Between The Sheets Part 4

"I thought they'd never leave," I say when Matty and Tyler finally head outside to get the grill going. "So what's happening? How was Vegas? Are you and my brother like ... a couple now?" I tried talking to her about this while I was on my honeymoon and I found out they were in Sin City. I half expected to come home and find they had eloped. As much as it would've killed me to miss my brother's wedding to my best friend, I'm kind of disappointed he didn't slap a ring on it and call it a day. They've been doing this dance half their lives already. What the h.e.l.l are they waiting for?

"Sh.e.l.ly?" She waves her hands in the air. "Where are you?"

"Oh. Sorry," I say, snapping out of my thoughts. "Carry on. Tell me. What's happening?"

She kicks off her flip flops and tucks her feet under her as she turns toward me with her elbow resting on the back of the sofa. "Am I talking to my best friend right now? Or Tyler's sister?"

"Can't I be both?"

She's all fidgety and serious. So unlike Mel. "No, you can't. My best friend will listen to me and give me advice. Tyler's sister will listen and then tell him everything I say and possibly mess everything up."

I get it. I think, anyway. "So you're saying, you want me to listen but keep my big trap shut with my brother."

She groans. "When you put it that way, there's no f.u.c.king way you can do it. Anything I tell you will turn into a long drawn out convo with your bro and I'll never know how he truly feels. I'll always wonder if he's with me because he wants to be or because he's afraid of his little sister."

I can see the tears flooding her eyes as she hangs her head. Oh no. What the h.e.l.l did he do to my friend? This is not the Mel I know. The strong Melissa who decked her ex-husband's floozy in a parking lot, had a good cry, and moved on in a matter of days. This Mel looks like she's about to drown in heartbreak with her quivering lip and gla.s.sy eyes. "Melly belly, don't be sad. I'm your best friend and I always will be. I've got your back, even when it comes to my brother. Unless you do something to hurt him, then I'll have to kill you with my bare hands."

She glances up at me with the corners of her mouth lifting. "I'd never hurt him and you know that. I've loved that guy since the first time I realized I thought boys were cute. I'd never hurt him."

"Then, is he hurting you? You're obviously upset."

She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and sucks in a mouthful of air before exhaling slowly. "Here's the deal. I have no idea what's going to happen once Tyler leaves tonight. We still have close to two months of school left and I don't know if I'll even see him during that time. I want to see him. I want this thing we have to continue, but I'm not sure it will." She pauses and takes another long breath. "But what I don't want is for you to say something to him. I can't have you telling him to be with me or not to hurt me. If he decides he wants it to work, I want it to be real. I don't want you influencing him or pressuring him to do anything he doesn't want to do."

I nod, knowing exactly what she means. I'd want the same thing for me if I were her. "Don't worry. I get you. I won't say a thing to him. But can I tell you something?"

Her eyes perk up. "Sure. Shoot."

"I want you two to stay together. Besides the fact that you're meant to be, I really love having him around. I can tell he's happy with you and I'm happy to see him. I've missed him so much since he left. So I'm being a little selfish by wanting you guys to make a go of it."

"I'm also being selfish when I say I want it to work too, but at what cost?" She looks down at her tiny hands and perfect manicure. "I don't want to move. And I don't want him to have to move either. But this long distance thing sucks a.s.s. He hasn't even left yet and I already miss him."

"Honey, don't worry just yet. You're talking like a relations.h.i.+p with my brother is doomed before it's even had the chance to get started. Things have a way of working out. Look at me and Matty. Who woulda thunk it?" I sure as h.e.l.l wouldn't have. For a few years, he had been our sidekick. Like our mascot. Matty would go shopping with us, tag along to the movies to see chick-flicks, and a couple times he even went with us to get our toes done. While I always thought he was good looking, I never considered him doable. Now, I take any chance I can to do do him. him.

"I always knew," Mel says, interrupting my thoughts of my naked husband. "You don't think he hung around with us because he liked to talk s.h.i.+t about Summer and eat chocolate, do you? I'm sure he only went with us to see Something Borrowed Something Borrowed because he wanted to figure out a way to borrow you from Chase. He's been hot for you since the day we met him." because he wanted to figure out a way to borrow you from Chase. He's been hot for you since the day we met him."

