I almost fell out of my chair when one of the readers from Sweden told me how long maternity/paternity leave is in Sweden. In the us you need to get your ass back in gear in twelve weeks! WOW! Talk about the social lags.


Eric

Chapter VIII

The Last Chance Encounter


It was two week later and Lilly was adjusting to the day care very well. It took away the worst of my anxiety. I still called at least twice a day while we were apart. I told myself I would become less protective as she got older but she was almost four months old and I was just as overbearing as I have been the day I met her. If I was being honest I knew I wouldn't change. I was adjusting well because she was. Work for me was like riding a bike.

Unfortunately today was my birthday. I was turning the big 3.0 for this reason I have been forced to avoid my sister all day. Pam was not one to take no for an answer. She had called, sent me emails and text message regarding dinner reservations. It was a pretense if not utter bullshit. She has been complaining nonstop about my "old lady behavior" I knew my sister had ideas of bringing out "The old Eric" If I let her we would end up club hopping or at a strip club.

All through the work day I had done a good job being unavailable. My meetings had been scheduled back to back. When the door closed behind me and Lilly at home I felt like I was safe. I should have known something was up when Octavia was lagging about the house. She was usually gone by this time. Then Pam showed up. It was then I knew I had been completely set up.

"Come on big brother we're going out" My sister said flashing me a bright smile.

I sighed. I really wished I had the desire. But that scene held no more appeal for me. I was content right where I was. Pam felt I was acting like I was married or dead, to her those terms were interchangeable. She has never been a fan of romance, and love was the dirtiest four letter word there was. It was a relief when she changed teams. I lost count of how many boys I had to beat up because they couldn't accept it.

"Pam I'm fine, really" I reiterated. I had a quiet night planned with Lilly. Pam absorbed my sweat pants and tank top as if it offended all her senses. I hoped it bothered her enough to make her get the hell out but no such luck.

"While I am sure that's true, humor me Eric" She droned.

"Let's order in" I sat down and turned on a basketball game. I wasn't particularly a fan but it made me appear busy.

"Seriously, basketball?" She made a noise of disgust. I hated how well my sister knew me. "Fine have it your own way but you aren't spending your birthday alone"

"I'm not alone" I replied pointing upstairs where my child was sleeping. Pam pointed to my sofa where I was seated by myself.

"Let me tell you right now. We can go out and have a good time or I can stay here with you and make your life hell" She said.

Pam didn't bluff she settled across from me and kicked off her designer high heels. I could see she was preparing to hum and drum her finger nails for the rest of the night. Both of which annoyed me. I hated my sister sometimes. I didn't ask where we were going. I got dressed.

Pam may have been able to drag me out but she couldn't make me like it. As a way to irritate her I dressed down; a pair of perfectly faded jeans and a short sleeve plain white Polo top. SHe deemed me as a disgrace. I let her braid my hair and she upgraded my condition to a mess.

A half hour later we were in Pam's silver Farrari gunning it towards the night life in Monroe.

"I'm hungry we are going to have to do something fast. Someone" She pointed her middle finger at me. "Made us miss our dinner reservations" She said.

I was still annoyed she had dragged me out. I tried to hide it because she has always found my pique amusing. "Well if a certain little shit had left that someone the hell alone she wouldn't have this problem" I retorted. She smiled as she cut someone off.

"Come on Eric, this will be fun. You remember fun don't you?" She sang.

I gave her a one fingered gesture in response. She laughed and steered the car towards the next exit.

We drove through a Sonics. I took the wheel as she stuffed her face. Pam didn't really work out. She hasn't grown an inch or gained any amount of weight since she was seventeen. But she ate like a fat guy at a free buffet on a regular basis. It was like our mother, except Pam couldn't cook for shit.

"Seriously Pam, could you pretend to be a lady?" I said. The disgust in my tone wasn't feigned. The sight of her eating fast food callously in a quarter million dollar car was making me cringe.

"Sure thing big brother" She said. Her mouth was full of food. She made a point to open it wide to give me a better view of its chewed contents.

"I can't believe I'm related to you. Gross" I shook my head but couldn't help laughing.

The navigation system guided us to the main section of night life in Monroe. I parked right in front of club Fang. It was a Friday night and the line was around the block. More people were flocking towards it and others were being turned away. Through the tinted windows I could see people staring hard enough to peel the paint of the car. Instead of relishing it like I once did I found myself recoiling. No part of me wanted to be here.

The atmosphere was teeming with electricity and we weren't even inside yet. My sister still enjoyed the show. She walked us to the front of the line. We were led inside by security. I planned to hang back and just people watch. It was a good call because after settling into our booth I saw her again. Many times her face had danced across my mind. I was happy that it had happened here and now.

