4.1: Cheater

   Soft skin. Dark eyes. Vanilla. Her perfume still lingering in his nose. The tears of anger. Comforting her. Her kissing him. Him wanting to kiss her back. Beauty. Him kissing her. Her skin so soft. Her eyes bright. They talked. Stopped kissing. He had a taste of her. She wanted more. He agreed. She was glad. They went out of the waiting area. The office. Musty leather and books; like a library. The dog, in the waiting area. Her tears wiped away. Slowly, settling down on the couch. Unbuttoning his shirt. Slipping her sweater off. Kicking shoes aside. Letting him inside. The floor. Couch. Wall. Agreeing it will never happen again. Her coming over the next day. He wants  her. Again.  Five more times, over a few weeks. Sixth. Not love, passion. Lust. Memories and the hidden. Hiding it.

   I stepped inside her home, quietly. I was nervous; if this got out, my career would be ruined. She was standing still, waiting. Her hair curled. Jewelery on, heels, and a mini dress. I wanted her. I knew I did. But I couldn't.
   "We can't keep doing this."

   "He's in California, looking for a home for us to move into. We'll be fine."
   "You're getting married in three days."
   "I want you so bad..you're... he's nice, but he's so  blank. He's older and can provide and I love him...but in the bedroom." She raised an eyebrow.
   "Seriously? The bedroom." I chuckled. We'd done it in my office,  her living room, my bathroom, my office several more times; I'm fairly certain it needs to be bleached down after what happened two nights ago, and several hotels. Never her bedroom or mine.
   "I have a roommate We can't go into my bedroom. Besides, I only have a single bed and your room smells like dog."
   "Because I have a dog."
   "I need to shower. Look... this is something we've got. I met you at your office and I've never cheated before. Once. Like a bachelorrette party over several weeks and instead of some bought and paid for stripper, we have this...thing."
   "I'm not going to say no. Especially after the last time..."
   "I can let you do whatever you want, again."
   "Okay." I smiled.
   "Last time, I promise."
   "You said that last time."
   "I'm serious. In a few days, I'll be living in California perfectly married."
   "Will you tell him?"
   "No."
   "This is wrong, then."
   "Don't go all PI on me. I need to shower." She turned away, walking to the bathroom.

   I was in a moral dilemma. I didn't love her; this honestly was just sex. I followed her. One last time. it couldn't hurt.

