A Little Bit of Crazy (Little Bits) (23 page)

     “Please
Shove us in a motel for a few nights. It should be long enough for me to find something,” he says quietly. “I promise I’ll repay you somehow.”

     A bulb goes off in my mind and I smile at him in the dark, “What was it you were saying about fate?”

     “Why?”

     “Well, I have something better for you. Something way better.”

     “Hey Stephan,” I say to the guard in the lobby of my old building.

     “Mrs. Freeman,” he smiles and presses the elevator button for me. He looks curiously at Lucas and Amelia but says nothing. Thankfully.

     “Where are we going?” Amelia asks.

     I grin and press the button for the tenth floor, “It seems I may believe in fate because I have a very nice apartment that happens to be furnished and empty.”

     “Are you sure?” Lucas asks as we step out and I pull the key out and slot it into the lock. I nod and beckon for them to follow me into the dark hall.

     “I just have to switch the mains on. The gas and electric is paid for. Unfortunately there’s no food in. I’ll hire you a car for the day tomorrow,” I say and grunt as I reach into the deep cupboard and fumble for the little plastic switch. “Let there be light.” I scramble out and turn on the light in the hall. “There are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, etc. Come here,” I show him how to work the lights, the blinds, the heating and such. “I have to go. If James wakes up…”

     Before I can finish my sentence strong warm arms envelope me. I return the hug and grip him tight. “Thank you. So much,” he murmurs into my hair. “Are you sure this is ok?”

    “Stop asking,” I laugh. “Just don’t answer the phone, you can use it, but don’t answer it. Ok. I’ll be back tomorrow at some point.” I fumble through my bag, grab the cash from my purse and throw it on my coffee table. “A car will be here at seven thirty tomorrow morning. Take the kid for breakfast, get her to school, use this to get some food and call me if you need anything.”

     I don’t wait for his answer as I’m out in the middle of the night and James is probably awake and freaking out. My phone’s about to die so I send a quick text to the car company we use regularly and shut it off. There are no missed calls or texts, I just pray he’s sleeping.

     I enter the apartment and am relieved to see it’s still dark. I slide out of my coat and head to the bedroom as quietly as possible. My breath sounds like a foghorn as I enter and step to the bed. James is on his stomach, a light snoring sound coming from him. I smile and slide under the covers beside him.

     He turns over and wraps me in his arms tight. “Where’ve you been?” he asks and I instantly tense.

     “Marie, her car broke down again,” I lie but my voice remains strong. “She was completely stuck. I thought I could get there and back without you noticing I’m sorry.”

     “So if I call Marie and ask her she’ll confirm?” he says and rests his head on my breasts. Accusation clearly in his tone.

     I nod, “Yes. Of course.” Marie knows to use this, we’ve always planned ahead in case something like this happens. I won’t even have to remind her most likely.

     “So tell me why you stink of men’s aftershave,” he growls and pushes away from me. One of his arms goes over his eyes as he lays on his back. “And don’t deny it.”

     “I am not cheating on you!” I half shout and turn over. “I swear. If you don’t trust me then more fool you.”

     “You stink of cheap aftershave Maya,” he snaps. “You sneak off in the middle of the fucking night, you turn your phone off and you say you was with Marie.”

     “I was with Marie, I have no idea why you think I stink. I’m sorry, but what I’m saying is true ok, just trust me.”

     “You promise? On my life?”

     I cup his face in my hands, “I promise baby. On your life, on my life on Marie’s life I am not having sex with somebody else.”

    I realize I may have to tell him the truth soon. Once those doubts are in your head they only escalate. If he gets worse I will tell him, I just hope he trusts me for a little longer. Can you imagine how happy he’ll be when the results come through? Christ I pray for this one thing. More than anything I want to reunite James with his long lost brother. Please Lord, do me this one favor.

     “I love you, I will never hurt you like that.” I whisper and show him just how much he means to me.

      “I called Marie. I wish I’d never doubted you,” James announces and pulls me into his arms. “I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me?”

     “It’s my fault baby, I should have told you. I promise I won’t sneak off again without telling you first.”

     He smiles and presses his mouth to mine, “So, how about we spend the day in bed? What do you think?”

     “Sounds great baby but I need to go out soon. Take Marie to buy a new car. She’s far too attached to that hunk of junk.”

     “It’s the last thing she has of her dads.”

     “So, she should put it in a garage or something and look at it every so often. I’m worried about her safety. Do you mind if I go?”

     “We’ll go together, you know me, and I’m great at haggling.”

     I turn and wince. Dammit, dammit, dammit. “Do you have to? I’ll only be an hour or two. We’re always together.”

     “Fine,” he says looking wounded. “I’m sorry. I won’t ask again.”

Way to get us cut off bitch…

Shut up. Stupid Libido.

You miss me?

Ignoring you.

     “Don’t be like that baby. You’ve got me all day apart from those two hours. We’re supposed to be taking this slow and easy remember. Don’t smother me,” I say softly and reach for him but he pulls away. “Baby please.”

     “Forget it Maya,” he growls and stomps from the room, hurt evident on his face. “I’m going to work. I don’t want to smother you.”

     “Dammit James!” I shout and chase after him. “Don’t be like that. I never complain when you go out and do what you want. Do I? I promise I won’t be long.”

     He nods but says nothing as he walks away. I dash into the closet, grab my bag containing the DNA test and the makeup and head to my car without saying bye. Christ my man is being so difficult at the moment. Not that I can blame him. We need to have a talk about trust though.

     I dash into the elevator and knock on my apartment door. Its weird knocking on a door you own.

     “Hey,” Lucas answers with a beaming smile and pulls me into the apartment. “Everything ok?”

