Sue and Tom (5 page)

Chapter 8

Tom

I found Klondike asleep on the couch. “Come on, boy. Time to go.”

His ears shot up.

“I’m taking you to Sue’s house.”

Klondike barked then leapt off the couch and ran to the door. I had a feeling he was as fond of Sue as I was.

Driving to Sue’s house, I thought about how much I was going to miss her. We hadn’t said the L word yet, but it was on the tip of my tongue. I thought about saying it last night. I really wanted to. It’s how I feel. But I was worried that if I said it too soon, Sue would get scared and pull away. And the last thing I wanted was for Sue to withdraw. Having her in my life was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

After Rachel, I thought I’d spend my life alone. But now, I’m not so sure. When I saw Sue at the reunion, all of the old feelings I had for her in high school came racing back. Truth was, I had always had a thing for her. Once, when she was in between boyfriends, I had gotten up the courage to ask her out. I practiced and practiced what I was going to say. And the day I got the nerve to actually do it was the day John asked her out. I remember being so pissed because I knew he didn’t like her as much as I did. No one did. And no one knew how much I liked her but Mike. I can remember his words as if he had spoken them yesterday. “Told you to move faster,” he had said. “You had your opening and you blew it.”

Mike was right. And now that I had an opening some 20 years later, I wasn’t going to blow it again. I wanted her in my life and I planned to keep her there.

***

Sue

I heard the doorbell ring and Klondike bark. “Chloe,” I yelled. “Klondike’s here.”

Chloe bolted from her bedroom and headed for the front door. “Can I take him for a walk?”

Tom smiled and handed her the leash.

Tom and I watched Chloe and Klondike head down the sidewalk. “That’s the first she’s been out of her room all day. We had an argument and she’s been holed up in there.”

“I didn’t think you two argued,” said Tom, following me into the living room.

“We don’t often. But I’m just not ready to let her date. Neither is her dad. Chloe wants to go out with the boy down the street. He’s seventeen. She’s fourteen.”

Tom held up his hand. “Say no more.”

“See, you’re thinking the same thing I am.”

“I just remember being 17. Of course, I wasn’t one of the lucky ones who had a girlfriend. The girl I wanted was taken.”

I playfully slapped his arm and he pulled me in for a kiss.

“It’s true,” he said. “You always had a boyfriend. There was a window of opportunity in the winter of our junior year, but then John swooped in before I got up the nerve to ask you out.”

I laughed. “Window of opportunity, huh? You make it sound like I entertained a revolving door of guys. ”

“Whatever happened to John, anyway?” Tom asked.

“I lost touch after high school. Remember, he was a year older and went into the Army. I think he might have decided to make a career out of it. I’m pretty sure he never moved back.”

Tom looked at his watch. “I should get going.”

He handed me a piece of paper. “Here’s all the information in case you need to reach me. I’m going to miss you.” He pulled me closer and our lips found one another.

“I wish we could have a repeat of the shower sex we had this morning right now,” I whispered in his ear.

“Me, too,” he said. “But that will give us something to look forward to when I get back.”

“And just when will that be?”

“I should be home by 8 Friday night.”

I playfully grabbed his crotch and winked. “I’ll be waiting for you in your bed.”

“What, Chloe’s not going to be home?”

I shook my head. “She’s staying overnight at her best friend’s for a birthday sleepover.”

“In that case, I’ll really have
something to look forward to.

We kissed a long time before Tom pulled himself away and headed to his car. I was really falling for him. I almost told him I loved him. It was right then that I decided I would tell him Friday night. And I couldn’t wait!

***

Tom

The entire time I was driving to the airport, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sue. And to think I almost didn’t go to my high school reunion. It was only because Mike and a few of the other guys badgered me so much that I even went. I was sort of embarrassed that I didn’t have a date, but then Mike told me he didn’t either and we could hang out together. Never expected that I’d end up sitting with the one girl from high school that I always wanted to date but never had the chance to.

Because it was Sunday night, the traffic was light on the
Interstate and I got to the airport sooner than I had expected. Security wasn’t too bad either, and by the time I got to the gate, I had plenty of time to spare. So I called Sue.

“You’re there already?” she asked when she heard my voice.

“Yeah. Traffic wasn’t bad, and the airport is pretty empty. How’s Klondike?”

“He’s fine. He hasn’t left Chloe’s side since he came. I think he found a new best friend.”

I laughed. “He might not want to come home after spending the week.”

“Well, I’m sure Chloe would keep him.”

“What about you?” I asked.

Sue laughed. “I’d rather keep his dad.”

I chuckled. “Sue…” It was on the tip of my tongue and I wanted to say it. But I wanted to tell her that I loved her face to face. I wanted to look into her eyes so she could see that I meant it.

