Tristan's Loins (7 page)

Selene practically ran out of the therapist's
office to get home and get ready for Happy Hour. She rushed through
her session with Dr. Saunders and even avoided speaking of Tristan,
too excited to get out of there to address the real reasons she was
there. She knew she had a serious crush on the gym teacher when
half her closet wound up on the floor of her room and she was still
in her panties.

She wished she had broken down and went
shopping now. She had no sexy bar clothes like Maggie. The best she
could come up with was a black sequined tank top and black
military-style jacket she bought for New Year’s Eve and never wound
up going out.

She paired it with casual faded distressed
jeans and black ballet flats. While she would at least look
stylish, she would not be able to compete with Maggie. The woman
had a serious wardrobe and would show up to Ma' Belle's looking
like a video vixen.

Selene went a little crazy with the make-up,
realizing when she went ballistic with the eyeliner she was more
than competing with Maggie and she hadn't even left the house. She
even broke out the hot rollers.

For pity's Sake, the man was coming for a
drink! He did not ask for all this. Selene cautioned herself to
realize for all they knew, Axel Gifford was in a relationship. Guys
who looked like him were rarely single and available. Still, she
was excited as she did her hair. For the first time in a long time,
she got ready for a man.

Selene applied red lipstick. She looked at
herself when she was done and smiled. Maggie might have supermodel
good looks, but she had definite competition tonight.

She picked up Darcy at seven-thirty, pleased
her friend managed to get a sitter despite the last minute get
together. Darcy was dressed in her simple style of cotton stretch
pants and a long tunic-like top, neither caring or having even done
her hair. It was obvious by Darcy's expression when she saw her
that her appearance raised questions. She buckled her seat belt and
eyed her knowingly.

"Selene, you look hot!" she squealed in
pleasure. "You’re even wearing eyeliner! What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Selene's tone was
innocent.

"You haven't worn eyeliner since we went to
that Halloween party seven years ago, that's why," Darcy reminded
her. "Oh this ought to be good. You got the hots for the gym
teacher too."

"I do not!"

"Yeah ya do." Darcy smirked. "You haven't
really done your hair up like that since we went on that cruise to
that resort five years ago and you thought George Clooney was going
to be there."

"Why is it I get dressed up and you think
it's for a guy?" Selene complained. "Why wouldn't I want to look
good right now, Darcy? My husband left me for another woman."

Darcy chuckled. "You want Coach Gifford. This
is priceless!"

Selene sighed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to me. Maggie is too full of herself to
notice. I won't tell though. Good luck, hope ya snag him. She needs
to stay away from men right now."

Selene knew Darcy would never tell Maggie she
had a crush on the gym teacher.

They arrived at the bar and Maggie texted
them she was on her way. Selene fidgeted nervously while they sat
at a table and ordered drinks. The bar was packed and they were
lucky a couple vacated their table to them.

Selene felt self-conscious. Darcy sent her a
consoling look.

"Don't worry I think he's more interested in
you than her."

"How could you know that?" Selene said loudly
over the chatter and music.

"He's been asking around about you," Darcy
yelled back, her voice carrying over the noise. "He asked Margie in
the office if you were married. You know Marge! She filled him
in."

Selene looked dumbfounded and annoyed.
Margery Cummings, the office secretary was a horrible gossip. The
older woman probably told Axel all about Jim leaving her for his
secretary. Everyone knew. Jim was hardly discreet. He and Ginny
were seen all over town together. Grand Blanc was a small town.
Everybody knew everybody, or a friend that did. Her business was
all over town.

"Great, that's all I need." Selene twirled
her straw in her drink. "He's probably just feeling sorry for me
now."

Darcy looked over her shoulder. "No, I think
he's moving in on you. Here he comes."

Selene turned her head to see Axel
shouldering his way through the crowd to get to their table and she
was again struck by how good-looking he was. Many female eyes
watched his progress with interest as he approached. He was dressed
casually in jeans that more than accentuated his fit form. His pale
blue button up shirt fit his wide shoulders perfectly.

