EPOV
I left before Claudine did which left me hoping that Sookie was really taking about what had happened between her and her uncle. Claudine told me that the first time a sexual abuse victim speaks, you listen no matter how long it takes. The first time I had talked to her about my godfather, she ended up having her secretary reschedule her next 2 appointments. I hadn't realized how long I had been talking until I was leaving. I apologized for the inconvenience and offered to pay her for the extra time. She laughed and said that a simple IM to her secretary took care of the other patients and that they'd understand. She also said there was no way she was going to charge me extra because she wouldn't have asked me to stop me at such an important time. She laughed and said it wasn't like I would have asked her for money back if we finished early, which didn't happen until my last 2 or 3 visits (not the asking for the money back, but the finishing early).
I met Claudine when I tried out a new bar. Then it wasn't uncommon for me to end up with a different girl or two a night. That life style required that I switched bars every few months or so, you can guess why. Some women were in it just to get their fun too, but others felt used and degraded and they let me know exactly how they felt. There was usually lots of screaming. I made sure they knew that I wasn't looking for anything permanent, but they believed that they would be the one that I would stay with, so I let myself believe that it was them that was in the wrong. On the occasion that I did feel guilty for using the women I was with, alcohol was a great get out of guilt free card, until the next time it happened. The alcohol never completely got rid of the guilt, it just buried it and it all came back up the next time one of my conquests was less then thrilled with my hump and dump game plan.
On the night I decided Claudine should be my next target, I was on an extreme low. The girl from the night before had ended up crying and telling me exactly how used she felt. But unlike the others she wasn't angry with me, she was hurt that I was just another guy that didn't want her. She sobbed as she asked what was so wrong with her that no man wanted her. I had a realization then that there was nothing wrong with her, there was something wrong with me. And even with that realization I still went out the following night. I was drinking heavily and was hoping to find an alternate outlet. I needed to feel good not loathsome and sex had always been that for me.
Claudine was interesting to say the least. She has a way about her that makes you feel comfortable to tell her just about anything. We talked until closing and I was sober by the time we parted ways. So instead of me getting into her pants she got into my head. She was subtle, but by the end of the night she had given me a rather large dose of self introspection. She also gave me her card.
I debated with myself about whether or not I even needed therapy for a week before I finally gave in and made an appointment. Since I had met her while we were at a bar I never called her Dr. Crane. I asked her if it ever bothered her and she explained to me that being on a first name basis with her patience only seemed fitting since her patients were divulging so much of their hidden selves. She also told me that some people felt more comfortable keeping things clinical and preferred to keep calling her Dr. Crane, so it was entirely up to me.
On my first visit she dared me to give up alcohol and woman for a month. She was good at reading people, that's for sure. If she had simply said I needed to give up those things, she would have had an argument, but daring me, insinuated that I couldn't do it. And I fully admit to being cocky enough to need to prove her wrong. She said that I had been using them as an escape and to prove something to myself, she wasn't sure what yet, but she knew there was something underneath it all. During that first month I had not problem talking to her about my childhood and the loss of my parents. I didn't hesitate speaking to her about my womanizing either. But when she asked about the time I spent in between my parents death and my regular one night stands, I clammed up. It was after that month of not hiding behind women and booze that I told Claudine all about living with my godfather, Appius Livius Ocella.
The morning after the night Sookie was confronted with her past, I called Claudine and talked to her about my feeling for Sookie. I was falling for her which meant she had the power to destroy me. I knew she had months and months of healing she needed to do before anything beyond a friendship would be possible, but there was something about her that I needed. I needed her in my life and the more I learned about her the more I realized she just might need me too. I gave Claudine permission to tell Sookie whatever she needed to about my past, in hopes that maybe my story could help her heal. Being at the beginning of a possible friendship with Sookie didn't allow me the closeness to just spill my story to her. I knew we could get to that place, but maybe knowing some of it now from a third party would help her. And then one day we could both share our stories with one another. Claudine said it was my story to tell, but maybe hinting to Sookie that I was a survivor may very well do her some good. Kind of like joining a survivors of sexual abuse self help group, without having Sookie give up her anonymity.
I knew Sookie was probably mortified that I had found out about her uncle, so I hoped that knowing about my past would help her understand that it wouldn't make a difference to me, at all.
