Ah! I know I'm horrible about updating. I apologize. Here is chapter 07. Enjoy!
-Aeli
****
How? How did she know? Did Alex tell her? Did she figure it out? Who else has she told? What exactly does she know?
Those questions and more raced through my head as Alex and I spent our Friday night together. We made dinner, went to the latest summer blockbuster, relaxed up at Alex's favorite dive bar and ended the evening scarfing down two dollar pizza in Hell's Kitchen. Even though Alex spent most of the night insisting that it was not a date, it was one of the better dates I had ever been on. We talked for hours. There was never a lull. We shamelessly flirted with each other, but with the comfort that we were going home together at the end of the night. But, the entire time, I watched him. Had he betrayed my trust, or did Patricia just figure it out? Either way I was waiting to tell him about the text. I needed more information before I let him know that our little secret had leaked.
"Erica, baby, what's up?" Alex asked as he waved his hand in front of my face. I had spaced out again.
"Nothing," I mumbled, as continued to stuff my face with pizza. He started to try a hail a cab. "Wait," I said as I pulled his hand down, "let's walk back up. It'll be fun,"
"Okay," he smiled. He wrapped his arm around my waist and rested his hand in my back pocket. I did the same to him. When we reached the tourist mosh pit of Times Square, we had stop at the crosswalk and wait for traffic. When we did, he pulled me in for a passionate kiss, not caring about our blatant PDA. It was like he wanted to tell everyone that I was his. I let myself get lost in the kiss until I felt the crowd move around us. I broke the kiss and pull him across the crosswalk before we lost the light. That was how we made our way up the West Side of the city. He would grab my face or my hips or my waist and kiss my lips, my neck or my collar as we made our way back home.
When we reached a quiet street, he pushed me up against a brownstone and really went at it. Before I let the affection go to my head, I pushed him off of me.
"How are things with Patricia going?" I asked.
"What? Really?" he asked as he backed away from me. I nodded. "I don't ask you about Elliot," he snapped, "Don't ask me about her."
"Ok," I answered.
"I'm just being honest," he defended.
"She's my best friend."
"Yeah...about that," he started. I felt my stomach flip. This was it, "She understands that I see other girls. She knows. Hell, when the mood strikes her, she participates,"
"So?" I probed.
"Stop worrying," he said.
"Really?"
"Truly," he whispered as he grabbed my face, pulling me against him, "she sees other people too. I'm sure of it,"
"Have you seen other people recently?" I asked, pushing away from him.
"Besides you?" he asked, frustrated.
"Yeah."
"No."'
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?" he asked as he searched my eyes.
"Okay," I breathed. I breathed and let myself relax. Patricia had obviously figured it out on her own. Now it was up to me to figure out how.
***
"A double date?" I repeated in disbelief.
"Yeah. I have a few extra tickets, we should invite Alex and Patricia along," Elliot smiled as he perused the books on my bookcase. I spread myself out on my bed, hoping to distract him. It didn't work.
"I don't know..." I trailed off.
"Yeah," he continued after glancing at me for a moment, "Char got passes to the soft-opening of a club downtown. I know its not our usual scene, but I think it could be fun." He smiled. I grinned back.
"Okay," I responded.
"C'mon, Erica," he chuckled. I began posing on my bed for him, trying to distract him. He gave me a long look before he continued. "It'll be fun. Worst case scenario we have a few drinks, endure some loud music and go home," Elliot said as he made his way to the edge of my bed. He began to caress my foot. I smiled.
"Alright," I mumbled as my eyes rolled back into my head. He slowly worked his way up my leg.
"That doesn't sound very convincing," he teased as his hands moved higher.
"Okay Elliot," I groaned, "Let's go." He began to tickle me, I swatted him away. He ended up pinning me to my bed. After, playfully, struggling, I planted a kiss on him. He pulled me in for another and we began to make out.
Before we got too hot and heavy, Elliot's phone went off. He pushed himself off of me and checked it. Confused, I sat up and waited. He quickly pulled himself to the other side of my room to check his phone.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Nothing," he mumbled as he texted, "Work stuff."
"Is it important?" I challenged. Obviously, feeling put off from him darting across the room.
"No," he mumbled, "I mean, yes. It's important, but nothing crazy,"
A crash in the kitchen stopped me from questioning him further. Suddenly loud music started playing.
"That must be Alex," I said as Elliot buried himself in his phone. I opened my door and yelled towards Alex in kitchen. Some part of me wanted to question Elliot further, but I assured myself that it was nothing.
"Alex!" I yelled, "What are you doing?"
"Making chili!" he responded, "and listening to the Foo Fighters! How do you use a crockpot?!"
"Are you serious!" I asked. I glanced back at Elliot, he was still in his phone. I made my way to the kitchen. "What are you trying to make?" I asked. Alex showed me the recipe he printed online. As I checked the pantry for seasonings, Elliot entered the kitchen. I gave Elliot an annoyed look over my shoulder. He smiled at Alex.
"Hey!" Elliot said, as he waved at Alex, "I got VIP tickets to a club downtown. Wanna come?"
"Sure!" Alex chirped as he added too much paprika to the crockpot.
"Alex, no!" I yelped as I snatched it from him. He looked hurt. "I mean 'yes' to the club, but 'no' to the paprika. Did you even read this recipe?" I responded, flustered by the two of them being in the same room together. I, quickly, busied myself in the chili as the guys talked about the club. Red faced, I found myself measuring and mixing things until I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Elliot. He pulled me from the kitchen to the hallway.
Before I could ask him what was going on, he pinned me up against the wall and kissed me passionately. As he made his way down my neck I giggled.
"What?" he asked.
"That tickles," I whispered. He continued, but before he got to my chest, he stopped."What?" I asked.
"I have to go, but I couldn't leave before I did that," he grinned. I'll see you tomorrow?""
"Yes," I breathed.
"I can't wait."
***
I had a full day of work but I managed to make it back home to grab a dress and heels before heading to Elliot's.
I shooed him out of his bedroom while I got ready. I let Martha, his dog, follow me. She sat patiently at my feet while I did my make up. When I was done I checked myself out in the mirror. I looked great. I looked sexy. I had on a tight little black dress with sheer sections and cut outs. All were strategically placed to make me look extra curvy. I also had on sky high black heels.