Sookie freaking Stackhouse I couldn't help the stupid smile that spread across my face or the butterflies in my stomach. God help me, I had it bad for her. The first thing I recognized from across the room was that smile of hers. It was funny that I had been living in these parts for five years and hadn't come across her-not once. Now it seemed since our first chance encounter I was seeing her everywhere. I planned on making the next we met a planned affair.

Pam followed my gaze and grinned. She clapped me on the back. "He's alive!" She said proudly. She passed me a glass of scotch and sat back. I knew my sister wouldn't move from the V.I.P. section. She enjoyed having her possible companions of the night come to her. I had other plans.

"I'll see you later" I said to Pam. She was all too thrilled to wave me away.

By the time I got to her Sookie was alone. The pixie like woman she was with seemed to have vanished.

"Come here often" I asked. I had drifted next to her side without her notice causing her to let out a noise of shock that had me grinning. I loved how she was exceptionally unobservant of her surroundings.

"Hi Eric" She said. Relief and surprise was written all over her face. "Pretend we're talking" she added hurriedly.

"We are" I said drawing my eyebrows in confusion.

"Yes but pretend you know me" She said leaning closer. It gave the pretense of an intimate conversation. I looked around. Clearly she was trying to throw someone off. I decided to be difficult for no other reason that the fact that I thought I would find her pique amusing.

"I do know you" I said innocently.

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm. "Play along" she said to me.

I found myself on the dance floor with her. She held me close and moved her body in tune with mine and the rhythm of the music. She was obviously up to something and this was a cover but I did not mind being a part of it in the least. I could not tell you what I was dancing to or what else was going on around me.

The music changed to something slow and I found my body pressed even closer to hers. My arms wound around her waist and hers were around my neck. The only thing I wanted was to have her closer. Her lips; her hair; the elegant arch in her neck I wanted to touch them; kiss them. Her eyes were fixed on me and mine were on hers. I felt the beat of my heart speed up; the sweat in my palms and the knot in my stomach. It was a new and exciting feeling that had me feeling completely out of my element.

"Is it an ex?" I asked to make conversation. It would keep me from acting like a love sick puppy.

She smiled and shook her head. "Nothing that easy" She said.

I nodded in understanding. "Random guy that you can't shake" I offered.

Sookie nodded and looked embarrassed. Unbeknownst to her it was about to get a lot worse or so I thought. "Is that gentleman in an ill-fitting stripped suit?" I asked. She nodded reluctantly with her eyes narrowing. "Don't look now but here he comes" I said. Sure enough he was making a B line for us. The intention to cut in was all over his face. I spun her so she was facing the direction I had just looking in momentarily to confirm.

"Shit" She said. "Shit, shit" She was clearly panicked. I had no intention of letting her go but at the same time I wanted to press my advantage.

"Kiss me" I said. She looked up at me in disbelief. I shrugged to down play how badly I really wanted it.

"You'll look very preoccupied" I said in a matter of fact tone.

We moved again but her eyes were still on her impending pain in the ass. Then her hands relaxed around my neck and I felt her body mold closer into to mine. I stopped moving and leaned down towards her. Her lips grazed mine lightly as was her intention but something entirely other happened. She overwhelmed my senses. I was lost in the feel of her lips. One of my hands left the small of her back and moved to her face. I deepened our kiss slowly to give her a chance to pull away if she wanted but she didn't. Our bodies moved and our lips and tongues danced.

It felt like a moment that transcended time and I was lost in it. Yes, it was official. I had it bad for her. Slowly, reluctantly I pulled away. Her eyes were closed but she drew her lower lip between her teeth as if to savor the taste of lips. The gesture was mesmerizing. She opened her eyes to find me gawking at her with a dazed look on my face.

"Thank you" She said in a breathless whisper. I smiled with my forehead resting down on hers.

"Anytime" I replied. She looked behind me and waved at someone.

"I see my friend" She said stepping away from me. "I should go"

I kept her hand not wanting her to go. "Are you ever going to ask me out?" I asked. She looked caught between disbelief and amusement. Then she pulled out her phone to take down my number.

"I might call" She said with a mischievous smile.

I rolled my eyes. "I know you will" I watched from the crowded dance floor as she went to her friend.

When I got back to our table Pam was on the dance floor. One look and I knew I was going to need the car service to bring me home. Sure enough an hour or so later Pam and I were leaving but she wasn't alone.

"I had a good time" I told her as I opened her door.

She grinned "Yeah I saw" She wagged her eyebrows at me. "You old dog you"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll send a car for you" She said. I was about to say yes when I saw a flash of a champagne out of the corner of my eye. I was beginning to think I could pick out her silhouette in the dark. Sookie was walking off towards the parking lot looking very alone. It was impossible to resist.

