CHAPTER 8
Laura studied the sheet, trying to figure out Elitsa. Elitsa, it seemed to her, was someone who would've never known even the possibility of rejection.
According to the description, Elitsa had an undefinable allure that made speech incomprehensible and turned eyes into radar. The daughter of academics, she understood the demands on their time and the need for quiet at home. She was also very comfortable with sex, seeing it as a communication tool.
Looking up at the mirror, Laura tried to imagine herself as Elitsa. Tilting her head back enough to strain her eyes as she watched herself, she touched her fingers to her neck, pressing in and up until she reached her lips. For a moment she felt her.
Then, with both hands behind her neck, Laura yawned, got off the bed and went to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator door, she bit her lip. She had the choice of yogurt or leftover pasta, but was in the mood for mac and cheese.
Calling her friend Kerri, she said, "Take me out. I'm starving!"
"Same time, same place?"
"You know it!"
The first one there, Laura sat down at the black table and stared at the plastic corked bottle of water that was twice as high as her glass but with the same clear view. As often as she'd been there, she still couldn't resist smelling it in the hopes of finding alcohol instead.
Laughing at herself, she glanced up and saw Kerri at the entrance. Waving her over she blew her a kiss.
"Hey, bitch," Kerri said.
"What's up, slut?"
"All the world and then some."
"I heard that."
Their palms slapping, they leaned over and kissed each other on the cheeks. Then Kerri dropped her purse on the tabletop, turned her seat around, sat down and rested her hands on top of the chair and her chin on top of her hands.
"So," Kerri purred, "How much you getting paid?"
Grinning, Laura said, "You won't believe it."
"Spill it!"
"10K!"
At first, Kerri didn't move. Then she pulled her head back, opened her mouth, closed it and put her chin back on her hands. Twisting her lips to one side, she brought them back and grinned.
"You won't forget me, will you?" she asked, "I mean, when you get all big and famous?"
Laura shook her head from side to side, her eyes gleaming. Laughing, they ate, drank and talked some more.
Within the hour, Kerri's boyfriend sent her a booty call text. Hugging Laura goodbye, Kerri rushed off while Laura stayed behind.
Looking at her watch, Laura couldn't believe it was 2a. Deciding to go home herself, she started for the door when she saw the broad shouldered man sitting in the corner by the window. Something about the way he tapped his glass, his head bent down, made her want to lift his face and kiss him.
Instead she sat down opposite of him, clasped her fingers under her chin and waited for him to notice her. When he did, she felt her eyes burn with his sadness.
He flicked his gaze at her, pulled his head back and creased his forehead, his eyebrows pushing inwards. She held her eyes with his until, distracted by the couple at the entrance, she pulled away.
"Do I know you?" he demanded, his voice terse and grouchy sounding.
That stilled her, her eyes widening and her mouth opening. She turned to look at him, tilted her head and, smiling with her eyes, just barely curled her lips.
"Don't you want to?" she asked, her voice demur.
Whatever it was about him, she felt an insane need to press him against her body until all of the sadness washed away from him. Whether it was that imperceptible wave he felt or something else, he, too, felt himself responding to her. Then he thought of Jana.
Seeing the shining redness behind his red stained eyes, she reached her hands out and grabbed his glass tapping hand and held it to her mouth. Then a tear dropped from her face and wet his hand.
He looked up at her, his dick hard. Rasping, he suddenly felt feverish, as if sweat were popping out all over his body. He moved the hand she held until he had his thumb in front of her ear and the rest of his hand behind her ear, her hands on his wrist and over his hand.
Her vulnerability exposed, he reached over suddenly and, with his other hand behind her neck, pressed his lips with force against her mouth. Startled, she turned her head.
Letting go of her, he sat down and said, "I'm sorry."
Her lips trembling, she smiled, still holding on to his hand. Bringing it back to her lips, she opened his fingers and kissed his palm. When she slid her fingers through his, he, too, closed his fingers around her hand, his tears openly falling on his cheeks as he looked at her.
Smiling, she stood up and said, "Let's go to my place and talk. I don't want to leave you alone tonight."
"Okay," he said, tossing money on the table and riding with her.
"Are you from here?" she asked, making the turn to her apartment.
"No."
"Are you on vacation?" she asked, parking the car and turning her face to him.
Taking a breath, he lowered his head and said, "I had to get away from my sister."
"It's okay," she said, leaning over to open his door and walking out with him on the passenger side, their hands still clasped together.
She held him on her bed as he cried against her neck. Without removing their clothes, they fell asleep, never letting the other go.
In the morning he talked to her about Jana. She didn't judge him, just held him and listened. By the end of the day she let him inside her, knowing it wasn't her face he was seeing. She just had an inexplicable need to help him through his grief. But when he said "I love you," she felt her entire body flush, wanting him more.
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