by S. K. Lessly
Granted, I heard Sebastian mention this guy’s name was Paul, but it’d never dawned on me that… I shook my head at the same time Paul placed the beer boxes in his arms down.
He walked up to me, that panty-dropping smile prominently displayed on his gorgeous face.
“And you must be the wife we heard so much about.”
I nodded. “Lauren.”
“Paul,” he replied and smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Welcome to the dungeon.”
I squinted my eyes at him, scrutinizing his face as I took his outstretched hand in mine. “Please tell me it's you?” I asked in disbelief.
Paul laughed, showing a deep set of dimples. “Yes, it’s me. Small world, huh?”
I grunted. “I'll say. I can’t believe it.”
I shamelessly gawked at this man hard, mouth open and eyes wide. Holy moly! This was insane. Here I was standing in front of the guy who had changed my tire in his exceptional man cave, no less.
I never thought in a million years I’d ever see this man again. Seriously, what were the odds?
I knew I was staring at this man a little too long, but I was just in shock.
“Did you know who I was that day?” I asked him.
At the same time as I asked my question, Sebastian asked, “What's going on?”
I ignored him again and kept my eyes on Paul.
Paul’s smile grew as he shook his head. “Not really. I suspected, but I wasn’t sure. I mean what were the odds that I’d meet a woman named Lauren who shared the same name as my neighbor’s wife who I hadn’t met yet. Being on vacation and working at the firehouse, I only saw your car at night. And I didn’t know what you looked like so I chalked it up to coincidence.”
I grunted again and rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well what a coincidence.”
“Yeah, it is.”
We stared at each other, still stunned and quite honestly, speechless. I mean I was still trying to get over the irony of it all.
Sebastian, probably tired of being ignored, stepped closer and cleared his throat. “Would you mind cluing me in on what’s going on here? You two have met before?”
I looked over at Sebastian. “Yes and no. You see, Paul was the guy who changed my tire two weeks ago.” I pointed to Paul but kept my eyes on my husband.
Sebastian looked confused, but I didn’t waste time explaining anything. I turned back to Paul as a memory popped in my head. “Wait a minute. You said you lived close to Belleville. You didn’t say you lived in Belleville?”
“Well, technically this isn’t Belleville, it’s Bloomfield. But I did tell you we lived close to each other.”
“Wait a second.” Sebastian touched my arm, so I would face him. “When did you get a flat tire?”
I rolled my eyes. “Really, Sebastian? Remember two weekends ago I met some people from work out in West Orange? I had tried to call you, but you didn’t answer your phone?”
“Okay, yeah, but you said you called AAA?”
I shook my head. “Uh, yeah. I did call them, but they didn’t answer.”
“At the same time,” Paul butted in. “I had walked by while she was standing outside her car. I knew it was late and AAA would’ve taken at least two hours to get to her.”
Paul looked back at me. “So, I offered my services. I had no idea it was your wife I was helping. I suspected it, but dismissed it. What would be the odds, you know?”
“Exactly,” I answered, smiling.
He smiled back, looked me up and down then smirked at me. “Since your husband is cool, I guess I can be cordial to the enemy this one time and offer you a drink.”
“Well, thank you kindly,” I returned, still cheezing like a fool. Get it together, Lauren. “I’ll accept that drink, but I’ll watch you make it. You can’t trust a Giants fan so far as you can throw them.”
His eyebrows rose. “This coming from a crazed Philly fan?” He turned and headed to the bar behind him.
I heard Tyler laugh. “Exactly. I remember going to a game down there. You guys are insane for real.”
“Well, that may be true,” I countered. “But at least we don’t come into every season delusional saying we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
Samson and Paul laughed at that.
“Ain’t that the truth? I’m so sick of hearing that shit,” Samson chimed in.
Tyler feigned shock. “Hey, it’s not my fault we have high expectations for our team.”
I sat at the bar and watched Paul make a drink that seemed to include a shit load of vodka.
True to my word, I kept my eyes on Paul, but I couldn’t help poking fun at Tyler. “Well, I guess you guys have gotten used to disappointment,” I said over my shoulder. “I mean when was the last time you guys even sniffed a championship much less a divisional title?”
Paul smiled and handed me my drink. He then looked over my shoulder and handed one to Sebastian.
Startled slightly, I looked back and found Sebastian looking back at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I started to address him when Samson’s rich laughter consumed the room, taking my attention away from Mr. Sour Face.
“Hell, y’all ain’t seen a championship in almost a decade.” Samson retorted, chuckling.
“Fuck you, Tank. When’s the last time y’all won a championship?” Tyler rolled his eyes and then looked at me. “And for you, Missy, y’all haven’t won the big one since what? 1960?”
“Yes, we know this, which is why we are so disgruntle. But at least we aren’t delusional. What you see is what you get with us. You Cowgirls, on the other hand, need psych evals.”
“I like her,” Samson said to no one in particular.
“Yeah, well, you just wait. This season we are going to turn things around. We got that rookie running back, Ezekiel Elliott, that dude is good as hell.”
I nodded. “Yes, now all you have to do is get rid of Romo and you’re set.”