“What?” Sue asked.

“Nothing. They just called for the first passengers. I’ll call tomorrow. Probably won’t be until 8 or so.”

“O
kay. Have a safe trip and sleep well.”

“I’d sleep better if you were beside me.”

“I’d sleep better, too. Remember,” she whispered. “Shower sex Friday.”

I hung up the phone and smiled. I was one lucky guy.

***

Sue

I crawled into bed and reached for one of my books on the nightstand. I had several stacked next to the phone and switched among them depending on my mood. Tonight, I was in the mood for some romance.

Thoughts of Rachel crept into my mind. I mean, the girl was gorgeous. I wondered what Tom saw in me. She had everything I didn’t. Legs that went on forever. Boobs that, even if they weren’t completely real, beckoned like a hooker looking to score.

Tom had told me that no matter how much guys talk about asses and boobs, it’s personality that’s most important. I’m sure he’s right, but great asses and boobs to die for can’t hurt.

I cupped my breast with my hand. One handful. That’s all. It would take a front-end loader to hold Rachel’s.

Thinking back over the last couple of months, I realized how empty my life had been. It’s hard to miss something you never had. And even when Steve and I were together, it was never like it is with Tom. I didn’t know it was possible for a guy to make me feel so beautiful, so wanted.

He even kissed the scars on my knees that I
’ve always been self-conscious about. He told me that the scars were part of me, that they helped tell my life story. Okay. Come on now. What kind of guy says stuff like that? Seriously. This is the first one I’ve ever come across who finds beauty in imperfection. It’s one of the things I love best about him.

***

Tom

The week dragged on like the day before vacation. You can’t wait for it to end so you can unwind and relax. The conference was okay, but I found myself zoning out during the sessions and thinking about Sue a lot. I called every day and was glad to hear that Klondike didn’t seem to miss me at all. By the time Friday rolled around, I couldn’t wait to get home. Sue told me that after dropping Chloe off at her friend’s, she’d bring Klondike over and stay with him until I got home. She hinted at a special welcome home.

The entire drive home, all I could think about was having shower sex. Seeing Sue naked in the shower, dripping wet. Damn! I heard a siren and looked in my rear view mirror and saw a whirl of flashing lights. A cop was on my tail. I pulled over. Turned out I was going 85 in a 65 zone. It sure as hell didn’t feel like it.

The last time I got a speeding ticket I was 17, trying to make it home before my junior license curfew.

The officer waddled up to my window. His gut jutted out over his belt.
Where do they find these officers
, I wondered.

“What were you thinking going so fast?” the officer asked.

“Shower sex,” I said.

He spread his feet apart so he could lower his head and look me in the eye. He sniffed and narrowed his eyes. “What did you say?”

“I need to go slower, I guess,” I said, realizing this guy had zero sense of humor.

“You’re darn right you need to go slower, son. A lot slower.”

He wrote out the ticket, lectured some more, and I was finally on my way, a good half hour behind schedule. I was going to call Sue and tell her that I would be late, but my cellphone was dead.

***

Sue

I dropped Chloe off at her girlfriend’s and Klondike whimpered the entire fifteen-minute drive to his house.

I parked along the street, behind a car I didn’t recognize. I opened the back door and Klondike bolted in, running from room to room as if he were looking for something or someone.

“It’s about time you got…”

I turned around. My mouth dropped to the floor
—and so did my heart. There was Rachel in eight-inch fuck me spike heels, wearing a lacy thong and heart-shaped nipple covers with tassels.

She put her hand to her heart. “Oh. It’s you. I was expecting Tom.”
She licked her lips like a bar room tramp.

I could feel my face turning red. I pulled back my lips and bared my teeth. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Me?” she asked, her little nipple tassels jiggling. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

All I could think about was getting away from her, away from this house. It was like Steve all over again. My heart was breaking and I couldn’t stop the tears from coming. I ran to my car as fast as I could and took off.

Chapter 9

Tom

When I got home, the house was dark. I smiled, thinking about Sue waiting for me upstairs.

Klondike knows the sound of my car, and he was waiting for me just inside the back door. I gave him a big hug and a quick belly rub and went up to Sue. I looked over at the bed. Sue was completely under the covers. I figured she was playing possum. So I got naked and crawled in next to her. When I reach around her to pull her over, I realized that it wasn’t Sue.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, Rachel,” I yelled, jumping out of bed. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I pulled on my jeans and shirt.

She uncovered herself. “Oh come on now, Tiger. Is that anyway to greet an old flame
—one you were going to marry?”

“Jesus,
no. No. Klondike’s here. Which means Sue was here. Did Sue see you?”

