Firecracker: A contemporary romance

by Kelly Jamieson

  Arden froze. Tyler dropped his arms and froze. Mila’s eyes darted from naked Arden in the kitchen to naked Tyler at the island facing away from her, then shot open wide. “Oh shit.”

  Arden slapped both hands over her mouth, squeezing her arms together over her breasts. For some reason, she just wanted to laugh. The expressions on both Tyler’s and Mila’s faces were comical.

  “I’ll go! Sorry!” Mila backed out and slammed the door shut.

  Tyler’s eyes were closed. “Tell me that didn’t just happen.”

  “It happened.”

  “Jesus.”

  Arden did laugh now. “It’s not the end of the world. She got a view of your world-class ass, that’s all.”

  “You think my ass is world-class?”

  “Without a doubt.” She moved closer, leaned across the island, and kissed him. “She knows we’re sleeping together.”

  He opened his eyes and stared into hers, his blazing hot. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I talked to Jamie last night. About us.”

  “You did?”

  He nodded. “He’s not sure about us, but he says you’re an adult.”

  “Okay. Well. I guess it’s out there, then.”

  Tyler nodded. “Probably also time for all of us to make a rule about walking into one another’s apartments unannounced.”

  She winced. “I guess so.”

  Rather than upsetting her, the fact that Jamie and Mila both knew what was going on between her and Tyler actually felt like a relief. Even though she wasn’t exactly sure herself what was going on between them.

  They went to the farmers’ market again, and Arden paused to talk to more of the vendors, getting business cards and telling them about the breakfast meeting she was catering and that she was including some of their products. She got into a lengthy chat with a young woman who made specialty mustards using locally sourced ingredients, not sure if she could use mustard in any of her breakfast plans, but hoping she could somehow support the business. She smiled when Tyler ended up buying a jar of the beer chipotle mustard.

  They stopped for lunch on the way home at a small café with an outdoor patio, then returned to their separate apartments to unpack their purchases. Although the flowers Tyler bought ended up in her place again. She arranged them in a vase with a smile and a fizzy, warm feeling in her chest.

  Tyler walked in a while later, now dressed in a pair of ripped, faded jeans and an old T-shirt she recognized as one of his work shirts. “What are you working on today?” she asked him.

  “Hoping to finish up the drywall.”

  It was a slow process, with letting the mud dry and sanding it, then repeating it. She was seeing what a perfectionist Tyler was when it came to the work he did.

  “Here. I picked up this for you today.”

  She took the small jar from him with a faint frown. “What is it?”

  “Lavender and lemon balm. You rub it on your temples when you go to bed, and it supposedly helps you sleep better.”

  She gazed at the product with hot eyes, that fizzy feeling in her chest intensifying. She hadn’t noticed him pick this up, and it was so thoughtful it almost made her cry. She blinked a few times. “Thank you. I’ll definitely try it.”

  She had no trouble sleeping when Tyler was in bed with her. Other than the fact that all the sex interfered with her sleep. Though it made her feel so good, and so relaxed, she slept like crazy afterward, so it seemed like a worthwhile trade-off. Other nights, even though the nightmares had diminished, she still spent too much time ruminating. Worries that she could set aside during the day—like how to make more money, how to afford to pay Jamie rent, what to do with her life—consumed her when lying in bed at night. But it was getting better. She felt herself settling in to her new life and most of the time felt optimistic that things would all work out.

  “Next week, we need to find a day to take you to Home Depot,” he said. “We’re just about ready to tile and paint. And we need to pick out fixtures. Jamie’ll come too, since he’s paying the bill.”

  “Okay. Good. I’m off Thursday again.”

  “Mmm…yeah, that’ll work for me. Maybe we can convince Jamie to play hooky from work to come with us during the day.”

  She puttered around her kitchen, cleaning and whipping up a coffee cake that filled the apartment with a delicious cinnamon scent. While that was baking, she ran down to Mila’s apartment.

  Mila was in her spare bedroom practicing some moves on the pole.