Tyler shook his head. “Nah, I’m telling you. We gonna be alright with Tony as our quarterback.”
Samson started talking about how Romo needed to retire when I took a sip of my drink. It was strong as hell, but I loved it. I smiled my appreciation at Paul and then followed Sebastian to a seat. Usually, Sebastian didn’t watch football with me, and the way the guys were looking at him, he didn’t watch it with them either. I guess this was for my benefit or he was just sending a message just like I was upstairs with Amy. Hands off!
I didn’t mind it at all. He didn’t have anything to worry about. The thoughts running through my head was only for my head. There was no way I’d betray my husband. I loved him. He may get on my nerves sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I looked over at my hubby, squeezed his hand and leaned in for a kiss. He met my lips without hesitation. He actually looked relieved.
“Thanks for getting me out of the house.” I told him after our lips parted.
Sebastian smiled at me. “You’re welcome.”
5
Paul
I watched her kiss her husband, hypnotized unable to move my eyes. Samson walked up to me and stood right in front of me, blocking my view.
“Hey you need help bringing in any more boxes?”
Samson didn’t wait for a response, he signaled for me to follow him and I tore my eyes from her and followed my friend into the garage.
Once inside, I leaned against my truck as Samson went to the back of the pickup. Nothing was in the cab of the truck, so he walked back and stood across from me.
“So, I take it that was her?” he asked.
I stared at the garage door. I couldn’t believe my luck. I sighed heavily, “Yup.” I crossed my arms and looked down at my shoes.
Samson touched my shoulder and waited for me to meet his eyes before he grinned. “Well, my friend, you didn’t do her justice. She’s fine as hell.”
I sighed again. “Yeah, I know.”
“And you really didn’t know she was Sebastian's wife?”
I looked over at him
and gave him a what-do-you-think look.
Samson placed his hands up, defensively. “Hey, man, I’m just asking. You didn’t mention your suspicions when you talked about her. I was just going off of what you told her.”
“Of course, I told her that. The moment she said her name, things fell into place. Her car suddenly looked familiar, and hell, when she told me where she lived that brought it home for me. There isn’t that much coincidence in the world.”
Damn, this was crazy. I knew exactly who she was the second she’d said her name that night. I didn’t need any confirmation from her. I just knew it. Fate hated me, and it would be just my luck that the first time I genuinely felt something for a woman she would be my… I couldn’t even say it. I couldn’t believe this shit.
“Hey, man.” Samson tapped me on my shoulder, getting my attention. I looked over at him. “What are you going to do?”
“What do you mean? I’m not doing anything.” I pointed at the closed basement door. “She’s married, Tank,” I paused and mumbled. “And so am I. There’s nothing I can do about that.”
Samson got close to me and said in a low tone, “Come on, man. You know at least one, if not both, of these marriages is a sham.”
I pushed off the truck, shaking my head. “You don’t know that. Besides, it doesn’t matter.”
I started to walk away from Samson, but he placed a hand on my shoulder, turning me around to face him. “Are you kidding me? Dude, all that stuff you said that day. You went on and on—”
“Yeah, about the idea of a woman,” I interjected.
“No, you went on and on about her; not just any woman. Look, Paul, you owe it to yourself to be happy. You went on and on about this woman regardless of you knowing who she was. She affected you somehow and now she’s right there watching your television, drinking your liquor—”
“Yeah, with her husband. Samson, I know what you’re trying to do, okay? But it’s no use so just drop it. She’s off limits and so am I,” I chided and then headed back into my basement. Samson followed me inside and started yelling when he saw Kirk Cousins throw an interception.
I watched my friend trek over to one of the chairs and sit down, yelling obscenities at the TV. Lauren laughed and said something to him that brought my attention back to her.
Samson was right. I hadn’t done her justice before. She was beyond beautiful with curves that would make any man fall to his knees in front of her. Her beauty was undeniable. It would probably make any man lose his mind. She would be the death of me if she and I were both single. I knew I’d do anything for her, anything to see her smile just so her face would light up. Anything to hear her infectious laugh that seemed to give me goose bumps.
What Samson failed to realize was that despite my drunken declarations to him, I would never cross that line with any woman. I was married, committed to my wife. Sabrina and I may be having issues, but I would never hurt her like that. Never.
I sighed deeply and pushed all the feelings I had about Lauren away. She was married and seemed very happy. Any thought I had about getting to know her better was out of the question. I found a seat next to Ty and tried my best to concentrate on the games. It was hard, but I managed to ignore the sexy, vibrant, easygoing, trash-talking, beautiful woman in my basement.
Fuck, I’m in trouble.
Once the long night ended, I stood in the doorway of my house waving at the last of my guests with my wife snuggled next to me.
“Drive safely, you guys,” Sabrina called to Melissa and Samson. Melissa waved back as Samson helped her into his truck. She and I continued to stand there until Samson climbed into his vehicle, backed up, and started down the street.
After they were out of sight, I backed up into my house, pulling Sabrina with me before I closed and locked the door. Without saying a word, I dropped my arm from around her, turned, and headed for my sanctuary, my man cave. I managed to get a few feet from safety before she started.
“What a night, huh?” Sabrina called after me.
