Heels of Love (G Street Chronicles Presents From Love to Loathe Series) (6 page)

Jyme sipped on his coffee then turned to her. “I guess seven or eight months now,” he answered. Kanoke and Loon both were looking as if breathing was hard to do now.

“I hear she’s engaged to that guy,” Ayashe told him.

“Cricket, what kind of…what do you do?” Loon asked.

I hadn’t really heard his voice all-night, and he definitely hadn’t addressed my presence before now. “I’m an Auditor.” My boss told me in my interview that I was never to tell anyone outside my department what I did. He told me to find a lie and stick with it.

“How long have you been doing that?” Loon asked.

Everyone’s attention was on me now, and the twins were not even ready for their encore performance. I had my accessible bra on, once I unhook these straps and the twins have full range. It’s all over for anyone who likes breast. I didn’t like this unannounced spotlight. “About two days now,” I answered.

I looked over at Jyme, and he was looking for the waiter. It was obvious Ayashe had hit a nerve, as was obviously her purpose. She would have to dish once we got outside.

The waiter came with the check, and Jyme handed him a credit card. I was going to pay for Ayashe’s dinner since she did me a solid on such short notice. I whispered to Jyme, “I was going to pay for Ayashe’s dinner; I didn’t bring her for-”

His glare silenced me. “I don’t want you to see me like this,” he growled.

“Like what, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“I have to go, right now. I will call you later,” he answered. He stood up, and Kanoke and Loon mimicked him. All three of them left the table, and I saw Jyme meet the waiter halfway. He signed the bill and grabbed his card. He didn’t look back as he left the restaurant.

I felt my eyes burning, and then I pulled myself together. Ayashe was silently finishing her Tiramisu. I moved one seat over and leaned into her.

“Sooo…who’s Elle?” I asked.

“I’m going to let him tell you that one,” she answered.

“How well do you know him?”

“I know of him, but I know his friend Sheen better,” she answered with a giggle.

“Oh, do tell?”

“I met Sheen one summer, when I was visiting my Grandmother on the reservation. He was friends with my cousin, and they hung out together the whole summer. He was my summer of firsts, and I fell head over heels for him. He had a girlfriend, but they were taking the summer off, so to speak. We met up in this small cave and it was nice. I soon found out though, that it was both of our first time. That made it even sweeter, he was gentle.”

I watched her while she talked about him; she had this sparkle in her eye. She smiled and then took another sip from her glass. “And then what happened?”

“Oh, you know…we grow up and moved on.”

“When did you see him last?”

“About three months ago. He works for Jyme now.”

“Oh.”

“That was ages ago, and I happen to know for a fact he’s in a serious relationship now.”

I gave her a small smile, and then my phone chimed. I reached into my clutch and pulled it out. That number I knew well now appeared on the screen and the text read, “Can I please see you tonight?” I couldn’t help but feel all warm fuzzies inside now, after hearing her story.

“When and where?” I hit reply.

I was intrigued by the Elle subject; I had to know more. My phone chimed, and I read the screen. “Where do you feel safe?” I thought about it for a minute and thought of the perfect place. I saw it yesterday on my drive into the city.

I responded, and soon after, Ayashe and I left the restaurant. I thanked her again and made her promise to let me take her out to a real dinner this weekend.

It took me twenty minutes to get to my destination. I unplugged my dying phone, and I had two strong battery bars holding on. I put the phone on vibrate and sat in the back in the shadows. There were a few people up front, and no one gave me a second glance. I should have gone upfront, lit three candles, and said a prayer for all three of them. But my feet wouldn’t let me move. I sat there waiting for him instead. I thought about my old life and then I started feeling sorry for myself. I don’t get like this too often, but Catholic churches are my weakness. I sat there another five minutes or so and then he sat down right beside me; I almost didn’t recognize him. He wore a sweat-suit and sneakers. He left his hood on his head, and he was taking deep breaths.

“Did you run here?” I whispered.

He nodded.

“Where do you live?”

“On the reservation,” he whispered back.

“But why are you in Seattle?” I asked.

“I work here,” he answered.

“You fish here?” I asked.

“I own my own fishing company.” My eyes widened, and I blew out a frustrated breath.

“I wanted to tell you this tonight, but things got a little carried away, and then you showed up with Ayashe,” he said.

“You told me you were a fisherman,” I hissed. A couple of people a few benches up turned around and stared at us. I did the sign of the cross, and then I bent my head.

“Are you Catholic?” he whispered.

“No, I’m Methodist.”

“Why are we here?” he asked.

“Methodists don’t leave their churches open twenty four hours a day.”

“This isn’t right.” He shook his head in disgust.

“God is God, and He doesn’t care what church I’m in.” I whispered.

“I’m sorry about tonight. I’ve never been on a date with someone I don’t know,” he explained. “Kanoke and Loon both work for me, and they wanted to meet you. They didn’t believe me when I told them I was going on a date. I normally go by myself to nice restaurants and watch other people on dates,” he explained.

“Who is Elle?” I whispered.

He swallowed and then looked at me. “My ex,” he whispered.

“Oh,” I answered, I kind of figured that, but I needed him to say it.

“She really messed me over, and it took me a long time to get over her,” he stated. He put his head back down, and two people left the sanctuary. I could hear the door creek open and shut.

“Are you over her?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

I pulled his face toward mine; I needed him to make eye contact with me. “Well, why did you get so upset when Ayashe asked you about her?”

