Easy Love

by K. Alice Compeau

  Beth was sprawled out across Lottie’s bed, flipping through one of the many magazines she’d brought over for hairstyle ideas for Lottie’s date. Even though Lottie had rejected every hairstyle Beth suggested, she kept searching for and suggesting more.

  “I think I just want to wear it down. It hides my profile. I hate my profile.” Lottie flipped her hair from side to side in the bathroom mirror.

  “What the fuck does that mean? You hate your profile?” Beth stared up from the magazine at Lottie.

  Lottie ignore Beth’s scrunched-face reflection eyeing her in the mirror.

  “I hate my nose. It’s so pointy, and from the side, I think I look like a witch.” Lottie jumped when the magazine came sailing into the bathroom, hitting her in the butt. “That hurt.”

  “Good!” Beth rolled off the bed and charged into the bathroom. She took Lottie by the shoulders and turned her to the side. “I ought to smack you. You have the world’s most perfect nose. They’re supposed to be pointy. Do you want it all pushed up like a pig nose?”

  “No, but…”

  “Besides, witches’ noses are crooked.” Beth spun Lottie back to face the mirror. “Wear your hair up so he can see your neck and think about how much he wants to kiss it. Then, when you bring him home to fuck him, you can have that magic moment where you let your hair down like a wild lion ready to devour him.”

  “Female lions don’t have manes.”

  Beth rolled her eyes. “Okay, wear your hair down. It’ll hide the marks I’m going to leave from strangling you.”

  Lottie stomped her foot. “Fine. You can put it up, but don’t pick that hairstyle that looked like a peacock, and if I hate it, I’m taking it down.”

  Beth clapped her hands and jumped up and down slightly. “Yay! Grab the curling iron, your brush, the hairspray, and a few pins and ties and bring them to the dining room.” She walked out of room.

  “Your arms aren’t broken,” Lottie muttered as she loaded the hair supplies and her makeup—which she was sure Beth was going to insist she let her do—into a small basket and headed into the dining room.

  Beth plugged in the curling iron and pulled out a chair. “Sit down. Oh, good, you brought the makeup!” Beth rubbed her hands together.

  “I’m not a doll, you know. Or a whore!” Lottie pointed her finger in Beth’s face.

  “I’m going to make you look amazing.”

  “Yeah right. You’ll probably leave me looking like the girl gremlin.”

  “No fuckin’ way. I’m a master.” Beth picked up the brush and began gently pulling it through Lottie’s hair.

  She sighed. “I love having my hair brushed.”

  “Oh, I know. Me too. Michael loves to brush my hair.”

  “Really? David never brushed mine. But I don’t think I ever asked him to either.”

  “You need to be more forward with the things you want. I have a feeling Grant will be very eager to give you anything your little heart desires. He’s so smitten with you.”

  “You really think so?”

  Beth pulled Lottie’s hair teasingly. “Are you kidding me? He’s got the hots for you so bad. Who ignored a horny redhead ready to suck his cock to be with you? Who gave you flowers? Who knocked you off your socks with a kiss that gave you the kind of look I never saw David give you?”

  Lottie’s face and neck burned with heat. She buried her face in her hands.

  “You drive me nuts sometimes with the way you doubt how beautiful you are. You’re amazing. I told you before and I’ll tell you again, if I was a dyke, you’d be the only pussy for me.” Beth picked up the curling iron and began working on Lottie’s hair.

  “You should really think about writing poetry, you know. You have such a beautiful way with words.” Lottie shook her head.

  Beth grabbed her head to keep it still. “I know. Now don’t move or I’m going to end up putting a burn mark across your face.”

  “I’m so nervous, Beth. I never thought I’d ever be dating again. I thought I’d be married forever.” Lottie sighed.

  “I know, sweetie. But if I’m being completely honest with you, I never really liked David, and neither did Michael. He hated whenever he had to fly with David. Everyone in the office called him Douche instead of David behind his back. Hand me a hair pin.” Beth held out her hand.

