by Blair Grey
There was gossip that part of the reason he had married so quickly was because the new wife had money. I didn’t want to believe that about him, but I also wouldn’t blame him if that was the case.
“Well, I wasn’t about to ask him for money, either. The money he would send me every now and then did help keep lunch on the table, but it wasn’t enough to really do anything. I wasn’t ever the time to ask for help, anyway, so it was really hard to struggle like that,” she explained.
“Welcome to adulthood,” I replied. She gave me a look, but I just shrugged. She was so determined I view her as a woman, I wasn’t going to withhold the other parts of adulthood from her.
“So, as an adult,” she emphasized the sentence, “I knew I had to figure this out on my own. I’ve never been the kind of girl who wanted to get into stripping or anything like that-”
“At least you have some standards,” I interjected.
“So, I knew I had to do something else. Drugs seemed a little dark for me, so I was hanging around with the people who were also struggling to pay. I wanted to figure out how they were getting money for their student loans and paying for life when none of them seemed to have jobs. Or, at the very least, just part time jobs,” she took another drink of her beer, and I said nothing.
“One of them told me about these guys who dealt art. It was under-the-table pay. Under the radar pay. At first, it sounded like a good idea. Like people who were trying to get money for their art, but didn’t want to deal with all the bullshit that came with galleries,” she said.
“So you thought this was something legit at first?” I asked.
She nodded. “I thought it sounded sleazy, but I didn’t think I was going to wind up with the mob. Anyway, I got on the radar of this guy named Kline. He was nice at first, and he did have a lot of money. He loved the work I was able to procure for him.”
“And when you say procure, you mean?”
“Steal, alright? I stole it,” she snapped. “But it was money, and it was keeping me in school and I didn’t have to get any from my dad. So anyway, he was nice at first, and I was keeping the art coming. We were spending quite a bit of time together, but he was getting more and more familiar with me.”
“He wanted more, right?” I guessed.
“Yeah. It got to the point where he didn’t just want art, he wanted me to do sexual favors and shit like that. I didn’t want to do any of it, and I told him to back off. Then this one night, he got really drunk and handsy. When I refused, he hit me.”
My blood boiled. It didn’t matter if she got herself into that situation or not. The thought of anyone hitting Erika was enough to make me want to kill the man.
“I wasn’t going to put up with that, but I managed to talk him down. I promised all these things to him that I would do the next day, when I was really just trying to buy time. Then, as soon as he drank enough to pass out, I stole some of my art back, along with all the money that he had in his drawer and wallet. And, I ran,” she said.
“I came straight here. I’ve hardly slept, and I’ve been doing all that I can to keep the travel under wraps. I didn’t want him to know where I’d gone, but with him being part of the mob, I have a feeling he’s got a way of finding out. He’s bound to be after me already. I’m so scared of what’s going to happen when he finds me.” She drained the rest of her beer and dragged her hand across her mouth, setting the bottle on the table.
At first, I didn’t know what to say. I was pissed she had been so stupid, but I was also pissed she was being chased. This was a fucked up situation, and I had to fix it. I was going to fix it. But I had to think about how to do it the right way.
Finally, I rose from my chair. “I bet you’re hungry. I’m going to get another beer, and we can order a pizza. Put something on the TV, and you can sleep on the couch tonight, how’s that sound?”
She looked up at me. There were mixed emotions on her face, but she clearly knew she had to keep herself together. She finally nodded. “Okay, yeah; that’s fine with me, thank you.”
I grabbed two more beers out of the fridge and opened them, handing one to her before heading back to my bedroom. I had to figure this shit out, but first, I was going to drink a beer in the shower. I’d left money on the counter for the pizza guy, and I’d drift back out there later.
No one was going to hurt her. I would make damn sure of that. I didn’t care what it took.
But damn, this was going to be shitty.
4
Erika
I woke to the sunlight streaming in around the curtains. It blinded me from where I was sleeping on the couch. It was so strange to be in this room – this apartment now. It hadn’t been an apartment when I was a kid, so it took some getting used to having the kitchen suddenly behind me.
When I was a kid, this had been my bedroom, plus another room in the house. They’d clearly taken down a wall here and put one up there, changing the look of the entire place. But, it was still small and easy to navigate. Ideal, I supposed, for a bachelor.
I could hear Adam moving around in his room. He was clearly up back there, but it was hard to figure out what he was doing. I wasn’t about to ask him for anything, not after what he had done for me the night before. Hell, I knew it had to be shitty for him to have me show up out of nowhere and dump all my issues on him.
Especially with the history we had together. Or rather, didn’t have. I was still rather embarrassed over the fact that I had thrown myself at him so openly that day, and he had turned me down. Noble, I now figured, but embarrassing all the same.
At first, I didn’t know if I should stay on the couch where I had fallen asleep the night before or if I should get up and get dressed, as well. The only bathroom in the entire apartment was through his bedroom, so I wasn’t going to walk through there to put my bra back on.
But, I’d taken it off after he had gone to bed, and I didn’t want to have it halfway back on when he came back out. Well, part of me did, but I didn’t want him to think I was trying to seduce him all over again.
