Devil’s in the Details (26 page)

Alex gave me a dirty look. "Don't tell me."

I shrugged, "I might have started watching the first episode the other night. It’s surprisingly, really good." I sipped my coffee, "I think you would like it, Alex, or you can pick through my movie collection. Do up a Doris Day or Bette Davis marathon?"

Alex searched my eyes, her smile returning to normal, "It sounds like you are offering up your house this time for movie night." Her tone was a mocking one. Her way of easing the tension resulting from the fact that I had gone from very closed off to very open and eager to have her in my house, let alone in my life.

"I am." Poking at my waffle, I grew nervous, "I kind of like it when you're there Alex, and I still have to give you the tour of the place." I let out a slow breath, "You can stay again tonight if you don't want to drive home. I'm sure I can dig up another Navy shirt for you to wear before you head into work and I can wash the scrubs." I grimaced, realizing I was rambling.

She grabbed my wrist, leaning forward, "Victoria, you don't need to be nervous." She chuckled, "I mean I'm nervous too, but we don't have to be. We've known each other for a year now, been best friends. Whatever comes next, well, come what may." She ran her thumb over my pulse, smiling as she felt it quicken, "Of course I will stay if you want me to." Alex sighed, "I've missed you, Victoria." It came out in a barely audible whisper.

I covered her hand with my other, "I missed you too, Alex." I sucked in a breath, "So, you want to head to the grocery store next? Burgers? Your famous triple cheese with baked potatoes? I also have some leftover cherry pie from Mary and plenty of wine."

I kept my smile as Alex pulled out a pen and started making a list of ingredients we would need. I watched her laugh, holding my wrist as she went on to tell me about how her mother's boyfriend taught her how to melt the cheese just right before taking the burger off the grill. I listened intently, my heart also intently listening. Hoping that I had finally found the balance it so desperately needed. The perfect balance where it, and I, could live happily, peacefully and maybe look at the light at the end of the tunnel instead of looking away from it with sunglasses on.

"I know Dean, but I think it's better if we just stay coworkers. You work up on the tenth floor and I work in trauma four floors down. It would be impossible to maintain a friendship." I was in the middle of Victoria's backyard, staring up at the giant oak tree at the far end.

I dreaded making this phone call, but after Dean had called twice and sent a few salacious texts, that Victoria happened to see them, the white knuckles on her hands told me she was about to murder the ground beef in her hands. So, I decided now was best to rip the band aid off. "Dean, we had fun, but I don't think I’m ready for anything serious. A serious relationship."

I turned to look at Victoria removing the thick burgers from the grill. She gave me a silent look asking if I was okay. I rolled my eyes and waved her back to the grill as Dean droned and whined on. For a doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, he was as whiny as small child who wasn't getting their way. I had been on the phone with him for the last twenty minutes and it was like talking in circles.

I folded my arm across my chest, staring down at the faded, scowling goat staring back up at me. Dean was whining about the trip to the Poconos, followed by asking if he had done anything wrong. He was beginning to irritate me.

Turning to Victoria I saw her grin at me. It was the one grin that had melted my heart when I saw it for the first time in that deli. I couldn't hold back the sappy, happy sigh my heart shoved from my lungs. I had not felt like this for anyone, ever, and the last thing I wanted to do was waste my time on the phone with a whiny surgeon. I wanted to be over with the blonde who was poking holes in the foil around big potatoes.

I clenched my jaw and interrupted Dean, "Dean, stop talking." I smirked when I heard him stumble over the last syllable, "Here's the deal. I can't date you anymore because I have been in love with someone else for a year and you'll never be able to compare to her, on any level. She and I just decided yesterday that we are going to give this a shot and I would be stupid to pass it up, stupid to let her walk away from me again." I waited a moment, hearing Dean continue to stumble and stutter as he heard the word her. "I have to go. I hope you find someone you deserve Dean. I think Katie up in Oncology has a crush on you. You should ask her out." Without a second breath, I hung up on the man, shoved the phone in my back pocket and strode over to Victoria.

She was facing the grill, intensely focused on the task at hand. She didn't notice me walking over and I took advantage of it. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled myself into her, grinning when I heard her heart pick up pace as I settled my chin on her shoulder. I took a deep breath in, soaking up the scent of her soap, the way the late afternoon sun warmed her skin and added a little extra oomph to the scent of her shampoo. I grinned wider when I felt her hand cover mine, pressing it against her waist.

She leaned back, "How did the phone call go?" There was an edge to her voice, one that hinted in the slightest towards jealousy.

I turned my face closer into her neck, "As good as expected. I eventually told him the truth. That I couldn't date him anymore. That someone incredibly amazing had fallen back into my life and there was not a damn thing he could ever do that could compare to her." I pressed a light kiss against her neck, "That could compare to you." I was surprised at how bold and comfortable I had become with Victoria in a matter of a day. It also didn't help that I couldn't stand to be away from her for very long, or go without touching he every five seconds.

I noted the flush I had caused to creep up her neck as I ran my lips softly down her neck. I loved the reaction she had whenever I did touch her. I was beyond addicted to it and made a promise to do it as much as possible.

"Alex, I don't think I’m anything amazing." She pressed against my hand once more before removing it to grab the rest of our late lunch. "I'm definitely not comparable to a surgeon." She turned smiling softly at me and pointing at the small plate next to the grill.

I reluctantly removed myself from her body to grab the plate, "No you're not a surgeon. You're right about that." I held the plate as Victoria placed the potatoes on it, "I don't think I would be that interested in you if you were." I smirked at the look on her face. "I can barely tolerate your ego as it is."