  Lottie placed a pin in it. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that before?”

  “Uh, cuz I’m not an asshole. No one wants to tell their friend that everyone hates their husband and calls him Douche.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me after he left?”

  “Because you still had your heart set on him coming back. And what if he did come back and then I’d be the horrible friend that hates your husband and we couldn’t be friends anymore?” Beth leaned forward and kissed Lottie on the cheek. “And I am keeping you forever.”

  “Are you hiding how you really feel about Grant, then?”

  “Honey, I think Grant is hot as fuck, and he’s absolutely perfect for you. He’s the kind of guy you deserve. Another pin.”

  Lottie handed Beth another pin and thought back to all the First Fridays they’d had at the squadron, never knowing that all the people smiling and chatting with them were secretly thinking of how much they hated her husband and that they all called him Douche.

  “Beth, if they called David ‘Douche,’ did they call me something too?” Lottie pursed her lips and closed her eyes.

  “No fuckin’ way. Everyone loves you. Michael always asked me what the fuck you were doing with a guy like that, cuz you’re so sweet and all. So what did you see in him anyway, besides his looks?”

  “I don’t know. He’s really handsome and maybe part of me always felt that I should be grateful that someone as good looking as him wanted anything to do with me.” Lottie sucked in the tearful feelings that bubbled up.

  “Oh my god. You need your eyes checked. You’re beautiful! David is not out of your league. Seriously, if you add in personality, you’re waaaaaaay out of his. Pin.”

  “You’re so good to me, Beth. I never would’ve made it through David leaving if it wasn’t for you, and I probably wouldn’t be going out with Grant tonight, either.”

  “I know, honey. And you wouldn’t have this awesome hair, either. Go look in the mirror before I start your makeup!”

  Lottie and Beth scampered down the hall and into the bathroom. A large grin overtook Lottie’s face when she looked at her hair in the mirror. “I love it!”

  “I told you I was good. Now let’s go do your makeup.”

  ***

  Her hair and makeup done, wearing the dress that Beth lent her, Lottie stood staring at the full-length mirror with Beth grinning and nodding behind her.

  “You’re a knockout, Lot.”

  “Thanks to you.” Lottie’s eyes stayed glued on the mirror. It looked like her. It wasn’t like she didn’t recognize herself, but she’d never looked into the mirror before unable to find fault somewhere. Her hair, her makeup, the dress, they all seemed to bring out her best features and hide any flaws that would have otherwise grabbed hold of her attention and made every positive quality moot.

  “I’d like to be here when Grant comes to check out his expression when he sees you, but I know that would be awkward as fuck. So I’m just going to grab my purse and Pickles and get the hell out of here.”

  “Thanks for watching him tonight.” Lottie hugged Beth. “And thanks for everything.”

  “Don’t you dare start crying and ruin that beautiful makeup job I did.” Beth squeezed her tight. “You deserve this.”

  Beth grabbed Pickles’s leash from the key hook and went to the back door. “Pickles! C’mon boy, you’re staying the night with Aunt Beth and Uncle Michael.” She hooked his leash on when he came tail-wagging to greet Beth, who he’d grown very fond of over the last week.

  “Remember to keep him on the leash! He’s stopped peeing here, but I don’t know if he’ll pee in your house since he’s somewhere new.”<
br />
  “Oh, don’t worry about that. If he pees, I’ll make Michael clean it. It’ll be payback for all the times I have to clean up piss from around the toilet when he comes home drunk from the o’club.” Beth blew a kiss to Lottie and headed out the door.

  Lottie closed the door and returned to her mirror. She still had twenty minutes before Grant was supposed to arrive, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself. She held her hand over her mouth and nose and huffed to check her breath. It seemed fine, but she decided she better brush again, especially her tongue. She was not planning on sleeping with him like Beth kept insisting would happen, but she sure hoped there’d be kissing. And lots of it.

  Lottie wrapped a towel around her neck, paranoid that she’d drip toothpaste on her dress, would have to change at the last minute, and ruin her hair when she pulled on something new.

