Chapter 9
APRIL
Iwent back and forth in the days that followed Eddie’s visit.
Was I attracted to him? Undoubtedly.
Had sex become boring with David? Yes.
If this were in a vacuum and I knew I couldn’t be caught, would I have said yes? Probably.
But I knew it wasn’t that simple.
You couldn’t just have fun, care-free sex with someone else when you were married. This could take me down a dark path. And yet, I couldn’t get this man out of my mind. It wasn’t even his looks. It was his utter confidence in walking into my workplace and asking out a married woman.
Was he an asshole for doing that? Certainly, but I hadn’t gotten to hang out with an asshole for a while. I forgot how fun they were.
David wasn’t an asshole. He was a square. And I was squared out.
I decided I’d be at work on Tuesday.
Eddie walked in at 5:06 a.m. He was the only customer.
When David and I were going over the final ins and outs of opening the coffee shop, I couldn’t decide whether to make five or six a.m. our opening time.
David had suggested the earlier time. I’d been hoping for six a.m., but I didn’t want to give David the impression that I wasn’t taking this seriously. So we went with five a.m.
I could count on one hand the number of people who’d come into the coffee shop by 5:15.
It probably wasn’t a good look, always being so empty early in the morning.
I’d brought it up to David a few times, but he said we shouldn’t change the times.
A business had to be consistent, he’d say.
I’d nod in agreement, not wanting to rock the boat. Not yet, anyway.
Eddie approached the counter with his trademark cocky smile.
Can someone have a trademark if you’ve only met them two times?
Probably not, but to me, it was his calling card.
“Can I have a coffee and a bear claw?” he asked.
“You no longer want my phone number?”
“I decided that would complicate things too much.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yup. Instead, before I leave today, I’m going to give you the name of a hotel, the number of a room, and a time.
If you want this to continue, you’ll show up at the hotel, and you’ll have the time of your life.
There’s no need to have each other’s numbers.
That would just put us at a bigger risk of getting caught. ”
“Sure sounds like you’ve thought this out.”
“I have.”
“Before I’d ever consider something like this, I’d have to know more about you. How the hell did you know about my conversation with Margie?”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge that.”
“Not at liberty to divulge that? But you can ask a married woman to meet you at a hotel for some cheap, meaningless sex? You’ve got some balls.”
“So I’ve been told.”
I laughed, in spite of myself.
“You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“Everything so far.”
“And you thought coming to my place of work was the best way to go about propositioning me?”
“Actually, yes. I could have come in a few times, been polite, and eventually asked you out, but that would be boring. And it sounds like you already have boring at home.”
“Watch yourself,” I said.
He smiled.
“Stop pretending you’re not loving this.”
I could have denied it, but what was the point? He was right.
“Are you married?” I asked, trying to switch the conversation onto him.
He hadn’t worn a wedding ring either time, but that meant nothing. He wouldn’t wear it when doing something as shady as this.
“Does it look like I’m married?” he said, moving his hand toward me.
I looked closely.
“Your ring finger is slightly less tan than your other fingers. There’s been a wedding ring on that finger at some point recently.”
“Very good, April.”
“Don’t call me by my first name. It’s creepy.”
“You can call me Eddie.”
“I’ll pass.”
“Suit yourself.”
No one said anything for a few seconds.
“You better give me that coffee and bear claw in case I have to make a quick exit again,” he said.
I quickly poured a coffee and grabbed a bear claw from our pastry section.
It was a good thing I did, because I saw someone approaching the front door.
Shit! Now the customers come early!
I had so many other questions I wanted to ask Eddie.
Including the most important one: Had he listened to what I said after Margie left?
“Someone is coming,” I quietly said as I handed him his coffee and a bear claw.
He took a piece of paper and slid it under my palm. He then took his fingers and gently rubbed them over the top of my wrist.
“Time of your life,” he said, and turned to go.