4. Blake
FOUR
Blake
I sit in the stillness for another moment, trying to process what just happened. Pearl’s fruity gloss is still on my lips, and I dart my tongue out to taste it again. I smile and shake my head as I close my eyes and lean my head back against the headboard. “What the hell?” I say aloud to myself, dragging my hands over my beard.
As the hilarity of the situation wears off, the shadowy image of her breasts pops into my head and I can feel myself twitch. Is she really a virgin? She didn’t kiss like one. Her lips moved against mine like a woman who knew exactly what she was doing, not to mention the way her hips ground against me. I stir a little, frustrated that my mind and body are having this kind of reaction to her.
I think about Trevor; if she had done that to him like she supposedly intended, would they be naked by now? Would he have taken her? I can feel my blood pressure rising at the thought. Why should I care? I have no claim on Pearl Davenport; she’s always been my little brother’s nerdy best friend.
I recall seeing her peeking out behind a living room curtain when I was out back in my parents’ hot tub. She thought I couldn’t see her but I did. Back then, she was just a little skinny girl that hung around my house. Now...now she’s a full-grown woman who I’ve felt pressed up against me. Who I’ve tasted.
The next morning, I wake to a pounding on my cabin door. “Come on, old man, you said breakfast was on you.” I grunt and roll over, grabbing my phone off the nightstand. It’s barely past seven.
“Out in fifteen!” I practically growl as I drag my half-asleep ass to the bathroom. I stand in the steamy shower for barely a minute when images of last night’s incident come rushing back to me. I can’t help but smile, but then an image of Trevor flashes through my brain. Should I tell him? What if Trevor has been in love with her all along? Before I can decide, I step out and towel off, looking at myself in the mirror. I can still feel her soft, warm breasts pressed against my chest.
The thought pisses me off. “I need to get laid,” I say under my breath as I comb my hair. I quickly throw on a flannel, jeans, and my work boots and step out into the sunshine.
“Take any seat in the house, boys. I’ll be right out with ya,” Delilah shouts at us as she ducks into the kitchen.
“Man, this place hasn’t changed a bit. Still looks exactly like the day I left, including Delilah.” Trevor glances around the restaurant.
“You realize you’ve only been gone for about six years now; it’s not like it’s been decades.” The Place has been in our town for as long as I remember. Delilah and her husband Chip ran it. After Chip passed a few years back, she managed to keep it going with the help of some locals, including her son, Will, who attempted to manage the bar. The only thing he ever did was hit on women and ignore paying customers.
“Boys it’s so good to see you back together. Give me a hug, Trevor.” Delilah scurries over to our table with outstretched arms as Trevor stands to embrace her. “You look more and more like your dad every day, you know that? I just wanted to say a quick hello. I’ve got to get in the back so Pearl will be out shortly to get your orders.”
I forgot Pearl always worked the weekend morning shifts at The Place. I’m about to tell Trevor what happened last night when out walks Pearl. She’s holding her notepad against her chest with her chin as she ties her apron around her waist. “Morning, gentlemen, what can I get started for you?” she says before looking up.
Our eyes meet when she finally lifts her chin and grabs the pencil from behind her ear. I can see the blush start at her neck and quickly creep up her entire face. She involuntarily crosses one arm over her chest as if she’s covering herself.
“Hey, P, I didn’t know you still worked here. That’s crazy! What’s it been now? Ten years?” Trevor asks as he gives her a friendly bump on the arm.
“Uhh…uh, yeah. It’s been...just about ten years.” She squishes her face as she scratches behind her ear. She is doing everything she can not to look at me.
“I thought you guys already played catch-up. We ordering or not?” I say a little gruffly.
“Well, apparently someone’s a little hangry.” Trevor laughs. “I’ll do the egg white omelet with extra veggies, turkey bacon, and black coffee.”
“Turkey bacon? Seriously, bro? You watching your weight?” I roll my eyes.
“Umm, I don’t think we have turkey bacon? I’ll double-check with the cook but probably not. I’m sorry.”
“No worries. I’ll just do a side of fruit. Some of us care about our cholesterol,” he jokes as he leans across the table and pokes at my stomach.
“I’ll have the ultimate breakfast platter, extra bacon,” I say without even looking at the menu. “And a screwdriver.” She glances up at me from her notepad with a bit of a strange look before turning on her heel and walking away. Before she can get too far, I say after her, “Oh, and, Pearl, make sure the screwdriver is virgin.”
She stops in her tracks and turns back around slowly. “So, orange juice? You want a glass of orange juice?” she practically spits out. I just smile broadly as the blush returns to her cheeks and she stomps off.
“What was that about?” Trevor looks between us.
“Nothing. So, what’s going on with you and the woman back in Chicago? Ma said you scared her off?”
“I didn’t scare her off. We’ve been dating since undergrad; we’ve lived together for about two years and I proposed. She seemed genuinely happy and said yes, but about a month ago, she decided she needed space.”
“Someone else?” I ask.
“What? No. No, it’s not like that. She said that she feels like we should take some time apart. We’ve been together for so long, and through some pivotal years in our lives. She just thinks she needs some time before making a commitment like that.”
“To sleep around, then?”
“You know what, Blake? I’m not going to share shit with you if you just make it all into a joke or turn it into some bitter diatribe about you and Tracey.”
I raise my hands in surrender. “Sorry, was just teasing.” The silence returns between us just as Pearl approaches with our drinks. I don’t bother teasing her anymore; I want to return to the conversation with Trevor.
“Food should be right up, boys,” she says, walking away from our table.
“Well, you’ve always got a number one Trevor fan in Pearl if things don’t work out with your lady.” I toss it out there to test the waters.
“Ha, yeah. P and I are like brother and sister; that would be weird. Besides, I can guarantee you she never saw me in that way. To her, I was just her nerdy best friend that might as well look like a Ken doll down there.”
I smirk to myself. Man, he’s a complete idiot. Even though I’m nine years older than both of them, I saw it from a million miles away when they were growing up. I didn’t realize that she still felt that way about him, though.
“I want to work things out with Katherine more than anything. She’s the love of my life and my best friend. I get that she feels like she’s been in this relationship forever, I just...I really hope she sees that I’m the man she wants to marry.” He takes a sip of his coffee and looks out the window for a moment. “I forget how beautiful it is here. How much I miss the mountains.”
“Think you’d ever move back?” I ask as I see Pearl come through the kitchen door with our food.
“You know, it’s always a possibility. Pearl, come here, sit down.” Trevor grabs her wrist and pulls her into the booth next to him. “Blake tells me you’re going to be running some marketing efforts for the cabins. I think that’s great.”
She glances nervously at me then back to Trevor. “It’s only part-time for now but I’m excited. Your mom is amazing for giving me this opportunity.”
“Well, if Blake here is an asshole as a boss, make sure you let me know. I’ll make sure he behaves accordingly. He’s known to be a little rough around the edges.” Trevor puts his arm around Pearl and motions towards me with a big, goofy grin on his face.
“I think I’ll be okay,” she says, removing Trevor’s arm from her neck and scooting out of the bench. “I know it’s my first real job so honestly, I’m just eager to learn.”
“Well, don’t be surprised if it gets uncomfortable or even painful at times. Everyone’s first time is a little awkward,” I say with a wink.
Trevor chuckles as she rolls her eyes and disappears again. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re the one Pearl has a crush on.”
I choke on the last bite of my eggs and try to wash it down with the orange juice. He’s an idiot; there’s no way in hell Pearl has a crush on a grizzled old man like me. I can’t tell him exactly how I know that’s true but I’m sure he’ll find out from her soon enough.