Author's note: Some great stuff in this chapter. Let me know what you think.
Happy reading!
Chapter Seven
Haymitch was at his computer when Effie knocked on his open door.
He looked up. His face showed a disgruntled frown. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you, too." She shut the door and propped herself on the edge of the chair. "I was told I had to come to a session with you for an evaluation before I could transfer."
"Oh." He looked at his computer a moment and his frown deepened. "Okay, I have an email. Says I'm supposed to do what you said and make a suggestion for someone you'd be comfortable with." He took off his reading glasses and looked at her. "What did you tell Coin?"
"I said I liked you and knew you were a competent counselor, but that my addiction is pills and I'm battling an eating disorder and since you've told me your issues were with alcohol, I didn't feel you'd suit my needs. I know there are other counselors here who have struggled with the same issues or have specialized in those fields. So I requested to be moved to one of those. I didn't mention the need for a female counselor like you suggested. I figured that would seem fishy."
A shadow of a smile played at his mouth. "You are definitely smarter than some people are giving you credit for."
She beamed. "A lot of people see blonde hair and just get the wrong impression. I was top of my class in high school and I wanted to go to college for fashion design. But I broke into the modeling to make some extra money to pay for it. I spent so much of that money on the pills, though..." She shrugged. "I guess I'm not that smart."
"When we find something that holds our attention, good or bad, we sometimes make a bad choice about how to continue pursuing that addiction. And when we have a bad addiction, sometimes people advocate finding a 'good' addiction." He made quotes around the word with his fingers. He got up and started moving around the room. "People with addictions to drugs and alcohol sometimes have a personality that makes them prone to addiction in other areas."
She nodded. "I know. So you think my next step is to find a healthy addiction?"
"Do you have one?"
She almost said, "You." But she smiled and shook her head. "No. But I see what you mean. I'm starting to learn to cook and I'm not bad at it. And working with Cinna has been good for me, too. He sets a timer for himself for work. And every half hour we get up and move around. We eat all our meals at the same time every day, even when we aren't working." She stared at him. "And it's really hard talking about this like it's nothing when you're over there looking so handsome and I just want to kiss you until you can't breathe."
He smiled at that and shook his head. "You're on a good track, Effie. I remember when you first came in here and you were unsure how to express yourself. Now you have a job, still in the fashion industry, but with more of an impact on the final result. You're eating healthy and making a lot of progress. I'm proud of you. But I see why you want someone different." He sat back down behind his desk and started typing. "You're really cute when you try to flirt, by the way."
"Try to flirt?" She grinned. "I thought I was doing a good job of it."
He chuckled and read back over what he'd written. He clicked a few buttons. "Someone will call you tomorrow with your new counselor's name to set up an appointment."
"Are we done here?" She leaned forward and he couldn't help but notice the bit of cleavage revealed by her V-neck sweater.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah. We're done."
"So do you want to have dinner?"
He smiled. "We can't be seen alone together in public."
"Then I'll make you dinner. Tomorrow night? Cinna has a date. I'll have the house to myself. And I haven't been alone in a long time with great results."
"Okay. Do you have my cell number?"
"I think do." She took her phone. "But let me double-check." She was just opened the contacts list when the door opened and a woman poked her head in. "We got a situation and I need you."
"On my way. Effie, please show yourself out." He helped her up and led her out the door. "I'll call you." He said softly before he followed the commotion to the commons area.
She made her way outside and hurried to the house for her cookbook to find the perfect meal. She was just looking through the fourth book without the slightest clue about what she thought she should make when her phone rang. "Hello?"
"It's Haymitch." He said gruffly.
"Oh, hi!" She closed the book. "Did you take care of that fight?"
"Yeah. And I got a shot to the jaw for my trouble."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you okay?"
"Fine." His voice softened a little. "Got ice on it."
"Well, good. So what do you like to eat? I have so many things that sound delicious, but I don't know what you like."
"I'm a meat and potatoes man. Nothing too fancy. But I'll try anything once."
"I have a recipe for a beef stew." She picked up a book and started going through it. "And some rolls. Does that sound all right?"
"It sounds just fine."
She felt her heart leap in her chest. "It'll be the best. I promise."
He chuckled. "I look forward to it. What time do you want me there?"
"Cinna's date is at seven, so he'll head out about then. I don't think he'd mind you coming by earlier, though."
"Six forty-five?"
She smiled. "Yes. It would be fine."
"Then I'll be there."
"If you need any, I have condoms in my bedside drawer." Cinna said as he leaned over the bubbling pot. "That smells amazing."
"Thanks. For both."
"Do you think he's gonna wanna…" He made a circle with one hand and poked a finger repeatedly into it from the other hand.
She slapped his hands down. "I don't know."
"You haven't in a while. You could use a good lay."
She turned slightly pink. "I think Haymitch could too. He's so stern and stiff."
"Stiff? Then maybe he'll show you a stiff."
She shoved his shoulder just before the doorbell rang. "Please behave." She begged him as she walked toward the door.
"Don't worry. I've got to head out to pick up my date." He sat down and slipped on his shoes.
Effie opened the door and was greeted by Haymitch.
He awkwardly held out some flowers. "My niece Prim said I should get you flowers."
She laughed and took them. "They're beautiful. Thank you." She put her nose in them. "They smell amazing."
He followed her into the kitchen. "That smells amazing." He pointed to the pot.
"This is ready, just have to wait for the rolls to be done."