I would be thrilled if that happened, but I wasn’t going to do anything so openly provocative.
At last, I decided to hurry with the bra before he came out, and then head to the kitchen to start some coffee. I’d noticed the coffee pot with the coffee right next to it on the counter the day before, and I figured he’d appreciate having it ready when he came out of the bedroom.
I padded my way out, moving the pizza box to the side and throwing away the paper plates we’d used. I was struck by the fact he didn’t have much in the way of real dishes. Mugs and silverware, but the majority of his plates were paper. Again, something that I figured was fit for the lifestyle of a bachelor.
Maybe you should stop assuming he’s single. You didn’t talk about it last night, and for all you know, he might have a girlfriend. It doesn’t look like it from this place, but maybe she doesn’t live here. Maybe they aren’t serious.
Ugh! Why are you even thinking about this at all? You are here for help, not to get laid, and you can’t just assume he’s going to turn his life all around because you showed up out of nowhere.
I filled the coffee pot with water and put the coffee in the filter, then I assembled the coffee maker. After hitting the brew button, I padded my way back out to the living room.
Even the flooring was different than when I lived here. Now, the kitchen had hardwood flooring, and the carpeting was only in what was now the living room and the bedroom. I assumed that where they’d put the bathroom was also hardwood, but I couldn’t really remember from the night before.
We’d had three beers a piece, and though that wasn’t a lot for me, I had the first two on an empty stomach, and by the time the pizza arrived, I was about through with the third. It was a good buzz, that was for sure. I did remember Adam heading to bed long before the movie was over.
I hoped it was because he was tired, not because I’d gotten too flirty for his comfort.
The aroma of coffee
filled the air, and I heard Adam in the bathroom. It wasn’t long before his feet sounded in the hall, and he came shuffling out into the kitchen, squinting with the light on already. He had always been a zombie before he had his first cup of coffee in the morning, I remembered that from when he worked with my father at his shop.
Sure, they didn’t open their doors until noon, but with the training that he was doing, he and my father would be in there for hours before the doors were actually opened to clients. Those were the hours that I still treasured.
When summer came and I was out of school, I would often show up and linger, pretending that I was looking at the art and showing the sketches that I’d done to my father, but really I was just trying to get closer to Adam. He’d been friendly, teasing me and joking as he always had, but it changed the older I got.
I still remembered the day when he told us he was going to the military. I was so upset, but I hid it well. I blamed myself for it, and knew I had screwed up majorly. But, it had happened, and there was no taking it back. I wasn’t going to beg him to stay.
Hell, by that time I was well on my way to getting into college in Boston anyway. Perhaps if Adam had known that is what I wanted to do, he would have stayed in Santa Rosa with my father.
“Coffee’s done,” I called over my shoulder.
He grunted at me, and I smiled, rolling my eyes. I got up and headed to the kitchen, just in time to see him pour us both a mug of the steaming liquid. He was dressed in shorts and an army green tank top, showing the extensive tattoos he had all over his body.
They peaked out from the sides, making me wonder what else there was to see. I’d never actually seen him without a shirt on, despite the fact we had spent so much time together when I was a teenager. But, that didn’t stop me from imagining.
It was so unfair of him to be so hot. God, every time he walked in the room, I thought about all the things I wanted to do to him. I had lost my virginity when I was in college, so that was out of the way now. Of course, I wouldn’t tell him that, not unless he asked, but I wondered if it would help me get into his bed.
My eyes ran over his body, lingering not only on his arms and tattoos, but also on his leg. Or, rather, his lack of a leg. I had noticed there was something off with the way he had walked the day before. I didn’t want to bring it up, but now with his shorts on, I could clearly see what it was.
He was missing his lower right leg, just below the knee. The prosthetic wasn’t at all noticeable when he was wearing his pants, but with the shorts, I could see everything. I didn’t dare bring it up, but I did wish he could know how cool I thought it was.
I knew there was a lot of shame for soldiers who had lost their limbs in combat, and I didn’t know if he was dealing with any sort of PTSD. But, if he ever brought it up to me, I would be sure to tell him that I thought it was sexy. Hell, everything about him was sexy. Though I’d wish for him to have his leg back for his sake, I’d tell him in a heartbeat it didn’t matter at all for mine.
He handed me my cup of coffee, and I smiled as I thanked him. He still didn’t speak as he walked into the living room and turned on the news, sinking into the couch. As I sat down next to him, I was sure to make space between us. I had to be careful, not just for his sake and appearances, but for my own.
I didn’t know what would come over me if I were to touch him. With the experience I had, I would be careful over what would happen. I knew how to touch a man and make him happy. I knew how to make him want me. But, I didn’t want to do anything like that with Adam until I knew I wouldn’t be turned down again.
We watched the news in silence. It wasn’t anything I found too interesting. Just the basic politics and celebrity gossip that always ciphered through on a Sunday morning. The weather came on, then the local news. But, if that’s what Adam wanted to watch with his coffee, I wasn’t going to interrupt.
