A Little Bit of Trouble (13 page)

    
We work in silence, well, he works I just respond to emails and such that don’t contain big words for him. Man, I miss my hammer and saw. James is extremely focused, how are we related? We are nothing alike in the smarts department. It’s just odd, he’s focused, intelligent, determined and strong willed in the business area, yet completely smitten with his wife and kid to the point where she walks all over him. Fortunately she doesn’t take him for granted and she’s as equally smitten with him, just less intense about it.

     I’m not book smart, although I’m certainly not stupid. And I am no push over, especially not with a woman. Crystal used to try and walk all over me, she would fuck around with me. I never stood for it, I have never in my life let anyone push me around or make me out to be some kind of pussy. But I did grow up moving from home to home, and some of them homes like to use you as their personal cleaner. I remember more often than not I said, I’ll do my share of the work, I’ll tidy up my own shit and I’ll keep my room clean, I’ll also help with the dishes and laundry if needed… but every single day? Not a fucking chance. I still think that’s fair though. They should have been looking after me, not the other way around.

     When the day has ended I’ve done nothing but give people tours of the building, lead people to the correct conference rooms, oversee a couple of deliveries of stationary equipment with the company’s name on them. Oh, I also got coffee at least twenty times for myself, Margie who is Maya’s Personal Assistant and Carlos who is James’ Personal Assistant and twiddled my thumbs for a while.

     “You can leave now,” James says. I’ve only been here four hours. “Go. It’s fine.”

     “You sure?”

     “Yeah, no problem. I’m out with the guys on Saturday night. You coming?”

     I shrug, “May as well.”

     “Good, I’ll tell mom to prepare for the kids.”

    His mom Sylvia, she’s awesome. Seriously.

    I pick up Amelia from school, she asks constantly about Marie’s genius idea. So I tell her she’s going to start taking pretty photos of people. This seems to quench her thirst for information luckily. We get home, and just like any other night, I play with her, feed her, cuddle her, and read to her before bed. Now it’s my relax time.

    I check my phone first. No messages. Huh, not sure if I like that.

Lucas
: What are you doing?

I wait, and wait, and wait… and wait. Before finally, after half an hour of checking my phone every two minutes my phone alerts me to a message.

Loryn
: Nothing much, Marie just left with Maya. You?

Lucas
: Nothing much.

Loryn
: Have you got the kids?

     Every single time she refers to the fact I have more than one child makes me wince. I play it safe.

Lucas
: Yeah. So I can’t come see you :(

Loryn
: Want me to come to you? Xoxox

Fuck, what do I say now?

Lucas
: Not tonight. Come stay Saturday night? I’m out with the boys.

Loryn
: You want me to wait at your home, whilst you go out?

     That sounded so much better in my head. Before I can respond another message comes through.

Loryn
: We can meet up. I’m going out with Maya, Marie and Summer.

Lucas
: I really don’t like the idea of you going out. Especially with everything so fucked up right now.

Loryn
: Do you have to swear all the time? I’m going out… you’re not my keeper.

     I don’t respond, I’m unsure how to respond. She really hates swearing… that’s not what I’m ignoring though, I’m ignoring the fact she’s suddenly bonded with my friends and family which is going to make this really awkward when we end this. The idea for the store is great, I’m happy for her, I just… hell. I don’t know what the fuck is going on in my head right now. There are no fucking answers. I’m also ignoring the fact she’s adamant that she’s going out. I really, really need to find Dana.

Lucas
: Call me if you get this. It’s important.

     As expected, Dana doesn’t reply. She doesn’t reply for the next few days which only makes my attitude towards Loryn going out even worse.

Losing it Lucas

     We hit a club, Kyle and Jeremy already on the hunt for females. James and I are sitting in a booth drinking expensive whiskey and watching the others dance. Why are we here again?

     “Dude, when you said
guys’ night I thought you meant beer, pizza, and football or maybe pool or some shit like that, why are we here?” I glance around at the buzz of women and males acting like fucking idiots. “This is shit.”

     “I’m only here to keep an eye on Maya,” he says with a slight smile.

     “What a way to show her you trust her.”

     He rolls his eyes, “I’m looking out for her. Men are too grabby nowadays.”

     “And how do you know she’s going to be here?”

     He shakes his phone, I see a little green dot on a map blinking every second, “GPS on her phone. She’s inside already.”

     “Does she know?” I laugh once in disbelief.

     He nods, “Yeah, it was her idea, just in case anything were to happen.” Makes sense. “I can see you thinking.” He can see me thinking? That’s great logic.

     “I’m wondering if that sort of thing is available where Loryn’s concerned. It’s a good idea with the hell she’s been through.”

