26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
When I make it home, Tom is there, waiting for me.
“Hey,” he says as I close the door.
He’s sitting on the living room sofa, cradling a can of beer.
“Hey.” He stays silent for the longest time and I know that’s not like him. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. Slow day, is all. How about you?”
Is there something he’s not telling me or is it just me? Am I making things up in my head?
“I saved some food for you, it’s in the oven.”
I head to the bathroom first and four minutes later I’m sitting next to him, the plate of heated food in my hands.
“So, how was work today?”
I scratch my head and look up to meet his eyes. “It was fine. Nothing out of the ordinary,” I say, wanting to pacify him.
“What’s that box you dropped there?”
Shit. I should have hidden the damn thing in a bag and stashed it away.
“It’s nothing. Something Nikos bought for me.”
That seems to get his full attention, exactly like I feared it would. “Wow. He’s buying you things, now?”
I shrug, leaving my fork and knife down. “It’s no big deal, Tom.”
“What did he get you?”
“It’s just a metal rose thingy. I’ll put it away,” I say, hoping he’ll drop the subject.
“You told him about the rose garden, didn’t you? And he bought you a fake-ass rose? How pathetic.”
With my appetite now gone, I sigh and pray that he won’t push this anymore. “Tom, please. Let it go. It’s nothing. I should have stashed it away but I—”
“You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you? You want to fuck him again.”
I scratch my chin, hesitant to meet his eyes. “You know, we promised each other we wouldn't lie. Yes, I am thinking about it.”
“And you want to fuck him again."
“I just told you I'm thinking about him so yes, maybe I would like to fuck him again.”
“So, are you asking for my permission or are you telling me, Lisa?”
“I think I’m telling you,” I whisper, lowering my eyes.
He doesn’t seem surprised. I watch as he grabs his phone, handing it to me. “Call him. Have him meet us by our spot at the beach next Sunday on my day off. Tell him I asked for it.”
Well, I don’t know what I was expecting after my confession, but I didn’t expect this. “Why are you doing this, Tom?”
“What’s so hard for you to understand, Lisa? You just said you want to fuck him again, didn’t you? I’m just making it easier for all of us. If he agrees, so be it. It’ll give me a chance to lay some ground rules.”
“You’re being serious right now?”
“Sweetheart, when have I not been serious? Especially with something of this magnitude. I agreed to this, too, remember? But this time, I’d like to have it go down my way. I think it’s only fair to both of us.”
“What are you saying, exactly, Tom?"
“I’d like to see you swallow this time, sweetheart, that’s what I’m saying. No half-assing things this time. You get to fuck him again and I get to see you do the nasty with him.”
I swallow and take a long moment to let what he said sink in. “I see. Will you let me think about it for a while, at least?”
“You have all the time in the world, baby. Far be it from me to pressure you into doing anything.”