Selene could feel his appreciative gaze sweep
over her as he greeted them both and slid in next to Darcy in their
booth. Darcy was preening as he asked her about her math class.
Selene was struck again by the inordinate amount of interested
glances he snuck during their conversation.

Before he could turn his attention to her,
Maggie arrived, looking like a vamp in the sexy animal print mini
and heels. Her long dark hair was loose with bouncy curls and she
looked ravishing and knew it.

Maggie sat next to her and ordered a drink,
her dark eyes animated as they engaged Axel. Selene could not get a
word in edgewise if she wanted to. Maggie saw some people she knew
and bounded out of the booth to go greet them. Axel appeared
slightly relieved and eyed Selene with a smile.

"So what are we celebrating?" he asked. "Your
friend was rather vague when she invited me."

"Selene's divorce was final yesterday," Darcy
piped in and earned a kick under the table from Selene for it.

Axel's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, divorce is
tough. I was married six years ago. My ex ran off with a guy in an
eighties cover band, left my kids high and dry, and took off. I
know how it feels."

"You have kids?"

"Yeah, my oldest is almost ready to finish
college," he said as he fumbled with his wallet. "My youngest is in
her first year."

Selene accepted the pictures of both girls
and saw the pretty blondes, obviously inheriting their looks from
their father. "You look too young to have two college
students."

Axel smiled and she saw he had the most
amazing dimples. "We had Elizabeth one year into my college career.
Rebecca came along four years later. I'm going to be forty in a
month."

Selene handed him back his pictures, trying
to ignore her own excitement to know Axel was single and
available.

"It must have been tough raising two teenage
girls alone," was all she could manage.

He reflected it with a grimace. "It's a
thankless job but somebody had to do it. They turned out good. They
both got accepted to Michigan State, my Alma Mater."

"You went to State?" Selene asked curiously.
"My Dad taught in the English department there for years. He's
retired now. Did you have any classes with Professor Campbell?"

"No, I had Professor Nash that was bad
enough." He had a pained expression. "English class has never been
my favorite. You have my admiration."

"Science isn't an easy major. I'd be lost
there."

"I played football on a scholarship until I
tore my shoulder out. That's when I went to work for the shop. He
was grateful the room grew quieter now that they were setting up
for karaoke. "I took classes when I could. My wife did not work,
and until they pink-slipped me, I did not have the opportunity to
finish. I always wanted to teach."

Selene admired his determination to get his
degree. "What happened to the girl’s mother?"

Axel shrugged and rolled his eyes. "She's
with another guy in another band, and travels on the road with him
a lot. She doesn't see the girls much. They took the divorce pretty
bad."

Darcy was looking between them with avid
interest, listening to their conversation as if it was one of her
beloved soap operas.

"That's too bad." Selene was secretly glad
Axel's wife decided to hook up with a band member and bolt.

"It was inevitable." He sipped his beer. "We
were too young and wanted different things. Linda never got past
that party stage in high school. The marriage was never an easy
one. We fought constantly. I think I felt relief when she took off,
even if I was angry for the kids' sake."

Selene nodded and nursed her drink
thoughtfully, feeling an intense attraction growing for Axel
Gifford despite her warning voices telling her it was way too
soon.

"So what about you?" Axel asked. "Why are you
getting a divorce?"

Selene seemed surprised he asked such a
question right off, but he obviously thought it fair since she
asked him about his wife. She chose her words carefully, not
wanting to convey the hurt she still felt.

"He met someone else too," she said simply.
"We did not have kids, but I do miss my dog."

"What kind of dog?"

"She's a blonde lab named Daisy." Selene felt
a tug of anguish she could not take Daisy. The apartment wouldn't
allow pets and the dog had a huge yard at the house. It seemed
wrong to take all that away from her dog just because she was
wanting company. Jim adored Daisy. She would hardly suffer in her
absence. Still, she missed the six-year-old Labrador.

"Oh, that's tough. Those are my favorite
dogs. They are so smart. I had one growing up."

