By a Thread (13 page)

Stella woke up smelling of sex and alcohol, quite a powerful combination. “Shit,” she muttered as she rolled over and hit a solid chest.
George
, she thought. “Fuck,” she said and laid her head back on the pillow.

“Do you wake up every morning full of such sunshine?” He shifted and draped an arm over her.

“Pretty much,” she said and turned her head looking into his gorgeous eyes, a little more green this morning.

“So, you regretting inviting me back to your place, huh?” He smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth.

“No, just so we are clear. I don’t do this with everyone.”

“I know. I have known you for three years.” He kissed her forehead. “As you told me last night, and I agreed, we will be exclusively fucking until we are not. We will respect each other enough to inform the other so as not to have to share,” he recited.

“I said all that?” She winced. He nodded. “You agreed to that?”

“Anything to get you in the sack, love,” he laughed.

“Well, I guess that is that.” She sat up and swung her feet off the side of the bed.

George reached out and touched the tattoo on her left shoulder blade. She froze and then pulled out of his reach. Walking around the bed, she smiled, “Shower?”

“If you’re inviting me, hell yes.” He walked into the bathroom after her.

“Can you give me a minute?” She glanced at the toilet.

“Oh, sure.” He stepped back and watched as the door shut between them.

She slumped down on the toilet.
Well, I guess that is that,
she thought
. Right
. This was a very dangerous situation, she knew. She liked George, a little too much for her liking. She flushed and opened the door, then stepped into the waiting shower.

“So,” he said, while peeing with her in the same room. “What’s the tattoo about?”

She stepped under the showerhead and said, “It’s the remains of my heart.” She looked at him over her shoulder and smiled, “You regret coming back with me?”

“Not even a little,” He shook his head, looking at her left shoulder blade where there were black pieces of rubble about where Stella’s heart would be located and his heart broke a little.

Several nights later, Stella woke with a start in the middle of the night and felt his heat missing. He was gone. Isn’t that what she had told him she needed, she chastised herself. She ran a hand over where he had been when she fell asleep, taking in his scent and felt something. Sitting up she picked up what felt like paper and went in to the bathroom. Flipping the light on she read what he left her.

El,

I would have enjoyed staying with you, but I will honor your wishes and leave. I’ve kissed you bye and I look forward to tomorrow night when I will be able to kiss you again.

G

Walking back to her bed, Stella sighed and fell into bed enjoying George’s lingering scent. She reached over to her phone, put her ear buds into her ears and stared into the blackness until she fell into a restless sleep.

Patrick walked midway down the stairs and yelled. “El, get your ass up. It’s time to go.”

Stella rolled over naked in her bed. “No.”

“We’re running in two minutes.” Patrick made his way into the cave of her room and saw her stretched out, naked. “Shit. Sorry.”

“It would be okay if you didn’t come down here whenever you wanted, but knocked like a normal person.” She groaned. She and George had been up until 3:00.

“Well, you could sleep in pajamas like a normal person.” Patrick didn’t move, still looking at her lean body tangled in the sheets.

“I don’t believe in pajamas,” she said, “and I’m not running today.”

“You need to run.” Patrick headed up the stairs. “Gotta get the booze out.”

“Coop and I will go later.” She rubbed her face and blew her bangs out of her face. “Alright, get out of my room, I’m going back to sleep. Let Coop out,” she yelled.

Patrick stopped at the back door and let Cooper out, “So George, huh?”

Without even moving from bed, Stella replied, “You saw that, huh?”

“Yep. It was quite the shock to see a man leaving your room. You could’ve given us a heads-up.”

“Whatever…” Stella called.

“I like George,” Patrick said as he shut the back door and went up the rest of the stairs.

She breathed in hard as she made her way down King Street, she and Cooper dodged in and out of the crowds. At the next intersection she took a left and then and immediate right and ran down the less crowded road down to the Potomac. Music pounded in her ears and her thoughts drifted to George. He’d surprised her, being so gentle yet intense. She was not sure how to deal with that intensity; she was hoping the sex would just be adequate so she could just do him a couple of times and not really care about not doing it anymore. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. He was fantastic at turning her on and excelled at giving her what she needed for her body to completely unravel.