"No" I stood away from the car.

Pam took my hand "Happy birthday Eric" She said.

I smiled and ruffled her hair knowing just how much she hated it. She slapped my hand away.

"Thanks now beat it" I told her. I turned without another word and began moving towards the direction I saw Sookie going in.

"I take it you really weren't going to call" I said gliding silently to her side. She jumped, screamed and staggered. I leaned forward to steady her. It was hard because I was laughing my ass off.

She hit me with her purse. "Don't do that!" She shouted. I couldn't stop laughing. She almost jumped out of her skin. "Butthole" she hissed. It was more out of embarrassment that any real ire.

"Did I scare you?" I said taking her hand.

"No" She said defiantly.

I smiled. "Where's your friend?" I asked.

"She saw an old friend" She said. "I left so they could catch up"

"Is that what the kids are calling one night stands these days?" I asked arching an eyebrow.

She smiled and nodded. "Or playing checkers" She added. "What about you?" She asked. "Did you come alone?"

I shook my head. "No the person I came with got tied up. So I am in need of a ride home" I added nonchalantly.

She stopped and leveled me with a skeptical look. "Fine but so we are clear we aren't playing checkers or doing laundry or anything of the sort" She said with her hands on her hips.

"Would you like to grab a cup of coffee?" I asked as we pulling out of the parking lot.

"Sur...wait, is that a sexual innuendo?" She said.

I laughed. "Now who's being a lecher?" I asked with a smile.

She blushed. "Okay, so where do you live anyway?" She asked.

"East Monroe" I said. "Is it far from where you live" She shrugged.

"I live in Shreveport" She replied.

While that wasn't terribly far from me it wasn't exactly around the corner either. I felt bad that she would have a bit of a drive ahead of her after she took me home.

"We can skip the coffee" I offered. "It's late" It was barely past midnight. It probably wasn't late for her in the least but I hadn't seen this time of day in months.

"If you want" She said. "But I really don't mind"

"What do you want?" I asked not wanting to seem pushy one way or the other. It was a change for me.

"Food" She said "I'm starving"

I smiled that was even better. She would spend more time with me if we got a bite to eat instead of just coffee which I had no intentions of drinking. I just wanted to drag out the time I spent in her company.

"The place you told me about is it open now?"

"Yeah" She nodded. "Rowley's is open" We were quiet as she navigated through the lively city streets. It was full of people. I looked out at the busy night life of flashing lights and the buzzing racing cars wondering if Lilly would notice I was gone.

"Thinking about your daughter" Sookie said. I turned and we were idling at a red light. Her face was turned towards me and she was smiling. I felt like I had offended her. She could have been speaking to me and I would not have heard. Smooth move Northman real smooth, way to act like an old woman and a total lame ass.

"Yes" I admitted. "This is my first night away from home since she was home" I explained.

It was sorry. I felt like I was well on my way to screwing up a good night because I was crying about being away from my child for two hours and forty three minutes. I wasn't counting or anything. Even now I realized my left hand was wrapped around my phone. It had been there for a good portion of the night just in case.

"Any particular reason why you were out tonight" She asked curiously while maneuvering the car through downtown Shreveport.

"It's my birthday"

"Happy Birthday" She said.

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Thank you"

"I'll buy" She said parking the car.

A short while later we were in front of a shady looking restaurant with a hand written sign in the window that read "Rowley's". It was the kind of place your friends dared you to eat from but you refused because you knew you would die of food poisoning or some unknown virus. This was the place she was raving about. Sookie saw the look on my face and gave me a grin that was nothing if not taunting.

"You scared?" She said arching an eyebrow in challenge. I squared my shoulders.

"Nope" I popped the "P" the way she did the last time we ate together. For a moment we stared at each other. I couldn't tell you what I felt but it made my stomach do flips and turns.

The inside looked nothing like the outside indicated it would. The establishment got points for the hat trick. I guess the outside shabbiness was for originality or to keep people from thinking of robbing it. The inside was clean and even cozy. Pictures of what the neighborhood used to look like hung on the walls. There were images of fighter planes from wars past. This place was a mom and pop place that you didn't see anymore because they were being replaced by chain establishment but the atmosphere in here was something you could never replicate. Stepping inside was like a time machine.

For this time of night there was a decent crowd. It told me all I needed to know about the food. I was prepared to wait in line but Sookie got V.I.P treatment here.

"What ya doin here baby girl? I never see you this time of night" I looked at an elderly man who could be declared a dwarf if not for two inches. He was all gray from his full head of hair to his bushy ass eyebrows. He waved us to the front of the line.