I didn’t reply nor did I stop walking away from her. It had been a long night. All I wanted to do was take a long hot shower, forget about my sexy-as-sin neighbor, and go to sleep. I walked through the kitchen, turned right, and moved quickly down the basement steps. I stopped at the bottom of the steps and closed my eyes. I could still smell the remnants of her perfume down here. I gripped the banister so tight, I felt the smooth wood surface pressing into my skin.
I was in hell.
I was convinced of that. I must have wronged someone in another life. That had to be the reason for how my life had turned out. There had to be something better in store for me. There just had to be. I took a deep breath, again taking in her delicious scent. Yeah, something had to get better.
“She was pretty, wasn’t she?”
My eyes opened and I sighed. I thought about continuing to ignore her, except that would only make things worse.
“Who?” I decided to ask. I knew the answer to her question or rather what she expected to hear from me. I just didn’t want to play her game.
“Lauren. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
Finally, I turned my head to look at my wife and watched pensively as she took the steps down into the basement. “Sabrina, what is your end game here?”
Sabrina shrugged and put on an innocent face. “What do you mean? I just wanted to know if my husband had the hots for our pretty neighbor. That’s all. What’s wrong with that?” The way she had stressed the word husband grated my nerves.
“Listen, I’ve had a long couple of days. I’m tired. All I want to do is take a shower and go to sleep.”
I waited for Sabrina to say something else crass and uncalled for, but she remained quiet. I turned from her and walked to my bar to make myself a drink. As soon as I brought the glass to my lips to take in the honey-colored liquid, she started up again.
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
Without looking up from my glass I replied, “There wasn’t anything in the way I looked at her.”
“You know she’s married, right?” Sabrina added.
I took my drink down and slammed my glass on the bar. “For fuck’s sake, Sabrina, what the hell is wrong with you? We were having a nice ending to our night. It was pleasant for once instead of filled with us yelling at each other. Why do you have to ruin it with your antics? Yes, Lauren seems to be cool. Do I like her? Sure. She’s nice, down to earth, and knows a helluva lot about football. And, sure, she’s attractive. But what does that matter? For the twentieth time, I’m not out here fucking around on you. If you hadn’t noticed, you and I are married. I’m committed to you and only you. You don’t have to confirm my loyalty by starting shit that doesn’t exist.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Paul. You’ve been at work for days and the moment you came home this morning, you hibernated down here until it was time for football. We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms. You haven’t touched me in weeks.”
“That was your idea, Sabrina: you and that crackpot of a shrink. You wanted to start over in the marriage. You said you wanted to date each other again without the complications of sex. And I agreed, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but you seem to be really enjoying it!” Sabrina yelled.
I raised my hands in defeat, done with this conversation. “You know what? I’m done. I don’t have time for these mind games. I’m going to go take a shower and go to sleep. Goodnight, Sabrina.”
“Paul, wait.” Sabrina reached out and grasped me by my forearm just as I started to walk to the back of the basement. I’d had a bathroom built down here last month with a stand-up shower just for moments like this one. The basement had become more than just a place to escape. It had been my refuge as of late.
Sabrina moved a little closer until we were face to face. She looked up into my eyes and sighed. “You’re right, Paul. I’m sorry. I know you are doing your part. It’s just that I want to be the one that puts that beautiful smile on your face. Not
some stranger. When I see you giving your smile to someone else, I start to feel self-conscious.”
“That’s bullshit, Sabrina. I didn’t treat Lauren any different than I treat Melissa, Amy, or Tonya. Stop trying to make something out of nothing. I’m married to you. I’m committed to trying to make this work. Are you with me or not?”
Sabrina brought her arms around my neck and moved closer to me. She smiled warmly, her blue eyes dancing with excitement. “I’m with you.” She lifted on her tiptoes and brought her lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around my wife and was just about to deepen the kiss when her cell started going off.
Sabrina quickly stepped back from me and searched around the room for her cell. I watched on, the anger in me boiling as seconds ticked by.
Sabrina finally located her phone, looked at the screen, and smiled.
“Hey, you,” she answered cheerfully. “No, I’m not busy at all.” She giggled, turned her back to me and hurried up the basement steps. When I heard the door close, I reached down, grabbed an empty beer bottle from one of my tables, and threw it against the basement’s far wall.
No doubt about it, I was in hell.
I was trapped by a code that I had been raised by: never give up. This marriage had been going down the tubes for a very long time. At one point, I had even contemplated leaving Sabrina just for peace of mind. But somehow, she could feel me slipping away and suggested that we seek counseling. She didn’t want to give up on our marriage. She’d blamed my job as the reason for our problems and because I knew how demanding my job was, I agreed to keep trying.
I had been a firefighter for Bloomfield’s Firehouse 30 for the majority of my eight-year career. I had worked myself to the bone to become Lieutenant of Truck, one of the main fire and rescue squads in a fire house, and had quite a few people under me. I loved my job. It wasn’t something I had dreamed about doing initially. I had gone to college and majored in business so I could work with my father and get into the family business of commercial real estate. However, one day I watched a documentary on firefighters and 9/11 and the need to serve blossomed from there.
