Chapter 3 #2
I parked behind the Toyota and walked up.
But I hadn’t even reached the front door when it opened.
There stood Emmy, maybe 5’5”. She had long, curly red hair she’d pulled into a ponytail at the back of her head and sweetly luscious curves I instantly adored because it meant I wouldn’t worry I might snap her like a twig if I hugged her too hard.
“Yabba dabba do,” I said.
Did I mention I can be socially awkward sometimes? Because… yeah.
She cocked her head like an adorable spaniel, and I was about to apologize when she looked down at her shirt, got it, and started laughing. “That’s a good one,” she said, welcoming me in. “Jack?”
I waited until she closed the door behind me. “Jack Hesten,” I said. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Colefield.”
She smiled again and took the bowl of fruit from me. “Brownie points for style, but Emmy’s fine.”
I held up the brownies and she paused, laughing again.
Something about the sound of it tugged at the edges of my brain in a way I wasn’t used to.
A pleasant way.
“Well, you brought your own brownie points. Good on ya. Come on, this way.”
The house smelled delicious and I soon found out why as she led me to the kitchen and sat the bowl of fruit on the small, round table off to the side that was set for three. Lilah was putting the finishing touches on something on the stove and glanced over at me.
“There you are. Right on time, mister. And you came bearing food. Too bad I’m deathly allergic to chocolate.”
I froze, trying to stumble my way around an apology when Emmy lightly swatted her shoulder.
“Stop it,” she scolded. “You invited him—don’t scare him off.” She turned to me. “She’s not allergic to anything but bullshit.”
But Lilah cackled. “What good’s life if I can’t make a guy metaphorically shit himself every once in a while?”
Emmy rolled her eyes at her but took the brownies from me and set them on the counter, next to a plate of what looked like freshly baked chocolate-macadamia cookies covered by plastic wrap.
“Have a seat,” she said, pulling out a chair. “It’s almost ready.”
“Sorry, Jack,” Lilah said, still snickering. “I can’t help myself sometimes.”
“No sweat. I’ve survived far worse hazing in my career.”
“So that was a day yesterday, huh?” Lilah said, and twenty minutes later the three of us were in the middle of a delicious meal, talking like we’d been friends for years.
I’d caught a glimpse of their living room shelves on the way to the kitchen upon my arrival and I had to ask it. “So Kirk, or Picard? And not the reboots, either. I mean TOS and TNG.”
The women exchanged a glance and together said, “Janeway.”
“Interesting,” I said, pausing to take a sip of iced tea. “But that’s not what I asked.” I met Emmy’s green gaze. “I didn’t ask about the best captain, but your choice between those two.”
Yes, that was deliberate on my part, to see if my tone would spark indignation or intrigue.
Fortunately for me Emmy smiled. “Kirk.”
Lilah blew a raspberry. “Picard, hands down.” She pointed at me. “Kirk never faced the Borg. So who’s your favorite and your Kirk-Picard choice?” she asked me.
“Kirk over Picard,” I said. “He beat the Kobayashi Maru.”
“He cheated!” the women echoed.
I held up a finger. “Ah, but he found a way around the parameters of the test and employed not only original thinking to the problem but exhibited the true spirit of the kind of mindset needed to be an interstellar captain.”
“Hmph,” Lilah grumbled.
“And your favorite?” Emmy asked.
“Archer as favorite with Janeway a close second.”
Both women’s eyes widened. “Archer?” they echoed in disbelief.
“Yes,” I continued, pleasantly surprised to be able to have this conversation and not feel like a massive fucking nerd who should keep my mouth shut. “Although if we don’t count some of the newer shows as reboots, I will say that Carol Freeman would tie for first.”
Their mouths dropped open as they looked at each other. “Marry him,” Lilah said in what I hoped was a joking tone. “Now.”
Emmy
My face heated as I tried to kick Lilah under the table to shut her up but she was faster than me and tucked her legs around her chair and out of my reach.
“Well, if we’re going down that road,” I said trying to steer the conversation back toward the subject and away from Lilah’s uncharacteristically pushy matchmaking attempt, “then I would have to pick Pike for best captain. The new one.”
Jack tsked. “But that series ret-cons stuff and I’m not a fan of that.
I can enjoy those shows and movies set within their own worlds and I agree with you about Pike, in that context.
But if we’re talking the original shows and movies, he doesn’t count.
He barely appears. And I’m kinda ticked off they changed Number One to a guy instead of keeping her a woman after the pilot. ”
Lilah wore as smug a look as I’ve ever seen on her face as she laced her fingers on top of her head and stared at me. “Your move, Doc.”
I wrinkled my face at her. “Please excuse my sister,” I told Jack. “I think she encountered a Ceti eel today.”
He chuckled. “No worries. I’m enjoying myself. And I appreciate the invitation. I hope you two will let me return the favor. I’m not much of a cook but my barbecued ribs game is on point.”
“Deal,” Lilah said, smirking at me before focusing on him again. “Why are you still single?”