I like her way of thinking. I never saw it but I must say, it makes me feel pretty d.a.m.n good to hear it. I glance over my shoulder at the sliding door leading to our back yard. Beyond the patio, my husband and brother are chatting, both with beers in hand, and Matty holding a long spatula in his other. Ty must have said something funny, causing my man to tip his head back with laughter. "They look so cute out there. I'm so relieved they get along so well."

Mel nods. "They're both easy going so there's no surprise there."

I down what's left of my beer and hop to my feet. "Let's go join them. I haven't spent this much time without touching my husband since the night before our wedding. I'm itching to get my hands in his pants so we might need to cut this dinner short."

Mel snorts at this just as she's taking a drink of her wine. Her face scrunches up as she tries to get the liquid down before she starts coughing. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"It's that d.a.m.n wine again. I think you're finally starting to come to your senses. You've barely had a sip."

"I blame it on your wedding. I haven't been able to drink much of anything since."

"An open bar has that effect on people."

"I guess," she says, placing her gla.s.s on the counter.

"There's some water in the cooler outside. I should probably drink some too to cool me down." I wave my hand in front of my face.

She shakes her head with a chuckle. "Don't worry, we only have a few hours before I have to get your brother off to the airport again. So you'll have a handful of nuts in no time."

I rub my hands together as we walk out onto the patio. "I can't wait."

Chapter 6

The wheels are turning at G force speeds in my head. Before I can grasp anything I'm actually thinking, my mind wanders to something new. I gaze at Tyler, driving my car, while we head to the airport.

We had a great dinner with Sh.e.l.ly and Matt. They look amazing, and so very happy. I was married before, but I don't remember feeling that sweet glow that Shel exudes with such intensity and sincerity. And the way Matt looks at her makes my heart swell with joy. His eyes light up when she walks into the room. He hangs on her every word like it's the most important thing he'll hear that day. The love in their eyes when they look at each other is that of a movie. I swear they're Noah and Allie. Only they didn't have to wait so long to finally end up together. But that love, everlasting and true? It's there.

"What are you thinking about?" Ty asks, glancing over at me as he turns into a parking structure.

I can't help but smile, in awe of my friends. "Shel and Matt."

"They're kinda perfect together, aren't they?" His smile reaches all the way to his eyes as he speaks of his sister. "I'm so happy for her. He's a great guy and it makes me feel good knowing how much he loves my little sister. I can see just how much every time he looks at her."

"Well, they're not kinda perfect. They really are perfect. They could bottle up their happiness and sell that stuff. Just thinking of them puts a smile on my face."

He reaches across the center console of my car and places his hand over mine. "I love it when you smile."

As much as I'd like to flash him my pearly whites, the reality of what's about to happen sets in as he parks the car, and my smile fades. "Why are we parking? I can't go in the terminal."

"I know. But we have some extra time. I thought I could spend my last few minutes with you talking, and maybe a little kissing."

My belly is filled with b.u.t.terflies, skittering around, wings flapping and sending flutters of nerves bouncing around my insides.

The thought of kissing Tyler for the final minutes of him being in the same city as me sounds fantastic, but it doesn't stop the uneasiness I feel down deep in my gut.

I'm so in love with him, my heart doesn't know whether to beat like crazy out of sheer happiness, or pound out of pain. Every time he leaves, it's like a hole rips open in my chest and I can't stop reliving having to say goodbye and wondering what will happen next.

The mind is an evil thing.

Especially when my over eager imagination is working hard at giving me an ulcer. Last night, I had a dream that I sent him off on the plane today with a scorching hot kiss. But when he landed in Frisco, some faceless hot woman with long legs, a curvy a.s.s, and wavy black hair met him at the gate with a smooch that set off fire alarms. Just thinking of it again makes me want to punch Tyler even though I know he didn't do anything. And even if he does have some hussy waiting for him at home, what does it matter? It's not like we've made any commitments to each other. Not that walking down that road really makes a difference either. My lying-cheating-no-good-sappy-country-song of an ex-husband taught me that.

"What's got your beautiful face all crumpled up?" Ty asks, brus.h.i.+ng his index finger in the crease between my eyes.

