Barely home one week and i already found myself up to the temples in cleaning and housekeeping, sorting out all the little wifely things, as well as breaking Hyde into this wonderful little mecca, known to most as Tulsa. I'd taken him sightseeing the day after we arrived, as well as showing him the wonder that is the local supermarket and main shopping precinct. It was all very husband and wifely so far, but you don't see me complaining, because Hyde is the type of guy that bends over backwards for you, then tries to go one better. The relationship was solid and i was contented with the fact i'd made up for more than my share of wrong decisions, by making one huge right one in asking him to move in with me.
For now though i'm sat in the living room with a couple of boxes of stuff i'd taken with me to LA, and now came the dreaded task of finding places for them all again in my already over stuffed cabinets. 'Hey Ali, mail call,' Hyde shouted as he came through the front door in a rustle of grocery bags. Leaping up i trotted through to relieve him of some of the bags and take the mail from under his arm while he went out to the car to get the rest of the stuff. Your only home one week and you already get bills-how is that so? Bill, Junk, Junk, Invitation. Tossing the first three on the table i eyes the pristine white envelope with blue printed writing on the front and flipped it over to notice the wax seal on the back, looking very official and proper. 'Anything interesting?' Hyde mumbled as he kicked the door shut and came through to sit on the edge of the kitchen table, hovering over me. 'Eh, well it depends if mail ever does look interesting,' i laughed as i slid my thumb under the seal and pulled out the thick white card with scrawly writing dancing across the width. Reading it aloud as Hyde pulled me to him round the waist, i suddenly realized what it was:
'Oohhh swanky,' Hyde giggled as i playfully nudged his shoulder and looked at him oddly. 'I don't know, i'm not normally up for all that champagne swilling tom-foolary, plus it's in two days! Talk about short notice!' I was lying through my teeth, i'd love to go and show Hyde off to the world, but you never know whom you could bump into at an event like that. An overly exaggerated pout soon emitted from Hyde as he ran his hands under the hem of my summer top, smoothing my skin soothingly. As i saw his eyes coax me into going, i felt myself feel strong-why should i stop doing something i want to because i think i might bump into Taylor? 'Fine, Okay we'll go-better go get your suit out of moth-balls then buddy,' I was thoroughly defeated when he kissed my lips lingeringly, only pulling away to see his smug grin turn into a nervous biting of the lip. 'Oh don't tell me you didn't bring a suit in all that junk of yours? Ugh men! Come on, were going suit shopping,' I whined as i grabbed his wrist and pulled him off the table, grabbing my purse and Hyde's car keys on exit as i tugged my boyfriend to get measured up for an event i still wasn't sure i wanted to attend-too many skeletons in my Taylor closet perhaps? But then again, that was a stupid mistake, it wasn't even a relationship....Hyde will never know that, so i can't give him any reason to be suspicious.
I was sitting at the end of my drive like a garden gnome, perched on the flat tower of our back garden, behind the gates, waiting for Beau to pull up in the drive and make this buzzing in my head go away. She was driving up from her home in Texas, and i was anxious to hold her in my arms, and stop my thoughts from wondering if i was once again, within spitting distance of Alba Montrose. Her name wouldn't have even entered my head if Isaac hadn't suggested seeing if she was back from her LA postings, to hook up for a 'friendly' drink. I'm sure he know some shit went down between us, i think he just enjoys watching me squirm when things go a little well for me. So i screwed around with a girl, no one got badly hurt in the long run, did they?
Resting my hands lazily on top of my hunched up knees, i tossed my hair back and adjusted my sunglasses, watching the road expectantly for Beau to come and make everything perfectly right, in the way that satisfies me most. But in doing so i noticed a glistening navy blue 4x4 turning down the road, music blaring out as it headed past our house, stopping briefly as it waited for traffic to pass on the next turning. Squinting a little i caught a glimpse of a female driver, her long copper hair shielding her face as she laughed loudly with her striking male companion, his head touching the roof of the car as he let his arm dangle outside the open window. The female driver leaned back through the seats to grab a water bottle off the back seat, her shades falling down some before she twisted back into her seat-leaving me with a winded chest as the navy blue, 4x4 pulled out and onto the main road, towards town. That wasn't Alba, not that it wasn't a possibility, but i was just on edge, thanks to older brother dearest.