“Lilah!” I scolded. “Stop it!”
She shrugged. “Just asking.”
He nodded. “Fair point. I’m divorced. Been out here six years now.
No kids—don’t want any. Married too young the first time and realized a few years in that it was a mistake.
Spent the first couple of years after that avoiding entanglements because I knew I needed to work on me first. I mean, I’ve dated, but the no-kids thing was always the no-go for them.
I don’t hate kids, I just don’t want them. ”
“Oooh, girl, he’s ticking boxes left and right,” Lilah teased.
I glared at her but Jack laughed.
“Look, I’ll be honest that yes, I’m having fun right now.
But I’m looking at tonight as just that—good food and fun conversation.
I don’t jump into bed with women as soon as I meet them, because that’s not my jam.
I’ll put you in touch with my exes, if you want, to talk to them.
I even attended the last one’s wedding a few months back.
” He shrugged. “I don’t have anything to hide. ”
Lilah’s gaze narrowed. “Come on, out with it.” She pulled her hands off her head and sat forward while I fought the urge to crawl under the table in mortification. “What’s the thing you’re not saying?”
“Don’t know if that’s something I want to share right now,” he said.
Officer McGuire joined the chat. “Cross-dresser? Gay and in the closet? Into FemDom? Ponytail butt plugs? Chastity cages? As long as it’s legal and doesn’t involve kids or animals, we aren’t judgy. Safe space, and I promise we won’t say anything.”
“Lilah!” I yelled, certain that talking to him again wouldn’t be an issue because he’d assume we’re both insane. I had no idea what in the hell had gotten into her tonight and started to wonder if there really was a Montana variant of the Ceti eel.
He sat back in his chair, studying both of us while I prayed for a gateway to the center of the earth to open under my chair right that moment and swallow me whole.
“Well, if this is a safe space, sure. Why not?” He focused on me. “I’m attracted to smart, funny, independent women. But I can’t stand doormats. Yet, I’ve realized that I need a woman who is kinky, at least a little bit, and willing to submit to me in our relationship.”
Okay, so belay that order for a hell-hole. “What?” I asked.
Lilah’s gaze narrowed even more as she nodded. “Uh-huh. Looking for a slave?”
“No,” he said. “On the contrary. Finding a woman who wants to be submissive to me but doesn’t want me to micromanage her entire life, or something like that, who also shares my interests, isn’t exactly easy in this part of the country.
I’m not a religious guy, so I’m not looking for a woman whose idea of getting on her knees and saying, ‘oh, god!’ involves praying and not blowjobs. ”
Lilah snorted. “Gotta say, Em, I’m really liking him.” She slapped the table and stood. “I’ll leave you two alone to talk for a while.”
Still mortified, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was supposed to say and found it difficult to meet his gaze. His eyes were grey-blue and he stood around 6’2”, shortish light brown hair with a flat-top I bet would feel yummy running my hand across.
“I see I’m not kicked out,” he quietly said. “And you don’t seem disgusted or frightened.”
I slowly shook my head. “No. Although hang close, because you’ll have to resuscitate Lilah after I finish strangling her when you leave.”
He smiled. “Look, we just met. We both have stressful jobs. I’m guessing from the fact that you aren’t freaking out about my admission means we have at least some interests in common?”
I took a deep breath. “Maybe,” I admitted.
That was the first time I’d actually admitted it to someone besides Lilah.
“How about this,” he said. “I’m having fun getting to know you both, and I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that you’re a package deal. If she doesn’t like me, or I can’t get along with her, it’s a non-starter no matter how well you and I click together. Right?”
I nodded. That was a source of friction with Joe, too.
He’d tolerated Lilah, and she—bless her heart—tolerated him.
She’d never been openly hostile to him. Not around me, at least. Although I could tell he wasn’t her favorite person and he hadn’t said anything about not living with her until that night.
“Instead of worrying about if you and I are compatible,” he continued, “how about we just focus on friendship? I swear I’m not one of those guys who gets pissed off being in the friend-zone, either.
There’s nothing wrong with being friends.
If we get to know each other better and decide we want to go on a date-date, okay.
If not?” He hooked his thumb toward the kitchen doorway where Lilah had departed.
“I wouldn’t mind being friends still if it means she can teach me how to cook like this.
Because, damn. I’d finally be able to hold my own down at the station when it’s my turn to cook. ”
I liked his smile and I found myself smiling with him. “No pressure?” I asked.
“No pressure. And if you feel pressure from me, feel free to tell me to fuck off.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay. Deal.”
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Lilah called from the living room, where she’d obviously listened to every word.
I growled in frustration but Jack smiled again. “I’m off tomorrow night,” he called back while still meeting my gaze. “Would you two like to come over to my place, or do you have a propane grill here I can use for the ribs?”
She appeared in the doorway. “Your place,” she said after sticking her tongue out at me from behind his back. “Want to see if you can hit the toilet or not.”
I buried my face in my hands. “Jesus fucking christ.”