Life After College
folder
Drama › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
4,057
Reviews:
86
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Drama › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
4,057
Reviews:
86
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 32
Hello, hello. Thank yous to all the people who have reviewed and all the ones who just read. I appreciate you sticking with me on this story. Means a lot. Especially when you\'ve been dealing with the whole \"Andrew Payne\" story for a little over a year now.
--Scribbles05
Chapter 32
When I got home that night, I was beat and ready to get a shower and hit the sack. Just as I was about to, the damn phone rang. I already knew who it was. “Hello, Sofia.”
“Hi, dad. How’d it go?”
“It was fine. We ate, we drank, we talked......”
“You exchange numbers?”
“No.”
“He’s cute though, right? Was I lying?”
“Yeah. He’s cute. I bet you didn’t know how much of a flirt your teacher was.”
She giggled. “He flirted? Oh how sweet!” I rolled my eyes. “So, do you like him?”
“I like him.”
“Do you LIKE him, like him though?”
“I....... Well....... It’s too soon to tell, Sofia. I don’t want to go too fast with this.”
“I can understand that. Just don’t give up on this too easily though, okay? I’m not trying to throw you into someone else’s arms now, but I also don’t want to see you living the rest of your life alone. I want you to be happy, daddy.”
“I am happy, babe.”
“I mean really happy.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll try.”
“Great. Now, when’s the next date?”
“How’d you know there’s another date?”
“You’re getting home late. I called a hundred times to see if you were home. Each time, you never answered. I figured the date must’ve been good then. So there has to be another date.”
“Tomorrow morning at The Cranberry Bistro .”
“Awwww.” I’ve got to get off the phone with her. “Daddy’s got another date with the cute professor.”
I sighed. “Goodnight, Sofia.”
************
Ten o’clock on the dot, I arrived at the bistro in a blue/white stripe cashmere sweater, white fitted slacks, and my necklace. The place was located on a food strip. It wasn’t a big place -more like a square- but it had small tables outside for people to eat in the sun, like all the other eateries on the strip did.
When I got there, the place looked empty. I didn’t see a single person in the place. I started to think that maybe I was stood up. I walked to the door and peeped in. Tyler showed up and opened the door from inside. “Hey. You made it.” I walked in and he shut the door behind me.
“Yeah. For a moment, I thought that you weren’t going to be here.”
“I’d never stand you up.” He smiled. He looked rather classy that morning; off-white slacks, brown leather belt, and a red/pink/white striped button up shirt. The shirt was left unbuttoned in the first two holes, showing his tanned chest and the slight portion of golden chest hair. Tyler was nowhere as big as Dicky was, but he was what I called “a just right” body. Meaning, he wasn’t very muscular, but he wasn’t skinny either.
He showed me inside the place and it was empty inside too. “Tyler you ARE really friends with the owner of this place, right? We’re not breaking in?”
He laughed. “No. My friend, John, is also the head chef of this place. He’s in the back fixing our breakfast.” He showed me to the room that was supposedly where all the customers eat, but there was only one table in the room. It was a glass tabletop decorated with a small flower centerpiece, two plates of white china, two glasses of water, two glasses of orange juice, two coffee cups, and two white cloth napkins folded to look like swans. “He owed me a favor and agreed to shut down his place this morning, so we could have a private breakfast.” We both sat down and folded the napkins over our legs. “You like omelets?”
“Sure.”
“Good. Because John makes the best Colorado omelets. They’re really big. I thought maybe we could share it.” He held up the coffeepot. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.” He poured me a cup and handed it to me. Garnishing it with sugar and creme, a took a sip to see if it was to my liking. It tasted familiar. “Hazelnut?”
“I love hazelnut. I don’t drink any other kind.” Tyler said as he poured his sugar.
“Me either. I remember me and......my husband used to fix it every morning before we went to work.”
“How long did you say you were married?”
“Seventeen years.”
“That’s a long time. I bet you miss him.”
“I do. A lot. But what can I do? He’s gone now and I have to try to move on. Atleast that’s what my kids keep saying to me.” He smiled. “Speaking of kids, you mentioned that you raised your brother’s kid.”
Tyler put his cup down. “Yeah. His name is Isaac Clay. My brother got into some trouble with the law and went to prison. Still there as a matter of fact. He was sentenced to fifty years with a chance at parole after thirty. Isaac’s mother was never around, so that left me. He was twelve when I took him.”
“You raised him all alone?”
“Yep. It took him some time to get over the fact that he probably won’t see his father again, but we weren’t exactly strangers to each other, so he adjusted well.”