SPOV
I spent the next 2 weeks alone in my room. I had Tray call and cancel my interview with Eric. I just wasn't in the mood to see anyone. Tray even ran interference with Sam and Alcide. I felt bad for not telling Tray what was going on, but he reassured me that whatever it was it would never change our friendship, so he didn't need to know unless I wanted him to. The only time I left the house was for my appointments with Claudine. I had started calling her by her first name after I told her about my uncle. It felt odd to keep calling her Dr. Crane considering what she knew about me. I've never really liked doctors, so calling her Claudine made me relax around her even more. It was more like talking to a friend then someone that was analyzing me and my behaviors. She and I talked a bit more about Bartlett, but after everything was out in the open I didn't feel the need to dwell on it. I felt like I could start letting it go, not hide it, but let it go.
I was more concerned with how Eric might see me now. Claudine didn't say anything negative about my almost friendship with him. She said that he and I had a lot in common and a friendship with him could be mutually beneficial. Claudine went on to say that he would probably be the most understanding person I knew to share with all that I endured. I knew that Eric and I had both lost our parents, but inside I knew full well she meant beyond that. I was sick inside at the thought, I had foolishly thought that what had happened to me was because I was a girl. It helped me realize that me being a girl had nothing to do with it. It happened because that man was sick, just as sick as the person that had hurt Eric. I couldn't blame Eric for what had happened to him, just like I couldn't blame myself for what was done to me, any of it. That knowledge made me feel closer to Eric and the idea of seeing him again was no longer overwhelmingly scary. I hadn't realized just how afraid I was that he might not want a friendship with me or even worse that he might use what he knew to hurt me.
It was after that visit that I decided that Tray was coming to my next appointment with me and I finally called Eric to set up our next interview for that Saturday. I didn't want to be around other people just yet and I was sure that what I wanted to tell Tray was going to only reaffirm that, so I asked Eric to come over for dinner. And he could get his interview then. He offered to pick something up on his way, but I told him I would cook for us. I had missed cooking. Being on a tour bus doesn't make cooking meals for yourself all that desirable. So I was on a home cooked meals only stint. Tray loved that perk of our living arrangement, that I loved cooking for us. I was really good at it according to all my guys.
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Tray held my hand all the way to my appointment. I was feeling a little sick inside, but holding his hand only reaffirmed what I already knew. He would always be there for me. I had already told Claudine that Tray was coming with me, so she wasn't surprised to see him there. It wasn't the first time I brought Tray, either. So Claudine had already examined our friendship and knew Tray's roll in my life. It was odd explaining that even though there was an initial attraction, things were never going to heat up between us. When we met, Tray was still morning the loss of his family and felt that having that kind of relationship with me would mess things up between us. I was slightly embarrassed when he turned down my advances, but after he explained why I felt like I could trust him. He didn't take advantage of me and that endeared him to me. After that our relationship was more like a sibling one. He was my older brother and in some ways I filled the rolls of his deceased daughter and wife for him. And even though I admit that Tray is an attractive man, the idea of being with him romantically makes my skin crawl. Who wants to make out with their big brother?
Claudine took the lead at my insistence. She explained that I wanted to tell him about what happened to me after my Gran passed away. I also asked her to explain that I needed him to let me get through it all and not to interrupt me. After he agreed, I told him. As I spoke I watched his heartbreak for me come over his face. Along with the heartbreak there was anger. I knew it wasn't directed at me, but what was done to me. Tray has always been protective of me so it wasn't surprising. And when I finally got to the part of knowing it wasn't my fault, I watched pride take over his face. We both had shed lots of tears by the time I was done and when it was over he asked if he could hug me. So I nodded my head yes.
I knew he wouldn't run from the room screaming that I was too messed up, but a teeny tiny part of me felt like this maybe too much for even him to handle. That teeny tiny part of me was squashed when he scooped me up onto his lap and hugged the ever loving life out of me. He whispered to me about how strong I am and how proud of me he was for surviving what had happened. He also told me how grateful he was to me for having trusted him enough to share that with me. God, I had such a great best friend.