  “You’re getting so much better!” Arden said.

  “Thanks.” Mila released the pole and straightened. “So. Sorry about earlier.”

  “Don’t worry.” One corner of Arden’s mouth lifted. “That wasn’t as mortifying as the day I met Tyler.”

  She’d told Mila and Emma the story one night over wine.

  Mila grinned. “Not sure if Tyler would agree. And don’t take this the wrong way, but he has a great ass. Couldn’t help but notice.”

  “I can’t blame you. I agree.” She grinned.

  “So…you two are…?” Mila waved a hand.

  “I don’t know what we are. Obviously we’re sleeping together. We went out for dinner the other night. Today he took me to the market and bought me flowers, and he b-bought me…” She stumbled. “Lavender lemon balm to help me sleep.” Her bottom lip quivered.

  “You know he’s a keeper,” Mila said quietly.

  “I know.” She met her friend’s eyes. “And it terrifies me.”

  “Why? What are you afraid of?” Mila’s face softened.

  “I’m afraid…oh God.” Arden tipped her head back. “I’m afraid I’ll lose myself again. Like I did with Michael. I’m not sure I’ve even found myself again. And then what happens if…if…”

  “If things don’t work out?”

  She nodded, misery lodging like a rock in her stomach. “Yes. What if I’m so self-centered I can’t really have a relationship?”

  Mila’s jaw dropped. “What?”

  Arden twisted her fingers together. “I’m afraid…” She stopped.

  “What?”

  “I was too busy being a pampered princess to realize my marriage was in trouble. I’m afraid I’m not good at relationships.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. I wish I were smart about shit like this, but I can’t even figure out my own love life. But I don’t think you’re too self-centered for a relationship. You care about people, Arden.”

  Arden pressed her lips together, her throat aching. “I also came here to find myself. To figure out who I am and what I want from life. And if I get involved with someone right away, maybe I never will.”

  “I understand.”

  “Tyler and I had a fight last night. Because he butted in when I was talking to that guy at the supper club. He was jealous.”

  Mila’s lips quirked. “Wow.”

  “It annoyed me. But he made me talk about it, and he apologized.”

  “That’s worth a lot.”

  “Yeah. But he does that stuff all the time. He’s a little overprotective.”

  “You know why, though, right?”

  “I do. I get it.”

  “And it’s because he cares too.”

  Arden puffed out a breath. “I know. But it’s one more reason I feel like I could lose myself. I want to make my own decisions. About where I work and how I get home and who I talk to.”

  “I get it.”

  Arden sucked in a breath. “Okay. I’m just going to try to live in the moment. Enjoy whatever this is and not drive myself crazy trying to analyze it and name it.”

  “Sounds like a good plan for now. And for what it’s worth…you two are awfully cute together.”

  Arden wrinkled her nose. “Cute?”

  “Yeah.” Mila grinned.

  “Really?”

  “Really. I could tell from the first day you were here that he has a thing for you. Watches you all the time. Does nice things for you. Gives yo
u multiple orgasms.”

  Arden gave a strangled laugh. “Right.”

  “I’m serious. And you’ve admitted you like him too. And you like his hot body.”

  “I do.” She sighed. She squeezed her eyes closed briefly. “This is crazy.”

  “Love is crazy.”

  “We’re not in love!”

  Mila lifted her eyebrows into skeptical arches.

  Arden’s head went spinny and she slumped against the doorjamb. “We aren’t. We can’t be. I hardly know him.”

  “You’ve known him for years.”

  “Yeah, but not really…we were kids.” She drew in a shaky breath then bolted straight up. “Oh! I have to go get my coffee cake out of the oven.”

  “Coffee cake?”

  “Yes. Want to come for breakfast in the morning? Tyler works tomorrow, so no worries about walking in on us again.”

  Mila laughed. “Sounds good. I’ll tell Jamie too.”

  “Great.”

  She ran back upstairs, her mind churning.

  Mila thought they were cute together. She thought Tyler had a thing for her.

  Could this really be happening?

