GirlNextDoor by Lyra Marlowe Read Free Book Online Page B

the door. John opened it
and leaned past her to be sure it was empty. It was. Except for the passenger and
driver seats, there was only carpeted floor space. He backed out and let her
climb in, but stood in the door.
    “Lucy,” he said, reluctant to let her leave, “please come
home with me.”
    She touched his jaw, kissed him very gently, kissed his
cheeks, his forehead, his eyes, like tiny butterflies landing on his skin. “Not
tonight, John.”
    “Can I see you again?”
    “Sure.” He stepped back and closed her door. She rolled down
the window and kissed him one last time. “I’m coming to the station to have
lunch with Nolan tomorrow.”
    John stepped back, dazed, appalled, and watched her drive
away. His body still tingled, his mind reeled, and she was gone. How was he
supposed to look at Nolan tomorrow? If she was there it would be impossible.
    Maybe he could call in sick.
    He felt a little sick, come to think of it. He could not
believe what had happened. Already it seemed like a dream. Had they really…?
But if he walked back into that alley, he knew, he’d find the proof.
    John closed his eyes. He should find his car, go home, take
a shower.
    Now if he could just remember where he lived.
    * * * * *
    Nolan was on the futon couch, watching baseball on his new
TV, when she got home. She went and kissed him on the cheek.
    “Well?”
    “Well,” Lucy assured him. “He is all that and a side of fries.”
    “Told you so. I didn’t expect you this early.”
    “Thought you wanted to watch the game.”
    “Oh. Sure.”
    “I’ll be right back.”
    She went into the bedroom, then the bathroom. The shower
started. Nolan nodded to himself. Of course she’d had sex with John. He’d known
she would.
    He wondered if he should feel jealous. He’d expected to. But
now that she was back, it seemed silly. She’d had sex with John, but she’d come
home to watch baseball with him.
    So was she cheating on John, at least emotionally?
    But John wouldn’t expect her to be faithful to him,
especially not emotionally. It was just a one-time thing for him—and for Lucy.
They might like each other well enough, but it wasn’t any big romance. Just
sex. A perfect end to a presumably nice evening. And then home to a quick
shower and a baseball game.
    Nolan shook his head. He couldn’t imagine having sex that
casually. Even in college, he’d never been comfortable with sex as a game. He
had to have some emotional content, something beyond yeah, you’re okay, let’s do it . It wasn’t
him.
    Nolan had held out for love, and his heart had been broken.
His friends barely thought about love, and they were perfectly happy that way.
    Maybe he’d been wrong all along.
    Lucy came back, wearing his t-shirt and her panties, and
slipped onto the futon next to him. “I’ll be glad when the new couch gets
here.”
    “Yeah. This is a little lumpy.”
    “A little?”
    “A little.” He glanced at the TV. “At least we don’t need a
magnifying glass to see the game anymore.”
    Lucy frowned. “We’re down six in the second inning? I think
I want the little set back.”
    They were quiet for a time, while their team struck out.
“You okay?” Lucy asked.
    “Me? Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “Because I just tagged your best friend.”
    “I knew you would when I set you up.”
    “Ah, nice.”
    “Lucy. I know you. I know John. I figured you’d hit it off.”
    “And you’re okay with that?”
    “I said I was beforehand, didn’t I?”
    “He asked, you know.”
    “What?”
    “John asked. If it would be okay with you.”
    “You know,” Nolan said slowly, “the idea that the two of you
are having sex is a little weird. But the idea that you’re both thinking about
me the whole time is downright freaky.”
    “Kinky,” Lucy corrected. “It’s downright kinky.”
    “Kinky then.”
    She smiled sweetly. “I like kinky, you know.”
    “I know, Lucy.” Nolan considered. “I bet you’d like a beer
about