I also remembered something at that visit that startled me to my core. I had told Claudine that my uncle had only contacted me for money once, but Pam had said that Bartlett was asking for money and that had been 2 months ago. So much had happened and I'd been too messed up and had forgotten that it needed to be dealt with. When I calmed down enough to speak, I told Claudine and Tray what had me so upset. Tray got a hold of Pam immediately. Thank god she hadn't dropped the ball.
After she explained that she went ahead and paid him, she apologized profusely to me. I told her that she was right, that I should have told her and that I was partly to blame for my current state, not her. She also said she never would have paid him anymore money if she had known who he was. She hired a PI to establish that it was in fact him that was blackmailing me. Pam was getting the evidence that was needed to nail his ass to the wall. If I had told her who he was my lawyers could have gotten permission to search his property with what we had on him already. An ex boyfriend having naked pictures of me was difficult to prove that I hadn't given my consent to. But my uncle having them would put him in a whole mess of trouble. I could have kicked myself, but Tray reminded me that I had only started to come to terms with what had happened and I shouldn't beat myself up for something that happened in the past. He also said that now that we all knew what was going on, Bartlett's extortion days were over. And that his days of walking around freely were nearly over as well.
Saturday was not only the first day I was seeing Eric again, but I also let Tray tell Sam I was ready to start back up with the yoga. When Alcide caught wind that I was pulling myself out of my self proclaimed exile and was planning on spending time with Sam he called and lodged his complaint. I explained to him that he was more then welcome to join us, knowing full well that man was never going to agree to it. He confirmed my thoughts when he offered to come over for brunch instead because there was absolutely no way he was getting his ass out of bed early for that fagotty ass shit and that he didn't care if that shit worked he was still drinking his morning pot of coffee. I laughed and said I'd be right there with him a soon as Claudine gave me the all clear.
That following Monday was the day I went in for my brain scan to see if my brain chemicals needed to be adjusted with medications like Prozac or Lithium. I had a feeling that everything was going to be okay, but I liked the idea of knowing for sure. I have struggled with depression and mood swings that could be caused by manic depression or possibly bi-polar disorder. The last couple of months have been completely irregular for me so I can't really base how I've felt during them as my normal behavior. What I use to do to overcome my anxieties has been taken away from me and replaced with something completely foreign to me, talking about it.
Now that I have been at it for a while I have to say I am proud of myself. With this last big shocker that I was confronted with I realized how much better it was that I was handling things different. Instead of drowning myself in alcohol and using sex as an escape. I actually talked about why I wanted to retreat and hide in the first place. So yes I was extremely proud of myself. And so was Tray and everybody else I had unknowingly let into my life. It was a really weird moment when I realized I wasn't as alone as I thought I was. I had actually amassed a rather large group of friends that all cared about me. That was the largest downside of my alcohol abuse. It wasn't just helping me forget my past, it helped me avoid the fact that I had the support of people who loved me and weren't using me. Love was a very bad emotion in my mind and equaled itself to the abuse I suffered at my uncles hands. I was beginning to look at what he did as something completely separate from love.
Sam was so excited to see me that he forget the no talking rule. Even with all the Ginko Biloba and B12 I was taking, I still wasn't a morning person. Sam apologized for pushing my grumpy button and promised that he would let me get through our yoga session before he told me everything he wanted to say. I wish I could say that I set aside my need for quiet while I woke up so my friend could talk to me, but that just wasn't going to happen.
I hadn't done any yoga for the last couple of weeks and was surprised yet again how much it helped. It didn't just wake me up it brightened my outlook on the day ahead of me. So by the time we had finished I was completely willing to listen to Sam talk about how important I was to him. I told him that he was just as important to me too. He gave me a big hug and when I pulled away so he didn't get the wrong idea he gave me some pretty great news.
Sam had finally given up on the idea that there would ever be an us. That no matter how much he wanted it to happen didn't want it to affect our friendship. After I gave him a hug that I knew I didn't have to hold back from he continued he speech and told me he met someone.
"So her name is Daphne and she's great Sook. I met her in my yoga class. I can't wait for you to meet her." He was beaming.
"Awe Sam, I'm so happy for you. First Alcide and now you. All we need to do now is find someone for Tray." Just as I finished congratulating Sam, Tray joined us.
"Someone for me to what, Sookie?" I was worried he'd be upset, but I told him what we were talking about anyway.