   I dried off, as she dressed in her bedroom. Meredith was dynamite. Bodacious dynamite. She had come to my office shortly after we'd talked on the phone. She was upset that her father in law didn't trust her enough, or at all, and a PI had to solve their family issues. She started crying and I hugged her, saying it would be alright. Before I knew it, we where kissing, then our clothes where discarded and we both where laying there wondering what happened. We decided to continue the relationship, sneaking around. Horny? Call her up. It wasn't one night stands and it wasn't friends with benefits. It was worse. It was horrible. It was cheating.
   "I feel sick." I commented, as we ate.
   "Thanks." She rolled her eyes. "Glad to hear my culinary degree paid off."
   "I didn't mean it like that."
   "What did you mean?"
   "I let you cheat."
   "Look, it's all me. I wanted to. You said okay."
   "Exactly. I said okay."
   "If I hadn't asked you wouldn't of."
   "Just..."
   "You're eighteen. You're suppose to play around and experiment. Quit feeling guilty."
    "Don't you feel guilty?"
    "Look, we've dated for six years. I get bored every so often."
    "Bored?"
    "You're a nice kid and all, but damn are you clueless. Especially for a detective."
    "I-I..."
    "I'm home!" I heard a voice cry out. A female voice. "Italy was amazing! I don't get why you hate traveling, Meredith.  freaking love it."
    "You're roommate?" I asked.
    "Yes." She whispered. "I have to hide you."
    "Meredith, did you know that your almost in laws sent roses? Cool, huh."
    "Yeah, Calina." She pushed me into the bathroom, while the one girl, Calina pranced by.
    "OH my god. They sent a card asking when they'll get grand kids. I hate kids. Needy and annoying and you can't travel with them."
    "Cal, how about we go in my room?"
    "Our room."
    "Same difference."
    "I can't believe that we'll not be living with each other in a few days..." I heard Meredith's roommate say, as they walked away.
    I opened the door to sneak out the front. The home was small; sneaking was easy. As I tip toed past their bedroom, I pressed my ear against the door. Whispers filled my ear.
    "Mere did you tell the handsome blonde pizza guy that you're getting married?"
    "This morning."
    "Thank goodness. I can't believe you cheated on your husband!"
    "Fiance."
    "Same difference."
    "I have to admit, though. Mr. Blonde came over once looking for you when I was here and wow! He's super hot. Too bad you hmhm with him. That would make it weird." She's cheating on me, the guy she's cheating on her husband with? With a pizza delivery man? Angered, I flung open the door.
   "What the h-" The room was split right down the middle; whomever decorated it had split personality disorder. Something I knew well about, too; Maverick's list of many disorders included that one. Half of the room was decorated in blues and yellows. It was very Victorian in style. Four poster bed, with a canopy, vintage artwork, and  lacy curtains, all matching the color scheme. The other half was a teen girl disaster. Everything was pink, with no particular theme. A bunny rug, posters, knick knacks, and objects of no purpose filled the space besides antique French Renaissance chairs and a bed their was barely room for.
    "Parker?" Meredith paused.
    "Who's that?" Calina turned to look at me. "Oh gaw, Mere.  Cheating? Again? On the guy you're cheating on your husband with?"
    "Fiance."
    "That doesn't matter!" I exclaimed.
    "Look....I began sleeping with two guys around the same time."
    "What?!" Calina and I both exclaimed.
     "I assume you're one of the guys?" She spun around to face me."
     "Yeah." I glanced at my shoes. "Honestly...I..."
     "She's almost married."
     "I should go." Meredith slipped out the bedroom door, leaving Calina and I in awkward silence.
     "I'm so sorry...I just. I dunno." I shrugged. I had no excuse. No feelings; nothing why I needed Meredith.
     "Let's...Meredith usually is a totally snobby proper brat."
     "Really?" She was pretty wild in the...well not her bedroom. Mine.

     "Yeah. he got bored and experimented one night when I ordered pizza. I figured it was wedding jitters; you know, some one night stand. Nothing actually meant something. That night, she headed off to a PI's office.''
     "That's me. Parker Janes. Private Investigator." I stuck out my hand.
     "Calina Rice. Surprisingly interested in you."
     "You're what?" I asked, as she shook my hand. Interested? In me? "I slept with your sister." I blurted out. 
     "And I'm going to ignore that fact. Look, I love adventure and you obviously do, too..."
    "No."
    "What?"
    "If I'm going to do this thing again- if you want it, no. I really don't want a relationship with the relationship and just sex." Calina cringed.
    "You're mature for a nineteen year old." I shrugged. "Look, how about I ask you out on a date. I like you. You're honest and adventurous and handsome."
     "What about a picnic? The fireworks are coming up in a week. We could watch the fourth of July celebration."
     "Sounds like a plan. Parker. Just... don't let this ruin you, okay?"
     "What ruin me?"
     "If we break up, don't fall apart. I like you, but...I just have trouble settling down."
     "I..." I nodded, not quite sure what she meant. Settling down? Huh? I could make sure she didn't get bored. I mean, isn't that what she meant? I could...an analogy.  Tame the lion? I always hated English class, something my father ironically
loved.
    "I will leave, may be one, two, seventeen, or forty years from now. You have to let me go."
    "Forty years?" I wasn't thinking past four minutes ahead what I had to, much less forty years.
    "Just don't be surprised. Don't hold me back. I will leave and I will still love you. And I will not want to, but I  have too. I need travel. It's my life."
    "I can travel with you."
    "No." She sighed.
    "Why does it feel like we're breaking up, without even going on a first date?"
    "Because unless you've got magic powers, and if anyone does, you do, I will."
    "I could make you stay?" I was confused. I was nineteen. Her? Stay?
    "I just want to tell you, before we begin. So I hurt you as little is possible. Understand?" I blindly agreed to what she was saying, completely unsure of the insanity I was engulfing myself in. I would be drowning soon enough.