When Love Calls (28 page)

“You are most welcome Erin and for the record, I’m going to take care of my aunt who is having knee replacement surgery. She doesn’t have any children, my mother is her only sister and I’m an only child, so I’m heading to Ohio. My mother will be keeping Adrian while I’m gone.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation.” I assured.

 “I know I don’t owe you one, but I wanted to give you one, because despite what you may have fixated in your head, I actually care what you think of me.” Again he caught me off guard with his words. The silence that filled the air was thick and heavy. I could hear the faintest sound of Mike’s breath on the other end of the receiver. I could feel the passionate undercurrent our verbal dance had created. He cared what I thought and I liked that. I knew he could hear that my breathing was heavy and staggered, as well. I wanted to shake my feelings and hang up, but I didn’t. I sat there, listening to him breathe until words found me.

 “Mike,” I asked softly. “Are you still willing to hang around until I get my shit together?” We chuckled and I felt the dense air dissipate around me.

“Yes Ms. Erin, both me and my heart will be waiting whenever you know you’re ready.” I took note that he didn’t use the words “believe” or “think.” He didn’t want me until I
knew
he was what I wanted. 
Shit this man is sexy!!

 
I wanted to give some smooth response. I wanted to tell him I was ready right then and for him to come over and bring his heart and his hard-on, so we could make some things happen, but instead I said, “Ok,” told him goodnight and hung up the phone.

Even though I wasn’t engaging in any extracurricular activities with men at present, I saw no reason that I shouldn’t be able to scratch the occasional itch on my own. I walked over to my closet and pulled out one of several toys from the designated box on the shelf and pulled out a bottle of lube. As I dropped my boy shorts to the floor, I crawled under the covers with my two companions Jiffy and Lube. Jiffy always got me there fast and Lube, well, that’s self-explanatory...Once I was properly prepped, I flipped the switch on my little friend and let myself be hypnotized by the buzz. I sunk down into my pillow and maneuvered the bullet over my swollen clit. The vibration gripped it instantly and, on instinct, I flinched. I closed my eyes and pictured Mike’s tongue in place of the tool resonating between my thighs. I imagined it was him humming beneath me, creating the current that was building within me. My hands revolved the toy in tiny circles until my staggered breath signaled the waves of release inside my walls. I cried out loudly, embracing the solitude of my bedroom. No one could hear me scream or watch me squirm. I maneuvered the device again and another passionate wave quickly met the shore of my desire. Again I released my gratitude from my mouth and from below. I slid the vibrator inside me and immediately felt the tingling sensation as it resonated at my core. My body received the signal loud and clear as another ripple sent forth a spring that I could feel cascading down toward my buttocks. Still panting, I placed Jiffy and his partner Lube on my night stand. I turned on my side and coiled into a ball. Tiny pulses preceded the feeling of euphoria and then… peace. Relaxation covered me like a blanket and coaxed me into drowsiness. I reached over, turned off the lamp and slipped into a post-orgasmic coma.

*****

I was in nothing but my nightshirt and had planned to stay that way until time for my first art class later in the evening. The morning run with BGR had taken a toll on me and when I got home, I took a scorching hot shower and jumped into bed. It was noon now, the sun was beaming through my window and I was propped up in bed thinking about the class I was scheduled to attend later on. I’d found an art studio called Both Sides where I could participate in a moderately-sized group and receive some personalized instruction. I was somewhat uneasy about revisiting painting for the first time in front of a bunch of people, but I wanted the benefit of individual help. It had been years since I’d painted and I hadn’t sketched anything since my early days in college. I glanced over at the notebook and slid it off the nightstand. I flipped through the sketches of animals, scenery and abstract designs.
I hope I remember the light and shading techniques.
I thought as I studied the pages. It had always been so relaxing for me to draw and paint. I was looking forward to having that feeling again.