A man dressed in a white and teal trim chef’s coat walked out from the back, holding a covered dish. “About time, John.” Tyler started. “You had us starving here.”
John laughed. “Perfection takes time. Can’t give your friend here shitty food, now can I? That would make me unhappy and ruin your date.” He removed the flower centerpiece and placed the large omelet in it’s place. It looked good. Smelled good too. I saw green peppers, chunks of steak, ham cubes, different cheeses, and of course egg. Next to the dish, he placed a large bowl of salsa to cover it with.
“It looks great.” I said.
“Thank you.” John said. “Hey lamebrain, are you going to introduce me to your date or what?”
“I’m sorry. John Wells, meet Andrew Payne. Andrew, John.”
We shook hands. “Nice to meet you.” I said.
“Likewise. Well, enjoy. If you need me, I’m in the back.”
************
The breakfast went well. The omelet turned out to be just as good as it smelled and looked. My conversations with Tyler were also pleasant. We laughed a lot, brought up the kids, talked about our jobs, talked about how much more beautiful we seemed to get with age. Tyler was turning out to be a great friend. I could tell he wanted to be more to me, but at the moment, that was all I was letting him be. He didn’t bring it out in the open until after we were both finished eating.
“I like you, Andrew. I like you a lot. I know it will take time to get there, but I’d like for us to start making a move towards being a couple.”
I knew this was going to happen. With my elbows on the table, I placed my hands over my mouth. “I like you too, Tyler. But I don’t think I can do this.”
“Do what?”
I sat back. “Starting over. With commitment and love. Hell, you’re my first date in over twenty years. I’m not even sure I’m ready for this dating stuff. For years, I’ve kissed the same man. For years, I’ve cuddled with the same man. For years, I’ve made love to the same man. I don’t know if I can start over again, Tyler.”
“That’s the thing, ‘you don’t know’. Give us a shot. Give me a shot to prove myself to you. I’m really not a bad guy.”
“I know you’re not a bad guy. And I’m not blaming you for this. It’s just.....”
Tyler leaned over, looking at me with concerned eyes. “Just what?”
I put my forehead in my hand and looked down at the table. “I’m scared. I don’t want to let go. I’m scared that if I do, I’ll lose all the memories I ever had with Dicky. I cheated on him once years ago, and......”
“You feel like you’d be cheating on him again.” He finished. “Andrew, I never met your husband, but I believe if he loved you the way you say he did, he wouldn’t want to see you living your life alone.” A few tears started to roll down my face. Tyler reached over and held my other hand in his, stroking it gently.
After a minute, I finally spoke in a low voice. “I’m sorry, Tyler. I...... I can’t give you an answer right now.”
“It’s okay. I won’t rush you or pressure you about this. Whatever you decide is okay by me. I just want you in my life. When you have an answer,” He reached in his pocket and pulled out his card. “call me.” He slid it into my hand then kissed it.
************
I was halfway asleep that night, when I felt a light touch going down my face. It was soft. Very soft. Like rose petals. It went through my hair then caressed my scalp with slow tenderness. Then I knew it was a hand. I slightly turned into it and sighed. That’s when I felt warm body heat hitting the side of my face. Who in the world is this at my house in the middle of the night? And why am I not grabbing my bat? “Hello, beautiful.” I heard someone say. It was heavy and smooth. I know that voice. God, I KNOW THAT VOICE!
My eyes snapped open and I came face to face with, “Dicky?” Dicky smiled that same beautiful smile of his. There was a special glint in his big brown baby doll eyes. I grabbed him with all my might before I knew it and started to cry. He pulled me up to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around me.
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
When I got myself together, I loosened my grip on him, but I didn’t let go. “I’ve missed you SO much.”
Dicky kissed my forehead. “I’ve missed you too.” He stood up and I got a look at his body clad in white linen pants and shirt. He held out his hand for me. “Come with me.” I grabbed his hand and suddenly found myself at the beach. The black water running over our bare feet. Not a soul was in sight. Dicky held my hand as we walked. “Gained a little weight over the years, haven\'t ya?”
I pushed him playfully. “Shut up.”
He laughed. “No. No. I like it.” He pulled me closer to him and put an arm around me. “You were too slender anyway. So tell me, how are Sofia and Damon?”
“They’re doing good. Damon is a senior in college. He’s taking sports medicine.”
“No soccer?”
“He messed up his knee pretty bad during a game.”
“Clint?”
“Clint is taking oceanography. He loves the water.”