     “Ah, you like her,” he laughs and slaps me on the back. I roll my eyes and take a sip of my whiskey with a satisfied gasp afterwards. “She’s gorgeous.” Say what? I follow his eyes and see Maya on the dance
floor with Loryn and Marie. Summer is probably at the bar. “Fuck… I’m going over there.” I grab his arm and shake my head. I doubt Maya will be happy at him being here.

    
My entire body is tingling, what the fuck is Loryn wearing? So tight, and revealing… shit.

     “Your wife is a bad fucking influence on her.”

     “Yep.”

     As if our being in the same room suddenly forms a connection between us Loryn turns, revealing the front of her dress that shows more than I feel comfortable with. I gulp, raise my glass and give her a look that says, ‘I’m watching’. What shocks me even more is the fact she comes over with a huge smile on her face.

    
And then walks straight past me, she hasn’t even fucking seen me, that smile wasn’t for me. I turn, James turns. We watch as Loryn rushes into the arms of a waiting male. My vision goes red when they wrap their arms around each other.

     “Calm it dude, you don’t know anything yet. I made this mistake once with Maya. Just wait.”
So I wait.

     They hug for a long fucking time, then Loryn reaches up with her hand and cups the side of his face, he’s about the same size as Loryn in heels. I wouldn’t say he was ugly but he’s hardly great looking. Why do I even care? Because I don’t share… yeah. That’s it.

     I watch them talk in the corner for a few minutes, then she leans up, kisses his cheek, grabs his hand and pulls him onto the dance floor. James beckons the others back to the booth where we sit and watch. They already have their females and are currently sucking face. I’m sat with my brother watching the woman whose bed I’ve shared more than once start to dance with this asshole after introducing him to the girls. I clearly see indecision come off Marie when she meets him, thank you Marie. She doesn’t like him… you can tell by the way she keeps watching him and Loryn together. Who the fuck is this prick and what the fuck is going on?

    
Two more guys join the group, clearly that ass holes friends. I watch as one of them throws his arm around Loryn’s neck and leans in to whisper in her ear. She throws her head back and laughs. Then she turns to Maya and Marie, they exchange a few words. Maya shakes her head, Marie shakes her head and glares openly, Summer then comes over from wherever the fuck she’s been, oblivious to the tension and hops straight into the middle, declaring the need to dance by the look of it. Man, that woman is expressive with her arms. She looks like she’s trying to land a god damn airplane or something.

     I pull out my phone.

Lucas
: Where are you?

     I watch as Loryn pulls her phone from her purse, looks at it, presses something and puts it back in her bag. What the fuck?

     “I’m going over there,” I announce and practically shove Kyle out of the way. His new girlfriend for the night doesn’t look impressed. James follows me, we try to be sneaky. Unfortunately Maya sees James with a beaming smile announces, “BABY!” before launching her drunken self on her man, and attaching her lips to his.

     I watch Loryn tense and slowly unwind herself from male number two. She turns to face me, wide eyed and gulps, “Lucas. What are you doing here?”

     “I was about to ask you the same question.” I glance at the three guys who seem to be watching our exchange with amusement.

     She points to them and says their names like I actually give a fuck, “We used to work together. A couple of years back. They’re part of the backstage crew sort of.”

     Male number one who she disappeared to the corner with holds up his hand, “I’m in graphic design. These guys do all the tech shit like set up the scenery.” He holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you man.” I take his hand briefly and slide my arm around Loryn’s waist. Not possessive at all. Just so you know.

     “What are you doing?” Loryn hisses in my ear when I tug her body against mine. “You’re embarrassing me.”

     I squeeze her tighter and slam my lips against hers, not giving a shit who’s watching.

     She doesn’t return the kiss, not even a little. She does push me away though, “Lucas!” she wipes her mouth on her arm and I notice an awkward silence has fallen over our group.

     “What?”

     “Would you stop?” she hisses and shoots an embarrassed smile to everyone. They don’t seem to notice, apart from male number one, who is openly glaring at me without giving a shit who sees.

     “This is Lucas,” Loryn finishes her introduction. “He’s my…”

     “Boyfriend, I’m her boyfriend,” I snap, why the fuck did I say that?

     “He is not my boyfriend.”

     “Yes I am.”

     “No you’re not,” everyone seems to fall into an
even more uncomfortable silence than before. If that’s even possible.

     “Fine then,” I look at the men. “We’re just fucking.”

     Marie face palms, Maya starts laughing against James who is pretending to look at something in the other direction and Loryn pulls away from me.

     “That’s it,” she snaps and prods me in the chest. “I’m leaving.”

     “What did I do now?”

     “What is this? Acting… like a damn caveman. It’s embarrassing, and to… to blurt out my private life like that. Treating me like I belong to you.”

     I give her a flirtatious grin, “Well you do. I don’t share Loryn.”

     She throws her hands up, “Don’t follow me.”
    