She turned left and ran toward the dog park. Slowing her pace, she leaned down, letting Cooper off the leash. The Potomac was packed with boats moving up and down the river. Walking lazily over to the bench close to the dog park overlooking the river, she stood behind it. Stella leaned down and said, “Funny meeting you here.”

George turned and took her in. She had her hair pulled into a messy bun and was wearing black spandex Capri pants, and a halter-type sports tank. Her tattoo was glistening with sweat, but he thought she had never been more beautiful. “Damn,” he muttered.

“What, you aren’t happy to see me?” Stella glanced over at Cooper to make sure he was behaving, but he was just lying on the ground catching his breath.

“It’s not that. I just haven’t seen you so hot before.” George smiled.

“Well, that’s what happens when one runs, you know.” She moved around the bench and before she could sit next to him, he pulled her on his lap. Putting his hand on her tattoo he looked into her eyes.

“I wasn’t talking about that sort of hot.” George pulled her to him and kissed her senseless.

“Good God.” Stella pushed her bangs out of her face. She was breathing heavily and she was extremely turned on.

“There’s more of that if you’re interested,” he kissed her neck.

“Um,” she wavered, “I think we’ve given enough of a show,” she moved over to his right, but he kept her legs on his lap. “So, whatcha been up to today?”

“Had to leave this beautiful woman’s arms last night. I cried myself to sleep then I came here to stare at the water and contemplate life,” he smirked.

“That sounds rough, she sounds like a bitch.” She looked over to where Cooper was playing tug with a dog half his size. “Coop, careful,” she yelled. Her back was to George, but she felt a familiar palm on her left shoulder blade. She turned to look at him, “What are you thinking?”

“I think I’m in trouble.” His smile was a little sad and melted her a bit.

“I think I may be too.”

The weekend after she and George had sex for the first time, Stella was checking herself in the mirror when Millie came down to her room. “What’s up with the primping?”

“What do you mean? I’m just getting ready.” She pulled on a sapphire-colored thin sweater over her skinny jeans and gray knee-high boots.

“Hot boots, when did you get those? I want to borrow them.” Millie was inspecting her.

“Just picked them up the other day. You like?” Stella gave one more look in the mirror and moved toward the stairs.

“Wait a second. What is going on?” Millie grabbed Stella’s wrist gently. Stella had spent time straightening and then curling her normal unruly hair. It was not quite straight, not quite wavy.

“What do you mean? We’re going out, I’m dressed. Now, let’s go.” Stella pulled her arm back and headed up the stairs.

“Um, we have been going to this bar for over two years and you have never looked like that,” Millie said with a question in her voice as she followed Stella up the stairs.

“I’m wearing jeans and a sweater. You act like I’m wearing a bikini,” Stella said amused.

“Oh my shit, he got you.” Millie smiled. Stella hadn’t had the opportunity to tell Millie what happened after they texted last weekend. Millie ended up not coming over and they both have been insane with classes. “I like George.”

“I know, I know, everyone likes George.” She blew her bangs out of her face. “I look normal.”

“You don’t look normal, you look hot.” Millie followed her upstairs.

“Whoa...” Billy said when Stella entered the kitchen.

“What the fuck?” she asked exasperated.

“You look hot, is all,” he said blushing.

“Right,” Millie agreed.

“I’m wearing normal clothes, what’s all the shit about?”

“You don’t usually wear clothes like that out, El. It looks good. We’re glad to see you putting in some effort into what you look like again.” Millie pulled two beers out of the fridge.

Patrick and Lisa came out of his room and he took in the room. “Everyone ready?”

“Yes, let’s go.” Millie grabbed Stella’s hand and they walked out the front door finishing their beers. The entire group walked down King Street until they got to the right intersection, then took a left and walked into the bar. Because Lisa was there they grabbed a table, which was unusual for them. Stella took a secret glance at George. He was giving her a 100-watt smile.

