*Nick*
When I first cracked my eyes and rolled onto my back, I had no damn idea where I was. I was staring up at a strange ceiling fan, which was spinning slowly, and there was a beam of sunshine coming through the window. Closing my eyes with a groan, I rolled to my side again, my arm flopping across the bed.
Only my arm landed on something warm and soft. Opening my eyes again, I saw Shannon lying there, facing me, her hair splayed across the pillow behind her.
Then I remembered. Last night. Coming home with her. Being with her. A lazy smile on my face, I pulled her closer, and she sighed gently. She looked so peaceful, her soft lips parted slightly.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I murmured.
Her eyes flew open, and she looked at me. recognition flashed in her eyes, and she smiled. “Morning.”
Her voice had a sleepy, sexy huskiness to it. “Sleep well?” I asked softly, my finger tracing a circle on her stomach.
“Mm-hmm. You?” She snuggled closer to me, her head nestling just right in the crook of my shoulder.
“Like a baby.”
”Babies wake up every three hours,” she informed me, and I felt her lips brush my neck.
“Funny,” I muttered. Last night she had been full of funny little quips, and I’d found the only way to stop them was to kiss her.
She must have been reading my mind, because suddenly she lifted her head to look into my eyes. Her soft lips kissed me gently, and just when I was about to start something she pulled away. “Do you want the bathroom first? I just have to—”
“Go ahead, I can hold it.” Damn, I thought when she slid out of the bed. Leaning back against the pillows, I watched her tug on a robe and head into the bathroom.
*Shannon*
Great balls of fire, I hadn’t expected him to stay all night. I had really thought that when I woke up he’d be gone, leaving me with memories. Why was he still here?
Glancing at myself in the mirror, I shook my head. I look like a wild woman, I thought, trying to tame my tousled hair. Finally I just pulled it back into a clip and reached for my toothbrush.
Last night had been...different. I couldn’t help but smile slightly. He’d been gentle and careful at first, but somewhere along the line, he’d been almost rough. As I reached to rinse my toothbrush I saw a bruise on my arm. Had he been holding onto me that hard? Eyeing it, I could just make out the imprint of his fingers.
Damn. Was he always like that in bed? Or was there something—
A soft knock at the door jarred me from my thoughts. “Hey, baby, is it alright if I make some coffee?”
Now he was going to make himself at home? “Sure, go ahead.”
I heard him walk away from the door, and looked down at the bruise again. Maybe things had gotten a little out of hand. After all, we had gotten pretty rough.
Shaking my head, I turned and started the shower. My body ached a little, and now I knew the bruise was there my arm hurt. Shit.
*AJ*
I wasn’t expecting to see Nick. After all, he’d gone home with Shannon, and no doubt they’d worn each other out. I’d entertained the thought of taking the redhead I’d met—Debra?—but had decided against it. My mind wouldn’t have been on her, anyway.
It’s a shitty thing, falling in love instantly when you see a girl. It’s even shittier when that girl is with one of your best friends.
“Damn, man, get a hold of yourself. So she’s a cute, funny woman. She wasn’t looking at you, so why care?”
Because I knew. I knew Nick. I knew how he could be, especially if he got really serious about a girl. I knew what was going to happen.
And I was sure if I warned Shannon, she’d tell me I was crazy. And then she’d tell Nick, and he’d be pissed at me.
I was sitting on the back deck, enjoying a smoke while I watched the dogs run around the yard, when I heard the doorbell ringing. I’d just finished lunch, and was planning on finishing a song I’d started a few days ago.
Glancing out, I saw Nick standing on the front porch, drumming his fingers against the doorframe. Opening the door, I gave him a look.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“Just stopping by on my way home. You busy?” he asked.
“Not really. Come on out back.”
“I’m gonna grab a beer first,” he said, stepping in and kicking the door shut.
“Whatever, man.” Walking back to the deck, I flopped into my lounge chair and reached for another cigarette. No doubt he was there to tell me what a great fucking time he’d had. Just what I needed.
He came out a few minutes later, and flopped down next to me with a satisfied sigh. He eyed my cigarette with derision, but he didn’t say anything. Fiddling with the top to his beer, he looked out at the dogs.
“So, what happened?” I ask casually. No point in delaying the inevitable.
”Nothin’ much. We just went back to her place, you know.” He took a sip of his beer, his eyes still on the dogs as they chased each other back and forth. “She has a nice apartment, but damn, her TV is tiny. And it doesn’t look like it gets much use, either. Looks like the most important thing in her life is her piano.”
“Yeah? Imagine that. Why should she be so wrapped up in a piano? She only plays one in a symphony.” I didn’t bother masking my derision.
“Yeah. She played a little for me this morning after breakfast.”
”You stayed for breakfast?” Damn. Maybe he really liked her after all.
“Yeah. She made waffles.”
“What’d she play?”
“Some song from that Phantom thing. ‘All I Ask of You’ or something like that.”
Figured. My favorite song from the whole musical, and she played it for Nick. Nick, who probably hadn’t appreciated it. “Was she good?”
He smirked. “Yeah, she was good.”
“I was talking about the song, asshole.” Damn, did everything have to be about sex with him?
“Oh, that. Yeah, it was alright. Oh, she said to tell you she’ll ask at the Center if they have an empty box for opening night.”
“Cool. You gonna go?”
“If she gets a box I will. I like her, AJ. I really do. She’s different.”
Looking at him, I saw a faraway look on his face. Damn. He was falling for her, too. “You two made plans to see each other again?”
“Yeah. We’re going out tomorrow night.”
Well la-di-da. “Cool, man.”
He didn’t stay long after that. He drank his beer, played with the dogs for a few minutes, then said he had to get home and shower. He stood at the door for a few minutes, rubbing his neck, and I didn’t miss the signs of last night’s passion there. But I didn’t say anything. I was trying to be cool about the whole deal.
The moment he was gone I picked up the nearest thing—a crystal vase by the door—and threw it across the room with all my strength. I watched as it crashed against the fireplace, cringed at the noise, and shook my head.
“Fuck. Mom gave me that.”
It’s an illusion
How can I feel this way
If I can’t have you