“I wanted to tell you about her myself, and she caught me off guard. She pissed me off,” he explained.

I watched him, and he didn’t blink. His big full lips were moist, and I just wanted to lick them with my tongue. I had to suck both of my lips under my teeth; I bit down hard trying to compose myself. I was in a church for goodness sake.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Good,” he sighed.

I did the cross thing again and an awkward curtsey thing. He pulled my hand into his and held the squeaky door for me. We walked out into the light mist and headed towards the rental.

“Do you need a ride?” I asked.

“I can walk.”

“Get in,” I demanded. We both slid into the car and buckled up. He pushed the seat back as far as it could go and leaned back.

“How tall are you?”

“6’4.”

“Which way do I go?” I asked him as I approached a stop light.

“Take a right at the light,” he answered.

We rode in silence for a while before he pulled my hand into his. He touched each one of my acrylic nails and he played around with my owl ring.

“You like bold pieces of jewelry,” he said.

“Yes, I do. I get bored quick with regular pieces,” I explained.

“How about people? Do you get bored of them quick?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. I knew the answer to that question far too well. That is why I keep running from people. A house in the suburbs with a white picket fence and the two point five children terrified me. I hate the same old, same daily routine, day in and day out.

“Make a right at the next light,” he said.

“So what do you normally do for fun?” I asked.

“I like all sports, and I like all kinds of toys,” he smiled.

Just hearing him say he likes all kinds of toys made my toes tingle. I had to grit my teeth to hold back my feelings. Lust, pure lust that is all it was. I didn’t know him well, but I did know him enough to have a bond with him.

Cricket get a grip
, I scolded myself silently.

“Why are you grinding your teeth like that?”

“Uhh,” I said. He’d caught me, and I didn’t have a lie to give him.

“Make a left at the next street,” Jyme said. He was watching me carefully now.

Dammit
, he probably thought I was about to have a fit or something. Shit, I didn’t want him to think I was a nut.

“What are you doing tomorrow evening?” he asked.

“Nothing that I can think of; why? What’s up?”

“Pull in there.”

We drove into an apartment complex. He told me to pull up to the silver box. He had me punch a number in to open the gate. I parked right next to his truck and put the car in park.

“My cousin plays in a string quartet, and they’re pretty good. They have a show tomorrow night at one of the amphitheaters across town. I thought we could grab a bite to eat then go.”

“Sure that sounds fun,” I said. This tension between us was about to get out of hand. He had released my hand when we pulled into the parking lot, and I longed for his touch again. He had traced the lines in my palm, and it felt so good. His fingers had traced repeatedly, and then all of sudden he stopped. It was hard to concentrate when I was driving, but I am strong and I could handle this.

He unhooked his seat belt, and my heart fell. I didn’t want him to leave, but I couldn’t ask him to stay either. He leaned over to me, and I leaned into him. He went straight to my ear again, and the chill bumps resurfaced. It took everything in me not to press my lips against his and then force my tongue into his mouth. He kissed me softly on my cheek and left it wet. Then, he opened the door and walked away from the car.

I sat there, still not awakened from his hypnotic trance. I let the window down a little, and then I started the car up. Fresh air would help me right now. I collected myself and pulled out of the parking lot. Once I made it up the street, I took out my phone. It only had one battery bar now, so I plugged it up immediately. I touched the screen on the car radio and activated the navigation system. Once I had the condo address in, I called Chelle.

“Trick, where have you been?” she yelled.

“Church,” I answered.

“Ohhh, okay,” she answered. I filled her in on dinner.

Then, she told me Ayashe’s version. Ayashe had told Chelle how cute Kanoke had gotten and Chelle seemed very interested. Ayashe also said, she thought Jyme and I made a really cute couple. And if we ever had any children how good looking they would be. Then she went on to say, how much of a sin it was for us to be together. She said we were both model worthy and that it wasn’t fair. She also told Chelle that if Jyme could ever get over Elle, I would be perfect for him. That did sting me a little, I had to admit, and it does sit in the back of my head as well. But other than that
almost melt down
this evening, he seems okay.

Chelle then went in on how she felt about the date that she didn’t attend. She went on and on about how everyone has seen him but her. I reminded her Ayashe was the only person that she knew that had seen him. Then she went on about Elle and wondered how she looked. She said Ayashe told her, “She’s no Cricket.” That did make me feel a lot better about the whole thing.

I told her about the Catholic Church, and what he had said.

“I don’t know about him, Cricket. Ayashe is being extremely secretive about him for some reason. I asked her if he was a good person, and she said he’s no worse than the others from the reservation. Then, I asked her how he was financially, and she said, “Cricket should ask him that.”

“What does that mean?” I could tell she knew something she wasn’t telling me.

“All I know is that he owns a fishing company or something,” I answered.

“I thought you said he was a fisherman?” she asked.

“That’s what he told me. Then, he said he owned his own company,”

“Where does he live?”

“On the reservation, but he had me drop him off at some apartments,” I said.

“Well, what does your Spidey sense tell you?” she asked.

“I think he’s been extremely hurt; I think the woman before me must have been really hard on him.”

“From what Ayashe said, I think so too.”

“What did she say?” I asked.

“She said they sent him to another reservation for like three months and that he came back like a zombie. She said he hardly talks now, and he never smiles. She said it’s like the fun in him is gone,” she explained.

“Oh, so he’s like damaged goods or something?” I asked.

“Sounds like it.”