"I was just saying how happy I was for Sam and Alcide that they found someone and that we just needed to find someone for you." It had been 8 years, so I knew I wasn't out of line. I was surprised by Tray's reaction though. He was laughing at me.
"I'm not the only one Sook, what about you?" Ah shit I had walked into that one.
"I'm not looking for anything like just now Tray, remember I have to fix myself first. You on the other hand…." I trailed of there.
"As far as I'm concerned I already found my special somebody and that didn't work out. Besides my hands are pretty full taking care of you." I knew he was just joking, but I couldn't help thinking that maybe me and all my drama was holding him back from a life with someone.
"Tray," was all I got out before he interrupted me.
"Now Sug, you know perfectly well that what your thinking is bullshit. You aren't holding me back from anything. If I wanted to be in a relationship I would be. I just haven't found anyone worth my time yet."
"But wouldn't that be easier with me being around all the time?"
"If this hypothetical girl couldn't handle how close we are then she has no place in my life to begin with. So please don't worry about whether or not you're holding me back from anything, ever."
"But Tray…"
"Look at my life Sookie. I owe everything I have to you. My success is because of you. I'm no longer pining over the loss of my family because of you. You gave my life a sense of purpose it had been lacking since I lost them. Of course I am always going to miss them, but it's not holding me back from living my life anymore. You gave me that and the best friend I could ever ask for. So please don't stand there and try to explain to me that I might be able to get someone in my life if you weren't around. Because anyone worth having in my life would need to accept you as a very important part of it."
"Okay, I get it." I gave up, how could I not. I gave Tray a big hug and Sam came over and joined us.
"Whew, the kids don't like it when mom and dad fight." Sam said and we all started laughing.
Alcide showed up about an hour later with Maria-Star in tow. Sam took off to go pick up Daphne and bring her back here. I took a shower and was pulling our brunch out of the oven when everybody got here. I went all out. I made a frittata with green peppers, onions and ham and cinnamon apple French toast the night before so all I had to do was pop it all in the oven when it was time that morning. I even had some fruit ready to go for Daphne just in case. I knew Maria-Star ate like me and the guys, nice big healthy meals no bird food for us.
Introductions were a little bumpy at first since I asked Daphne to call me Sookie and Susanna and she went a little fan girl on me, but after she got over her initial shock, she mellowed out. Maria-Star had been in the industry long enough not to go all fan girl over us when we met, but she admitted a while back to being intimidated by me at first, especially when it came to Alcide. She also told me that after hanging out with us for a month that she knew she had nothing to worry about. That's how long it took for her to realize Alcide was just a big flirt and that I never took anything he said seriously.
I understood where Daphne was coming from considering how badly I freaked out meeting Joan Jett. It was weird because for me Joan Jett deserved my fan girl freak out and I was just some chick lead singer for a band. Tray laughed at me when I tried to explain it.
"Sookie, you need to accept it. You are a famous rack star. You remember that don't you? It's the reason people follow you in the store now."
"So what you're saying is that now that I am a celebrity, the store security has to watch to make sure I'm not shop lifting?" I smiled.
"Yeah Sook, the cats outta the bag, everybody knows once you've become famous shop lifting is next. It's like a gateway drug." I laughed at Alcide's comeback to my smartass remark.
"You too are retarded." Said Tray. Alcide and I cracked up while everyone else just rolled their eyes at us.
We all took turns asking Daphne questions, so we could get to know her better. And by the time we were done with brunch we all told Sam how happy we were that he had found someone just as special as he was. Instead of being offended by our joke, Daphne smiled and did her best Sally Fields impersonation. "You like me, you really like me!" And with that she only solidified her standing in our little group.
After everyone left Tray offered to do the dishes and clean up, so I could go finish up a book I had been reading. I have always been an avid reader. It was my escape when I was growing up and has filled up a lot of my time while we were on tour. When I was younger all of my books came from the public library, but that doesn't really work when you're traveling across the country. When we actually started making some money, I spent it on books. And by the end of our first tour I had amassed quite a collection. I went through them all and pulled out the ones I knew I would end up rereading and I donated the rest to the public library here in Shreveport. I knew that if they didn't have any use for them they would send it to one of their other branches. Tray got me a kindle halfway through this last tour, but I still up buying half of the books I read.