“He WAS a lifeguard after all.” He bent down and grabbed a big pearl white seashell to hand to me. I ran my fingers over it. “Sofia and Raymond?”
“She’s a successful designer and he’s become a communications technician.”
Dicky smiled. “What else?”
“They’re engaged and she’s five months pregnant.”
“That’s great. I’m betting it’s a girl. You?”
I shrugged. “As long as it has two eyes and ten fingers and toes, I don’t care.”
“What about you? How are you doing?”
“I don’t know.” I said looking down at the shell again.
Dicky stopped walking then stopped me too. “You know. What’s the matter, baby?”
“Nothing.”
“Your mother was right. You ARE tightlipped.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“......N-No.”
“Yes you do. Tell me.” I was silent. “Tell me, Drew.”
“I haven’t let you go.” I whispered.
He nodded. “You’ve moved on over the years, but you’re still mourning. You went through a terrible spell the first three days after the funeral. I saw. I saw how you just became like a zombie. It hurt me to see you like that, baby. I cried for you.” Tears came down my face. “You have no idea how it pains me to see you year after year, become a shell of what you once were.”
“It’s hard. For years I’ve always had you by my side. Helping me, comforting me, making me feel whole. I can’t get that feeling back. No matter how hard I try, I can’t do it. I can never be whole again.”
“You can. You just wont let it.” We laid down next to each other on the sand. Dicky laid on his side and ran his fingers through my hair. “There is someone here that can fill that space for you.”
I looked at him. “Who?”
“Tyler.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tyler.......Tyler is.....”
“The right one for you. Tyler is the one, Drew.”
“How do you know?”
“I know some things. You remember when he told you in that restaurant that if I loved you, I wouldn’t want you to live the rest of your life alone?” I nodded. “He was right. I love you more than anyone in this world combined. And because I love you, I want you to be happy. Someone needs to be able to be there for you, hold you, talk to you, comfort you in every way; mentally and physically. I can’t do that for you anymore, baby. I’m gone. And as much as I want to, I can’t come back to you. That’s what you have to realize. Don’t keep this balled up inside you anymore. You MUST let go.”
I touched his chest then grabbed tightly to his shirt. “I don’t want to forget you.”
“You won’t forget me.” He smiled. “I can promise you that.”
“I love you, Dicky.”
“I love you too, baby. Always.” He leaned down and we kissed. Dicky still tasted the same, if not a little sweeter. I was aching for him to make love to me. To touch me like he used to. To caress all those places he knew I liked, without even having to tell him. But we both knew that doing that would only send me further back into my pain instead of forward.
************
I was greeted with a blinding light when I woke up the next morning. I must’ve left the curtains open the day before. I rubbed my eyes and tried to get the sleep fog out my head. Then it hit me. Dicky.
I sat up quick. “Dicky?!” I yelled from the bedroom. Silence. I grew frantic. “It wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t have been a dream. It was too real. I felt him. I........” I looked at my right hand and saw the pearl seashell. An overwhelming peace came over me and I immediately started to calm down. I knew it was Dicky. I looked down at the shell and smiled. I knew what I had to do.
I got out of bed and reached in the pocket of my pants from yesterday. I pulled out Tyler’s card and called him. “Hullo?” He murmured.
“Tyler?”
“Yeah. Who’s this?”
“It’s Andrew.”
“Andrew. Do you know it’s 6:30 in the morning?”
I smiled and looked at my clock. “No I didn’t. I need to see you.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. I got your address on this card. I’m coming over and don’t get dressed.”
“O-okay.” He said unsure. I hung up the phone. I didn’t get dressed either. I got in my car and drove to his place, dressed in black boxer/briefs, a white t-shirt, and my light brown peacoat. Come to find out, it was raining outside.
************
To have so much money, Tyler lived in small one-story home. A nice home, but smaller than what I expected. I didn’t care though. That was the least that was on my mind. I pulled up to the place and ran through the rain to the front door and knocked. The door opened and there stood Tyler in white boxers and a wrinkled white shirt, scratching his head. He looked at me and gave me a solemn smile. “Hello.”
“Hi.” I said before I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him softly.
We didn’t have sex. (That will come later) Instead, I dropped my $300 coat on the floor, grabbed his hand, and found my way to his bedroom. “You know, you could just ask me where my room is, you know.”
I smiled as I checked doors. “I’m just learning my way around. You decorate beautifully by the way.”
“Thank you.”