  Happy that she didn’t even mess up her lipstick or slop toothpaste down her chin, she smiled at herself in the mirror and gave a little nod. She grabbed the small clutch she borrowed from Beth and put her ID, lip gloss, and wallet inside.

  Again, she turned to the full-length mirror and smoothed her hands over her body. The lack of fast food was already making a difference in her body. She could only imagine the changes she could make if she started going to spin and the reservoir with Beth more often. That’s when she’d sleep with Grant. When she was just as confident without clothes as she was in them right now. Her face flushed just thinking about sleeping with him, she wanted it. Badly. Her pelvis got warm, and a tingle rushed through her. If she was going to resist him tonight, she was going to have a hard time doing it.

  The doorbell rang. Lottie’s heart slammed into her stomach. Grant was early. She should have expected it, knowing how much he hated being late. She grabbed her clutch and pulled open the door with a wide grin, excited to see the look on his face when he saw how good she looked.

  The smile plummeted to the floor.

  David stood on the porch.

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice was tipped in anger, and her eyebrows slammed together.

  “Great to see you, too.” David brushed passed her. “This is your new place?” He shook his head as he looked around.

  Lottie burned with anger and felt embarrassed about her meager circumstances at the same time. “What are you doing here?”

  “You already asked that. Guess I better answer it. The sims in Hawaii are down for maintenance. I’m deploying, so I’ve got to get my training done. I leave for Al Udeid on Wednesday. You look pretty. Why do you look like that?”

  “How long are you deploying for?” Lottie shifted, hoping he wouldn’t ask her where she was going again and hoping she could get rid of him before Grant showed up.

  “Forty-five. What’s going on? You got a date or something?” David chuckled.

  Lottie tucked a loose tendril behind her ear, shrugging.

  “Oh.” David’s brow furrowed. “Who’s the guy? Someone from the squadron? Not one of my friends?” His voice deepened near a growl.

  “It’s no one you know. But he’s going to be here soon. I have your stuff all ready to mail out so you can come by and get it tomorrow.” Lottie opened the door for David to leave and noticed Grant’s truck turning onto her street.

  Fuck.

  “That’s not why I stopped by. I need to talk to you, Lottie.” David’s attention turned to the door as the headlights appeared in the driveway. “Does he know you’re married?”

  “Does that matter?” Lottie snapped. “It didn’t to you.”

  The sound of the car door silenced them both. Grant smiled at Lottie through the glass of the storm door. He held a bouquet of daisies. His eyes shifted to David.

  Lottie opened the door. Grant handed her the flowers. “Hey, Lottie.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  David stuck out his hand. “Hey man, I’m Lottie’s husband, David.”

  Grant nodded and shook David’s hand.

  Lottie shuddered at the awkward feel in the room. Why did David have to show up tonight? Without warning. To fuck up her life once again?

  “We’re getting divorced.” The words flew out of Lottie’s mouth so fast, she shocked herself. She’d never really admitted it to herself before, but right now it was all she wanted everyone to know.

  David’s eyes drifted up and down Grant. “Well, we hadn’t actually had that discussion yet.”

  “You’ve been living in Hawaii with your girlfriend for months. I’d say it’s a discussion we don’t need to officially have. What are you even doing here?” Lottie scowled and her fists clenched. Anger bubbled inside her that she wasn’t sure she could contain. This wasn’t what she wanted Grant to see on their first date. An explosion of anger and her husband.

  “Lottie, I told you. The sim is undergoing maintenance at Hickam.”

  “Not that. Why are you at my house? You could have done your training without stopping by here. I’ll mail you your clothes.”

  “I need to talk to you. It’s really important.” David turned to Grant. “Can you excuse us for a second, guy?”

  “His name is Grant. And he doesn’t have to go anywhere. We can talk later.” Lottie brushed between them, pushing open the storm door and motioning for David to leave.

  “I don’t think I’ll have much time later. I’ve got to get all my sim training done, and I’m all jacked up with jet lag. Can’t we talk tonight?”