She smiled, blushed and looked back at the table.

“Aww shit,” Mille said, looking at Stella’s face. “The bartender’s really got you.”

“Um no, I’ve got him doing exactly what I want him to,” she said and she leaned into Millie. “And he is fantastic at it.” She actually giggled then and was so shocked by herself that Millie started laughing hysterically.

Millie took a glance over Stella’s shoulder to look at George. “He is staring a hole into her back right now. Go get me a drink.”

“I’ll get the first round,” Stella said. “Regular for everybody?” Everyone at the table nodded, except for Lisa. “What do you want, Lisa?”

“What kind of wine do they have?” Lisa was looking at the table for the menu.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, it’s an Irish bar. I wouldn’t drink the wine they serve here.”

“Just get me whatever they have in white wine, Stella,” she said, throwing daggers at Stella with her eyes.

Stella walked over to the bar and leaned in, looking down the bar at George and Hazel. Hazel started down her way, but George walked past her telling her he’d get it. He smirked at her. “Hi. What can I do for you El?” His tone was teasing.

“Many, many things, George.” Now his smile was so big she saw the dimple on his right cheek.

“But... for now, I just need drinks. The regular for everyone, except the hanger-on wants white wine. Give her the cheapest, nastiest you got.”

George laughed and started collecting the drinks. She took the drinks over to the table two by two. At the last round, he caught her hand. “I missed you last night.”

“We’ll catch up tonight.” She turned.

“Count on it,” he said over the music.

“Hey,” she leaned over the bar and whispered in his ear. Her breath warm on his ear, her lips grazing his ear.

“Meet me in the office in five minutes,” he answered gruffly.

Stella adjusted her halter top and pulled her jeans up. Her blush started in her chest and spread slowly across her face. “Okay.”

In a few minutes she made her way toward the bathroom. George appeared a minute later and pushed her into the office, covering her mouth with his. His hands all over her, she felt a slow burn across her body. Stella was a little sore since she hadn’t had sex in so long, but it was a feeling reminding her of their nights together and she welcomed it. She breathed in his scent, spice and sweat. The combination was enough to send her over the edge.

“Oh, you’re good with doing this here tonight?” She asked as he unbuttoned her pants and pulled them down to her knees.

“We aren’t doing anything,” he pulled down her panties and made his way down her body.

Later, Stella stretched her arms over her head and leaned from side to side, her shirt inching up her stomach and exposing a little skin. George leaned over the bar. “You better stop teasing me,” he whispered in her ear. She pulled her shirt down and glanced around.

“I wasn’t trying to tease you,” she said innocently.

“Hey, tomorrow is my day off. Let’s go to the Cherry Blossom Festival.” George’s eyes lit up when he spoke.

“Um,” Stella didn’t know, that sounded an awful lot like a date.

“Oh come on, El.” George rolled his eyes. “How about this? I’ll be sitting at a bench behind the Roosevelt Memorial overlooking the Tidal Basin in front of the Jefferson Memorial at 12:00 tomorrow. I hope you can make it.” He pushed himself off the bar and walked to the other side, not giving her a chance to respond.

About that time, Patrick and Billy entered the bar and took up the two seats on either side of her. “What up, fools?” she asked.

“Yo,” Billy answered giving her a one-arm hug. Neither Patrick nor Billy had seen much of Stella this year due to her hectic schedule with school and work. They had to arrange this night of drinking.

“You look good,” Patrick said kissing her cheek. Stella glanced at George, hoping she didn’t give off the just-fucked glow.

“It’ll be nice to blow off a little steam tonight. I’m feeling a little crazy with school. I’m having to go to school, work, and read like 200 pages a night. It’s impossible.” Stella took a drink. “How’s Lisa?”

“Oh, let’s not waste time on the unpleasant,” Billy interjected.

“Shut up, dude.” Patrick said leaning in to look Billy in the eye.

