day together asking hundreds of questions, learning about each other and then finish off the night in one of our cabin’s making love. I’m back to plan one. I need some time to digest everything going on around me before it swallows me whole.

  “Bye, Memphis.” I turn and begin walking toward the exit of the ship.

  “Sunshine!” he hollers out, making my heart squeeze. It’s cheesy, and we both know it, but also unique and special between us. No one has ever called me their Little Ray of Sunshine.

  I turn back to see him standing there, gripping his coffee, and shielding his eyes even though he’s wearing sunglasses. “Tonight at six?”

  I nod unable to answer. He gives me a thumbs up and a weak smile. I spin and force myself to walk away. Each step is heavy and not welcomed at all. If it’s hard to walk away from him now, then how in the hell will I ever be able to do it at the end of the cruise? Memphis seems as perplexed as I am when it comes to answering questions about what after the cruise.

  Eighteen

  Memphis

  I nod. “Tied up to a tree in the middle of the woods with honey smeared all over my dick.”

  “Don’t forget your butthole, too,” Brenna corrects.

  “Fuck it.” Josi grabs her head still in pain from her hangover. “Honey all over your body tied up in bear country.”

  “Got it, girls, but I’m not going to hurt her. I need information.”

  “Whiskey shits and walking shits are a lethal combination.” Josi stands, grimacing still clutching her head. “Why do I always beg for it in the ass when I’m drunk? And Jesus, that was the biggest dick I’ve ever seen.”

  Brenna laughs like this is everyday conversation. “You know what they say? Anal sex is for assholes.”

  “Fuck off,” she mutters, hea
ding for the bathroom.

  My head spins, and I’m blushing. I’m used to male strippers being pigs in the dressing room, but we have nothing on these two women. Everything is starting to fall into place. These two shelter Raylan with their overbearing personalities. She feels safe with them knowing they have all the crazy under their belt and she can squeak under the radar.

  It makes sense. I should’ve picked it up when I spotted them at the bar on deck. The watermelon sized tit implants gave it all away while Raylan sucked on her drink natural. The thought of her perfect tits has me all wound up again. Last night, when she exposed herself to me then covered them up was hot as hell. I played along with her little game having fun with it. Then hearing her scream out my name again even though a wall separated us, was my undoing. I fucking came so hard I nearly blacked out. It was her hollering Lenny that really sealed the deal.

  “Okay, so you want information on our best friend for what?” Brenna asks.

  Raylan must have the patience of a saint. I’ve been over this three times now and each time I’m interrupted with their threats. The threats are growing in size each time. I fuck this up, and my dick is bear bait.

  “We are giving this cruise thing a go. I don’t want to waste any time.”

  “So, you’re not a manwhore?” she asks again for the tenth time. At this point, she’s torturing me. It doesn’t take a fool to see that. I have no other choice than to indulge her and play this little game. I don’t have any time to waste with Raylan finding out her likes and dislikes.

  “I was. Yes. It’s over. Now, tell me. Does she have allergies?” I take a pull from my Jack and Coke next to me.

  Brenna taps her chin, the sun beating down on her fake tan, taking her time to think of them. Jesus, is Raylan a walking EpiPen or what?

  “Yes, she does.” Brenna begins to count off on her fingers. “Codeine, shellfish, change, pollen at certain times of the year kills her, assholes, turnips, bees, Rocky Mountain Oysters, but I think she says that to get out of eating them. She got a rash once from eggplants, but I think it was Josi’s cooking if I’m honest, prick men who might break her heart, and hummingbird feeders.”

  The fuck? I sit back and scratch my head, going over the list.

  Josi eases down on the bottom of Brenna’s lounger. “Raylan’s allergies? Son of a bitch, it hurts to sit.”

  “Yeah.” Brenna nods.

  “Don’t forget baby seals.”

  “Yes.” Brenna slaps her thigh, making a smacking sound. “I knew I forgot one. Baby seals. The damn pussy.”

  I rub my eyes with my palms, trying to get this shit straight. “As far as food allergies, it’s shellfish, turnips, Rocky Mountain Oysters, and eggplants?”

  “Bullshit on the eggplants,” Josi pipes up. “She got the case of explosive diarrhea. Could’ve been anything.”

  “And asshole motherfuckers who might end up hurting her.” Brenna slides her glasses down her nose, giving me the death stare.

  I raise my hands up in surrender. “I get it. I’m not going to hurt her. I’m scared to ask any more questions, but I’m a desperate man here. I want to have a special dinner with her tonight.”

  “Have you asked our permission to take away our best friend?” Josi squirms on the edge of the lounger.

  It’s funny as shit and takes everything inside of me to not give her hell and ride her ass about her current predicament. I’m not there yet with these girls. I still have to put time in for them to trust me.

  “I didn’t know I had to ask you since she already agreed.” I lean forward. “What is her favorite meal, dessert, and ideal date?”

  “Simmer down, Samuel.” Brenna holds her hand up to me. “You scored some bonus points sticking up for yourself about asking her out, but we aren’t going to make this easy on you, cupcake.”

  “No, shit,” Josi adds. “You can pick two out of the three to be answered, Casanova.”