Almost an hour later, i'd almost given up on her arriving during daylight hours until i heard a car horn, blasting out in front of the gate and a sweet shouting directed at me. 'Sure hope your waiting for me and not working the streets boy!' Her holler was so unbelievably sexy, i was almost ready to jump her then and there with that first look of her perfect face. Grinning the size of this fair country, i opened the gates for her and waited until she'd pulled up safely next to Isaac's beloved SUV before running up to meet her. She'd hardly got out of the car before i wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close, not wanting to let go of her for the duration of my time at home. 'Boy, calm down, you can jump my bones later, but for now, a welcoming kiss will satisfy,' her coy wink was just like her unruly holler, she was so incredibly un-inhibited, i loved her freedom and more to the point her independence meant as much to me as it did to her. What turned out as being curtious, talking to her after the TV stations blunder, taking her number out of kind-has turned into a nice little social future. She's the Buffy i need to slay any Alba vampires that might worm their way to my cracked and broken surface.
'So Isaac's moving out huh? The boy is 22 and just grasped that concept?' She was unpacking her bags in the only spare room of the house, the size of a box but still, she had all the space she needed and more if she so desired. 'It wouldn't surprise me if he still asked mom to get him cookies and Kermit band-aids on the shopping list so when he did come here, he'd have some comforts!' i laughed back as she threw a pair of balled up lazy socks at me, with a chuckle. Pulling her onto the bed with me, i grasped her to me, tickling her mercilessly until she begged me to stop, turning on her stomach to look at me, dizzily. It just so occurred to me when i saw her dancing eyes and her winning smile, that there was something on the tip of my tongue to ask her. Poking through the bag on the edge of the bed, i felt a sharp slap on my hand when she put up protest to my nosiness. 'Watch it you, you might be my boyfriend and i might like to tease you in bed, but go through what's in that bag and you'll ruin all my fun!' she laughed as she pushed it off the bed and fell back into my arms, just as i finished wiggling my eyebrows in mischief. 'Well actually, that stuff wasn't what i was looking for, i was looking to see if you brought a dress, actually,' I propped myself up on my elbow as it was her turn to eye me with caution as she fanned her fingers through mine, her knuckles crushing mine playfully until i gave up and told her why i was looking for a dress. 'OKAY OKAY! Well, i got my invite through for the Oklahoma record dinner dance and it says i can bring a guest, only thing is it's formal and...it's in two days,' She smiled at me slowly, before clambering on top of me, her knees pinning me down by the hips as she pushed her forehead to mine, a cheeky glint flickering in her eyes. 'I have a dress....and yes i'll be your guest and i know it takes us girls ages to do our make up, but two days notice is enough-even for me,' Her sarcasm sent me on a temporary flashback to Alba, freakishly throwing me in a pit of confusion once again.
What if Alba would be there? What if that was her in the SUV with that, that high tower like guy? Why the fuck do i care? I'd not seemed to worry the last year...but then again i've not been home, i've not had to think about it-i've had no time to think. But were demo-ing the odd thing while were home-what if she's back and working for Steve? Fuck me this is still bugging, when really-i'm not proud of my mistakes, but as sad in the head it sounds i am of this one. Because i made someone else crash and burn without any aggravation-she was winning, she thought she was beating me-but i beat her in the end and showed Alba Montrose that she wasn't the person she thought she was deep down inside. I'm proud of that, because what would have happened if we didn't sleep together and she didn't say what she did out on the deck that one last time? It's nice to see someone else put their life under the microscope-instead of myself for a change.
'Okay well then that's settled, we, have a date,' i smiled, as i looked back up at Beau, sitting upright, her hands pressing down gently on my chest as she smiled knowingly at what she was doing to me inside. 'You got one right now boy.....there's a lock on this door right?'