I must have fallen asleep because Tray woke me up at 4:30 to find out what time Eric was coming over for dinner. I asked Tray to stay and bribed him with homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, greens and jalapeño cornbread for dinner. I knew I didn't need to bribe him to stay, but it was my way of telling him wanted him to stay.
"Well that all sounds too wonderful to pass up. So whether or not I stay all depends on if you're making sweet tea or not?" I rolled my eyes at the greedy turd and faked my anger for what I said next.
"That's just not fair Tray. I am days away from being allowed to have caffeine again and you're rubbing my nose in it." He knew not to take me seriously, but changed tactics anyway.
"So then what's for dessert?"
"Well you'll just have to stick around for dinner to find out."
"I guess you're right. So do I need to run to the store for anything?"
"Nope I got it all. I just going to get changed and I'll be out there in a minute to get it all started." Tray was offering suggestions for dessert as he made his way out of my room.
Tray stood in the kitchen with me for the next hour as I got everything cooked and ready to go. He said he was there to keep me company, but really it was just there to steel food whenever my back was turned. I was pulling the cornbread out of the oven when Tray asked what happened to dessert. He had been there the whole time so he knew I hadn't but anything together yet. I just smiled at him while I pulled the peach cobbler from the fridge that needed to go into the oven.
"You mean that's been in there all day?"
"Yep and I even made the peach ice cream, you love, that goes with it." He was torn between being upset that he could have had the ice cream earlier and just being happy that he would be getting his favorite dessert before the night was over. In the end he decided that pushing me out of his way so he could get to the freezer and "taste test" the ice cream would be good enough for now. I was laughing at him when we heard the doorbell ring.
I had been preoccupied with visiting with everyone earlier and cooking that I hadn't let myself get nervous about Eric being here. The second I heard the doorbell my stomach flopped and I felt my pulse in my ears and throat. Tray left me standing in the kitchen to let him in. I was so distracted by my nervousness that I hadn't realized Tray took the entire ice cream container to the door with him. It wasn't tell they came into the kitchen that I realized Tray may have eaten more then a taste.
"Jesus Tray, save some for the rest of us."
"Oh don't worry about that. I gave a bite to Eric." He was grinning from ear to ear. It wasn't til I turned around to read Eric the riot act for being an accessory to Tray's theft that I really looked at him. Shit now I remember why I had to get out of the house with him last time. He had on some rather snug fitting jeans (not that I minded in the least) and a light blue button up shirt that he left untucked. He had rolled the sleeves up to his elbow and the top two buttons were undone enough that I could see the anchor charm on the chain he wore around his neck. I was startled from my thoughts when he spoke.
"I brought these for you." He took a large bouquet of yellow Persian buttercups (they came with a card that said what they were) from behind his back and handed them to me. "I know you said not to bring anything, but you're cooking and I didn't feel right about coming empty handed. And now that I've tasted dessert I feel totally justified in going against your wishes." He explained with the sexiest smirk I have ever seen. I know that the reason I had Tray stay was because I was nervous about being around Eric after he found out about my past, but right now Tray's purpose in staying had turned into something along the lines of a chaperone.
"It's just the topping." I said lamely.
"What's that?" He asked confused.
"The ice cream, it's not dessert, it's just the topping." I sounded like a moron, I know. "And thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful." Yep manners are good. Tray had been silently watching our exchange and decided to help bail me out of my awkward torment by speaking.
"Here Sug, let me take those and put em in some water. Then we can eat right?"
"Yeah, it's all ready, I just need to get it all to the table." Our house was more then big enough for 2 people but wasn't so extravagant that it had a formal dining room. Our kitchen feeds into the family room and between the 2 areas is a large oak trestles table with an ebony stain. I put 3 brown leather parsons chairs on each of the longer sides of the table. I spent a long time shopping for the table and the big selling point for me was that it could accommodate 12 people comfortably when the leaves were put in. The extra 6 chairs were used all around the house. What can I say I'm big on making sure there's enough room for everyone.
Tray had set the table in between stealing bites of food. So with help from them both it only took a minute to get it all on the table. I checked on the cobbler before I grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea I made for Tray and a bottle of water for myself. When I got all to the table I asked Eric if wanted a beer. He said he was fine with the sweet tea. He didn't really look at me when he answered, his eyes had glazed over looking at all the food on the table.