Screw sleeping in. I’m going to get art supplies.
I leapt out of bed and damn-near skipped my way across the room to the dresser. I pulled a pair of black leggings and a matching tank top from the drawer. I tossed the pants and shirt over my shoulder and stepped into my walk-in closet to find the perfect sweater for the occasion. As I skimmed the neatly folded, color-coded stacks of sweaters, I found the perfect one. “I think I’m feeling electric blue today.” I told myself as I pulled out the oversized, off the shoulder, cobalt blue, knit sweater. I thought long and hard about whether or not underwear was an option for the day. I was feeling a new sense of freedom and had actually begun to enjoy walking around my house naked or close to it. After some serious thought, I revisited my dresser and pulled out a thong and brazier.
Tit-sling and undies it is.
I resigned.  After securing the coverage of all my naughty parts, I pulled the black tank top on and slid the sweater over it. I tugged the leggings up and over the curve of my buttocks and strode back to the closet in search of my blue and black high-topped Jordan’s. For the most part, I was very much into feminine attire and style, except when it came to sneakers. I was a bonafied Sneaker head. I realized a long time ago that the best sneakers were in the boys or men’s section so my collection consisted of mostly men’s shoes. It was the best of both worlds really. I got to have the hottest sneakers and could convince male suitors that I had a live-in boyfriend if the need arose.

I pulled the sneakers on over my cotton ankle socks before I standing to head to the bathroom. I took a lingering glance down at my sneakers that perfectly matched my sweater.
Hot!
At the very same moment, I realized my shoes weren’t the only hot thing in the room. My breath was pretty hot too! Speed-walking into the bathroom, I squeezed a dollop of toothpaste across the brush and went straight for my tongue.
No more cheese before bed.
I commanded silently. I could not wake up to this again. When I was no longer dreading the fact that my body required me to inhale and exhale, I gave a quick swish and gargle with some Listerine, dabbed my mouth with a washcloth and stepped back into the bedroom toward the vanity. My jet-black tresses were tossed up once again into a messy bun atop my head. I grabbed a pair of large silver, beveled hoops and placed one in each earlobe. I smiled into the mirror as I surveyed my appearance.
Nice.
I looked exactly like I felt, relaxed and free.

I’d invited Feliz to come out with me to get art supplies and she was more than willing. She was into photography when she wasn’t working at the hospital, so I asked her to bring her camera along in case we saw something amazing during our outing. To which Feliz had doubtfully replied, “Ok, but I don’t know what kind of amazing things we are going to see at Michael’s.”

Truthfully, Feliz was happy just to get some time to herself. When I called she mentioned, “Mario and the boys are going bowling tonight, so would you mind if I tagged along to your art class? We could make a day of it since we
never
get to hang out just the two of us.” She was right. We never really hung out much, and I thought it would be cool for us to do some artistic stuff together, so I told her I’d swing by and pick her up.

As I made the drive to pick up Feliz, I pondered her a bit. She was different from all my other friends and was best described as a controlled fire. At first glance, one might think she was quiet but she was actually thoughtful and observant. She spent a lot of time analyzing the atmosphere around her, so photography seemed like a natural pastime. Feliz didn’t say much but when she saw something worth speaking on, she
always
did. On the flip side of her personality was a jovial person who loved to laugh and dance and have a good time. She was a true bad ass who had managed to be reined in by Mario. Love, marriage and family had calmed her
way
down –that plus a few close calls with the law that almost changed her life path completely. I met her when we started clinicals together and I disliked her from the very first day. Now I know it was probably because we were too similar. Driven, focused and never backing down from a challenge. In fact, Feliz would go down in history as the one person who had gone toe-to-toe with me in an argument, and not only had she not backed down, she’d won! In most circumstances, I got the last word, but in that particular debate I was rendered speechless. That day Feliz managed to piss me off and impress me at the same time. Once we got over our egos (mostly my ego), we realized we actually had some things in common and our witty banter was a welcome distraction from the stresses of patients and clinicals.

