Love in Between

2

“So, Lily, tell us about Sam from next door, and what’s going on between the two of you?” Gretchen smirked as she ran her hand along my new couch.

“Nothing’s going on between us!” I exclaimed. “He helped me bring in my boxes; that’s all.”

“But you went out for coffee with him,” Giselle said.

“Correction, we went and grabbed a coffee to go. Besides, he’s gay anyway.”

“Shut up! He can’t be,” Gretchen moaned.

“Yes, he is, and Luke is his boyfriend,” I said as I started unpacking the box for the kitchen.

“What a shame,” Giselle said. “He seems like a nice guy, and he’d be perfect for you.”

“First of all, I’m not on the market. I’m done with men, remember? And second of all, you’ve known him all of ten seconds. How do you know that he’d be perfect for me?”

“We can tell,” Giselle and Gretchen spoke at the same time.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on, help me arrange this furniture.” I smiled.

We moved the living room furniture around until it was perfectly placed. My bedroom furniture had been delivered, and most of my boxes were unpacked.

“What’s this?” Giselle asked as she held the box labeled: SCRAPBOOK.

“Those are just some photos I took when I left Seattle. I was going to make a scrapbook dedicated to the start of my new life. But since I ended up staying in Portland, there isn’t much in there. Just put it in my closet, and I’ll go through it someday.”

“Oh, ok,” she said as she headed to the bedroom. She came back out a few minutes later, holding my guitar. “Aren’t you going to keep this out?”

I looked at her and then at the guitar. “Yeah, I almost forgot about that. I put it in the closet so that it didn’t get damaged while I was unpacking and moving things around. Thanks, Giselle; just find a corner in the bedroom and set it there.”

“I’m starving!” Gretchen blurted out.

“Me too,” followed Giselle.

I looked at the clock, and it was already 6:00 p.m., and I realized I hadn’t eaten a thing all day. “Let’s order a pizza and a salad,” I said.

“Sounds good; where are your menus?” Gretchen asked.

“Considering I moved in last night, I don’t have any menus.” I laughed.

“I have an idea; why don’t you go next door and see if Sam has any pizza menus?” Giselle winked.

“I have an idea; why don’t you just do a search on your phone?” I said.

Giselle rolled her eyes just as there was a knock on the door. I walked over and looked through the peephole to find Sam standing on the other side. I opened the door, and I was surprised to see him standing there, holding two pizzas and a large brown bag.

“Sam, what’s all this?” I asked as I pointed to the pizzas.

“I thought you ladies would like something to eat since you’ve been working hard all day.” He smiled.

“Come in, and thank you!” I smiled.

“You’re a lifesaver!” Gretchen proclaimed as she walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “We’re starving.”

“That was very nice of you to think of us, Sam. Let me get my wallet; how much do I owe you?”

“Nothing, it’s on me. Consider it a housewarming gift,” he said.

“You didn’t have to do that, but thank you, and please join us,” I insisted.

“Don’t mind if I do.” He smiled.

I took some plates from the cabinet, grabbed some forks from the drawer, and sat down next to Sam at the table. Gretchen had already torn into the breadsticks while Giselle opened the salad. Sam grabbed a slice of pizza from the box, put it on my plate, and then smiled at me.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“You’re welcome,” he whispered back.

“You could have invited Luke to come over,” I said to Sam.

“I already asked him, but he refused. I told him that we’d be in the company of three beautiful women and great food, so it was his loss.”

“And what did he say to that?” I asked.

“He said he’s good and just for me to come alone.”

I got up from my seat and grabbed the bottle of wine Giselle and Gretchen had brought over. I took the wine glasses from the cupboard and set them on the table. Sam stood up, opened the bottle, and poured each of us a glass. He held up his glass for a toast.

“To my new neighbor, Lily. May we become great friends and share many good times.”

We all smiled and clanked our glasses. “Thank you, Sam.”

We talked for a few hours about our careers. Sam’s an architect and works for a well-known company called Glassman and Fillmore. I shared my love of photography and the fact that I have a teaching degree, which was the reason that brought me to Santa Monica. Gretchen and Giselle talked about their modeling careers and the exotic places they’ve been. It was late, so Gretchen and Giselle called it a night. I hugged them goodbye, and Sam walked them to their car.