  Tyler was working in the bathroom, his phone playing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” loud enough that he probably didn’t hear her. She checked her coffee cake, her hands shaking a little as she pushed a wooden pick into the batter. Yep, it was done. She pulled it out of the oven and set it on a rack.

  She laid her hands on her cheeks and stared across the apartment.

  All kinds of feelings swirled inside her. Yes, she liked being with Tyler. A lot. And not just for the orgasms, although they were remarkable. She also liked giving him orgasms. She liked laughing with him. Going to the farmers’ market. Walking home from work and telling him how her day had been. Hearing about his job.

  She thought about him a lot. She missed him the days he was at work, and looked forward to seeing him. More than she probably should.

  She checked the time. She had to get ready for work.

  She walked down the hall toward the bathroom, peering through the plastic curtain Tyler had taped around the door. Once again, he’d taken off his shirt, and while she couldn’t see him clearly, she could make out the shift and bulge of muscles as he sanded the drywall. He glanced over and saw her and stopped.

  He moved over and pulled the plastic aside. His hair was snowy with drywall dust, some even on his eyelashes and cheeks. “Hey.” He grinned at her.

  “Hey. How’s it going?”

  “Good.”

  “I made a coffee cake. Help yourself to some when you want a break. I’m going to work now.”

  “Okay. See you later.” He leaned over and smooched her mouth, and she continued into her bedroom to change with fingertips pressed to her lips.

  Shenanigans was busy that night. Liam seemed distracted and grumpy. She was at the bar when he knocked a glass off that shattered on the floor.

  “Jaysus suffering fuck,” he yelled.

  “Chill, Liam,” she said calmly. “It’s just a glass.”

  He grumbled as he retrieved the broom and began to sweep up the pieces.

  “What’s wrong with you tonight?” she asked, patiently waiting for a round of drinks.

  “Nothing’s wrong with me tonight,” he snapped. “I’m totally boxed off.”

  “Well, I have no idea what that means, but I beg to differ.” Although he was her boss, they’d become friends too. “Did you drink too much last night? Geez, you’ve had a whole day to recover.”

  Now that she thought about it, he’d been kind of quiet last night too, after they’d left the supper club. She’d been all wrapped up in her anger at Tyler for being such a jerk, but thinking back, Liam hadn’t exactly been the life of the party. In fact, he’d sat there staring into a glass of Jameson the rest of the evening.

  “I didn’t drink enough last night,” he muttered, disposing of the broken glass into the trash.

  “You didn’t enjoy the show?” She followed him down the bar. “I thought it was so fun.”

  “Sure. Fun.”

  She eyed him. “Mmmkay. If you say so. Still need the gimlet, the mai tai, and two Guinness.”

  “Coming right the feck up.”

  When the pub finally closed, Arden was happy about the large bundle of bills she stuffed into her purse. Tips had been great all evening. She was even getting more used to being on her feet.

  Tyler hadn’t shown up at the bar, as he usually did when he wasn’t working. She stepped out into the cool night air. Clouds covered the sky and the wind had picked up, tossing tree branches. She looked around for Tyler’s truck, thinking he might be parked outside waiting. But he wasn’t there.

  She frowned a little, shrugged, and started walking. The air felt like rain was coming. Maybe a thunderstorm? Tyler would like that.

  If he was home.

  Maybe he’d gone out somewhere with other friends. He did get together sometimes with coworkers, like their baseball games or going out for beers.

  She turned down the side street and trudged along the sidewalk. A man walked toward her, shadowy in the darkness. Was Tyler coming to meet her? But no…she could tell from the man’s gait and size it wasn’t Tyler. The street was deserted otherwise. She tightened her grip on her purse, aware of the sizeable amount of cash she was carrying. Her gaze darted around, and she debated crossing to the other side of the street as she and the man neared each other.

  It was fine. Just a guy in the neighborhood. She’d walked home alone numerous times the nights that Tyler was working.

  The man passed by her without incident and she let out her breath. Geez. She was the one who kept telling Tyler she was a grown woman and could look after herself. Why was she so fearful?