Rachel got out of bed and came toward me. “You mean that little mouse of a girl you‘ve been playing with? Of course she saw me. I thought it was you coming home. Imagine my surprise when it was Little Miss Debbie Cakes. She is a little doll, but not near enough woman for you.”
She shook her tits so her tassels swayed.

“Get the fuck out of my house or I
’ll rip those tassels off your tits. And if you ever pull another stunt like this, I’ll file harassment charges. Now get out!”

“My, my, my. Such a bad temper. What happened to my pussycat of a man?”

“He turned into a tiger when he learned what a real woman was all about.”

***

Sue

I wasn’t sure where I was going. The only thing I knew is that I had to get away from Tom’s house and that slut as fast as I could.

The scene played over and over in my mind. Rachel, thinking I was Tom, walking into the kitchen. Rachel, wearing that sexy get-up, looking like she was ready to perform at a strip club. She obviously had a key to Tom’s place. Why would she still have the key? Maybe they did get together. Maybe Tom still felt something for her. After all, they were engaged and he didn’t tell me about that. My head was full of mixed thoughts. I was trying to make sense of the scene and what it might have meant.

My heart physically hurt. Tears soaked my face. Damn! I was mad at myself for allowing my heart to be broken again. I swore I would never let it happen, never fall in love with a guy and give him this power over me. But I thought Tom was different. I thought I could trust him. I thought, even though he didn’t say it, that he loved me. I knew I loved him. And look what it got me.

I wasn’t sure where to go, but I knew I needed to be alone. So I just drove, taking roads I’d never been on before. It was only when I realized my gas tank was on E that I pulled into a convenience store to fill up. I saw that Tom had called, but he was the last person I wanted to talk to or see. I turned off my phone, not wanting to be bothered the rest of the night.

After I filled my tank, I headed home. I needed to talk with Gina, and I didn’t want to be driving while I did that. I was too afraid I’d lose it and wreck the car. I had enough problems without doing something stupid like that, so I went home, a pile of wet tissues accumulating on the seat next to me.

***

Tom

“How’d you get my key anyway?” I shouted to Rachel as she got dressed.

“You never took it back. When I saw you with Little Miss Debbie Cakes I figured I needed to remind you of what you had given up. And for her? Christ, she looks like a damn doll. I figured that sooner or later you’d realize what you lost.”

Rachel got the key out of her purse and threw it on the bed. “I hope you have a miserable life.”

I watched her speed away and made a mental note to have the locks changed, just in case the bitch
had made a copy of the key.

I tried to call Sue on her cellphone, but she wasn’t picking up. I tried her landline, but she wasn’t answering that
, either.

Klondike whimpered. “I know
, boy. This is one fucked-up mess.”

I figured the first person Sue would call would be Gina, but I didn’t have Gina’s cell number. So, I called Mike.

“Christ, you’re never going to believe what Rachel just did,” I told Mike.

I gave him the cliff notes and asked if he had heard from Gina.

“We just talked and she didn’t say anything,” Mike said. “So I’m sure Sue didn’t call her—yet.”

“Can you give me Gina’s number? I want to call her and explain. Just in case she hears from Sue. I want to make sure Gina knows what went down.”

I wrote down Gina’s number and called her right away. She was working at home.

I spewed out the entire ugly story.
There was silence on the other end.

“Gina! Say something!”

“I’m speechless that Rachel would do such a thing. And angry as hell. I can’t imagine what went through Sue’s mind. It was probably Steve all over again. You know what happened there, right?”

“Yes. She came home and found him in bed with their neighbor.”

“And after that, Sue pretty much swore off men,” Gina said. “But you changed that. When you guys reconnected at the reunion, it was like her whole outlook on men changed. I could see it. She had hope. I think she loves you, Tom. I really do. And just when she allowed herself to feel that way again, Rachel screws it all up.”

“Believe me, I know. It makes me sick.”

“Look, I’m going to try to call her,” Gina said. “Maybe when she sees it’s me, she’ll pick up.”

“Will you call me if she does?”

“Yes. If I’m able to reach her and talk to her, I’ll let you know. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to get her to talk to you. That has to be her decision.”

“I know. But it’s worth a shot. And Gina, I hadn’t told Sue this. Fact is I was planning to tonight. I’d been feeling like this for awhile. But when I told Sue, I wanted to be looking right into her eyes. I love her, Gina. And I was hoping that she loved me, too.”

***

Sue

When I got home, there were messages on the machine. I really didn’t want to hear Tom’s voice, but I didn’t want to miss a call from Chloe.

I walked over to the counter and pushed the button on the machine.

“Sue. It’s Tom. Don’t hang up. Please. I’m sorry. I had no idea Rachel would pull a stunt like that. Call me as soon as you get this message. Please.”

