Randi wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but short of having either Lee or Elan spend the night, she had to admit that she was creeped out. Joe was probably just a big windbag, but she had seen the brutality he’d leveled at Maggie. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll make some cookies or something to drop off at the station to say thanks.”
The timer on the stove dinged, and Randi felt grateful for something to focus on besides the two men in front of her and a sociopath. She grabbed a couple of oven mitts, and took the casserole out. She could tell both Lee and Elan were sniffing the air, trying to determine what her waspy concoction was going to taste like. She put the casserole on a trivet in the middle of the table, and then grabbed another plate.
“Sit down, both of you. I don’t even care whether you like it or not, but someone is going to eat this damn casserole.” Randi stood with her hands on her hips in a posture that brooked no retort. Carefully Elan and Lee slid chairs out and sat down as instructed, and Randi took the seat in the middle. Armed with a big spoon, she slung casserole on the plates, “Just…shut up and eat. I need to think.”
Both of the men picked up their forks, and alternated between eyeing their plates, each other, and Randi. Finally Lee took a bite, and his expression became one of carefully guarded neutrality. “This is…interesting,” he said as he chewed. “I mean it’s good, just…different.” He gingerly took another bite, and Elan followed suit.
“Yeah, it’s…surprisingly…interesting,” Elan said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Randi took a bite, and then suddenly spit it out, “Oh my god, this is awful! The noodles haven’t cooked long enough and I forgot to drain the tuna.” It was exactly the break they needed in the tension, and suddenly all three of them were laughing. She picked up the plates and scraped the remainder into the garbage bin. “If I haven’t completely scared you off, I have a frozen pizza I can put in the oven.”
Elan wiped his mouth with a napkin, “Look, it’s a work night and it’s getting late. We should get out of here and let you get some sleep.”
Randi made note of the “we” before trying to joke, “Really, I can cook.”
“I believe you.” Elan gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Call me if you get spooked.”
Lee noted the kiss, but didn’t comment, nor repeat it. He gave Randi a solemn look as the screen door banged closed behind Elan, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me.”
Could she trust him? Her mind didn’t know, but her gut said yes. “Thanks Lee. Thanks for coming by.” She walked him to the door, every fiber of her body wanting him to gather her into his arms. Instead, she just said, “Goodnight,” and locked the door.
Suddenly Randi was aware of how much she wanted a shower before she went to bed. Her appetite was gone, but she couldn’t stand the thought of getting into bed still sweaty from the run. In moments she was lathering up under the warm water, washing away the run, and her stress over Joe, and the fact that she was attracted to both Elan and Lee and didn’t have any business getting involved with either one. When she crawled into bed, she felt mentally exhausted, but she understood a little more about how a woman like Maggie could get involved with someone that wasn’t good for her.
###
The sound of a truck motor turning over woke Maggie a little before six. It took a moment for her to realize what she was hearing, before she slid into a bathrobe and went to the living room
The timer on the stove dinged, and Randi felt grateful for something to focus on besides the two men in front of her and a sociopath. She grabbed a couple of oven mitts, and took the casserole out. She could tell both Lee and Elan were sniffing the air, trying to determine what her waspy concoction was going to taste like. She put the casserole on a trivet in the middle of the table, and then grabbed another plate.
“Sit down, both of you. I don’t even care whether you like it or not, but someone is going to eat this damn casserole.” Randi stood with her hands on her hips in a posture that brooked no retort. Carefully Elan and Lee slid chairs out and sat down as instructed, and Randi took the seat in the middle. Armed with a big spoon, she slung casserole on the plates, “Just…shut up and eat. I need to think.”
Both of the men picked up their forks, and alternated between eyeing their plates, each other, and Randi. Finally Lee took a bite, and his expression became one of carefully guarded neutrality. “This is…interesting,” he said as he chewed. “I mean it’s good, just…different.” He gingerly took another bite, and Elan followed suit.
“Yeah, it’s…surprisingly…interesting,” Elan said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Randi took a bite, and then suddenly spit it out, “Oh my god, this is awful! The noodles haven’t cooked long enough and I forgot to drain the tuna.” It was exactly the break they needed in the tension, and suddenly all three of them were laughing. She picked up the plates and scraped the remainder into the garbage bin. “If I haven’t completely scared you off, I have a frozen pizza I can put in the oven.”
Elan wiped his mouth with a napkin, “Look, it’s a work night and it’s getting late. We should get out of here and let you get some sleep.”
Randi made note of the “we” before trying to joke, “Really, I can cook.”
“I believe you.” Elan gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Call me if you get spooked.”
Lee noted the kiss, but didn’t comment, nor repeat it. He gave Randi a solemn look as the screen door banged closed behind Elan, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me.”
Could she trust him? Her mind didn’t know, but her gut said yes. “Thanks Lee. Thanks for coming by.” She walked him to the door, every fiber of her body wanting him to gather her into his arms. Instead, she just said, “Goodnight,” and locked the door.
Suddenly Randi was aware of how much she wanted a shower before she went to bed. Her appetite was gone, but she couldn’t stand the thought of getting into bed still sweaty from the run. In moments she was lathering up under the warm water, washing away the run, and her stress over Joe, and the fact that she was attracted to both Elan and Lee and didn’t have any business getting involved with either one. When she crawled into bed, she felt mentally exhausted, but she understood a little more about how a woman like Maggie could get involved with someone that wasn’t good for her.
###
The sound of a truck motor turning over woke Maggie a little before six. It took a moment for her to realize what she was hearing, before she slid into a bathrobe and went to the living room
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