“I’m just saying, she’s the same.” He smiled and winked at Stella.

“How’d you get permission to come out tonight?”

“She’s coming over later,” Patrick answered, looking down.

“Of course,” Stella said.

They drank at the bar for several hours before they left to meet Lisa at their house. Billy was working on a big anti-trust investigation and would be in Houston for the rest of the month. He was leaving tomorrow. Patrick’s job was clicking along, nothing that exciting to talk about. Stella’s life was hectic but boring, if she had to describe it to other people. Billy and Patrick’s eyes glazed over when she started talking about all the papers she was working on and the legal issues that she was addressing at work. When they got up to leave, she waved at George.

Sunday a few minutes after noon, she finally found a parking spot around the memorials. She cursed at being late and had to jog over to the Roosevelt Memorial to make sure she got there before George thought she stood him up. This time of year in DC was gorgeous. The Japanese cherry blossom trees in the Mall area of the city were all blooming, depending on the weather, and it was a canopy of light pink petals. The festival had food, drinks, art, and music. When she saw George sitting on a bench looking out at the Tidal Basin surrounding the Jefferson Memorial, she smiled to herself. He was wearing loose-fitting jeans, flip-flops and a Nationals T-shirt, but he looked perfect. He looked up at her when he heard her approach.

“I wondered if you were going to show.” George patted the bench next to him.

Sitting, she took in the paddle boats coasting along in the Tidal Basin and the crowds of families and other people enjoying the view of the historic trees.

“I brought us a little lunch,” he said smiling and lifting a picnic basket.

“You have a picnic basket?” She laughed.

“Sure, don’t you?” George asked sarcastically.

“Nope.”

“I thought everyone had them, at least that’s what my sisters tell me.” George blushed a little.

“I don’t know anyone with a picnic basket.” She laughed.

“Now you do. If you ever need one, you can borrow mine.” He gave her his full-on dimpled smile.

“Do you have a blanket too?”

“Of course, what self respecting adult would have a basket and no blanket?” he asked indignantly.

“But of course,” she replied. “Come, George, feed me grapes on your picnic blanket.”

George’s face looked crestfallen, “I was hoping you would feed me grapes.”

“Whatever you want,” she replied.

George grabbed the basket and her hand and led her over to where the cherry blossom trees were thick in the small area between the Jefferson Memorial and the Korean Memorial. The ground was covered in what looked like pink snow. George spread the blanket and they sat side by side, their thighs touching. He started pulling out food in little containers and placing them on the blanket.

“What if I didn’t show? This is a lot of food.” Stella pointed at the plethora of containers scattering the blanket.

He genuinely laughed, “I’m sure I could’ve talked some pretty little thing into sharing with me.” He shrugged his shoulders. He voice dropped lower, “I didn’t know what you liked.”

“I like most food,” she answered, popping opening a container. Holding the orange spread up to her nose she giggled, “What do you know about pimento cheese?”

“I appreciate Southern delicacies.” He unscrewed the pinot noir he brought and pulled out solo cups. Filling up the cups, he looked around mischievously. “You know alcohol isn’t allowed on the Mall.”

“I’ve broken that law before.” She winced, sort of remembering her alcohol-filled first Fourth of July on The Mall. It was embarrassing to remember, Patrick having to escort her out of the family-friendly event due to her excessive cussing.

“I’m not surprised.” He took a sip and lay back on his elbows, his long legs crossed in front of him. “So, El, how’s school?”

“Ugh, anything but that,” she said waving off his question. “My life sucks right now...” his eyes went wide, “...with the exception of this.” She pointed at them both several times.

“Glad I’m the only bright light in your life right now.” He opened the rest of the containers.

“Tell me about what is going on in the real world. I haven’t seen the news in weeks.”

He laughed and pulled out the
Washington Post
from his basket. “Looks like you’re in luck.”

She lay on her back watching the blossoms floating on the wind as George read her the newspaper, while stroking her hair. Every once in a while she would glance at him and smile, perfectly content.