I listened to the message over and over. Tom seemed sincere. Still, I didn’t want to deal with him right now. I had to think. And call Gina. I turned on my cellphone and saw missed calls from Tom and Gina. I dialed Gina right away.

“I’ve been trying to reach you,” Gina said. “Tom called and told me what happened. He’s worried about you.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears. They came like a driving rain, blinding me in a liquid fog. “Did he tell you what happened? That Rachel was there? It was awful, Gina. God! She thought I was Tom and she strutted into the kitchen in her fuck-me heels wearing lingerie that made her look like a hooker hoping to score. Christ, she even wore nipple covers with tassels. Tassels, Gina. She was obviously ready to get it on in a big way.”

I exploded like a shaken soda bottle when it’s opened. Every time Gina tried to inject a comment, my words just plowed right over hers.

“And another thing, she had to have a key to get in. Why in the hell would she have a key if Tom didn’t want her to?”

“Sue,” Gina said. “Please. Try to calm down.”

“I can’t calm down. I was going to tell him that I loved him tonight, Gina. I was actually going to fall for this love shit again. I’m so stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”

“You’re not stupid,” Gina said. “And you’re not thinking straight.”

“You’re not taking his side, are you?”

“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I just want you to think. Tom knew you were going to be at his house when he got home, right?”

“Yes, the plan was for me to bring Klondike over and then wait for him. And I had it all planned out. It was going to be a romantic evening. I even shaved twice! I was going to wait for him in bed. I even bought some sexy lingerie. Of course, mine didn’t have tassels. He probably likes tassels.”

“Sue!”

“What? He probably does. Well, screw him. I threw the lingerie in the trash when I stopped to fill up the gas tank. We were going to have shower sex, Gina. Shower sex. Christ, I’m so dumb. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!”

“Sue,” Gina shouted. “Listen. Do you really think Tom would have invited Rachel over if he knew you were going to be there?”

“Maybe he wanted to do a threesome.”

“Come on. You know Tom’s not like that.”

“No, I don’t. I thought I knew what Tom was like but maybe I don’t. Maybe you don’t, either.”

“One, Tom’s not like that. Two, if he was, which he’s not, he would
n’t have invited his ex and his girlfriend over at the same time. That would be suicide.”

“So he’s dumb.”

“No, he’s actually very smart and you know it.”

“I don’t know, Gina. Stranger things have happened.”

“Look,” Gina said. “I want you to just think about it overnight. I really think if you think about it you’ll see that Tom inviting Rachel over just doesn’t make sense.”

I finally sat down on the couch. “Maybe you’re right. I
just feel drained from crying so much. And I’m tired.”

“I wish I was there,” Gina said. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning. We’ll talk some more. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I hung up the phone and pulled the bottle of wine I had planned to share with Tom out of my overnight bag. I was going to drink and forget.

***

Tom

“Wow! Talk about causing a fire,” Gina said. “Rachel caused an inferno.”

“It’s that bad, huh?” I asked.

“It’s badder than bad. I tried to reason with her. I told her that you would have never invited your ex and girlfriend over at the same time.”

“Is that what she thinks? That I planned it?”

“Right now, Tom, she
’s so hurt and angry that she doesn’t know what to believe. I think in the morning, when she’s thinking more clearly, she’ll see things differently.”

“So you don’t think I should go over and see her now, try to talk some sense into her? Get this whole thing straightened out?”

“No. Not tonight. Give her time, Tom. At least until tomorrow. I know Sue, and when she gets like this, you just have to let her go. It’s like trying to stop a raging bull. She sees a waving flag even if there is none. Tomorrow she’ll see things differently.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. “But what if she doesn’t?”

“Well, I don’t know. I hope she’ll be able to see through Rachel. She told me all about her nipple covers with tassels.”

“Christ, Gina. I can’t believe Rachel did something like this. I guess when she saw Sue and me out the other night it must have really pissed her off. Rachel always said she hoped my life sucked. Guess she could tell from the way things looked that my life didn’t exactly suck. So, she did what she could to fuck it up. Bitch.”

“Well, hang in there, Tom. I told Sue I’d call her tomorrow.”

“Will you call me afterward?”

“Yes. But after that, I’m not playing go-between. Sue already asked me if I was taking sides. I’m not. You’re both my friends, but Sue is my best friend, and no matter what, I have to be there for her. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I just need to know that she’s all right. And hope that in time, she’ll talk to me and we can get this whole thing straightened out.”

“I hope for that, too,” Gina said. “By the way, I’d do something about the locks on your house.”

“I already made that call,” I told her. “The locksmith’s coming tomorrow.”