The
next morning, she woke around 10:00, stretching and smiling as she
sat up. She felt rested and refreshed for the first time in years. In
fact, she couldn't remember the last time she'd woken up with a smile
and wondered if she ever had. She set up the coffee pot and called
Lionel. He answered breathlessly, with a laugh.
"Catch
you at a bad time?"
"I'm
wet and dripping on the floor."
"Did
I get you out of the shower?" Her mind played games with her,
picturing him naked.
"Swimming."
Almost
as good an image.
"I'm
hanging on the edge of the pool. I heard the phone as I hit the
wall."
"Not
literally, I hope."
"If
I had, this would be an entirely different conversation. I imagine
I'd be a lot less responsive."
She
giggled, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a practiced flip of
her head.
"Well,
I'm awake."
"I'll
be over soon. Got to grab a shower and pick up breakfast."
"What
are we having?"
"It's
a surprise. Coffee ready?"
"I've
but to push the button."
"Great.
Start it in about twenty. I'll be there in twenty-five."
"Okay.
I'm going to hit the shower. See you soon."
She'd
just gotten out of the shower when her phone rang. Picking it up
without looking, she assumed it was Lionel.
"Please
tell me you aren't lost. I thought you never forgot the location of a
beautiful woman."
"Um..."
It wasn't Lionel. "Rista?" It was Chad.
"What
do you want?" Her voice grew frosty.
"Why
are you so pissed? I just called to say hey."
"So
you've said it."
"Baby,
come on...."
She'd
forgotten how he had a tendency to whine when he wanted something
from her. Usually sex, but sometimes money. Given his current
location, he wasn't after nookie.
"What
do you want?" she repeated, even more hostile. "I'm
expecting an important call."
"From
some guy can't even figure out where you live? Who is he? I'll break
the fucker's legs."
"What,"
she said again. "Do you want, Chad?"
"To
hear your voice, darlin'" He tried a different tactic. "Nights
get cold up here in the Rockies."
"You're
lonely and want phone sex? Is that it?"
"Just
wanted to hear your voice, baby. How's stuff at home?"
"Wouldn't
know. I'm not at home."
"Huh?
What're you talking about?"
"Did
you think I was going to wait for you to come home and decide which
woman you were going to fuck next? Do you think you're that
irresistible?"
"What's
with you? You PMS-ing?"
"It
couldn't possibly be that you ran out of town owing me money, could
it? Or maybe the fact you've got at least three bastards you won't
claim. Maybe it's the fact that you were screwing three different
girls at the same time you were living with me. Any of that sound
remotely familiar, Chadwick?"
"Say
it like that, sounds kinda wrong, babe."
"It
is wrong, Chad. Not just my saying it makes it wrong. You're a dirty,
nasty, redneck, son of a whore and I never want to see you or hear
from you again."
"No
reason to insult my mama," he said defensively.
"She's
a ragged, toothless Oak Hill hag!" Arista yelled, throwing her
phone across the room with a scream.
©
2018 Dellani Oakes
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