I found the right room and I crawled in the bed. Tyler came in after me and I snuggled up against him. He wrapped his arm around me and we both went to sleep..........totally at peace.
TBC......
Where you happy about Dicky\'s scene?
Epilogue coming up next. Please R&R.
--Scribbles05
Chapter 32
When I got home that night, I was beat and ready to get a shower and hit the sack. Just as I was about to, the damn phone rang. I already knew who it was. “Hello, Sofia.”
“Hi, dad. How’d it go?”
“It was fine. We ate, we drank, we talked......”
“You exchange numbers?”
“No.”
“He’s cute though, right? Was I lying?”
“Yeah. He’s cute. I bet you didn’t know how much of a flirt your teacher was.”
She giggled. “He flirted? Oh how sweet!” I rolled my eyes. “So, do you like him?”
“I like him.”
“Do you LIKE him, like him though?”
“I....... Well....... It’s too soon to tell, Sofia. I don’t want to go too fast with this.”
“I can understand that. Just don’t give up on this too easily though, okay? I’m not trying to throw you into someone else’s arms now, but I also don’t want to see you living the rest of your life alone. I want you to be happy, daddy.”
“I am happy, babe.”
“I mean really happy.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll try.”
“Great. Now, when’s the next date?”
“How’d you know there’s another date?”
“You’re getting home late. I called a hundred times to see if you were home. Each time, you never answered. I figured the date must’ve been good then. So there has to be another date.”
“Tomorrow morning at The Cranberry Bistro .”
“Awwww.” I’ve got to get off the phone with her. “Daddy’s got another date with the cute professor.”
I sighed. “Goodnight, Sofia.”
************
Ten o’clock on the dot, I arrived at the bistro in a blue/white stripe cashmere sweater, white fitted slacks, and my necklace. The place was located on a food strip. It wasn’t a big place -more like a square- but it had small tables outside for people to eat in the sun, like all the other eateries on the strip did.
When I got there, the place looked empty. I didn’t see a single person in the place. I started to think that maybe I was stood up. I walked to the door and peeped in. Tyler showed up and opened the door from inside. “Hey. You made it.” I walked in and he shut the door behind me.
“Yeah. For a moment, I thought that you weren’t going to be here.”
“I’d never stand you up.” He smiled. He looked rather classy that morning; off-white slacks, brown leather belt, and a red/pink/white striped button up shirt. The shirt was left unbuttoned in the first two holes, showing his tanned chest and the slight portion of golden chest hair. Tyler was nowhere as big as Dicky was, but he was what I called “a just right” body. Meaning, he wasn’t very muscular, but he wasn’t skinny either.
He showed me inside the place and it was empty inside too. “Tyler you ARE really friends with the owner of this place, right? We’re not breaking in?”
He laughed. “No. My friend, John, is also the head chef of this place. He’s in the back fixing our breakfast.” He showed me to the room that was supposedly where all the customers eat, but there was only one table in the room. It was a glass tabletop decorated with a small flower centerpiece, two plates of white china, two glasses of water, two glasses of orange juice, two coffee cups, and two white cloth napkins folded to look like swans. “He owed me a favor and agreed to shut down his place this morning, so we could have a private breakfast.” We both sat down and folded the napkins over our legs. “You like omelets?”
“Sure.”
“Good. Because John makes the best Colorado omelets. They’re really big. I thought maybe we could share it.” He held up the coffeepot. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.” He poured me a cup and handed it to me. Garnishing it with sugar and creme, a took a sip to see if it was to my liking. It tasted familiar. “Hazelnut?”
“I love hazelnut. I don’t drink any other kind.” Tyler said as he poured his sugar.
“Me either. I remember me and......my husband used to fix it every morning before we went to work.”
“How long did you say you were married?”
“Seventeen years.”
“That’s a long time. I bet you miss him.”
“I do. A lot. But what can I do? He’s gone now and I have to try to move on. Atleast that’s what my kids keep saying to me.” He smiled. “Speaking of kids, you mentioned that you raised your brother’s kid.”
Tyler put his cup down. “Yeah. His name is Isaac Clay. My brother got into some trouble with the law and went to prison. Still there as a matter of fact. He was sentenced to fifty years with a chance at parole after thirty. Isaac’s mother was never around, so that left me. He was twelve when I took him.”
“You raised him all alone?”
“Yep. It took him some time to get over the fact that he probably won’t see his father again, but we weren’t exactly strangers to each other, so he adjusted well.”
A man dressed in a white and teal trim chef’s coat walked out from the back, holding a covered dish. “About time, John.” Tyler started. “You had us starving here.”
