I kissed him and ran to my car to hurry home.
I arrived home at half past five and hurried inside with a bright smile on my face. Dad was fixing chicken on the counter, and he looked past me. “No Payne?”
“He had that trial today, and I think it took a lot out of him,” I replied as Dad frowned.
“That’s why I thought he’d be here. Payne always comes over after that. I wonder if he’s seeing someone now. Do you know?” Dad asked as I reached into the fridge for wine to cool off my heated skin.
“I don’t think so? I haven’t noticed anything,” I replied as I poured it, thinking back to the way Payne looked at me while I was on top of him. “Want a beer?” I got one when Dad said yes and told him that I was going to change. I hurried up to my room and pulled on some yoga pants and a comfortable t-shirt before I went into the bathroom and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. When I returned to the kitchen, Dad was at the grill cooking and I searched the fridge for a vegetable to have with dinner. I steamed some frozen corn and heated up some French bread to go along with it. I got both in serving dishes and brought them outside as I asked Dad if he wanted to eat out here.
He did.
We settled at the larger bistro style table together and he said that he called Payne, who sounded drunk. I feigned surprise as he looked worriedly at me. “How are you handling the cases? Are they getting to you, Vie?”
“A bit but I expect that will pass. I’ve been exposed to this stuff for years. It’s just the family killing that is disturbing to me,” I replied as he nodded.
“That doesn’t go way but Payne normally lets things roll off his back easier. He handles it well and loves it enough to keep going.” I could see the worry in Dad’s eyes and I smiled reassuringly.
“This is a tough case. I’ve been helping with the research so I get it. He just needs to rest with all the late nights and the work. He’ll bounce back.” I knew that I would be the one to help him, through sex and companionship but I couldn’t say that.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ve been there myself.” The food was delicious but I was nervous as I ate and kept drinking wine. Dad seemed to relax and discussed some of his cases, none that were currently as bad as the one that me and Payne were going through. I kept taking bites because under the anxiety, I was also starving from all the activity this afternoon. We cleaned up together and watched some television before I told him I was exhausted.
I went up to bed and sent Payne a text to check in on him, but there was nothing sent back. He’d sent a few earlier that were suggestive and a little sad, making me long to go and crawl into his bed with him. I curled up under my covers and slept fitfully that night, tormented by Payne’s obvious suffering.
This is either going to be the best thing in my life or the worst…perhaps both.
I managed a run just to chill myself out before work, glad that it was Friday. I wondered if Payne would take the weekend off and with that thought, I grew curious as to what he would do. We couldn’t go away for the weekend, at least not without lying. I knew that he had a long day in court today as well, so I kept myself busy and decided to have lunch with Melody.
“So, Brad is dragging me to a bar tonight to watch some hockey game with his friends. I like the sport but they’re…insane over it. Come join me and let me be a girl from time to time? Please?” Her green eyes begged me and I hated that I wondered what Payne was doing.
“Sure. Which bar?” I asked as she clapped her hands. It was one close to work and popular with the building and I agreed to meet her right after work. We headed back to the office and I noticed that Payne wasn’t there, so I assumed that he was going home after he was done.
I met them at the bar and Melody was thrilled. I chatted with her a lot but some of the friends seemed to take an interest in me as well, coming near me to start a conversation. I was friendly but I didn’t encourage anything even as she told me who the better guys were. They just made me miss Payne and I answered his text in the bathroom, telling him where I was. He was home and wanting me to come by, so I promised him that I’d make a polite exit soon and take an Uber to his house. I’d been drinking to release some of my tension today and instead of helping, it made me miss Payne.
I stayed for another hour before I pretended that I got a call and needed to leave. I hugged Melody and told the guys how great it was to meet them before I hit the bathroom and got my ride set up. I walked outside and leaned against the building as I looked over the city that I loved so much, realizing how much it changed.