His & Hers

by Francheska Fifield

  When we get back she starts to tell the guys everything before I send her to bed. She slams the door and not another sound is heard from her room. The guys all turn to me, opened their mouths, and I hold up my hand.

  “Don’t ask.”

  I walk into my room and lay down. Hopefully I can get some sleep before round two tomorrow.

  Chapter Seven

  When I get up I go for a meeting with my lawyer. I have to dress in a suit and for that alone I am annoyed. The guys all got up and left when I did. They probably don’t want to be in the line of fire when I get back and Trisha and I have it out again. They didn’t even raise an eyebrow at the suit. They are truly terrified.

  “Well Will you are lucky. She didn’t do a lot of damage. The owner of the club isn’t pressing charges, the bouncer agreed to a small sum, and the guy she hit before the bouncer isn’t even admitting she hit him. He’s embarrassed from what I hear. So who is this girl?”

  “My housekeeper and cook. I suppose my parents told you what my doctor said.”

  My doctor, lawyer, and parents are all golfing buddies, there is no confidentiality.

  “Yes. I must admit you do look better, but don’t you think she should be paying this?”

  I shrug. “She doesn’t really see what she did as wrong and she doesn’t know how hard I try to stay out of the press. She doesn’t know anything about my family and I want it to stay that way.”

  He nods. “Of course. It is up to you.”

  I tell him to pay everyone off and leave the office. He will send me a bill and it won’t be cheap. The things I do for privacy. Normally in this situation I would fire her, if she were just my housekeeper. I do all I can to stay out of the press. It is proving more difficult than I thought to keep my private life private.

  It is another reason I am having trouble asking Trisha out. If she says yes, when my family finds out (and they always do, you can’t hide from rich people) it will hit the press and her entire life will be under scrutiny. I don’t want to subject her to that, but I want to be with her. I am a mess inside.

  Bobbi drops me off at home and I get out of the car rubbing my face to wake myself up. It has been a long morning. I got up at 6 am to be at my lawyer’s office before his normal business hours start so he could see me today and get this all taken care of before anyone went public.

  When I get through the door she is asleep on the couch, book in lap. She looks peaceful. I try to close the door quietly, but she wakes up anyway. In a rather jumpy manner.

  “Hey you weren’t working when I knocked for lunch.”

  The meeting involved a lot of tracking people down and making sure no one would press charges, it took half the day.

  “Ummm Will, did someone die?”

  “No.”

  “So what’s with the clothes?”

  “I went to see my lawyer today and have a meeting with the cops and the fellows you dropped with your special new heels.”

  I see a moment of pride flash through her eyes before she goes back to demure. Demure doesn’t suit her.

  “You didn’t have to do that. I was prepared to deal with it if they pressed charges.”

  “They aren’t going to anymore. We…talked them out of it.”

  “Oh. I could have done that.”

  More like convince them to up the charges. I don’t say it, but I am sure she can see it in my face because I don’t get a chance to say anything before she comments again.

  “I’m not bad at discussion you know.”

  “I distinctly remember you threatening me with a skillet because I wasn’t eating enough in your opinion.”

  “In everyone’s opinion!”

  “Regardless, you weren’t the person to handle this.”

  “I get the lawyer, but who did you say you were during these negotiations?”

  Instead of answering I go to my room to change. She follows and doesn’t take the hint to leave.

  “So what did you say?”

  “Nothing. The lawyer did all the talking really.”

  That is true. I was just the money.

  “I guess I will owe you for the cost of the lawyer too. Here’s my bail money.”

  I look at it and turn away. I am not taking her money. This wouldn’t have all been such an issue if I didn’t want to keep my presence in the real world secret. A normal person wouldn’t be so freaked over this. A normal person would have taken one look at her last night and dragged her into the bedroom to get her right back out of those clothes instead of letting her go out or at least gone with her.

  “I don’t want it and don’t worry about the lawyer. He owed me a favor so I didn’t have to pay him.”

  “But you had to use up the favor.”

  I shrug. He really will charge me an arm and a leg, but I am not going to tell her that. She has saved up her first month worth of pay, but it isn’t much and she won’t have enough to cover the lawyers cost and the hush money I paid everyone. Also it is too late, my parents will know I did this and that isn’t something I can tell her or I will have to explain about my family.

  “It’s no big deal Trish.”

  “It is to me. I didn’t mean to cause you any problems.”

  I can’t help it, I hug her. I am not usually someone people worry about. She doesn’t seem upset, she just hugs me back relaxing as if she expected to be smacked and is pleasantly surprised by a hug instead.

  “Be more careful Trish. That’s all I want. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”

  “Thanks. And I will. Be more careful I mean. No more back talking the bouncers. Or attacking them.”

  I pull clothes out of my closet laughing. Of course I can’t actually change until she leaves.

  “I’m impressed you could put a man that big down.”

  “He didn’t think a girl my size would present any problems. Maybe hair pulling and eye scratching.”

  I chuckle at that. I’ve seen her sparing before, she doesn’t hit like a girl. “Yeah well he had obviously never met you. You fight like a boy. I’ve seen you sparing with Bobbi.”

