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They fantasized about living together, what it might mean for their relationship. And what would happen if she got a job out of town or, worse, it didn’t work out.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. There are plenty of schools around here. And I don’t mind commuting from Cypress Cove.”
It would mean getting his father to increase his pay a little more. Who knows? He could even start up his own internet service. They talked and he shared his ideas.
“I think you might be good for me,” he said, touching his beer bottle to her soda glass. “I usually don’t think about self-improvement.”
“Why not?” she asked, listening to him intently. “You’re smart and hardworking. You should be free to plan for yourself.”
“I was raised to work for the family business so I could take over someday. It never occurred to me to do anything else for a living. I had fantasies, don’t get me wrong, but they were just that.”
“A family business is a big deal though. In that case, if we get serious, I would do what I could to keep you close to Cypress Cove.”
“I think we’re serious,” Steve said, watching her reaction. “I invited you to my house, and you brought an overnight bag. That sounds pretty serious to me.”
“Ha! Maybe I’m being too pushy?”
“Not at all. I like it,” he said, looking at his watch. “I’m thinking about getting in bed right about now, what do you think?”
“I’ll help you clean up and get into the shower.”
“Nope, I’ll clean up,” he said. “You go do what you have to do.”
They stood at the same time and he hugged her. “I guess now’s a good a time as any to ask. Do you take birth control?”
“I do,” she said. “We’re safe.”
He nodded and let her go.
While she showered and he cleaned up, he saw that the pattern he’d started with Annie had been a mistake. After they ate a meal she always arranged for, either through preparing it or takeout, he’d park his body in front of the TV while she cleaned up. Expecting her to watch what he wanted to watch might have been the next mistake, because she used that time to do laundry or read. Maybe if he’d thought about her comfort, she would have been more excited to take care of his needs. He’d acted just like his father had, using his mother.
It was too late. He’d make sure he didn’t make the same mistakes with Lisa. While she showered, he got the bedroom ready for romance, with candles and his famous Surgilube.
The shower faucet squeaked, so he knew she was finished; he’d get in next and let her snoop around.
Surprise! She came out with a towel around her body, wet hair, beautiful with no makeup.
“Wow, I don’t want to leave this, but I’d better get in the shower myself.”
“Here, I’ll give you a peek,” she said, opening the towel with a grin.
Moving closer, he looked at her body and had a body rush she could see, pleasing her. Annie was dark and voluptuous; Lisa was slim and had a youthful body with small breasts high on her chest and just a few hairs down below.
“I guess I pass the test?”
“You more than pass the test,” he blurted out. “I’m using every bit of self-control I have not to throw you on the bed and go a little crazy.”
“Go ahead,” she drawled.
“No, I’ve been working all day. I need to shower. I’ll see you in ten minutes tops.”
In the past months he’d gotten slovenly with Annie, and he wasn’t going to do that to Lisa. He disappeared into the bathroom, and as soon as the door closed, she did as he’d expected. The first thing she grabbed was the album of their wedding pictures stacked on a shelf under the nightstand closest to the door. She assumed that side of the bed must have been the wife’s. Ex-wife’s.
She opened the white satin cover; it was obviously a handmade gift, with seed pearls and crystals. Why would she leave her wedding pictures? The first picture took her breath away. Not sure what she expected the pregnant ex to look like, maybe a slovenly shrew, it wasn’t this. A beautiful, young, obviously madly in love bride stared back at her, and a tall, handsome, obviously in love groom stared down at the bride with such devotion on his face. She leafed through the photos, the gorgeous woman and her friends and family at the forefront of each picture.
Hearing the squeak of the shower turning on, she quickly dressed, throwing everything into her bag, deciding she’d get her toiletries later, and remembering to get her purse and phone off the kitchen table, she ran out of the house, into her car, and headed for her father’s house.
When Steve came out of the bathroom ten minutes later with a towel around his waist, he saw the empty bedroom with his wedding album open on the bed.
