Owen turned to me. “Are you okay?” I could see the worry in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine. A few minutes more and I don’t know if would’ve been able to say the same thing, though. Thanks for showing up so fast.” It was nice to have someone look after me. For so long, I’d only been able to depend upon myself.

“My pleasure. I couldn’t sleep so I got up early today, fortunately.”

“Want to come in?” I asked, hoping he’d say yes.

9 Owen

I stepped into Carla’s house, trying not to notice her lack of clothes. It required will power I didn’t think I possessed. Luckily, she rushed upstairs to get dressed. After watching her ascend the stairs, wishing things I probably shouldn’t, I sighed deeply. It was a cold reminder of how long it had been for me. Not just sexually, but since I’d even seen a woman that close to being naked. I felt guilty for having any type of sexual thoughts about her. I didn’t want to ruin our chances of a great relationship by being a pervert. That would be stupid.

A few minutes later, she returned, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Still sexy as hell.

“So I see you’ve met Bernie,” I said jokingly. “What’d you think?”

“Nice guy,” she said sarcastically. “Hope he visits more often.”

She plopped down on the couch and patted the cushion beside her. Obediently, I sat next to her.

“Do you want coffee or anything? I know it’s early.”

I declined the coffee. Apparently neither of us required caffeine in the morning to get going. We talked about that for a while, and then the subject returned to Bernie. I promised to do all I could to make sure Bernie didn’t bother her anymore. That seemed to make her happy, so I added ‘unless you want him to visit’, which made her laugh. She had a beautiful smile and a warm laugh. I couldn’t get enough of either.

Before I really knew what was happening, she moved around until her head was resting on my shoulder. She eased her hand into mine and left it there. She asked if it bothered me, as if that were even possible. I loved it. I didn’t tell her that, though. I just told her I didn’t mind. I couldn’t have her knowing how much I craved the feel of her skin on mine. At least not yet.

I spent most of the day at her place. We talked, we played with the kids, we finished unpacking. It was a great day. In the evening, I found it difficult to leave. I wanted to stay, to curl up on the couch – or bed – with her and share everything.

But all things must end. I made sure the windows and doors were locked before I left. We programmed my phone number into her phone, so the push of one button would summon me. Neither of us trusted Bernie. Neither of us really had a reason not to, but we’d both picked up on the same vibe and it wasn’t a trustworthy one. I let her know that if she needed me for any reason, I could be here in seconds.

I walked home slowly, taking note of Bernie’s place. Sure, I’d seen it a million times, but I’d never really looked at it before. But I did now, as I walked slowly passed his house, never taking my eyes off his residence. I didn’t even watch where I was walking. It was a good thing there were no open manholes, or I would’ve been a goner.

His grass was higher than it should be and had a few beer cans strewn about. His older model car sat in the driveway as unmaintained as ever. I’m not sure it had any hubcaps at all. Rust had begun showing in spots, and the back door on the driver’s side was missing the handle. In his drunken state, he’d parked it in a sloppy manner. Seeing it parked that way and knowing it was because he was drunk reminded me of the way he acted at Carla’s. I was furious with him.

Bernie’s house was exactly the kind of house I pictured someone like him occupying. Shabby, unkempt. Judging from the outside, I could only guess the inside to be filthy. Bernie did nothing to make anyone think otherwise. He was a slovenly person. He was disgusting by nature. Both his personal hygiene and his social etiquette left a lot to be desired. I could smell the filth from the sidewalk.

I’d never paid this much attention to Bernie before. I wasn’t sure why I was now, other than the vile way he’d treated Carla earlier. He’d lived on this street longer than I had, and I’d only talked to him once, back when Holly and I were moving in. I knew from just the one time talking to him that I didn’t like him. I’d never been able to put my finger on the reason, but I just knew there something about him I didn’t like. Holly hadn’t liked him, either. She said he gave her the creeps. It was the way he looked at her when she was outside that made her feel that way. I never knew what had done it for me.

I only knew two things. One, he physically repulsed me.

And two, he wanted Carla.

10 Andy

“Andy, what are you doing?” Jill asked.

Without moving from my position at the window, I said, “Nothing.”

“You’ve been standing there for like ten minutes. What’re you looking at?” She walked over and stood beside me, craning her neck to see around me.

“Owen. He’s just standing there, in front of Bernie’s house.”

“For ten minutes?” Jill asked, as if I’d been standing over here, peeking through the curtains for nothing.

“Yes, dear, ten minutes. He’s just standing there. Staring.” Though Jill had already lost interest and walked away, I had not. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. It was creepy. It looked like something out of a horror movie. A man, standing perfectly still under the pale streetlamp light, staring at the front of someone’s house.

Creepy.

“What do you think he’s doing out there, Andy?” Jill was feigning interest, I could tell. She was flipping through a magazine, only humoring me with her questions. Without looking at her, I knew the expression she had on her face. Her eyebrows were raised, the corners of her mouth tight. I also knew that she hadn’t even looked up from the magazine as she’d asked about Owen. I knew her like the back of my hand.

“He’s probably on his way back from Carla’s.”

“You know, you sound a little jealous about that.”

She was right. I had said that with more venom than I’d intended. I couldn’t help it. I’d spoken before I’d had a chance to construct my words properly.

“I am jealous.”

Jill gasped.

“Not of Carla, babe. Of Owen.”

Jill gasped twice. “Andy, I had no idea. I think we need to talk,” she kidded, as though I’d meant I had a thing for Owen.

“Funny, babe.” I let the curtains fall closed and walked away from the window. “It’s just that since he’s been seeing her, I never get to see him. It’s been a couple of days since we’ve talked. Did you know that?”

Her jaw fell open. In an overly sarcastic tone, she said, “I’ll alert the media. This can’t continue to go on.” She jumped from her chair and ran for the phone. Before she got to it, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down on to my lap in the chair she’d just emptied.

“You know what I mean. We talk every day. It’s weird not talking to him. I miss him.”

Jill stared lovingly into my eyes and said, “Suck it up. You still have me.” She kissed me on the cheek quickly and got up from my lap.

“That’s part of the problem, babe. Who do you think I bitch about you to?” I said jokingly as I assumed my position at the window. “Hmm. He’s gone now.” I scanned the street, but didn’t see him.

I kissed Jill goodbye and headed out a little earlier than usual. I was hoping to catch Owen on the porch. I wasn’t kidding about missing him. He was my best friend. I enjoyed his company. I liked the way we teased each other. It made life easier to deal with and it made the days go faster.