Sookie beamed at him as she answered. "Hi there Mr. Carlson today is my friend's birthday" she said gesturing to me. "I thought he deserved some great food"

The old man looked at me. He seemed to be sizing me up. It was just a guess. His eyes were barely visible under those eyebrows of his.

"You be a gentleman or I'll kick your ass and don't think I can't take you" He said.

I put my hands up in a very open gesture of surrender. I wanted nothing to do with an angry midget this late at night for all I knew he problem morphed into a gremlin after midnight.

"I assure you sir that will not be necessary" He smiled and shook my hand. Some people behind us were making noises of impatience.

"Shut the hell up or get the hell out" He barked gruffly. They all fell silent. His food must be that good that he only offered excellent customer service to people he liked.

"What do you like?" He said turning to me with a smile after muttering some obscene things about rude people.

"I like everything, surprise me" He laughed and patted my hand.

"I like him already" He said looking at Sookie. "The regular for you baby girl" He asked.

She shook her head and smiled.

He laughed and said, "I'll make you something special too"

We found a corner booth to await our meal. Before we sat I excused myself to make a phone call. I returned to find Sookie with her legs folded under her and smiling at nothing in general. I observed her for a minute wondering what it was about her that I found to be off in a very appealing way. It never came to me.

"You have a way with people" I said hoping she would enlighten me. She looked at me in confusion.

"What? Mr. Carlson?" She asked in disbelief. I nodded but it wasn't just him. It was me and the random man at the club. Even now as we sat other men risked glances at her; some were with dates. It wasn't just men but people in general and she appeared totally oblivious to her charm. She waved me off and explained her association with the crabby shop keep "His wife took a bad fall and had to come to the center" I looked at her knowing she must have been immensely kind to have won over such a thorny old man. It struck me as her nature.

"Were you celebrating anything or was it just a girl's night?" I inquired.

"Something like that" She said with a smile.

Lilly had changed me. The old Eric would have been a lot more forward. But I wanted more from her. I didn't know what exactly. My life was very complicated. I scolded myself. "Whoa. Cool it Northman" I hadn't spent time alone with women for a few months. That may explain why I was becoming completely enamored with Sookie. That wasn't it. Looking at her laid back demeanor, the pleasing peel of her laughter, and the havoc it wreaked on my body, it came to me. I had a crush on her-a mean one. The last time a woman made me feel like this I was seven and was hopelessly in love with my sixteen year old baby sitter. Pam and Al would die laughing if they could see me now.

We shared laughs and many smiles. Our rapport was comfortable through out our time together it was very easy being with her. It was almost two in the morning when I looked up and found we were the last ones in the restaurant.

"I'm sorry" She said following my gaze. Apparently we had both been lost in the conversation. "I know you have an early day"

I smiled. She was worth the sleep deprivation. "Don't be sorry" I said. She reached for a box beside her and passed it to me. It was a very small pastry box with the logo of the restaurant on it.

"Happy birthday" She said. "Well belated" she added with a smile. She must have gotten this while I was off on the phone. I was disarmed. I opened it and found it was a cupcake.

"Thank you" I said with a lot more intensity than I intended but I couldn't help myself. It was something so small and yet it meant so much.

"You're welcome" She said getting to her feet "We should go before his wife comes looking for him" She inclined her head to where Mr. Carlson was seated waiting patiently for us to leave.

"Goodnight Mr. Carlson" Sookie called.

He smiled, stretched and waved all at once "Your boyfriend needs a haircut but he's alright in my book baby girl" Mr. Carlson said as if he and Sookie were alone. Sookie looked as if she was going to correct his assumption but then he continued. "Good night" He turned to me.

We left the restaurant hand in hand. The car I called was parked behind Sookie's. They were the only ones on this strip of road.

"You're not coming" Sookie asked after I had shut her door behind her.

"No" I pointed to the black SUV behind her. "I called for a ride" I said. She appeared confused.

"I wouldn't have minded" she said looking at me from under her lashes. It made me happier than it should that she sounded disappointed.

"I know" I didn't think it was her intent but the way she looked right now turned me into a sap so much so I was regretting calling the car. "I was going to call one when I left the club but when I saw you I couldn't resist" I said.

I had to get myself in check and fast. The amount of honesty I just provided was flagrant if not callous. I felt like I vomited emotionally. But Sookie got out of her car and kissed me clearly pleased with my frankness. It was unexpected and I was floored. It didn't change how great it was.

"Good night" She whispered against my still parted lips. I was glad she didn't give a chance to reply because my head was spinning. Sookie got back in her car without another word and drove away leaving me in the street staring after her.


This chapter is the longest but I couldn't find a way to break it up what with the sibling harassment; birthday kisses and late din din. I liked it and I'm curious to what the rest of you think.