  Because she wasn’t stupid. She could talk all she wanted about being a grown woman responsible for herself, but she knew shit happened, and part of being a grown woman was making sure she didn’t get herself into foolish situations.

  Maybe part of being an independent woman was taking some kind of self-defense course. It wouldn’t hurt. And she didn’t want to rely on Tyler or anyone to look after her. She’d check into that tomorrow.

  She quickened her steps the last few blocks to home, letting herself into the wrought iron gate with relief.

  Inside the building, she paused outside her apartment door. Light gleamed beneath Tyler’s door and she heard the faint sounds of a TV show. Why hadn’t he come to get her? Was he alone?

  Why did she care? Straightening her shoulders, she let herself into her apartment and quietly closed the door. She dropped her keys into the basket on the kitchen counter, ran a glass of water and drank it, then dragged her weary butt down the hall to fall into bed.

  Thursday’s shopping trip was a success. Arden enjoyed helping pick out the new toilet, tub, shower, and vanity, along with taps, faucets, and the shower attachment. She pored over tile samples, paint chips, and options for the vanity top—marble, granite, tile. Neither Jamie nor Tyler seemed to care that much about the choices, tapping their fingers as she deliberated, shrugging when she debated shaker gray versus gray pinstripe.

  “I’d go with white and white,” Jamie said.

  Arden shook her head. Clearly, Mila must have had a hand in the décor of the other apartments.

  She ended up picking out hexagon-shaped floor tiles similar to Tyler’s except a more speckled gray color, white subway tiles for the walls, and a deep gray paint color.

  That was the fun stuff. Then she had to cool her heels while they picked up grout and underlay and other boring stuff she didn’t know anything about.

  Eventually they left with Tyler’s truck loaded up and Jamie’s credit card smoking as he tucked it back into his wallet. Ha.

  Luckily her second bedroom was mostly empty and they could store things in there. She helped carry as much as she could, but Jamie and Tyler had to deal with the heavier items.

  “This is so exciting!” she said whe
n they were done and Jamie had left. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “Still gonna be a while,” Tyler cautioned her. “Remember this is a part-time gig for me.”

  “I know. Don’t worry, I can be patient. By the way, can I use your bathroom to get ready to go out tonight?”

  “Of course. Where are you going?”

  “It’s our girls’ night out. Remember? We’re going to take Mila out to a club to dance and flirt with guys and get drunk now she’s single again.”

  “Oh, right.”

  She waited for him to say more, remembering that he hadn’t been thrilled when she’d talked about going out and flirting with guys.

  He slid a hand around the back of her neck, leaned in, and kissed her forehead. “You have fun. I’m gonna go see what Jamie’s doing for dinner.”

  He left and she heard his footsteps thudding down the stairs.

  She stared at the open door. Huh.

  Slowly, she gathered up what she needed to get ready and headed across to Tyler’s apartment. As she twirled some waves in her hair with the flat iron and redid her makeup, she thought about last night…about how Tyler hadn’t come to pick her up after work even though he could have. How they hadn’t spent the night together. And how he didn’t mind at all that she was going out with Mila and Emma tonight.

  Was he losing interest in her?

  Her insides squeezed uncomfortably.

  Just when she was getting used to the idea that she and Tyler might be able to do this…might be able to have something…maybe it didn’t really mean as much to him as she’d thought. Maybe she was the one who was getting all caught up in romantic ideas about falling in love when all he wanted was convenient, across-the-hall sex.

  She had to guard her heart, or she was going to end up broken again.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Ugh.” Emma lowered her phone with a grimace. “That dude I went out with last week just sent me a dick pic.”

  “Let me see.” Mila attempted to grab Emma’s phone, but missed. No doubt the result of the many pomegranate margaritas she’d consumed.

  Arden shook her head, the three of them standing at the bar at Prophecy, a hot dance club on West Hubbard. Music pumped around them, the dance floor a mass of shifting bodies, the lights changing from red to blue to purple. “Why do guys do that?”