"Is someone else coming or is this all just for us?"
"Um, just us, but Tray and I eat like pigs so there won't be many leftovers." I decided to sit down on the side of the table that was set with only 1 plate, leaving Eric and Tray to sit on the other side. Yes, it was so I could stare.
"Looks good, Sug." Was the last thing Tray said until he was done carefully stacking his plate with large helpings of everything on the table. Once everyone had their plates filled, I realized I forgot something.
"Shit, I forgot to make the salad again." I said with a sigh.
"We never get to it anyway Sook." Tray said with a shrug. And he was right every time I did remember to make the salad it went untouched and ended up being my lunch for the next few days.
"I know we never get to it, but there was suppose to be one. Eric, did you want salad it'll only take me a minute to throw one together?"
"No, I right there with Tray. I would rather fill up with what I have in front of me now. I can't believe you made all this food." He started humming when he took his first bite of the fried chicken.
"You should have come for brunch, man. She made this egg thing in the oven that's like a big Denver omelet casserole and cinnamon apple French toast." Tray said through a mouth full of food.
"I wasn't invited." Eric pouted and I laughed at him for it. "Jesus, Sookie where did you learn to cook like this? This really, really good."
"My friend Lafayette, taught me. He owns the restaurant I use to work at before I moved to Shreveport. God, I haven't talked to him in forever. I lived off of his burger Lafayette. All his food is so bad for you, but it all tastes so good it's worth the extra time in the gym, huh Tubby?"
"Every damn minute." Tray agreed.
EPOV
"I met Lafayette when I went down there. I had no idea you worked there. He is very protective of you. I asked him if there was anyone around that knew you and he told me to finish my food and take a hike." I laughed. "Even when someone he called Miss Maxine tried to talk to me, he wasn't having any of it. He shut her right down." She visibly flinched when I mentioned the woman from the diner. So I decided to talk about Lafayette instead. "You're right about that Burger Lafayette, though. I've been thinking about making the drive back down there just so I can have one. I just wasn't so sure he'd let me in the door long enough to order one." She smiled again when I mentioned her old boss.
"How is he doing?" She asked.
"I don't think I'm qualified to answer that. Has he always worn purple eye shadow and had a heavy penchant towards glitter?" Sookie was nodding her head.
"Leave it to Sook to make friends with the only guy willing to wear makeup in some backwater hick town." Tray laughed.
"Oh that's not the half of it. He's probably as big as you are. He's also black and openly gay." Not that it mattered to me, but you can bet your ass it mattered to the people living in that town.
"Oh, but he's such a sweetheart. I use to ask him all the time why he didn't move somewhere less "oppressing." He'd just laugh and say that hate's everywhere and that he's just doing his part to build tolerance in the community."
"You should call him Sookie. I'm sure he'd love to hear that you're doing all right." Tray said. "Maybe he could come for a visit. I know I'd like to meet him." I watched Sookie eyes get glassy from unshed tears as Tray spoke.
"You're right Tray, I should." She said. I was worried that I might have upset her by bringing up her past, but it wasn't really me that did it, it was her. And I could tell by the look on Tray's face how happy he was that she was sharing a bit of her past with him.
"So does that mean you know how to make burgers Lafayette?" I asked.
"No, he never gave away that secret to me. He said it was the only way he knew I'd come back and visit him." She looked sullen at that and Tray went around to her side of the table and gave her a hug.
"Don't be so sad, Sug. It's only a burger." She giggled at him. "And maybe if he comes out for a visit, he'll let you in on the secret. It's just not fair that I haven't had one and y'all have." She gave him a dirty look, then an slapped him on the arm and started laughing.
We spent the rest of the meal talking about them heading into the studio next month to start working on their next album. Sookie proclaimed that the upside of her shitty past was that there was always something to write about. She said she had written over half of the songs and couldn't wait to get back into the studio, so she could focus on something other then herself for a while. It was great to hear her mention her past even jokingly around me. I had been so afraid that she would never want to see me again. It had been a huge relief when she finally called and invited me over for dinner.
