If you haven't already, you should read "Even" before you read this one. I've put some remedial expo in this one but there's still some details that might not as easily be gleaned. Otherwise all criticism is encouraged. Enjoy!
*****
Before I can catch up to Kimmy she makes a right into the grocery store parking lot. Two cars behind her, I turn in as well. But whereas she has to zig zag to look for a space, I can just sprint up to the store and park my bike on the sidewalk. I'm notorious for that anyway. I'll be inside before her, so it looks like more of a random encounter and less like the stalking it actually is. Hopping off I glance over the parking lot and spot the red jeep turning down another row. Plenty of time.
I've known Kimmy ever since I started working with Matt a little over a year ago. Matt and I have been friends and coworkers ever since I got picked up by the advertising firm. We don't hang out all that much, really just taking our lunch breaks together. We do go out to the bar together, just him and I, on the occasional weekend. Just enough to label each other as friends.
Since we don't all hang out very often I don't see Kimmy very much. I think the 4 of us: Emily & me, and Kimmy & Matt, hung out at some company party a couple months ago. But other than that I don't know much about her.
What exactly am I doing here? Not quite sure. I caught Kimmy's husband fucking Emily yesterday. When I caught them I, socked Matt and told him to quit his job or I'd tell Kimmy. Then I took off, took a bartender home and slept with her. Now I was thinking of telling Kimmy about Matt anyway, just to get back at him. Or maybe I could seduce her. Could I do that? I bet I could.
Kimmy is a sweetheart but not the brightest of the bulbs. She's dumb by no means, in fact she's incredibly smart. She just lacks a few social skills, a little awkward at times. She's always nice but just a little nervous or off beat. She's a little on the sheepish side. But just so damned adorable. She's got this nerdy presence about her. I can see why Matt got with her, he's kind of a geek himself. She reminds me of a short, quiet Gwynn Paltrow. Today she's sporting tight blue leggings and a long, light pink t-shirt. Her hair is pulled back for the lazy look today. But she's still just so damned cute as she walks right past me without even noticing.
"Kimmy." I call out.
She stops, turns in surprise, then registers a pleasant dimpled smile. "Hi, Tucker. What are you doing here, buddy?" She over emphasized buddy.
I'm almost caught off guard by the question. What, indeed, am I doing here? I stall with a joke.
"I'm shopping for airline tickets, what do you think? It's a grocery store."
"Oh. Hehe, Duh." She replies.
Time to charm her a little. "So. What about you?" I ask. "Why are you here, all by yourself."
"Matt asked me to come get him some aspirin or something. Says he's got the worst headache today."
"Oh?" I quip nonchalantly "Does he?" But inside I'm rolling with hysterical laughter.
"Yeah," she keeps going, "says he took a spill coming down the stairs yesterday. You should see the wicked-looking bruise on his face." To illustrate, she points at her cheek, right about where I popped him. My hand still aches a little from that punch.
"Poor guy," I offer. But I'm looking forward to telling her how he really got such a wicked bruise. "Well, he should learn to be more careful."
I chuckle to myself with my own private joke as I lean next to her against the end caps.
"Oh he'll be fine." She gestures with her hand. Then she derails me.
"So how is umm..." She pauses to think of her name.
"Emily?" I say for her.
"Yeah. Emily. How is she?" But before I can answer, she reads something in my eyes and turns on a sour pouty look. "Ohh... Is everything alright?" I told you she was smart.
"No. Not exactly. We're probably over with."
"Ohh you poor, poor thing. I'm sooo sorry." She gushes with sympathy as she wraps her arms around me in consoling embrace.
And that's when it hits me: I can't. I can't tell her about Matt. It'll crush her. She's too innocent and sweet. I just can't bring myself to do that to her. Sure her husband is a first class dick and deserves to have it all come crashing down on him. But this isn't her fault. And coming onto her like this just makes me a horrible person. I feel like such a Bastard.
"What happened?" She asks releasing me.
Dammit! I'd just resolved myself to not answering that question. I stammer for a moment. "Ah ... Let's just say a skeleton came out of the closet."
She gives me this odd look like she's gauging me. She knows something is up. She is clever. This may have been a mistake.
"Wanna talk about it?" She prods.
"No. It's not really a conversation for here." I respond, gesturing to the store as I glance around.
"Wow. Well okay. Whatever it was, it must have hurt you pretty bad." Says rather acutely.
"Yeah, it's okay." I say trying to redirect the focus. "I'll just pick up the pieces and move on."
She still regards me like she's wary of me. She knows I'm hiding something. I'm almost tempted to just spit it out and get it over with. Finally though, she gives up the wrinkled brow and goes back to her almost ditzy smile.
"Well, okay. If you say so. It's a real shame, though. She was REALLY cute." She says.
Okay, now it's my turn to give her the curious "what the hell" look. I didn't expect that. She reads my expression and stifles a laugh.
"What?" She says almost too enthusiastically.
"Well, I just never knew you..."
"What, liked pussy too?" She finishes for me.
Now I want her more than ever. "Yeah. Well not only that." I say. "But I never would have guessed you had the hots for my girlfriend. Ah Ex girlfriend." I corrected myself.
"Yeah I gotta say, she's a hot little piece of ass. I'm sorry that it didn't work out with you two."
"Well, I have it on good authority that she's recently become available." I jest, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah," she chuckles, "But I don't think Matt would condone such behavior."
Before I can even think about it, I blurt out, "Why not? That's not very fair." ...Dammit!