John laughed. “Perfection takes time. Can’t give your friend here shitty food, now can I? That would make me unhappy and ruin your date.” He removed the flower centerpiece and placed the large omelet in it’s place. It looked good. Smelled good too. I saw green peppers, chunks of steak, ham cubes, different cheeses, and of course egg. Next to the dish, he placed a large bowl of salsa to cover it with.
“It looks great.” I said.
“Thank you.” John said. “Hey lamebrain, are you going to introduce me to your date or what?”
“I’m sorry. John Wells, meet Andrew Payne. Andrew, John.”
We shook hands. “Nice to meet you.” I said.
“Likewise. Well, enjoy. If you need me, I’m in the back.”
************
The breakfast went well. The omelet turned out to be just as good as it smelled and looked. My conversations with Tyler were also pleasant. We laughed a lot, brought up the kids, talked about our jobs, talked about how much more beautiful we seemed to get with age. Tyler was turning out to be a great friend. I could tell he wanted to be more to me, but at the moment, that was all I was letting him be. He didn’t bring it out in the open until after we were both finished eating.
“I like you, Andrew. I like you a lot. I know it will take time to get there, but I’d like for us to start making a move towards being a couple.”
I knew this was going to happen. With my elbows on the table, I placed my hands over my mouth. “I like you too, Tyler. But I don’t think I can do this.”
“Do what?”
I sat back. “Starting over. With commitment and love. Hell, you’re my first date in over twenty years. I’m not even sure I’m ready for this dating stuff. For years, I’ve kissed the same man. For years, I’ve cuddled with the same man. For years, I’ve made love to the same man. I don’t know if I can start over again, Tyler.”
“That’s the thing, ‘you don’t know’. Give us a shot. Give me a shot to prove myself to you. I’m really not a bad guy.”
“I know you’re not a bad guy. And I’m not blaming you for this. It’s just.....”
Tyler leaned over, looking at me with concerned eyes. “Just what?”
I put my forehead in my hand and looked down at the table. “I’m scared. I don’t want to let go. I’m scared that if I do, I’ll lose all the memories I ever had with Dicky. I cheated on him once years ago, and......”
“You feel like you’d be cheating on him again.” He finished. “Andrew, I never met your husband, but I believe if he loved you the way you say he did, he wouldn’t want to see you living your life alone.” A few tears started to roll down my face. Tyler reached over and held my other hand in his, stroking it gently.
After a minute, I finally spoke in a low voice. “I’m sorry, Tyler. I...... I can’t give you an answer right now.”
“It’s okay. I won’t rush you or pressure you about this. Whatever you decide is okay by me. I just want you in my life. When you have an answer,” He reached in his pocket and pulled out his card. “call me.” He slid it into my hand then kissed it.
************
I was halfway asleep that night, when I felt a light touch going down my face. It was soft. Very soft. Like rose petals. It went through my hair then caressed my scalp with slow tenderness. Then I knew it was a hand. I slightly turned into it and sighed. That’s when I felt warm body heat hitting the side of my face. Who in the world is this at my house in the middle of the night? And why am I not grabbing my bat? “Hello, beautiful.” I heard someone say. It was heavy and smooth. I know that voice. God, I KNOW THAT VOICE!
My eyes snapped open and I came face to face with, “Dicky?” Dicky smiled that same beautiful smile of his. There was a special glint in his big brown baby doll eyes. I grabbed him with all my might before I knew it and started to cry. He pulled me up to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around me.
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
When I got myself together, I loosened my grip on him, but I didn’t let go. “I’ve missed you SO much.”
Dicky kissed my forehead. “I’ve missed you too.” He stood up and I got a look at his body clad in white linen pants and shirt. He held out his hand for me. “Come with me.” I grabbed his hand and suddenly found myself at the beach. The black water running over our bare feet. Not a soul was in sight. Dicky held my hand as we walked. “Gained a little weight over the years, haven\'t ya?”
I pushed him playfully. “Shut up.”
He laughed. “No. No. I like it.” He pulled me closer to him and put an arm around me. “You were too slender anyway. So tell me, how are Sofia and Damon?”
“They’re doing good. Damon is a senior in college. He’s taking sports medicine.”
“No soccer?”
“He messed up his knee pretty bad during a game.”
“Clint?”
“Clint is taking oceanography. He loves the water.”
“He WAS a lifeguard after all.” He bent down and grabbed a big pearl white seashell to hand to me. I ran my fingers over it. “Sofia and Raymond?”
