Passion Fish, page 24
The last to arrive was the whore, Skylar, with the steroid freak neighbor of Eve’s. It would figure that she would show up late. Julian was sure she wanted to make an entrance so everyone would pay attention to her. He watched them as they stood waiting for the door, touching and kissing each other. A feeling of total disgust washed over him as he thought how rude it was to show up at someone’s house as a guest and act like that. She would definitely not be a part of Eve’s life once they were together again.
Hours passed as Julian waited. He thought about getting out to find a place near the house where he could see and hear what was happening, but to get caught now would ruin his plans. So instead he sat in the car with a sketch book, hoping that just seeing Eve would inspire something. Julian hadn’t worked in weeks. Not since she left him.
***
It was amazing—and a comfort—to Eve that Will felt such an instant bond with her friends. Even last night at Stratus they’d had in-depth and ongoing conversations. They were a diverse group of personalities, but they all had true respect for each other. And Will fit right in. It felt like they had always been a group of eight.
“Wine?” Thomas offered after shaking Will’s hand and kissing Eve on the cheek.
Will looked at Eve while responding. “Pinot Grigio? If you’ve got it.” Eve smiled and nodded, pleased that Will had remembered her preference from their first dinner in Boston.
They soon had their drinks and stepped out onto the large brick patio off the family room. Noelle had an eye for style and had put her magic touch out here. The eaves of the house and surrounding trees were trimmed with little white fairy lights. Incense candles were placed along the outer wall and atop their large mahogany dining room table, which they had moved outside for tonight’s dinner. It was a romantic setting, to say the least. Will must have noticed as well because he came up behind Eve, slipped his arm around her waist, and brushed his lips against her hair.
“You look wonderful tonight, you know, especially in this light,” he whispered.
As usual, Eve’s heart skipped a beat. “Thank you!” She leaned her head back, pulled his face down, and kissed him just long enough to get Noelle, who was just joining them, to clear her throat. “Sorry…um…still enjoying that whole ‘phenomenal Passion Fish’ thing,” Eve said sheepishly, knowing her cheeks were flushed in embarrassment.
“Hey, everybody!” Josie chirped as she and Beau followed Noelle outside. Soon their larger group became two smaller ones. Will and Beau gravitated toward Tom, who was tending the grill, and Josie, Noelle, and Eve wandered back inside. Just a few minutes passed before Skye and Gage walked through the front door as well, carrying bags of ice and a small package that Skye placed on the kitchen’s island countertop. Gage headed outside to join the guys, leaving the women to talk and help Noelle with the last of the dinner preparations.
***
Tom and Noelle caught each other’s eye a few times during the meal, and they smiled at the success of their first dinner party. Conversations ranged from the museum’s new grant, to which Beau gave a touching toast, to Will and Eve’s interesting afternoon at the gym.
“This woman, I’m sorry, ladies, was literally ‘busting’ out all over. I can’t imagine that she could adequately complete a workout when her internal organs were being constricted so severely,” said Will with a laugh.
“Wait, wait—don’t tell me,” Gage piped in. “Gold top and really short shorts with blue pin striping down the sides? Decent body except for the fact that half of it was way too surgically enhanced?”
Will and Eve both nodded as the laughing around the table continued.
“That was Suzanne!” Gage slapped his hand down on the table. “She works out, all right, but I swear she must not have a home because she is there all the time, scoping out the men, even the ones there with their wives or,” and he waved at Will and Eve, “their girlfriends!”
It was sweet to watch the newest couple turn and lean toward each other at Gage’s reference to them. Tom couldn’t be sure, but he was guessing that they had been holding hands under the table through the entire meal. Reminds me of Noelle and myself when we started dating.
“Did she bounce on her hips when she talked to you so her boobs would jiggle?” Gage was never one to mince words. Again he received two nods.
“God, she is so—”
Will joined in as they said together, “—annoying!”
With that, they all broke out in hysterics—at poor Suzanne’s expense.
The steaks, salads, and rice pilaf had all been perfect, and when everyone arose from dinner, Tom immediately went over to his bride to capture her in his arms briefly and tell her how thankful he was for the work she did to prepare everything while he’d been out showing properties.
Everyone helped bring dishes to the kitchen, rinsing and piling them for Noelle and Tom to take care of later. Tom made sure drinks were replenished and returned to the patio to sit with the men at the table.
***
With a fresh beer in his hand, Gage leaned back in the chair and let out a huge breath. Noelle was a great cook, and he had eaten way too much. All through the dinner, he couldn’t help picturing Skye and himself hosting a party like this for all their friends. Of course in Gage’s version, while getting ready for the party, Skye wore nothing but an apron, pearls, and high heels. More than that, though, he liked the thought of two of them being together in their house.