Victoria raised her eyebrows, a half smile on her face, "Really? You think I have an ego?"

I shrugged playfully walking towards the porch doors, "A little one," I looked back at her, seeing her squint critically at me. I decided to keep the ruse going, "Especially in your Navy uniform. You stand so tall with all those ribbons and your shiny rank insignia, it's like you are in a world of your own."

Victoria's face changed ever so slightly, so much so that if I didn't know her as well as I did, I would have missed it. "Alex, that uniform, my uniform, wearing it is like living in a different world for me." The smile faded completely as she held the door open for me, "That's why I don't like wearing it or using my rank." She glanced past me, into the kitchen and I saw the clouds forming in her irises.

I had to change the subject fast, "I was going to say that you also look devastatingly gorgeous in uniform and that everyone should be envious." I let out a sigh of relief internally when I saw the corner of her mouth curl up in a smile. I walked over to her, gently shoving her from the burgers and condiments sitting out on the island. "Sit down and get that dragon show of yours started. I’ll finish the burgers." I cocked an eyebrow at her, "Still a triple cheese, extra mayo and no pickle, kind of girl?"

Victoria laughed out loud, chasing the strange tension out of the room, "I am. That has definitely not changed." She moved behind me to the refrigerator, pulling out two bottles of raspberry ice tea, "Can you put cheese on my potato?"

I shook my head, shoving her again, "I can, and I will. Now go, warm up my spot." I snickered, reaching for the large fresh baked buns.

I went to start on hers when I felt warm, soft lips kissing my cheek and her breath against my ear as she whispered, "I'm really glad you're here, Alex."

Victoria walked out of the kitchen before I could utter a word, leaving me to close my eyes and bite my lip in a feeble attempt to hold back the shit eating grin on my face. I sucked in a happy breath and returned to making lunch.

"Okay, okay, how about this one. First kiss." I sat facing Victoria on the couch, my legs tucked up underneath me and a bowl of popcorn sitting in between us. I shoved a handful in my mouth, laughing at how serious Victoria's face had become as she tried to think.

We had been playing the question game for the last few hours. So far I had learned that Victoria loved old movies because of her grandmother who babysat her during the summers. Her parents were long out of the picture from an early age and she had no contact with them since she graduated from the Naval Academy. She could recite all of the states in alphabetical order, then confessed she secretly always wanted to get a tattoo on her lower back, but didn't dare because of the tramp stamp stigma.

All of it was fascinating to me, no matter how trivial it might have seemed to anyone else, it was important to me. I was finally learning who Victoria was, getting all the tiny pieces that made up a person’s character, and personality. I could see a shift happen in the woman as she told me facts about herself. It was as if she was letting all of the weight of the world slowly off her perfect shoulders and handing it over to me to carry some of the load.

I wanted to ask her about the Navy, the time she served overseas, the medals in her den, but I didn't. I had picked up that discussing the Navy, and what came with it, was something that would derail her instantly. Leaving me to believe that the worries and the fears I felt when I saw her purple heart, would break my heart if I heard them. I was also too caught up in how cute Victoria was telling embarrassing stories from her youth.

She nervously tugged on the drawstrings of her ragged hoody before letting out a dramatic sigh, "My very first kiss." She then looked up at me with bashful slate grey eyes, "Would have to be Brian Casper, in ninth grade, and I did it on a dare at a pep rally." Victoria rolled her eyes, "I was so embarrassed. I ran and hid out in the tennis courts until night fell then pretended to be sick for three days after."

I went to crack a joke when she held up her hand, "Now my first real kiss. That was Mindy Emerson, second year at the academy. We had been quietly flirting for months and finally, after watching the first years climb Herndon monument, we went out for pitchers of beer. She and I kissed in the alley behind the bar." Victoria smiled, looking down at her hands, "That was the first real kiss that meant anything to me."

Chewing slowly on the popcorn, I felt the subtle waves of jealousy roll in my stomach. "And what happened to Mindy?" I tried to keep the tone in my voice even.

Victoria furrowed her brow, "She met a third class midshipman. He was on the rugby team and I was quickly forgotten. The last I saw her was in San Diego at the naval station right before I deployed overseas. She happily hugged me and showed me her engagement ring." Victoria shot her head up, sucking in a sad breath and plastering a tight smile on her face, "Your turn." She scooped up a handful of popcorn. "How many times have you been in love?"

Tugging the blue blanket around my shoulders, I tapped the edge of the giant red plastic bowl, "Hmm. Good question. I think I’ve been in puppy love a million times, especially in New York. Everyone is so attractive there. All models, movie stars, Wall Street brokers and the like. I had a crush every other day on this guy or that one girl that would walk by in the most amazing dress I had seen all week, you know, the usual fare for New York City."

I chewed on the inside of my mouth, thinking about what I was going to say next, "As for real true love, the kind you see in soap operas and chick flicks? I would have to say three times. My first real boyfriend in high school, that took me into college, but fell apart when he transferred to a college in Seattle to follow his dreams of hemp growing for clothing." I smirked at Victoria as she laughed at me, "The second was the nice police officer in New York who brought in his injured partner after a car chase went wrong. He and I dated for a long time and I thought I was going to marry him." I felt my face fell as I thought about James. "But nurses and cops go together like oil and water. Both are always so high strung, overworked, over tired, and it fell apart. He found a lady cop he liked better and I found that I liked my job more than I liked being in a relationship."