“She’s a successful designer and he’s become a communications technician.”
Dicky smiled. “What else?”
“They’re engaged and she’s five months pregnant.”
“That’s great. I’m betting it’s a girl. You?”
I shrugged. “As long as it has two eyes and ten fingers and toes, I don’t care.”
“What about you? How are you doing?”
“I don’t know.” I said looking down at the shell again.
Dicky stopped walking then stopped me too. “You know. What’s the matter, baby?”
“Nothing.”
“Your mother was right. You ARE tightlipped.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“......N-No.”
“Yes you do. Tell me.” I was silent. “Tell me, Drew.”
“I haven’t let you go.” I whispered.
He nodded. “You’ve moved on over the years, but you’re still mourning. You went through a terrible spell the first three days after the funeral. I saw. I saw how you just became like a zombie. It hurt me to see you like that, baby. I cried for you.” Tears came down my face. “You have no idea how it pains me to see you year after year, become a shell of what you once were.”
“It’s hard. For years I’ve always had you by my side. Helping me, comforting me, making me feel whole. I can’t get that feeling back. No matter how hard I try, I can’t do it. I can never be whole again.”
“You can. You just wont let it.” We laid down next to each other on the sand. Dicky laid on his side and ran his fingers through my hair. “There is someone here that can fill that space for you.”
I looked at him. “Who?”
“Tyler.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tyler.......Tyler is.....”
“The right one for you. Tyler is the one, Drew.”
“How do you know?”
“I know some things. You remember when he told you in that restaurant that if I loved you, I wouldn’t want you to live the rest of your life alone?” I nodded. “He was right. I love you more than anyone in this world combined. And because I love you, I want you to be happy. Someone needs to be able to be there for you, hold you, talk to you, comfort you in every way; mentally and physically. I can’t do that for you anymore, baby. I’m gone. And as much as I want to, I can’t come back to you. That’s what you have to realize. Don’t keep this balled up inside you anymore. You MUST let go.”
I touched his chest then grabbed tightly to his shirt. “I don’t want to forget you.”
“You won’t forget me.” He smiled. “I can promise you that.”
“I love you, Dicky.”
“I love you too, baby. Always.” He leaned down and we kissed. Dicky still tasted the same, if not a little sweeter. I was aching for him to make love to me. To touch me like he used to. To caress all those places he knew I liked, without even having to tell him. But we both knew that doing that would only send me further back into my pain instead of forward.
************
I was greeted with a blinding light when I woke up the next morning. I must’ve left the curtains open the day before. I rubbed my eyes and tried to get the sleep fog out my head. Then it hit me. Dicky.
I sat up quick. “Dicky?!” I yelled from the bedroom. Silence. I grew frantic. “It wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t have been a dream. It was too real. I felt him. I........” I looked at my right hand and saw the pearl seashell. An overwhelming peace came over me and I immediately started to calm down. I knew it was Dicky. I looked down at the shell and smiled. I knew what I had to do.
I got out of bed and reached in the pocket of my pants from yesterday. I pulled out Tyler’s card and called him. “Hullo?” He murmured.
“Tyler?”
“Yeah. Who’s this?”
“It’s Andrew.”
“Andrew. Do you know it’s 6:30 in the morning?”
I smiled and looked at my clock. “No I didn’t. I need to see you.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. I got your address on this card. I’m coming over and don’t get dressed.”
“O-okay.” He said unsure. I hung up the phone. I didn’t get dressed either. I got in my car and drove to his place, dressed in black boxer/briefs, a white t-shirt, and my light brown peacoat. Come to find out, it was raining outside.
************
To have so much money, Tyler lived in small one-story home. A nice home, but smaller than what I expected. I didn’t care though. That was the least that was on my mind. I pulled up to the place and ran through the rain to the front door and knocked. The door opened and there stood Tyler in white boxers and a wrinkled white shirt, scratching his head. He looked at me and gave me a solemn smile. “Hello.”
“Hi.” I said before I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him softly.
We didn’t have sex. (That will come later) Instead, I dropped my $300 coat on the floor, grabbed his hand, and found my way to his bedroom. “You know, you could just ask me where my room is, you know.”
I smiled as I checked doors. “I’m just learning my way around. You decorate beautifully by the way.”
“Thank you.”
I found the right room and I crawled in the bed. Tyler came in after me and I snuggled up against him. He wrapped his arm around me and we both went to sleep..........totally at peace.
TBC......
Where you happy about Dicky\'s scene?
Epilogue coming up next. Please R&R.