Now with all the women off looking at this house, the conversation quickly turned to more manly topics. Gage gave Will a few more digs about his run-in with the “queen of the bouncing bimbos.”
“So, Will, let me share my trick for deflecting some of the skank attention. Tell them, in a roundabout way, that they need to work on their ass. The look in their eyes is priceless, and they will immediately get on the treadmill, leaving you alone. Works every time.” He raised his beer and took a drink, pondering how he could torture Suzanne with this information at their next session.
As their laughter subsided, Gage looked around at the others, wondering how all of them had ended up friends. And he did consider them all friends—including Will. They all just kind of fit together. It didn’t matter that they were all so different; they kept finding new things in common. Tom and Will hit it off talking about business development, while Beau and Gage found common ground in their fascination with Beau’s travels around the country and the coins he was currently looking to sell.
Will seemed to feel comfortable with all of the guys too, because once there was a break in their conversation, he leaned in to the table and motioned for the others to do the same.
“I don’t want Eve to know I’m telling you this, but something happened last night after we all left Stratus. She doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but I do. And I think it’s only fair that all of you, especially Gage, be aware of what’s going on.”
Will looked right at Gage, letting him know the next topic of conversation was going to be the asshole ex. Skye had told Gage about Julian showing up in Eve’s office, and that, combined with him hanging out at Eve’s door, gave Gage a very bad feeling.
“Last night, when we got back to Eve’s place, there were four ice picks in her tires. Under each of them was a napkin from Stratus.”
Gage jumped out of his chair so fast and with such force that it tipped over, landing hard against the concrete. “What the fu—”
“Gage, settle down a bit. Will said Eve doesn’t want us to know, and outbursts like that will bring the girls back pretty quickly.” Beau had cut Gage off, but Gage realized his friend made sense. He picked up his chair and sat back down, still pissed as hell.
“Sorry. Sorry, Tom. I hope I didn’t damage the chair.” He looked for any marks or scuffs and, fortunately, found none. It was taking all his energy not to hit something, though—preferably Julian’s face.
“Did you call the police?” Beau asked, again the voice of reason and sanity. Gage could see why he was so good for crazy Josie. He was probably the only one who could rein her in.
“We did, and I checked out of my hotel to stay with Eve. There’s no way I’m going to leave her alone. We also changed her lock, just in case Julian still has a key.”
Gage was glad Will was staying with Eve. Even though he lived right next door, this was even better. He was also relieved to see he wasn’t the only person worked up over this situation. Will’s hands kept curling into fists as he talked.
“I’ve also decided to stay in Santa Barbara for a few extra days. I want to make sure this guy is done bothering Eve before I’ll feel okay to leave.”
“And she doesn’t want help from the police or the court system?” Tom asked.
“No. I’ve pleaded with her but she won’t budge.”
“She doesn’t need a piece of paper to protect her. If that asshole comes anywhere near her, I’ll take care of it. You don’t have to worry about that.” Gage couldn’t help but let that big brother feeling he had for his neighbor bubble to the surface.
“That’s why I’m sticking around longer and wanted all of you to be aware of the potential danger.” Will gave each of the men a business card with his cell phone number on it. Then he got out his cell and programmed their information in.
Gage was still fuming, and he could tell Tom and Beau were worried he might go looking for the guy. So he took a deep breath and tried to change the subject.
“Hey, Will, you a baseball guy?”
“Why actually, I am. And I believe there’s a game on right now that all parties here might want to see, hmm?”
Thomas and Beau both got up, headed to the living room, and soon found the game on television. Will didn’t move for a minute, and Gage stayed to calm himself a little more.
“Hey, Gage. It does make me feel better to know that you care about Eve so much. I feel a little better. But just a little.”
“No problem. Eve’s a good friend, like a sister. If he even sniffs around her, I will take care of it.”
Will clapped Gage on the shoulder as they stepped back into the house and joined Tom and Beau in the living room. “I trust you will, man. I trust you will.”
“Aw, damn! The Angels are already down three runs?” Gage complained loudly after glancing at the score. Will smirked so that Gage could see, but seemed to think twice about praising his Red Sox in a room full of Angels fans. Smart guy, Gage thought. Even if he does root for the wrong team.
***
“Noelle, you’ve decorated everything so beautifully!” Josie said. The women stood around the kitchen, drinks in hand.
“If I give you a key and a few hundred bucks, do you think you could do something with Gage’s place?” Skye rolled her eyes. “He is your classic bachelor. He even has a Playboy pin-up, framed mind you, in his bathroom. He does have a great bed,”—both Eve and Noelle blushed at that—“but that and the big-screen TV are about the only redeeming pieces of furniture in the place!”
“Oh, Skye, he just needs you to help him make gradual changes—bring him out of the college frat phase and introduce him to a respectable twenty-something’s décor,” Noelle offered.