  “Kick boxing is practical. You can kick and punch. Hair pulling can work okay, but it’s nothing compared to breaking their nose.”

  I laugh as she smiles and leaves the room closing the door behind her. She is an unusual one. If I ever get myself into a fight I’ll ask her to be my stand-in. I am far more bad-ass in games than real life. It has been a few weeks since she moved in and, though I am doing better, I’m not up to par yet. I shower and change, feeling a bit better than I have all day. I still can’t wait to sleep tonight though.

  Life fell into a pretty good pattern after that. Trisha tried to stay out of trouble by going shopping with the girls instead of clubbing. The guys all laughed the following Friday when she told them about it. We all started to get used to her being around on Fridays, in fact soon it seemed she had always been there and it was more fun that way. The others had come to think of her as one of us.

  We did more stuff together, hung out in other places. We went out for ice cream one really warm Saturday after the guys left. She even convinced me somehow to join up at the Y. I’m still fuzzy on how it happened, but I vividly remember the first day we went.

  Trisha tells the coordinator she will give me the grand tour so the lady doesn’t have to. She reminds Trisha she can’t show me the guy’s locker rooms I will have to go in there alone. Right, like I am leaving anything in an unsecure locker anyway.

  First she shows me every machine and how to use them. I am only here because she is making me. I will probably only use the track and that is it. I see Bobbi talking to some guys. He is in workout clothes, but the only thing working is his mouth. Lucky him.

  She then shows me every room and tells me what classes they have. She stops and stares when we get to the dance room. She smiles, but looks kind of sad. Isn’t she in that class? Is there more than one?

  “I thought you were signing up for that.”


  “I was going to, but Bobbi wouldn’t be my partner and Caleb ran when I mentioned it. Since they are the only guys I know here that means I didn’t get to. You need to bring you own man apparently.”

  “Ahhh.”

  “Will….you said you know how to dance right?”

  “Yeah my mom signed me up for lessons as a kid. I learned fast so I could get out of it as fast as possible. It’s not exactly what a ten year old boy dreams of doing with their time.”

  Wait why did she ask? One innocent looking smile later I know exactly why.

  “Well let’s see if you are rusty.”

  “What?”

  “I know the instructor, she will let us in. Come on.”

  She walks in pulling me after her. Oh no, I don’t want to do this. As romantic as she makes it sound I am afraid what will happen if I am holding her close. It’s not like she is wearing really revealing clothes, a t-shirt and yoga pants, but still.

  “Okay Will, teach me. We’ve missed a couple classes so get to it.”

  I am about to say no when I notice her face. It is stubborn, determined, and a hint of worry I will say no. That convinces me more than anything. I start her out beside me and teach her the steps. She catches on quickly and I wonder how often she watches the class. I’ve noticed if she see something once or twice she can mimic it fairly well after.

  She doesn’t do as well facing me, but it is something that requires practice. I try to be patient, but I am distracted. She does get the hang of it and seems to have fun. She smiles the whole time and have the courtesy to blush when she steps on my feet. Every time she succeeds at something she's done wrong she stops and does a little happy dance. I can’t help but laugh. Some of the other couples even look on in jealousy as we laugh. I guess we are having more fun than most of the couples.

  She is right it was much more fun with someone you are comfortable with. Of course I’m not admitting that to her or I will never hear the end of it, but when the class is over and she says we had to sign up for it officially I don’t protest too much. I even agree to help her at home so she isn’t so behind. I have never seen her eyes get so big and happy before. I’m glad I agreed to join.

  Chapter Nine

  It came in the mail. The fancy envelope that I receive once a year and want to throw away. I go because a lot of my clients go. The damn party. Still, despite my hatred for the party my parents hold each year, I can’t help but think of Trisha saying that she wishes she had somewhere practical to use her new dancing skills. I think of the floor length blue shimmering dress that I know she will be stunning in.

  I don’t toss the invite in the trash. I have even kept it wrinkle free and on my dresser for over a week. I go in search of Trisha. Maybe she would like to go. I go to the kitchen for lunch and after we finish I can’t bring myself to ask right away. I watch her doing housework and I feel like a creeper, but I need to work up the courage to ask. It’s not really the asking her so much as the fear she will say no that I have to overcome.

  “Trisha I have a question for you.”

  “Okay.”

  “It’s a favor really. If you don’t want to you can say no.”

  “Just spit it out Will. I don’t mind hanging out with you, but you hovering while I clean is annoying.”

  I didn’t mean to hover; I’m just no good at asking a girl out. And is it technically a date? If I say it is a favor does that ruin date status?

  “Just tell me what’s on your mind I will help if I can you know that.”

  I have to sit down. I fidget as she joined me. Even if it’s not a date I am still nervous.

  “Well once a year the big wigs I work for, they are all from the same social circle, have a party. I get invited because I do business with them all.”

  “With you so far.”

  “I want you to go with me. There’s dinner, and dancing. I thought you might like a chance to try the dances we’ve been working on. And you would get the chance to wear that dress you bought.”

  “Sure.”

