Amanda
That morning I got out of his bed and put on my clothes, then quickly scribble a note and headed out of his bedroom door. I was accustomed to my walk, so I waited till morning hoping that maybe one of his employees downstairs could open the door for me.
I was quietly walking downstairs when I heard murmurs behind the closed door near the counter and breakfast stools.
“Doug baby, we can’t not now…”
“Oh Tom, he won’t be up at least for another hour…”
Oo ohhh…
I was about to sneak out of the front door when I clumsily knock one of the stools.
Crap!
The men quickly head out the door and were definitely surprised to see me in such hour in the morning, knowing I must’ve come from upstairs.
“Erm….” I gasped, not knowing what to say to them.
Hey, I won’t tell if you won’t…
Or…
Hey, you’re secret is safe now make me some coffee…
The inner sides of me were battling their answers, making me gap without knowing what to say.
“Erm… yeah… hey… I’m just gonna…” my hand pointed out the door.
“Hey Amanda, please at least let us send you back with a coffee yeah? He won’t be up for an hour…” Tom said as he looked at his wristwatch, his cheeks still tinted red.
“Sorry interrupting there Tom…” I smiled assuring him not to be awkward with me.
“Ehm… and this is Dough, he also works here… occasionally, what? It’s true… I’ve been covering your shifts for the last two weeks… I love.. shit, sorry there Amanda, didn’t mean to bore you with our thing.” He smiled sweetly at me.
Wow… if he wasn’t gay, and I wasn’t sore from last night I would obviously flirt with him.
Hey, I thought you have feelings for the man upstairs?
Yeah, but this one also makes coffee…
Dough told me to seat on the stool while he helps set up for the opening. “So, why the secrecy? No fraternizing in the working hours?” I asked Tom while waiting for the coffee, I’m not the kind of woman that rejected free coffee.
“Well, I actually am still a bit shy about being you know…” Tom was blushing a bit making me smile on the inside.
He’s so damn cute, yeah I’d definitely bang him.
“Huh? what… gay?” I was taken back from my thoughts, as I looked at him a bit confused.
“Oh Doug, you better pinned him down while you got the chance. He’s hot and he didn’t even realize it.” I smirked at Doug, then he laughed at me. I looked at the time on my phone and decided that it’s time to get back. Tom had just given me the hot coffee in a tumbler.
“You don’t have to put it in a tumbler, the paper cup is fine…” I took the coffee thanking him.
“This is to make sure that you came back, I actually like you, Amanda…” Tom winked at me playfully.
“… ehm… and can you not mention about me and Doug to him?” He added, while looking at me a bit worried.
“Yeah sure, but if he specifically asks I’m not going to lie okay?” though I was not even sure about me and him at the moment. The mention of him made me remember about the text message that I saw earlier.
I blamed myself for my stupid curiosity, this could be just a mere understanding. She could be anyone… sister, neighbor, or even lover. Shit!
Damn… it had been ages since I was in a relationship. I wasn’t even sure of what we have, wait… why am I even thinking about a relationship with him? Last night could be just a casual fuck, this Natalie chick might be his one and only. Hell! why am I even feeling the tightness in my chest, I need to get out of here, like right now. Need to breathe… air, need air…
I quickly said my goodbyes to Tom and Doug, and take my coffee then walk outside the coffee shop. My body relaxed instantly as I reach the side of the street.
After a quick shower, I started my day and set up my painting equipment in the living room. Angela was right, the big windows and the high ceiling are perfect for me to work on my paintings. Gina came by an hour later with the rest of my stuff.
“Amanda, this is a nice place. So, how are you holding up?” Gina was being her nanny self as she prepared my breakfast and told me to sit down and eat, while she unloads and stuffed the fridge with more food.
“Gina, you don’t have to do this. I can take care of myself, I’m not a kid anymore.” I pouted but then moan in delight, as I stuffed my mouth with her honey-dipped french toast.
She smiled at me and caressed my hair just like when I was still a kid, she had always been more mom to me than my own mother who was always too busy to spend her time with me. “You’re always going to be a little girl in my eyes honey. And if you wanted me to stop treating you like one, maybe you should act like an adult. It’s time for you to rebuild your life, and end your partying days. Troy’s issue will be taken care of soon, you should think about his replacement. Someone that can protect you and take care of you.”
My mind went straight to my coffee guy, Dale. Damn… I should find another fixation, why do I keep on thinking of him?
“Amanda?”
“Huh? sorry, I was thinking of something else…”
“Well… I hope it’s your future someone. Anyway, I’m heading back, your mom wants me to oversee the caterers for her lunch and afternoon tea. I will be back in a couple of days, just call or text me if you want me to make you something for the fridge, I’ve put your favorites already, you should be good until I come back.” She kissed the top of my head then leave me to get back to my painting.
But I was blank after my primer coat, I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him. About last night, about his kisses, his touches, his thrusts, goddamn it!
Seconds later my hands started moving on its own, I started to scatter the tubes of colors on the fabric that I had laid down on the floor. Red, white, yellow, brown, and all the other colors in between, I took my brush and start mixing tubes of colors and start brushing the canvas with colors, more and more strokes splashed over the primer. My heart beats faster as my fingers move in strong strokes over and over again, shapes and curves of brown and pink and white and more darker shades were added. It was not until almost five hours later that I move back and finally see the almost finished end result. Dale.
Fuck!
Goddamn it!
The painting was the perfect even strokes of his body, my hands were remembering its touches as it generates the perfect blend of curves of his abs, the shape of his chest, the contour of his hips, while my eyes were pouring down its shades of colors, down to the exact font tattoo of Mable’s name on his upper arm onto the canvas. My knees went weak and I drop down to the floor, then took a deep breath and shivered as I look at the large thirty-six by forty-eight inches canvas painting of Dale’s perfect naked chiseled body.
Damn woman! who’s the pervert now…