What Kind of Man #2
Simo saw Lilly first. She looked like she was dressed to kill.
Her long, sexy legs were bare and her miniskirt was short and sexy.
She wore a revealing, glittery top that showed off her cleavage.
She was sitting on the plush red velvet barstool as she waited.
Glancing around, she finally saw him. She shot him her biggest smile and quickly got to her feet.
She couldn’t stand still and wait; as Simo approached, she grabbed her purse and met him.
To his surprise, she hugged him hard and long.
“I’ve missed you!” she laughed into his ear.
Simo nodded. Her scent always reminded him of Jessie… “It’s been a long time…” Simo replied.
“Too long!” she laughed and finally let go of him and looked into his face. “Hey, you look tired…”
“Just got back.”
“From?” She smiled and straightened his shirt collar under his blazer, then looked into his dark eyes.
“Overseas…” he replied and nearly had to force his small smile.
“Ah, work,” she said with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah. So, is your singing tour all done?”
“Yes! Oh my God, I am so happy to be back! I got in yesterday and I just had to come and see you!” she said with enthusiasm born of the need for a man in her bed. A man named Simo.
“Thank you, Lilly…”
“You don’t seem happy to see me…” she said and played it up by giving him a sexy pout.
“I am. What is that phrase about a pan and fire?”
“OH! Jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire?”
“Yes.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Simo really wanted to say ‘yes’ and have her leave, but he had a soft spot for his occasional lover. “No. It is good to see your smile. There are many things going on all at once… again.” He sighed.
“Wanna talk about it?” She slipped her arm under his and began pulling him toward one of the many half-circle, plush red leather booths.
Simo allowed Lilly to guide him. He helped her into her seat and, as he moved to sit across from her, she pulled him down to sit next to her. He held in his sigh and sat down as she scooted right up against him.
“So, what’s going on?” she asked.
“There are things that are all wrong…”
“Where? Here?”
“Yes, and back in Greece.”
“No… not your parents, I hope?”
Simo smiled at her sincerity. “They are fine. My… well?”
“Go on,” Lilly prodded.
“My former second-in-command was fired. She…”
“She?” Lilly interrupted.
“Yes. Lieutenant Eleni Tsekeris.”
“You never mentioned her before.”
“She is Theo’s cousin. Hard as nails…” Simo saw that his description of Eleni put Lilly slightly at ease.
“Oh! So… can I ask?”
“What?”
“Did you and this Lieutenant Eleni have a thing?”
“A thing?” Simo asked.
Lilly’s smile faltered. “You know? Uh, lovers?”
Simo saw a way out of this situation, like a bright light beckoning in the dark.
He wanted desperately to take it, but it wouldn’t be fair to Lilly.
He enjoyed being with Lilly, except for the constant comparisons to Jessie, but with all that was happening, he didn’t need Lilly claiming him as hers.
He decided to tell her the truth. He turned to her and met her glassy green eyes. “No.”
“She is coming here… is she pretty?”
“Who? Eleni?” He never really thought of Eleni that way, and it suddenly struck him that, indeed, he did think Eleni was pretty.
“Uh, yeah. I guess… though I think you are one of the most beautiful girls in the world.” He hoped it sounded true.
In his opinion, there were only a few women as beautiful as Lilly.
Halo Raines came to mind, then, of course, Jessie would always top his list…
“Thank you for saying that, Simo. I’ve known you long enough… what else is going on?”
He held her gaze and gave her the truth. “I am going to Jessie’s graduation…” The tiny, sad peep that came from Lilly’s lips pinged his heart. Then she wiped at a tear forming in those pretty green eyes.
“Jessie?” she managed through a whisper. “Your Jessie?”
Simo nodded. He reached down and gently grasped her delicate hand in his. “It’s not what you are thinking…”
“It is,” Lilly whispered, and gave Simo’s huge hand a squeeze. “I can’t compete with your Jessie. I know this…”
Simo cocked his head at Lilly. “What? Uh, why? How do you know about Jessie? I’ve hardly talked to you about her…”
Lilly looked down at their intertwined hands. “Oh… Uh, please don’t get mad…”
Simo shrugged as a number of thoughts raced through his mind. “Did you investigate her?”
Lilly sat upright and looked Simo directly in the face. “No! Of course not!” She paused and let out a big sigh. “You… you still dream about Jessie. Like whenever we wake up together. I am so sorry I never said anything more! I—I know you are a private man and all…”
Simo stared into those sad eyes. After a few intense moments, he replied, “I am sorry for this. I thought it was only that one time.”
“Oh! It’s ok. I know you still love her… some of your dreams were so, so sad. That’s another reason why I never said anything. Sometimes you… you, you…”
“I what?” Simo asked pointedly.
“Oh, never mind.” Lilly smiled.
“This is not fair… what?”
“I’ve seen, uh, some tears after… I always liked to hold…”
“WHAT?” Simo interrupted.
“OH! Uh, it’s ok! Can we please stop talking about this?” She pouted.
“Lilly?” Simo replied intensely.
Lilly dipped her head. “You kinda cried in your sleep. Especially that one time you told Jessie to run because you had to kill her… that was the night we first made love.”
Simo immediately let go of Lilly’s hand, shot to his feet, and turned his back as he stared at the spinning lights and lasers out on the dance floor. He felt Lilly slip behind him, her arms wrapped around his wholly embarrassed body.
“It’s ok… I promise I will never tell anyone, if that makes you feel better,” she whispered.
The thoughts and emotions that were blasting around in his heart and mind froze his mouth.
One part of him enjoyed Lilly’s comforting arms around him; the other was seething with anger pleading to be let loose.
Suddenly, Lilly’s arms were gone, and he sensed she was standing away from him.
He turned to her, and she looked fearfully back at him.
“Lilly. You never have to be afraid of me.” He stepped closer, but maintained a comfortable distance. “You don’t know who I am. Who I really am. I like you, but because of who I am, we can never be. I thought you understood…”
“No! I don’t understand. I know you and I know you would never hurt me. You are a good man!”
Simo stepped closer and stared hard into her pretty green eyes. “No, Lilly. I am not a good man.”
“I know your heart, Simo…”