  “What?” I probably should have kept some of the shock out of my voice. She seems almost offended that I am asking if she is sure.

  “I said I would go with you. Geez, you act surprised.”

  I try to be casual. “It’s not your usual scene.”

  “Yours either I take it.”

  Not in the least, but I am hoping having her there will make it bearable. “No, but it is good for business for people to see me occasionally.”

  “Okay when is it?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  “Alright. Don’t worry I will make it really fun. Like dancing. We can practice. It won’t be so bad.”

  I head back into my office and stop at the door. I want to warn her about all the horrible things that will probably happen, but I am hoping for a miracle and that they won’t.

  “If you don’t have fun I’m sorry Trisha.”

  I close my door and sit down, banging my head on the desk. I have to tell her. What if someone there mentions it? Will she forgive me for lying about who I am? I will tell her, just not right now. Not unless I have to.

  I am all ready. I pick up the box and stare at it. Will she accept it? She will more than likely say it is way too much. I hope not. I want her to fit in, draw less attention, and feel less like an outsider. These will help. They cost a fortune, but I don’t care. I can picture them on her while she wears that dress. Beautiful. I know that all dressed up she will look even better than I imagine and the only reason I am still in my room is to get my mind and body under control.

  I take one more deep breath, prepare myself for whatever might happen this evening, and walk into the living room. She is still in her room, but she calls out mentioning something about jewelry. Well guess I have made the right choice for a gift.

  “I’m ready, but I don’t know what to wear for jewelry. Come give me some ideas. I’ve never been to a party like this before.” I hear from her open bedroom door.

  “I got you something to wear if you want.” I call and she comes out of her room taking one look at me and gasps. I start to turn red.

  “Will you look so handsome. You should wear a tuxedo all the time.”

  I can’t look half as amazing as she does no matter how good I look.

  “Thanks. But I can’t look half as good as you do in that dress.”

  “Amazing what you can get at a vintage shop isn’t it?”

  I hold out the box and she opens it. Another gasp. She has to stop that, now I am thinking of other things I can do to make her gasp. Mind out of gutter. Tonight I will be a gentleman.

  “Will I can’t accept this. It’s too much. It must have cost a fortune!”

  I shrug taking the necklace and clasping it around her neck, letting my fingers trail over her skin just a little. She is just as soft as I have always imagined. I stand back before I do something stupid and we miss the party. She has put the earrings in herself and turns smiling at me. Is breathing really necessary, because I forgot how.

  “It’s a thank you for coming with me tonight. Usually I go alone and try to hide while people I work for introduce me to their daughters about my age. You are saving me from more than boredom.”

  She laughs and I can’t even be annoyed that it is at my misfortune.

  “Are they really that bad?”

  “I never enjoyed them, but you might. I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like your kind of place, but every time I think I have you figured out you do something I’m not expecting and make me start all over.”

  “Figuring out peoples motives isn’t the best use of time. Sometimes it’s better to accept it and move on.”

  “Perhaps, but you are an anomaly. I find it an intriguing pastime.”

  I help her into her coat and she smiles, linking her arm through mine. I escort her out to the car where I open her door before getting into the driver’s side. I’m not making Bobbi drive us and have to sit outside in the car for as long as we ended up staying
there.

  When we arrive she looks up in awe. This is family home number one. Well, number one this year.

  “I promise not to talk like this once inside, but for now can I just say wow.”

  I hand the keys to the valet and take her arm again. I like the excuse to touch her. If it goes this well all night the party won’t be half bad.

  “Yes well it’s one of their bigger homes.”

  “Our hosts are loaded huh.”

  I nod not telling her they aren’t just loaded, but also my parents. If they tell her they I will be kill them.

  “Still, it’s a nice home. A bit larger than I would ever like, in fact way larger, but I’m thinking practically. It likely costs money to keep this place clean because, I tell you what, I wouldn’t clean it if it was mine.”

  I have to smirk. The someone’s that have this home aren’t cleaning on their own, they definitely hire a village worth of people. It is great for the economy while they stay in this house. Then all those people lose their jobs at a moment’s notice when the family up and moves to a different one.

  The door opens as we get there. They probably have someone looking out and giving the signal so no guest has to open a door.

  “Welcome back.”

  I hand over our jackets, nodding politely. Hopefully she will think he means since last year’s party. He probably does since I haven’t been here other than that. I instantly take us towards the bar, ordering my one very strong alcoholic drink and down it in a single gulp. She looks at me in shock and worry. I never drink, just this one drink each time I come here to steady my nerves for dealing with the rich assholes.

  “Will?”

  I put down the empty glass and take her arm, leading her onto the dance floor. Dancing with her is the one thing I want to do at this party and one drink is not enough to make me a clumsy idiot.

  We are silent while we dance, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. She is just looking around at the glittering palace before her. She is in awe of this place, where as I want to get away from it. I suppose coming from a poor family she can easily see the advantages of growing up in a place like this. Never worrying about going hungry, having plenty of room for everyone, all the best things in life, no money worries at all. But I grew up here and I can attest to the fact that a gilded cage is still just a cage.