  “No. As you can see, I have a date.” Lottie’s eyes narrowed, and her nostrils flared.

  David pressed his hands together in a pleading motion. “Come on, Lottie. I’m sure Grant can take you out tomorrow night instead.”

  Lottie huffed and crossed her arms, and a few daisy petals fell to the floor.

  “Lottie, if you two need to talk, I understand. We can try again some other time.”

  Glaring at David, Lottie’s eyes filled with burning, angry tears. If Grant left her alone with David, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t kill him. She turned to Grant. “I guess so. I’m not sure I’d be a good date now anyway.”

  Grant smiled at her, nodded to David, and walked out the door.

  The headlights flashed over their faces as Grant pulled out of the driveway.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Grant

  As Grant backed out of the driveway, his eyes were locked on Lottie’s through the glass door. Hers looked like glass. At least she hadn’t seemed happy that David was there.

  Fuck.

  Of course her husband had to look like that. Chiseled jaw, sharp featured, handsome. Grant could practically see his muscles and six pack rippling through his clothes. He looked like a character straight out of Top Gun, well, the Air Force version. Fire surged through his body. Didn’t Lottie say David lived in Hawaii? What was he doing in Oklahoma? Had he come to reclaim her? From the look in her eyes, if that was the reason, she wasn’t exactly receptive.

  Grant drove past his road. There was no way he was going to return so quickly and put up with Nana’s questions. He knew she didn’t approve of the fact that Lottie was still married in the first place. This would be just the type of story that would convince Nana that she needed to steer him away from Lottie even harder.

  He drove to Fat Daddy’s, went inside, and ordered a farmhouse burger, onion rings, and a beer. At the table, he pulled out his phone and send Dan Cooley a text.

  Grant: Date fell through. Up for Woody’s?

  Dan: What happened?

  Grant: I’ll tell you later. I’m at Fat Daddy’s.

  Dan: I’m already at Scooters. Meet me here when you’re done.

  Grant: Scooters?

  Dan: It has the most women.

  Grant: Ugh. Fine.

  Grant put his phone away and devoured his burger, saving his onion rings for last. He figured he could combat any drunk, desperate skanks with onion breath. He’d do his best to be a good wingman for Dan for the evening. At least it would keep his mind off Lottie and David.

  Shoving the last on
ion ring in his mouth, he chewed it as he grabbed his keys and walked out the door, cursing Dan for making him head to Scooters.

  Grant sat in the parking lot listening to the muffled music and watching the tube-top-clad women walking inside in groups of threes and fours. He shook his head and popped open the truck door, sighed, and headed toward the building behind two blondes, one with chicken legs that turned in at the knees and the other trying to wear the same style clothes even though she was six sizes too big to dress in such a way. Why did women let their friends go out looking like such messes? Did they not have the heart to be honest or were they just destroying all competition? His eyes followed the bulges that swayed and giggled over the confines of the way too tight skirt, made of what must have been the toughest denim in all of Oklahoma.

  “See something you like, honey?” The chicken-legged blonde eyed him up and down.

  Grant shook his head, reached for the door, and held it open for them. He pressed his lips tight, trying not to cringe as the big one gave him a smile that let him know that she was all his if he’d only ask.

  “Wanna join us?” Her voice boomed with a manliness that matched the black whiskers that were peeking through the pores of her chin.

  Grant felt the bubble of an onion ring burp slide up his throat, so he went with it, letting it out. “No thanks, looking for a friend.”

  From the look on her face, the burp had traveled through the smell of stale of beer that lingered in the bar and landed directly in her nose. She smiled anyway. “If you change your mind, come find me.”

  Grant nodded and headed through the crowd.

  “I’ll save you a dance,” she shouted after him.

  He nodded again and raised his hand to acknowledge he’d heard her and that she wouldn’t need to come find him later—just in case he hadn’t heard. Grant slowly waded through the crowds of visiting airmen looking for someone to take home for the evening and the bleach blonde ladies and their chubby friends who were all too eager to fill the roll.