“He is neat, though. You have to give him that much,” Eve piped in. Skye looked at Eve sideways, eyebrows raised. “What? I’ve been his next-door neighbor for two years. He’s one of my best friends. Yes, I’ve seen the inside of his place—and the picture in the bathroom, thank you.” They all laughed at that.
“So, I guess the first thing to go would be that, hmm?” Noelle asked.
“I’ve suggested it. And he said the only way it’s coming down is if I’m willing to replace it with a similar picture of myself. I told him I’d think about it.” Eve’s eyes nearly popped. “Kidding, Eve! Kidding!”
Noelle chose to change the subject. “Would you like the grand tour? I know we showed you some photos as the construction was going on, but I’m so excited for you to see how it all turned out.”
Placing their glasses on the counter, the women followed Noelle down a hallway that hadn’t existed the last time they’d been here. On either side of the hall was a single door, and they progressed through the one on the left. The room they entered was warm and welcoming, with a daybed, an antique armoire, and a plaid stuffed chair. The walls were a deep golden yellow, and the curtains covering the large window were crisp linen with eggplant-colored ties on either side. They continued around to the right and into a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. The room was long, with plenty of cabinets underneath. The gold-and-eggplant color scheme continued, with the addition of sage-green towels and wall sconces that let off soft golden light.
As they progressed through the other doorway, Skye gasped. In the corner was a crib, already decorated with a neutral-toned layette set. A mural of the characters from Winnie the Pooh adorned the walls, and a matching area rug lay diagonally across the floor.
“Noelle? Are you and Thomas…?” Eve asked. Skye continued looking around, mouth agape.
“We’re still trying! But we just couldn’t see buying adult furniture for both rooms knowing we’d be buying baby things soon enough. So, whenever it happens, we’ll be ready—at least with the room!”
Josie looked over at Skye, who hadn’t spoken a word. Are her eyes tearing up?
“It’s just…beautiful, Noelle,” Skye finally said in the softest voice.
“Well! That’s the whole of it! It may be a small house but it’s decorated and designed just the way we wanted it.” Noelle was beaming.
Josie reached over and pulled her into a hug. “You’ve decorated everything so wonderfully! When you’re done rescuing Gage’s place from TestosteroneCity, I’ll need to have you come over and give me advice on my place!”
“I’d love to!” Noelle smiled.
As they returned to the kitchen, they found the guys watching baseball. The men were so engrossed that the women continued past them and out to the patio, picking up their drinks as they went.
“So, it looks like you and Will are getting on well, hmm?” Josie asked Eve with a wink.
Eve blushed. “He’s amazing. He’s really amazing.”
“Hot damn, Eve Carwyn! You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Skye’s eyes lit up and the biggest grin came across her face.
As much as she tried to hide it, Eve’s smile was a dead giveaway.
“Have you told him?” Noelle asked quietly, taking her hand.
“I want to, before he goes back to Boston. But we’re talking about a 3000-mile distance between us! He’s got his life back there.”
“Do you think he loves you too?” Josie asked. All of their voices had become subdued.
“I don’t know. I think he might be heading that way.”
Noelle pulled Eve into a hug. “I can see it in his eyes, Eve. The way he looks at you, touches you.”
Eve suddenly seemed uncomfortable. At any moment, Skylar was going to start asking her questions of a personal—and sexual—nature. Josie decided to rescue her before Skylar had a chance to start.
“What hotel is he staying at?” Jose asked. She thought she was asking a simple question, but Eve was taken aback.
“Well…um…”
Skye immediately picked up on Eve’s discomfort. “Did he, by chance, not go to his hotel last night, hmm? You were pretty insistent that Gage stay with me. Come on, Eve, spill!”
Eve’s face was the deepest pink, but it wasn’t quite a look of embarrassment on her face.
“Sit down, guys. I need to talk to you.” Eve’s mood suddenly became serious.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Josie leaned in to place a hand on Eve’s.
“I think Julian may have paid me a visit last night.” She gazed at her friends one by one as she let that initial news set in. “When Will brought me home, all four tires of my car were punctured with ice picks that had Stratus napkins attached to them.”
Eve’s eyes began to well with tears, as did Noelle’s.
“We called the police but I don’t think we can prove he did it.” Eve shrugged her shoulders and Noelle moved her chair around to put her arm around her.
“So,” she swiped a tear from one eye and gave the other women a half-hearted smile, “yeah, Skye, Will spent the night with me. Just not like you’d think. And he checked out of his hotel. He’s going to stay with me until he goes to Boston.”
“But that’s in just a few days!” Josie’s mind began to race. Maybe Eve should move in with Skye or her after Will left. Maybe she could stay in Noelle and Thomas’s new spare bedroom.
“Will’s going to stay a few days longer. We’re just going to wait and see.”
“Oh, Eve!” Noelle was distraught over this. But Skye was just plain pissed.