Cinna called, "Have a good night. Don't wait up."
"Have fun." Effie called back. "Be safe." She sat the flowers in the middle of the island.
"I will." He closed the door and they were left in silence.
Effie got out bowls and started filling them. She sat them each on the little table in the breakfast nook. "Do you mind eating in here? The dining room is too stuffy for my tastes."
"Don't mind at all. Can I do something?"
She pointed to a cabinet. "Glasses are there. Will you fill them with ice from the fridge door?"
"Are we drinking water?"
"There's iced tea and some juice if you'd rather have that."
"No, water is perfectly fine."
They sat together and ate in silence for a long time. Haymitch complimented the food. She thanked him. And that was about it until they were done eating.
Effie put the dishes in the sink and leaned against the counter. "I'm not good with dates."
"And I'm not good with small talk." He leaned beside her. "So what would you like to do?"
She smiled and kissed him. She looked at him uncertainly a moment. When he didn't protest she kissed him again. She took his hand and led him into the living room. They sat down on the couch together. Effie gently grabbed Haymitch's face and kissed him slowly. She reclined on the couch, pulling him on top of her.
He stopped and looked down at her. "Effie?"
"What?"
"Are you sure about this?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." She pulled him back down for another deep kiss.
Haymitch moved his mouth across Effie's jaw and down her neck.
She moaned. "Want to go to my room?"
"I do." He got up and followed her to the other side of the house.
She pulled down the blanket and sat down to remove her shoes. He kicked his off at the door and sat beside her.
"Can I make a confession?" He asked as she started kissing his neck.
"Hm?"
"I've left behind a string of one night stands and failed first dates. And only a handful of those were in my sober years."
She lifted her head and looked at him. "So am I just one more notch in your bedpost?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On what you want to do. We have to keep this a secret until you're released from the program. Are you okay with that?"
She smiled. "I think so. We'll see how tonight goes. And if it's awful, which I highly doubt, we can stop all this nonsense and only ever see each other in passing." She kissed him once more and stood. "I'll be right back." She went into Cinna's room and found the condoms. She picked up one and then decided she had better be well-prepared and grabbed a handful. She returned to the bedroom and dropped them on the nightstand.
Haymitch chuckled. "I think you're overestimating me."
Effie smiled and shimmied out of her pants. "Maybe." She slid into the bed and beckoned him with her finger.
He dropped his own pants and climbed in beside her. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
"My confession time." She said softly when he pulled away. "I've had a bunch of one night stands, too. And mostly only with men who told me I was beautiful. You've never said it to me. So this'll be a first."
"You're more than beautiful, Effie. You're smart and you're talented and you're a fighter. And even with all of that, you manage to find all the positive things."
She smiled and pulled him on top of her. "No more talking."
Their clothes were quickly discarded. Bodies were explored with lips and tongues and hands. The condom applied. And then they moved together. Effie's enthusiasm was just as present in this bed as she had been all other times. Her voice rose higher and higher with each stroke and Haymitch could barely hold back his smile. She was adorable. And sweet. And she felt so good. And it really had been too long.
Both of them came rather quickly within a few seconds of each other. Haymitch rolled away and looked up at the ceiling as he tried to regain his breathing.
"Why are you so quiet?" She asked after a while.
He looked over. "I never know what to say."
"So tell me about your nieces." She moved closer and placed her hand on his chest.
"After all that you want to hear about my family?" He smirked.
She shrugged. "What else do you want to talk about? It was good for me. Was it good for you?"
He chuckled. "It was really nice." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her onto his chest. "My family, huh?"
"Yeah. You have nieces? And a sister?"
"Iris, my sister, has severe depression." He started playing with her hair. "She's suicidal."
"I'm sorry to hear that." She trailed her fingers over his chest. "Is she okay now?"
"For now. I was the guardian for the girls, but Katniss turned eighteen a few months ago and she got her mom to sign over custody of Prim."
"How old is Prim?"
"Fourteen. Smart as a whip. She wants to be a doctor. Katniss works at the butcher counter at the grocery store. She's decided to put off college for a while. She may never go."
"Do you want her to go?"
"I want her to do what makes her happy. And college isn't for everyone." He kissed Effie's forehead.
She sat up. "Oh! I made dessert. You want some?"
He followed and stretched. "Yeah, sure. What did you make?"
"Cherry cheesecake." She found her clothes on the floor and started dressing.
"Sounds good." He started looking for his clothes.
She stopped him. "I'll bring you a slice. You want coffee?"
"Yes, please." He pulled on his underwear and got back into the bed. "You sure you don't want help?"
"I'm sure. You stay put." She returned a short time later with a tray holding two cups of coffee and two plates with slices of the cheesecake.
Once they were both settled, Haymitch asked, "So tell me about your family. You always evade the question."
"Not much to tell. My mother and father both died when I was young. I was raised by an elderly aunt until I was thirteen and then I was put in the system because she died. I aged out and went to modeling." She took a sip of her coffee. "I had an older sister, but she died too."
"Tragedy all around."
"Yep."
He chewed thoughtfully and then said, "I think it should end with us."
"I do too." She sat her plate off to the side, only a few bites gone. She finished drinking her coffee.
Haymitch finished his cheesecake and coffee and took Effie's empty cup from her hand. "What do you say we go another round?"
"I say, 'What are you waiting for?'" She rolled over on top of him with a giggle. "Let's have fun."
"I like fun."
They shared a laugh just before they shared a kiss.