     I nod and sit on the couch that’s so familiar to me. “I come baring gifts for the little princess. My company just authorized a new product. Its kids play makeup, totally organic and wipes off easily. I brought Amelia a bag. You can say it’s from you.” I hand him the pink pack full of different eye shadows, blush and lip-gloss. “It doesn’t stain either its all water dissolvable and completely safe for her skin.”

     He smiles and sits beside me, “Thanks. I trust you on this stuff. I googled you this morning on the awesome computer in the study. I now know you are a chemistry genius. You turned one million into billions in a few years whilst in university. You speak four languages, you party hard, you work hard,
you got married four months ago. Speculation say it was an arranged marriage…” I put my hand over his mouth and frown playfully, “You could just ask me.”

     “Right, but I know everything now, you have your own damn Wikipedia page,” he laughs and picks up the newspaper. I notice how he’s circled a few small boxes in the jobs section. “Know anywhere that’s hiring joiners?”

     I shrug, “I know a lot of people. Is that the job you want?”

     “I honestly don’t mind, I just need a job to pay the bills.”

     “Ok, I’ll ask around,” I smile. “When I get chance I’ll open up an account for you. It won’t be today as James is…”

     “He know you left last night?”

     My shoulders sag, “He doesn’t trust me. He’s loved me since way before our engagement apparently. I treat him bad, put doubts in his mind. He knew I never loved him and now that I do he doesn’t believe me. He thinks I’m going to cheat on him and I’m feeding to his paranoia.”

     “Why don’t we just tell him? It’s probably better than being paranoid.”

     I nod, “That’s what I’m going to do if he asks me again. I’ll just tell him. I just really want to surprise him you know? It’ll be so great, he really misses you.”

     I pull the DNA testing kit out and open the first rectangular envelope with swabs inside. I take them out of their plastic case and turn back to him. “Open up,” I grin. I place my hand on his cheek to balance myself as he opens his mouth. I rub the swab roughly on his cheeks and gums, his minty breath fans across my face. “One more,” I say and do the other one quickly.

     I scribble his name, age and phone number on the front of the envelope and tuck it back in my bag. “I better go,” I say and grab my bag. “Remember, call me.” I throw another wad of cash on the table. “It’s not charity!” I shout over his protests and shut the door behind me.

     “James!” I scream as he slams into me over the table. There’s nothing gentle about our sex at the moment. Every night since he accused me of cheating he has pounded into me. It’s like he’s punishing me, but then he acts like nothing is wrong, he’s his normal attentive self once again. “I love you,” I cry out as he sags on top of me. This entire situation is worrying me. I don’t know how to handle it and Jessica doesn’t know the half of it so her advice isn’t great. Marie just tells me to get a divorce…

     I’m panicking a little. I want to tell him. Yet he’s saying he’s fine but his sex says otherwise.

     “I love you too baby,” he whispers in my ear and cradles me to his chest. “So damn much it hurts.”

     “We’re going to be late for work,” I giggle and clean myself up.

     I managed to get a few swabs out of his mouth the same night as I did Lucas’. He slept through it, it was nerve wracking but now we’re just waiting on the results. I’ve been to see Lucas and Amelia every day since. And every day the kid has been covered in makeup. Lucas is just happy to see her happy.

     I took them to dinner last night at the playhouse again, Amelia has made a new friend in school and she was there. It was great to see her playing with another child. I was so proud of her it made me ache for my own for all of three seconds then I remembered not only would I be a crap mom but I don’t particularly like kids. Amelia is different. She’s not naughty or snotty and she’s funny and plays games that I like.

     Lucas is an amazing man, he’s still working at Walmart but his hours are erratic and ridiculously low so I opened him an account linked to my own. I’ve told him he can use it as much as he needs when he needs. It’s got a ten thousand dollar a week limit, I’m not stupid. I’d never trust someone with my actual bank account.

     It’s a long day at work today, the new kid’s makeup has just hit the shelves of a few of our stores around the city. If they do well we’ll expand although they’re available on our online website and already we’ve sold quite a lot.

     After work I head straight to my other apartment and hug the four year old who opens the door. Her daddy is in the shower apparently. I sit and play with her and her dolls whilst Lucas does his shit. Jessica is my cover for today, she doesn’t know what’s going on but I know she has my back. That’s only because Marie is going shopping and there’s a big chance James will see her. Can’t risk getting caught when we’re so close.

     It’s only around ten minutes later when the water shuts off and a damp golden male walks out of the bedroom in nothing but a pair of boxers. He walks past me, not noticing me on the floor and into the kitchen. I hear the fridge open and shut.

     “Close your mouth,” Amelia giggles and uses her little hand to shut it.

     “Damn your daddy is H. O. T. hot!”

     And hot he is, he’s bulkier then James but I still prefer James, clearly from being a builder and ripped to funk! Christ this is not good for my libido. All he needs is a little oil. Nom. Oh, god I’m sick! I’m fantasizing about my husbands brother.

Hey, we are only human!

That we are libido. That we are.

     He walks out of the kitchen and stops suddenly when he sees me. I gape, he gapes, he looks down at his delectable torso and back up at me again.

     “Is that why you’re not
dwessed daddy? Maya thinks you’re hot,” Amelia says all innocent and cute like. Mortified completely mortified. “I’m not hot, I’m ok.” Oh yes you are… so damn hot.

     Lucas smirks and winks before strutting back into the bedroom, arrogant prick. He comes back out moments later in a shirt, still in his tight grey boxers. Keep eyes up.  “Sorry, I’d put on some jeans but the cleaner took them all. She took the card you gave me too. Said my clothes are awful and probably contain fleas.”