By the time he rose and got us bother another cup, I had finally worked up the courage to actually converse with him, feeling that he was now awake enough to talk to me without being too grumpy. If I remembered right, he only needed to get through one before he was able to talk and be as cheerful as he ever was.
But know that he’s not the same man you knew before. There are many things about him that are the same, but it’s been the better part of a decade since he last saw you, and you saw him.
Things change, and you have to respect that they might have with Adam. Yes, even with dear Adam.
As he settled into the couch once more, I took a sip of my coffee before I finally took a deep breath and spoke.
“So, what’s the next step?” I asked. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “With my shit, I mean. What are we going to do next? Are you going to help me, or…”
The question dangled in the air, and I hoped I didn’t say anything off putting, but the glare on his face warned me that I’d crossed a line. I cleared my throat and took another drink, then tried again.
“We never really talked about what we were going to do last night, or if you were going to help me through this,” I said.
“Of course, I’m going to fucking help you,” he replied. He didn’t really snap at me, but there was something in his tone that told me he was offended that I’d brought it up the way I had. “Cooper would murder me if I didn’t.”
“Please, don’t tell my dad,” I said quickly. “I really don’t want him to know about any of this, for a variety of reasons.”
“You deserve what he’d give you,” he replied.
“I know, but I don’t want him to think that of me,” I replied.
“Tell me all you know about this Kline guy. Everything, what he looks like, age, what he does outside of art forgery, social contacts – anything and everything you can, I need to know. In as great of detail as possible,” Adam changed the subject. I took another drink of my coffee before I answered.
It took me a while to get through the description. There were so many things that I didn’t know about the guy, but a lot of things that I thought rather useless that I did. Adam kept grilling me throughout, trying to get more information out of me.
When I finally couldn’t give him anymore, he got off the couch and took his empty mug to the kitchen. I stayed on the couch. He still hadn’t told me what we were going to do or how he was going to help me. But, he had his phone in his hand and was calling someone on his way back to the bedroom. I couldn’t hear the words he was saying, but he was talking in an agitated way.
I took the final drink of my coffee and stared into the bottom of the empty mug. I didn’t know who he was talking to, but I hoped to God whoever was on the other end of that line would be able to help me.
Or I was done for.
5
Adam
Erika was so much like the lost puppy dog I remembered her to be, it was almost painful. She watched me like a hawk. Everything I did, she was watching. It would have been annoying if it was anyone but her. But since it was her, I found it hot.
I liked that she was so in to me. It was obvious she wanted me. But that in itself brought up problems. I’d done a good job of deflecting and ignoring all that she’d flirted with me the night before, but I knew I wanted to flirt right back. There were so many things that I wanted to say and do, it was bad – really bad.
I was going to keep control over myself, I had to. If I was going to take care of her, I was going to have to maintain control.
But what would it really hurt? You wanted her before, and clearly, not much has changed. Considering that dream you had about her last night, you are clearly still interested.
But you never did anything. She was a kid, and that would have been wrong. I mean, you would have gone to jail, and that’s the last thing any of us needed, really.
Now, she’s legal, and she wants you. So? What’s the problem?
Her father. Her father is the problem. Cooper would be pissed if he found out. But then, he would be pissed about this entire thing – the exact reason why she doesn�
�t want you to tell him. This entire thing is so fucked up, why do you get yourself into messes like this?
“There’s someone at the door!” Erika said almost immediately after a knock sounded through the house. Since she was under stress, I bit my tongue over the snide remark that I was going to give her on my way through the living room.
I opened the door, and Aaron gave me a tired look.
“You sure you’re not drunk, bud? You sounded a lot that way on the phone,” I said.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t drunk, I said I could help you,” he drawled.
“It’s Sunday at ten, what’s got you so buzzed up now?” I asked as he walked through the door. He set the laptop down on the chair and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and his index finger.
“It’s not like I’m drunk again, more like I’m still drunk,” he said. “I was over with Zach and Vanessa for most of the night and didn’t get home until like four or five.”
“Shit, man, sorry I got you up so early,” I laughed. “It was like waking the dead.”
“And you shouldn’t do that, if you didn’t know,” he replied. “Do you have coffee? Or food?”
“There’s some pizza in the other room. And coffee. Why don’t you grab yourself a cup and eat some pizza to soak up some of that booze before we begin. We’re going to need you to be a little more coherent,” I suggested as I slapped him on the back.
“That’s an insult to my sensibilities,” he replied as he made his way through the living room. “Who’s this?”
“This is the girl I told you about. Erika, this is Aaron, he’s a buddy of mine. Aaron, this is Erika, she’s an old friend,” I introduced the two of them, but he didn’t give her much more than a nod. Erika didn’t seem to mind, so I merely followed my friend into the kitchen.
Aaron wasn’t a habitual drunk, but he certainly had his moments. I largely blamed the Navy for that. They were known for their drinking more than we in the Army were. At least, that’s what I was told. I never really verified the story, though I could admit that the SEALS in the MC did tend to get together and drink more than I was invited.