Page 2 of Whatever He Wants
She gives my right shoulder a rub, my entire being instantly hyperaware of her innocent touch.Since my righteous anger no longer has an outlet, it morphs into something else, something darker.An urge to push her against the fence and vent the frustration I always feel when I’m around her.
I take a step back and her hand falls from my shoulder.Her smile fades, her gaze holding mine.Sometimes I wonder if she ever senses I feel more for her than I should.I hear a lot of women are good at detecting when a guy is interested in them.
“I’m leaving tomorrow to attend a training conference in Ottawa,” I say to fill the awkward silence.“I’ll be gone for a few days, but I’m supposed to get a delivery the day after tomorrow.Can you sign for it and put it in the house?I’ll leave you a spare key.”At her nod, I pause to consider my next words, then decide to make the offer.“You can stay up there while I’m gone if you want.In case you want some space from Matt.”
“That’s really sweet, Isaac.Thank you.”
“No guests, OK?That’s the number one rule.”
She nods.“Yes, sir.”
2
Denise
Isaac’s front porch is a refuge from the basement.The warm morning sun on my skin and the blissful silence away from Matt’s loud video game makes me feel a hundred times better.
I trace my thumb along the ridges of the front door key.I’m supposed to put Isaac’s delivery inside after signing for it, but he won’t mind if I wait in the house.He already said I could stay there if I wanted space from Matt.
When I let myself in, it’s like Isaac is still here.The fading scent of his woodsy cologne lingers in the air.I breathe it in and imagine him standing close to me.Complicated feelings I never acknowledge rise to the surface.I push them back down, slip off my shoes, and wander through the house.
It’s clean and spacious.The dark leathers and woods give it a masculine vibe.It’s nice, but his old house was warmer, more inviting.Though that was back when he had a warmer personality too.
In the kitchen, I caress the granite countertop, taking in the sleek appliances and the openness of the ground floor.I can’t help feeling envious.Isaac is thirty-six, fifteen years older than me.He seems more like an adult than I’ll ever be.At my age, he already had a decent job, a car, and an apartment he could afford on his own.Meanwhile, I’m struggling to balance my life like I’m riding a tricycle with one wobbly wheel.
I head back to the living room and sink into the dark grey leather sofa.Something hot pink wedged between the cushions catches my eye, its colour out of place in a room of dark tones.
Is that a pair of panties?Ewww.
I’m dismayed, disgusted, disappointed.Though, why would I feel disappointed that Isaac got laid?It’s not as if I missed a chance to have him, or evenwantedone at all.He’s like a brother to me, and I have a boyfriend.Also, it’s been three years since Camille’s tragic death.I’m sure it’s been hard for him to put himself out there again.I should be happy for him.
“Good for you, Isaac,” I say, though the words feel hollow.
I edge away from The Thing That Looks Like A Thong, but curiosity gets the better of me.I need to confirm my suspicion.My upper lip curled, I pinch the fabric with the tips of my fingers and tug it free.I let out a soft laugh.It’s not a thong, it’s my scrunchie!
How did he get this?
I turn the ruffled hair tie over my fingers.It’s one of my favourites.When it disappeared a few days ago, I searched everywhere for it.Isaac must have found it and forgot to give it back.
A muffled trill breaks the quiet.I toss the scrunchie on the glass coffee table and pull out my phone.
“You win some, you lose some,” June says when I answer.There’s a familiar rumble and hiss of a bus in the background.She must be on her way to work.
I smile.“What did you win?”
“Twenty dollars from a scratch card.”
“That’s nice.Lucky you.”
“Want to know what I lost?”
“The twenty dollars you won because you bought more scratch cards with it?”
“Yeah, and a boyfriend too.”
My smile falls.“What happened?”
“Tyler’s been sexting other women.He swears he didn’t sleep with any of them.Part of me believes him, but part of me doesn’t, so I dumped him.”