     “I’ll see you out,” male number one states and glares at me even more. What the fuck did I do?

     “I don’t think so,” I say but James puts his hand on my shoulder. Marie steps forward, “I’
ll take her. I’m the DD tonight.” I thank her with my eyes and watch her lead an extremely pissed off Loryn away.

     “That went well,” Maya says in a singsong voice. The two guys who were with male number one also fuck off thank god. “Maybe you should go after her.”

     “That was pretty shit of you Lucas,” Summer says and pats me on the cheek. “Let her cool down.”

     James pulls Maya to him and kisses her temple, “I’d go after Maya.” Because you’re pussy whippe
d. Fuck that. All I did was… okay, so maybe I claimed her like a damn caveman but I have every right.

    
“I’m leaving,” I say because I’m really not enjoying this night anymore.

     “Where?”

     “Home.” And home I go after saying my goodbyes.

Marie
: She’s home, she’s safe. She’s pissed.

Lucas
: She’ll get over it.

Marie
: Are you coming?

Lucas
: Nope. Already in bed. Thanks for sorting her.

Marie
: Now you’re being an ass.

Lucas
: Goodnight Marie.

    
I try and get in touch with Dana repeatedly over the next few days, I get zero response. Amelia got her certificate in class on Monday, which was awesome, Sylvia came with me. We were both very proud. Not much has happened. I haven’t called Loryn and unfortunately she hasn’t called me. I mean… fortunately she hasn’t called me. We’re clearly not each other’s type. If you’re wondering how I came to this conclusion it’s pretty obvious. For a start, I should be able to kiss my girl whenever I want, whether it’s out of jealousy, to claim her or just because I fucking want to.

     Apparently I’m the bad guy and acted all cave man. Whatever.

     Yet every single time I think of her my dick twitches. Especially when Maya and Marie have brought her up, apparently work starts on the store in a few days. So they’re
constantly meeting and chatting and telling me about it. Apparently Loryn asked about me, this gave me a real surge of male pride. I must be memorable.

     It’s not until Saturday, exactly seven days since our fall out that I finally get a message.

Loryn
:
OK, I get the message. You don't want to be with me anymore but I hope we can remain friends as I'll probably be seeing more of you due to my partnership with Marie.

     What do I say to that? Just agree Lucas! That’s the plan right? That’s what all of this has been about? Cutting off from her? I don’t even understand the attraction, she’s different to Crystal, like totally different. Damn I miss my wife. But when I’m with Loryn… she’s not in my head, Crystal I mean. She lingers in the background. Not in a bad way… gah. I’m explaining this all fucking wrong. I love Crystal, I’d give anything to have her back but constantly thinking about her isn’t going to help. Loryn helps with that, my attraction for Loryn seems to overtake those thoughts. You know what I mean?

My thumb hovers over the on screen keyboard. Ready to type out a message that I have in my head. Just do it Lucas. All of this over some girl you’ve fucked a few times. You’re losing it Lucas. Come on.

Lucas
: I’m here if you need anything.

     Send… shit. Why did I put that? Fuck.

     I’m hungry. I’m going to eat a damn burger and not think about Loryn. That was a real asshole message to send to her. What the fuck is wrong with me? I could have called, I could have spoken to her face like a man… but then I would have had to see my rejection on her face. That would suck. I hate myself right now.

There is one thing I can say, Loryn, when I had her to focus on, when she was in my arms. Everything felt okay.

Marie
: Construction starts on Loryn’s store tomorrow, properly. I thought you might want to oversee it.

Lucas
: Maybe.

Marie
: Sigh…

Lucas
: I’ll be there

     I don’t trust those ass holes to do it properly, whoever it is they’ve hired. This has nothing to do with Loryn. She’s a friend to Maya and Marie now, I guess I’ll have to tolerate being around her. I just wish she wasn’t so fucking attractive.

     I dropped Amelia off with Summer who would rather babysit than get all dusty apparently. Now I’m out of my car, and pushing open the door to the store. So much for replacing the window. They’ve already taken that out.

     I catch sight of Marie stood with Loryn in the corner, five guys rush back and forth, preparing their areas before beginning. Marie moves out of the way, I smile a little when I see Loryn. She’s in coveralls and has a hardhat on her head. The only one in here wearing one. Should I even ask what that’s about?

     “Hey,” I say and tap her on her hat. She’s only just noticing me now. “What’s with the hat?”

     She shrugs, “Just wanted to wear one.”

     Marie hands me a can of soda and rushes over to the men to no doubt bother them whilst they work. Not that they mind.

     “How are you?” Loryn asks, she chews on her lower lip.

     I shrug and catch a guy out of the corner of my eye, about to take a mallet to the wrong wall. Shit. “I’m good.” Fortunately the guy double checks, shakes his head at himself and goes back to their plans. Good fucking job too.