I pulled into the driveway of Feliz and Mario’s home and had barely gotten out of the car when Sebastian and Felix came running out to greet me. Sebastian, the older of the two, was tall for eight and wore his hair and clothes in a style that reflected the impact of both his father and pop culture. Today he wore loose-fit dark denim jeans and a black long-sleeved graphic tee with a skull and crossbones dead center. Felix, on the other hand, was completely different in both style and personality. He was wearing khaki cargo pants and a long-sleeved navy polo beneath the open coat that flapped in the wind around his six-year-old frame as he trotted toward me. He was clearly still being guided by his mother’s fashion influence.  “Hey Aunt Erin,” they yelled in unison nearly knocking me down as flung their bodies against either side of my hips and wrapped their arms around me.

“Hey guys! Felix, you’re getting tall! You will be as big as Sebastian soon, huh,” I said, as I tussled the loose brown curls atop his head. Sebastian made a face and backed away as he ran his hand over his tapered haircut. No doubt a move he’d picked up from his father who wore his hair the exact same way. I smirked at the gesture.  “I know you’re too old for me to play in your hair Bass. I wouldn’t want to ruin your look.” I kidded. He looked away sheepishly and fought back a smile.
Such a little man.
“What are you boys doing home? No school today?”

 “Dad’s taking us to the dentist and the doctor in the same day,” Felix groaned, pulling his face into a grimace. “He’s making up for it by taking us bowling tonight, though!” He chimed, and his mouth pulled back into an excited grin revealing the empty space where his front tooth should have been.

I tilted his chin up toward me and he only resisted a little before giving in. “Someone lost a tooth! Wow! It really has been a long time since I’ve seen you guys.” I gave them each a heartfelt squeeze. Just then, Mario and Feliz walked out of the house and down the driveway.

 “Hey Erin! Long time no see,” Mario said as he unlocked the car and began loading the boy’s in. “This is a different look for you. You must have a new guy or something,” he teased. 

“Actually, no. I just felt like doing something different today if that’s alright,” I retorted playfully.

“Mario leave her alone.” Feliz warned cutting a sideways glance in Mario’s direction.  “You look
cute
Erin.” She said as she opened the passenger door and climbed in.

“Being off from work definitely agrees with you honey,” Feliz eyed me with a smile. “Damn, I wish I looked that good after a break up! What’s new with you?” Her raised brow hinted that she was expecting to hear I was dating some new young guy, who had me dressing like a college flashback.

“Nothing much really. I’m training for this half marathon with Angela, doing this art class and hopefully going skydiving in the near future.”

“You call that nothing much?! You are really going all in with this search for passion, huh? You found anything that sparked your interest yet,” Feliz asked as she scrolled through pictures already saved in her camera.

“Well, I like running more than I did when I started a few days ago. My lungs are finally starting to cooperate. I’m also thinking about maybe singing at a public venue soon… not really
soon
, but eventually. A friend of mine has a band, he said I can sit in on a set if I want. I’m seriously considering it. I really do love to sing… in private,” I chuckled.

“It sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy while you’re off! Make sure you let us all know when you perform and we will be right there in the front row to cheer you on.”

I pulled into the parking lot of Michael’s and without warning Feliz lifted the camera to her face and snapped a shot of me. “This will serve as proof so I can say, ‘I knew you when.’” We shared a laugh as we stepped out of the car toward the store.

Inside I picked out a sketch book, colored pencils and charcoals. “Oh shoot! Someone’s getting serious! Look at you buying real art supplies and shit,” Feliz laughed amidst giving me her “I’m impressed” face. “We should definitely go to Navy Pier. I could get some great shots of the skyline and you could sketch some stuff. The boats are out and I’m sure there will be a few musicians and whatnot; plenty of things to sketch and snap.” I could see Feliz had gotten excited just talking about it. I had to admit it was nice to have someone who shared my artistic interest. Feliz picked up a couple of picture frames and some matting paper, then we headed toward the register.

 The drive to Navy Pier was an unusually quiet one. We both seemed content to take in the roadside scenery as we drove into the city. When we finally arrived there was very little activity going on. It was a far cry from the summer bustle of people and music. It was almost like when the trees went dormant for the winter, the city did too. At that moment, I looked forward to the budding of spring blossoms and the steady, subtle awakening of Chicago, as well.