Weeds of Eden
Page 7
"Hopefully," agreed Shin, "you can finally stop being so blind and finally come back into the light?"
Vesuvius caught up with them. "I got Guy something extra special. What are we talking about?"
"Just how stupid your business partner can sometimes be," Shin teased.
"Yeah." Vesuvius's eyes twinkled. "He can be pretty thick."
The delivery vehicle pulled up about the same time as the trio of friends walked into their base of operations. Dekker paid the driver with the company account and ushered the caterer inside; the Dozen ordered there often and each of the boxes was marked with a name.
He and the delivery driver were greeted with cheers as they entered carrying stacks of food sealed in biodegradable cartons. Shin pulled a pair of chopsticks from the cache of napkins, salt, and sundries.
"Hey!" Guy yelled "Why does my plate have tentacles on it? Eww! They just moved."
Dekker took a mental snapshot and watched as his crew enjoyed one of those rare family moments. Each stood and shared his or her favorite memory of trigger and Dirk. Guy crossed out the tentacle boxed name and swapped plates with Trigger.
Austicon was gone and Dekker had truly turned a page in his life. The new chapter had come at great cost, but it had finally arrived.
After watching a few moments longer, finally, Dekker stepped back and retreated, retiring to his chambers.
He climbed the stairs near the barracks section of their HQ and found Vesuvius loitering by his door. Dekker walked towards her.
Putting a hand around her waist he pulled her close. Dekker spun her and traded places so he was closer to his door and then released her.
"We've been dancing around this for, like, two years now," she said. "When are we going to do something truly risky, you and me?"
He sighed. "There are some things about me," Dekker stated, "Things that I'm not open to sharing right away. I... I might need some time, Vivian."
Vesuvius smiled and leaned in for a kiss. She wrapped her arm around his neck and head and entwined her fingers in his hair. He kissed her back and squeezed her close to himself.
She exhaled heavily, almost with a moan, and bit the lobe of his lip.
"I do want to share these things with you."
Kissing his neck, she confessed between gasps of air, "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to finally take a hint."
Dekker kissed her again. "I want to tell you my first secret--one of the things that define me on such a deep level that I'm afraid to let even those truly close to me know." He pressed his lips to her neck. "I'd love to tell you over breakfast?"
"I'd love to get breakfast with you," a lascivious glimmer burned in her eyes. "But I'd rather that you told me right now."
He reached behind his back and pressed his thumb to the door scanner and unlocked his apartment. "The first thing about me that you should know..." he shoved her two steps backwards and stepped into his dormer before closing and locking the door. "I'm very old-fashioned."
Vesuvius pounded on his door with a closed fist. "Hey! Hey--let me in. Dekker, this isn't funny."
"Sorry," the door muffled his voice. "Old-fashioned."
She pounded on the door some more.
"I'll see you in the morning for breakfast? I cook some amazing eggs," Dekker promised.
"Hey!" Vesuvius hammered on the door another couple seconds before sheepishly spotting Guy who watched the entire ordeal. She clenched her fists and began walking to her own residence.
Guy grinned.
Vesuvius glowered at him. "Did you know about this?"
"What? That Dekker is kind of an old-fashioned prude? Everyone knows that. He's, like, my grandmother's spirit animal."
Vesuvius shoved him into the wall before storming off. She screamed, "I'll see you in the morning for breakfast!" Vesuvius flung her door opened and howled, not caring who heard anymore. "You're frittatas had better be freaking amazing!"
On the deck below, Shin grinned and paid the ante to take another card. He smiled at some of his other new friends. Everyone heard the incident... and none would ever dare speak about it in front of their fiery teammate.
He raised Jamba by two chips. Master Muramasa would be pleased to hear Dekker and Vesuvius were off to such a passionate start.
The end.
About the author:
Christopher D. Schmitz is the traditionally published and self-published author of both fiction and nonfiction. When he is not writing or working with teenagers he might be found at comic conventions as a panelist or guest. He has been featured on television, podcasts, and every other medium he can get into. He runs a blog for indie authors.
Always interested in stories, media such as comic books, movies, 80s cartoons, and books called to him at a young age—especially sci-fi and fantasy. He lives in rural Minnesota with his family where he drinks unsafe amounts of coffee. The caffeine shakes keep the cold from killing them.
Schmitz also holds a Master’s Degree in Religion and freelances for local newspapers. He is available for speaking engagements, interviews, etc. via the contact form and links on his website or via social media.
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Discover Fiction Titles by Christopher D Schmitz
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Dekker’s Dozen: Weeds of Eden
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