After we finished up eating Tray and I kicked Sookie out of the kitchen. It was only fair that we cleaned up since she had done all the cooking. Tray sent her to find something to watch. By the time we were done the buzzer to the oven was going off. Tray looked like a deer caught in headlights, his whole body froze. The next thing I knew Sookie was running back into the kitchen yelling.
"Tray Dawson don't you even think about getting into that cobbler. You'll burn your tongue right outta that head of yours." Tray watched Sookie pull the cobbler from the oven and I swear I heard him mutter a pray of thanks for it. "It needs to cool off for at least 10 minutes." She said to him. He looked like a little kid while he waited for it to cool. And after about 5 minutes he started his argument for why he didn't need to wait any longer.
"Sook, it's ready right now. It's what the ice cream is for. It cools it off." He begged.
"That's what you said last time. And you ended up burning your tongue bad enough that you couldn't taste anything for a week." Her arms were crossed in front of her and I no longer cared if she was upset or that there was dessert. Holding her arms that way made her cleavage even more noticeable in her tight scoop neck tee shirt. And her hip was cocked to the side reminding me just how nice the curves of her body were, especially in the black skinny jeans she had on. My mouth was watering right along with Tray's, but for an entirely different reason.
"Can't we at least put them in the bowls, that way they cool off quicker." He continued.
"Yeah, I guess so." She sighed at him.
It was almost ridiculous watching a grown man very carefully dish out 3 bowls of cobbler like he was diffusing a bomb. And I probably would have teased him about it, but I was too busy trying calm down. By the time I calmed down enough to make fun of him the cobbler had cooled enough to add the ice cream and eat it. Sookie warned us that it was very hot and that we still needed to be careful. I'm pretty sure I was the only one listening to her at that point because Tray was shoveling his first bite into his mouth. And yes Sookie was right it was still hot, very hot. Tray breathed through the burn and put another large bite of ice cream in his mouth to help cool it off. He was making a funny sounds that oddly enough sounded like he was saying it was hot.
"Hot, no you don't say. The boiling hot sugar from the oven, that Sookie has spent the last 10 minutes reminded you how hot it was, is hot. No it can't be." Sookie and I laughed when he flipped me off.
"I don't care if it is hot, it so good." He cooed when he recovered.
After Tray's display I was very careful taking my first bite. I wasn't willing to make an ass out of myself in front of Sookie just yet. And I was rewarded handsomely for my patience. It was not only the best cobbler I've ever eaten but probably the best dessert I've ever had. I couldn't say it was the best thing I've ever eaten because that was the dinner she made before.
"I feel guilty." I said as I finished my first bite.
"For making fun of Tray?" She guessed.
"Not what I meant, but I do feel guilty for that, too. I feel guilty for only bringing you flowers. I should have bought you a car." She laughed at that.
"Well if you're offering, I don't mind taking the one you brought with you off of your hands." She smirked at me.
"Yeah, not gonna happen. But maybe I'll let you drive it." Her smiled brightened at that.
"Really? And I can tell Pam?" I'm not sure if it was the sugar talking or maybe I was in a food coma, but I agreed. I'm sure I'd kick myself for it later, but right now this dessert was all that mattered. I was safe from Pam anyway. There was no way she'd ever be able to make anything this good.
"Hey, you wouldn't even let me sit in the driver seat." Tray complained. I was surprised he was even coherent and when I looked at him I figured out why. He finished his first piece and was in the middle of dishing up seconds.
"Do you know how to make this?" I asked.
"Fuck no, she won't even let me in the room when she makes it."
"That's so you don't get rid of me. I know it's the only reason you keep me around." She piped up.
"Well that and Gran's pecan pie." She laughed at him.
"What'll that cost me?" She just laughed harder at the two of us and I can't really blame her. She tamed us with a cobbler. Of course, I really didn't mind being tamed by her. It was just a huge bonus that I could blame the cobbler for being tamed so quickly.
So better then the last chapter. I was so afraid of your reviews for that one. But you were very kind. So this chapter had even more info in it for you. And even some happy stuff. Anyways I'd like to say thank you to all of you that take the time to review regularly and a totally separate thank you to those of you that reviewed for the first time. And as always voyeurs welcome.
Please review. They make me write quicker.
PS I didn't proof read this, so please excuse any mess ups.