There's not a thing I can do to hide my emotions. Everyone knows I can never keep my lips zipped and I always say the first thing that comes to my mind. And even when I try hard to bite my tongue, my facial expressions give it away. Like now.

"Fine. Want to know?"

He nods.

"I'm gonna get all girlie on you and just say it." I take a deep breath, trying to relax myself. By the look on Ty's face, he probably knows what's coming. "I'm wondering what happens next. Will I see you again?"

He places a soft kiss on my cheek. "Of course you will."

"I'm not talking about ever. I'm not talking about at Christmas when you come home to visit your family. I'm talking about us. Are we making plans to stay in touch? Or is this it?"

Another kiss brushes my neck. G.o.d, if he's trying to distract me, it's working. "Mel?" My name rolls off his tongue with a warm breath of air fluttering across my skin.

"Mmm."

"I want to see you again. Not with my family." His lips meet mine. "Just you. Just us. It's not over. Not for me, at least."

I want to kiss him back. I want to deepen his kiss and feast on his tongue like there's no tomorrow, but my d.a.m.n thoughts keep getting in the way.

"What does that mean exactly?"

He presses gentle pecks on my mouth before backing away to look into my eyes. A smile creeps across his face, slowly tugging the sides of his mouth upward. "It means I better buy that Prius I've always wanted because something tells me I'm going to be racking up the driving miles. There's no way I can wait until the holidays to see you."

"Really?" I don't want to sound so pathetic, but I can't help it. I'm dying to make this work. I've wanted this to work between us since ... forever. We're much older now, and this is our last chance to make it work. We can't keep wondering if our time will ever come. It has come and now we have to take it. If it doesn't work, well, at least we tried and we can move on for good. Just the thought of that makes my heart sting. It has to work this time. It just has to.

"Let's try the long distance thing. School will be out soon. Neither one of us is teaching summer school. So pack your bags and come and visit me this time. We'll have fun acting like tourists in my city." He takes my hand in his and brings it to his mouth, kissing my palm. "What do you say, Melly?"

"I'm gonna go home and start packing now. As soon as that bell rings, I'll be on the road."

Our laughter fills the car for a moment. Then Ty lifts his arm to check the time. "I've got five minutes."

"Then kiss me silly and leave me with something to remember you by."

He takes my hand, and tugs it over to the front of his pants. "Oh really. He wasn't memorable enough?"

I squeeze my hand around the ridge of material. "Oh no, I'll be thinking of him every minute from the time you leave till I see him again. As a matter of fact, I'll be counting down the days till we're reunited."

My sentence barely finishes before Ty dips his head and catches my mouth with his. His strong lips cover mine, working their magic at melting my body with his s.e.xy heat. My lips part, allowing our tongues to slide past each other, lapping up the pa.s.sion with each stroke. He nibbles down on my lower lip, sucking on it and dragging his teeth across it till it pops free. Oh, sweet jeezus! I'm coming undone with just his kisses.

Breathless, I pull my mouth away from his. His lips slide down my neck while my fingers comb through his hair. "I'm gonna miss you," I whisper.

Tyler sprinkles me with kisses, outlining my face, before he places one last peck on my lips. "I'm gonna miss you too. Thankfully, there are many devices nowadays that will allow us to stay in touch. Time will fly and we'll be together again before we know it."

"When did you get to be such a Positive Penny?"

"You make me see the gla.s.s half-full, Mel. I don't know what's going to happen. I know what I'd like to happen, but for now, let's just take it from visit to visit and try not to let the miles between us be a factor. I'm yours and yours only for as long as you'll have me. I don't plan on seeing anyone else while I'm with you and I hope you feel the same way."

"I sure as h.e.l.l feel the same. I don't want you seeing anyone else either."

"And you don't plan on seeing anyone else either, right?" His eyes widen at me.

I chuckle. "Oh, is that what you meant? Let me think about it."

His hand slides down my side and he pokes me. There's nothing worse than the feeling of being tickled, and he knows this. "What?" He pokes me again. "You need to think about it?" Another poke. "Let me help you."

"All right, all right," I say, pus.h.i.+ng his hands away. "I won't see anyone else." Instead of tickling me, Ty's hand rests firmly on my hip, and he leans over for another kiss. "I'll just keep my eyes closed while my other gentlemen friends keep me busy."