I was cleaning up the kitchen when a text message came through from Gretchen.

“I’m in love with Sam; why does he have to be gay?”

I smiled and shook my head as I replied, “All the good ones usually are.”

I finished cleaning up and looked at the clock; it was 2:45 a.m. I turned the lights off and walked into the bathroom. I turned the shower on, undressed, and stepped inside. It was a long day, and all I wanted to do was stay under the stream of hot water forever. After I managed to drag myself out of the shower, I put my pajamas on and looked at the guitar sitting in the corner of my bedroom. I walked over and picked it up. I sat down on the edge of the bed and started strumming a few chords. Memories of my father came to my mind, and I started to play the song that he used to sing to me when I was a child. When I was done playing the song, I looked at the clock again, and it was 4:00 a.m. I put the guitar back on its stand and climbed into my new bed. I prayed to God to please let me sleep peacefully.

My eyes flew open from the nightmare I was having. The clock read 6:00 a.m. as I glanced at it, and I had only slept two hours. I laid in bed, but I tossed and turned; there was no way I was going back to sleep. My mind was racing with the fact that I begin my teaching job tomorrow. I loved kids, and I loved being a teacher, but I also loved photography and would like to make that my career. I’m twenty-six years old, and I’m still undecided on what I want to do with my life. I thought I had it figured out with Hunter. My life was all planned out. We were going to get married, have a couple of kids, and live in a house with a white picket fence. I was going to pursue a career in photography while tutoring kids on the side. He was going to come home from work, and we were going to eat the meal together that I spent all day preparing. Was I just desperate to find some normalcy in my life?

I got out of bed and put on a cute little floral print sundress that I bought before I moved here. I dragged my ass to the kitchen for some coffee. Shit, I forgot to buy coffee. I sighed. I wondered if Sam was awake. I walked over to the wall and pressed my ear up against it. Since I didn’t know the layout of his apartment, I took a chance and lightly knocked on the wall. I smiled when there was a knock back. I walked next door and knocked on the door. I gasped when the door opened, and Luke was standing there in a pair of navy blue pajama bottoms that sat just below his hips. I instantly became nervous and started fidgeting.

“Can I help you with something?” Luke asked as he stared at me.

“Um, hi, I was wondering if Sam was around,” I said nervously.

“No, Sam isn’t here.”

There was tone in his voice that suggested I was bothering him.

“Oh, I’ll catch him later then,” I said as I turned my back and started to walk back to my apartment.

“Wait, is there something you needed?” he asked.

I turned around and looked at him. Even though he was rude, he was sure as hell the sexiest man that I’d ever seen.

“I was just going to ask if I could borrow some coffee. I forgot to buy some yesterday, and being the caffeine addict that I am, I kind of need some, quick.”

The corners of his mouth curved into a tiny smile. “Come on in,” he said as he stepped aside.

As I stepped inside his apartment, I was shocked at how big it was. I guess being the end apartment has its advantages.

“What do you take in your coffee?” Luke asked as he opened the refrigerator.

“I drink it black, but that’s ok, I’ll just borrow some and make it at my place.”

“You said you needed coffee quick, and I have some made, so take this cup and drink it,” he growled.

“Ok,” I said nervously.

I looked around his apartment as I took a sip of coffee. It was spotless, and everything was in its place. The dark brown, leather furniture complimented the beige walls and a 65 inch TV was displayed on the wall. I was very uncomfortable, but I couldn’t leave until I finished my coffee.

“You’re one of the very few people that I know who take their coffee black,” Luke said out of nowhere as he poured himself a cup and sipped it.

I sat down on the stool in front of the kitchen bar. Luke was leaning up against the counter with his coffee across from me. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to his perfectly defined six-pack and sculpted V-line. He worked out; there was no doubt about it. I think it was time for my battery operated boyfriend and I to get reacquainted. I couldn’t help but notice the scar that went from his right hip and around to his back.