Maggie came back and effectively interrupted
their conversation, and as usual it was all about her. Then,
without taking a breath, Maggie talked of something less
desirable.

"You wouldn't believe who is here, Selene!"
she squealed. "That skank that's living with Jim just walked in
with her girlfriends."

Selene looked sick to know Ginny was there.
Thinking of Jim's reaction to know his fiancée was at Happy Hour
with her girlfriends wouldn't go over too well. Jim did not think
it appropriate for a woman to go out when she was in a
relationship. He said it just caused trouble. Ginny and her friends
sat at the bar ordering shots.

It was obvious she was enjoying her status
having a lawyer as a boyfriend. Selene saw the petite blonde hand
off what she assumed was Jim's Gold Card and cringed. He would have
a fit. Jim never put food or drinks on his credit cards. He said
paying interest on food was asinine. She would love to see his face
when he got the bill.

"We can leave if you feel uncomfortable."
Axel looked concerned as he saw her tense expression.

"No, I'm used to running into her. We have
the same hair dresser too," Selene said with a disgusted
expression. "That's how I found out about the affair. She talked
about it in the salon."

Axel looked like he would have said something
but Maggie interrupted. "Were not leaving, Selene! Forget about it.
She only comes here because she knows you do, I'll bet."

Selene had to agree. Ginny had been very good
about making her presence known from the beginning of the affair.
Showing up at Selene's hair salon, favorite bar, and even shopping
in her favorite stores was just the tip of the way she flaunted her
relationship with Jim. It was obvious Ginny enjoyed the whole
drama. Selene had not spoken one word to the woman outside the
phone when she worked in Jim's office. Ginny seemed to crave a
confrontation that never came.

"No, I'm fine, we don't have to leave,"
Selene said to Maggie but her eyes met Axel's. "She likes the girl
drama, that's all. If you notice her, she will be here all night.
If you ignore her, she and her friends will leave, trust me."

"I know a little place out off of Dixie
Highway." He looked over at the bar worriedly. "It's called The
Boat Dock. The tables are old boats. It's pretty rustic and they
have live music too."

Darcy looked delighted to leave, but Maggie
pouted.

"I just got here." Her eyes darted to a
cluster of young men who just walked in. The cougar in Maggie would
not allow her to leave. "You guys go ahead. I'm staying."

"Selene, you want to go check it out?" Axel
challenged her.

Selene did not want Ginny to have the
satisfaction of running her off. The blonde and her friends kept
looking over at them and whispering like adolescents. Still, the
bar Axel mentioned sounded interesting. She rarely went out, so the
opportunity to go somewhere new won out.

"Ok, I'm game."

Maggie told them to have a good time and
sauntered off; irritated she could not have her way and make them
stay. Ginny and her friends watched her walk by with Axel and
Selene took some satisfaction to feel Axel's hand in the middle of
her back as they made their way through the crowd. She enjoyed what
thoughts the blonde must be having, and knew she would carry tales
back to Jim. Being seen with a good-looking man did not hurt,
especially the day after her divorce was settled.

Darcy was chattering excitedly as she got
into her car while Axel went to get his truck. Selene followed the
full-size grey Chevy truck out of the lot and followed him to the
interstate. She waited until they were on I-75 headed south before
she addressed Darcy's predictions of Axel's intentions.

"He's just being nice, Darcy," Selene shook
her head. "Don't jump to conclusions."

"He's way into you! I see the way he looks at
you! He did not pay one bit of attention to Maggie either. If a guy
passes the Maggie test you know he's interested."

"The Maggie test?" Selene asked vaguely.

Darcy looked slightly bitter. "Every guy I
met after John left, until the one I'm with now, was gaga over
Maggie right off the bat. It's a test. If they can't seem to ignore
her, I know they aren't for me. He passed!"

Selene was secretly pleased Axel passed the
Maggie test.

The Boat Dock was twenty minutes outside of
Grand Blanc off Dixie Highway. Selene felt a shiver of anticipation
as she pulled into the gravel lot. Axel parked next to her and
Darcy nearly jumped out of the car, looking excited to check out
the place.