Ty holds up his index finger, like he's threatening me. "What was that about other guys keeping you busy?"

I giggle. "I don't know. I can't remember."

He pokes the air. "Are you sure?"

I reach across the console and hang my arm on his shoulder, my hand gripping the back of his neck. "Come here, you big lug. I'm yours and yours only." I press a kiss to his lips. "For as long as you'll have me."

The last staff meeting of the year is always the best one. Breakfast is served while retirees bid their farewells, and let's be honest ... we're all just happy as h.e.l.l that we don't have to sit through another one of these for a few months. They can get really depressing sometimes, when test scores aren't high, or some new program is being introduced that makes promises to increase student achievement because, apparently, our own teaching abilities aren't good enough.

Well, enough about that. Shel and I are chatting away, me with a bagel and cream cheese stuffing my face while she chows down on a sugar twist donut. Matt walks in and I've never been happier to see him. He's holding a tray with three Starbucks cups wedged inside, and I know one of them is for me.

"Good morning, ladies," he says, as he lowers himself into a chair across the table from us. "For you, my love." He pa.s.ses Sh.e.l.ly a cup of coffee, and she blows him a kiss which is about as affectionate as they get on campus, or at least where people can see. Who knows what they do behind the closed-locked-doors of their cla.s.srooms. "And for you, Mel. One venti vanilla latte with extra whip."

"Oh, Mr. Fuller. You are just wonderful. If only I could clone you into a robot, you could be my very own Rosie." I wink at him as I take my first sip, and he just shakes his head.

"I could totally see it," Shel adds. "He looks great in an ap.r.o.n."

This time Matt rolls his eyes. "I bring you two a coffee and this is the abuse I get in return. You want me to be your maid," he points to me, "and you want me in an ap.r.o.n." He raises a brow at his wife.

She leans forward across the table. "What if I wanted you naked under that ap.r.o.n? Would that be a problem? I can think of many ways that could be fun."

I can't help but laugh, and once I get started, I can't stop. Snorting comes next, and my body starts shaking. My bestie isn't any different. She's laughing her a.s.s off and Matt just sits here quietly, shaking his head at us.

"We should have known the loudness would've been you two," Summer says, as she and Chase stop at our table. "Are these seats taken?"

h.e.l.l yes, I'd like to say. But Matt gestures to the empty chairs and says, "No, join us." How he can be so nice to this pain in the a.s.s of a couple is beyond me. Matt and Sh.e.l.ly really are perfect for each other. They have the kindest souls and would never hold a grudge. Me? Not so much. I can't stand Chase. I've never liked him. I only tolerated his arrogant a.s.s out of respect for my best friend. I knew if I'd been a b.i.t.c.h to him, he'd win and I'd lose her. So I kept my mouth closed tight and just rode the roller coaster that was their relations.h.i.+p. I knew he'd screw it up eventually. That's where Summer comes in. While Chase says he didn't cheat on Shel, we all pretty much think he's a lying son of a b.i.t.c.h. The nerve of this woman to try to befriend Shel is nauseating.

You'd think with a name like Summer, she'd be all sweet and innocent, running through a meadow with daisies in her hair, bare feet, and toe nails painted in a pink pastel. Just the thought makes me laugh inside. Ms. Summer McGallian is anything but suns.h.i.+ne and roses. She's more like the she-devil in a mini skirt and long a.s.s fake nails in place of her horns. I'm not so sure she couldn't stab us to death with those talons. Not that I'm afraid. I was ready to take her on at one of the football games last year. She had the nerve to call me ghetto ghetto. Me? Ghetto? There's a lot of things she could call me, but ghetto is not one of them.

"Well, good morning," Summer says, sitting down next to Matt with Chase on her other side. My brow instinctively rises.

"What the f.u.c.k's so good about it?" I snarl through a mouthful of cream cheese. I realize I'm about to start some c.r.a.p, but sometimes this girl just bugs the s.h.i.+t out of me.

She rolls her eyes at me. "Do you have to be so cra.s.s, Mrs. Cruz?"

Now, it's my turn to roll my eyes. "Are you kidding me? For most of my day, I'm surrounded by impressionable teenagers, so when I get to be alone with adults, if I want to drop an f-bomb here and there, I feel like I've earned it."