“Is there something wrong with me?” he asked.

Instantly, my eyes darted up to his. “No, why would you ask that?”

“I don’t know; it’s just the way you were staring at me.”

I wanted to die. I got lost in his body, and he caught me. I was so humiliated at that moment; I had to think of something quick.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t staring at you. I was just thinking about something.”

“Thinking about what?” he asked as he walked closer and leaned over the counter in front of me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an acoustic guitar sitting by the TV. “Who plays the guitar?” I asked to quickly change the subject.

“I do,” Luke said.

“Cool,” I replied.

He walked over to his guitar and took it from the stand. As he brought it over and handed it to me, I looked at him in confusion.

“Here; play that song you were playing last night,” he said.

“You heard that?” I asked.

“Yeah, see my couch right there? That’s where your bedroom is.”

“Oh, I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“You didn’t; I was up anyway. Now, why don’t you play that song?”

I took the guitar from his hand and set it on my lap. I positioned my fingers on the strings and began to play. He took my empty coffee cup and filled it back up. He set the cup down in front of me as I strummed the song he wanted to hear.

“Who taught you how to play?” he asked as he leaned up against the wall.

“My father,” I answered as I strummed the last chord.

“What song is that?”

“A song my father used to sing to me. It’s called ‘Little Girl of Mine’.”

He looked at me with a blank expression. I handed his guitar back to him.

“Your turn.” I smiled.

“No! I’m not playing right now,” he growled and walked back into the kitchen.

I didn’t know what to say or think. One minute he’s being nice and the next he acts like I’m bothering him. He’s like a woman with severe PMS. I got up from the stool.

“Thanks for the coffee, and tell Sam I stopped by,” I said with an attitude.

He didn’t say a word to me; he just stared out the kitchen window with his hands pressed against the counter. I opened the door to walk out, and Sam was standing there.

“Hey, Lily. Good morning,” he said with a confused look on his face.

“Tell your friend in there he needs to learn some manners when it comes to women,” I snarled.

I walked back into my apartment, and Sam followed behind me.

“What the hell happened?” he asked.

“He’s just rude, Sam.”

Sam walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Listen, Luke’s really a great guy once you get to know him. He’s had a really rough year, and I’m trying to help him.”

“Yeah, well, so have I, but I’m not rude to people.”

“Trust me when I say to cut him some slack. He’s probably just nervous around you because you’re so beautiful.” He smiled.

I looked at him with a perplexed expression.

“I want to ask you something,” Sam said. “Can you give me Gretchen’s phone number?”

I looked at him again and shook my head as I put my hands up in front of him.

“Wait–wait–wait. Why do you want Gretchen’s phone number?”

Sam twisted his face. “I want to ask her out on a date,” he replied.

“A date?” I asked totally confused.

“Do you have a problem if I go out on a date with your best friend?” he asked while giving me a weird look.

“You’re gay; why would you want to date Gretchen? What about Luke? I don’t think he’d appreciate his boyfriend going on a date with a woman.”

Sam took a step back. “Whoa, wait a minute; you think I’m gay?!” He laughed.

A horrified look swept across my face. “Aren’t you?” I asked carefully.

“You thought Luke and I were a couple?!” he said still laughing.

“Oh my god,” I said as I turned away in humiliation.

Sam grabbed me and hugged me. “You’re so cute, Lily. I haven’t had a good laugh in a long time.”

I stood there with my nose pressed against his chest. I patted him on the back. “I’m glad I could amuse you.”

“Now, about that phone number.” He smiled.

“Hand me your phone,” I said as I held out my hand. I keyed in the numbers of my phone, Gretchen’s phone, and Giselle’s phone. “Just in case you ever need to get a hold of me when I’m not home.”

Sam smiled as he took his phone from me. A few moments later, my phone went off. I walked over to the counter, picked it up, and saw that I had a text message.

“Now you have my number if you ever just want to talk.”

I looked at him and smiled. “Get out of here, and go call Gretchen. She thinks you’re hot, but don’t tell her I said that.”

Sam winked at me and laughed as he left my apartment.