  Vicious bitches these two are. Part of me is assured that Raylan has them as best friends and bodyguards, but the other part is ready to strangle the shit out of them.

  “What will it be?” Brenna asks, tapping her long fake nail on the armrest of the chair.

  Let’s play a little game of the guilt and shame game. I can pretty much sucker anyone in with my charm. I bite down on my bottom lip, playing off concentrating.

  “Shit. I don’t know. I really wanted to make this special for her after the shitty day yesterday. We haven’t had the easiest of starts.” I run both hands through my hair, leaving it standing on end. That might have been a bit too far. “Raylan has expressed she’s nervous as hell, and I see it in her every move. I really don’t want to fuck this up with her. I have so much making up to do in such little time, and she deserves it all.”

  They coo. Motherfucking coo and grip their chests. Putty in the palm of my hand, it's like taking candy away from a baby.

  “Tacos. She’d die for a good taco. It has to be carne asada, no onions and cilantro, only shredded cheese, a squirt of lime, and a side of guac,” Josi spills first.

  Brenna sits up taller, adding to the mix. “Coronas in a chilled bottle with lime and salt. Salt is a must; she won’t drink it otherwise.”

  I nod, shooting positive vibes in their direction, soaking it all up. My little woman is a taco girl. Not the Taco Bell fake-ass shit either, but a damn genuine street truck kind. My heart is so fucked.

  “Dessert is going to be trickier.” Josi glances over to Brenna.

  “Yes, it always depends on her mood.”

  The two curl their top lip up hard in concentration. It’s like they share the same brain communicating through invisible waves. Pretty soon I wonder if they’re going to answer the damn question or begin meditating.

  “Chocolate,” Brenna answers.

  Josi slaps her thigh, leaving behind a handprint. “Chocolate. I was going to say death by chocolate cake with a light raspberry sauce.”

  I clap my hands, rubbing them together. “I can get down with that.”

  In so many ways like meeting her nipples for the first time with raspberry sauce. And the boner wave has struck. I brush those ideas out as fast as they came in. Nothing kills the best friend trust than popping a stiffy in their face.

  “And the date?” I push my luck.

  They answer in unison. “Simple.”

  I wait for more details, but it’s radio silence on their end.

  “I’m not taking her dancing,” I add, hoping to prompt them.

  “No, not dancing.” Josi leans back, readjusting her cheeks on the seat.

  “The casino?” Brenna throws out in a question.

  “No, date number two. She does like to gamble a bit, but they need something intimate where they can talk.”

  And fuck. Crude, I know, but my balls are gonna explode.

  “Got it,” Josi squeals. “Upper deck. They have a cool-ass patio with fake fire shit and ambiance is way chill.”

  “Yes, they take reservations. We passed the sign the other day.”

  “Ladies.” I stand, stretching my arms up over my head. “Thank you for your service. I promise I won’t disappoint.”

  I’m not one to cut and run, but these ladies gave me more information than I thought I would ever get out of them. Of course, it didn’t come without the threat of a bear eating my dick for dessert.

  “We are not joking about the bear threat either. I don’t think you want to test us.”

  Both of them sit up in the lounger and give me a death stare. I think that’s the end of it, but I’ve learned better with these two. It’s Brenna’s turn to give me the speech. I’m putting up with this shit since these girls are her best friends and they have every right to do this. So, I stand here and take it like a man. There’s no way in hell their threats are ever going to come to life.

  “Memphis, you have no idea how big of a deal this is. Raylan never puts herself out there. We’ve set her up on at least fifty blind dates back home, and none of them have worked out.
Granted, over half of them she backed out on and was a no-show. Her life has not been the easiest, and the simple fact she talked to you when we were by the bar was a huge thing for her. All threats aside, you really do need to handle her with perfection. I guarantee she never thought she’d find someone like you on here, so take it as a gift.”

  Damn, I’m stunned at Brenna’s confession. The respect I lost for these two over the butt sex jokes is gained back tenfold. They love her that much is clear.

  “You ladies have nothing to worry about with me. I’m the one hoping she doesn’t break my heart in the end.”

  They seem pleased with my response; I take a few steps to go, letting them know I have a lot of stuff to get accomplished today before Raylan boards the ship again. But before I’m able to make my escape, a loud ruckus of voices joins us. I turn to see none other than Wank Stain and his sleazy crew he’s been running with.

  The twins have no problems settling in on loungers and pulling the girls into their laps. It’s disgusting. Some of that gained respect disappears. They’re all over the men with no self-control. No wonder Raylan never felt confident being set up on blind dates with their two choices.

  Roberto stares me down. I give it right back, taunting him with my stare. Bring it on, motherfucker. I have nothing to hide and he sure in the hell is going to know I’m here to play for keeps. He looks to Brenna and Josi before speaking.

  “Where is Raylan?”

  The two girls stare at each other for a long time, pop their heads back up to me, and then back to Roberto. The two outgoing mouthy women have caught them self in a trap and aren’t sure how to reply. I know exactly what’s running through their heads. They want the options left open for their friend. Well, fuck that shit. I take the job off their hands because it’s my damn job and she’s my woman.