The next day, Violet is at school, which means my meetings with Eric are back on.
I leave my purse in the car (I know, it's bad) only taking away my car keys and a jacket. The sky is the darkest shade of grey today. It makes me feel cold. And I am certain that it's either going to rain or the whole city will get some early snow.
I strut into the lobby of Lexi Plaza, folding my arms across the desk in reception. The lady doesn't look up at me, "He's training right now."
"Training? What does that mean?"
Her blue eyes glance up, slightly narrowed, "He has a class," I am about to ask more until she points behind me, to a big arch, "Go through there and take two lefts."
"Oh, okay," I smile, "Thanks."
I get lost for two minutes, wondering which two lefts I had to take. The sound of gunshots leads me right to him. I'm a bit taken aback. Gunshots. Guns… like real guns.
I see a metal door with a square window, muffled gunshots exploding. It has to be that room. I look around quickly, watching people walk up and down the corridor casually, morning coffee steaming out of their paper cups. Okay, so there isn't a terrorist attack or anything. This is normal.
Hesitantly, I push the door opening, loud claps of thunder suddenly making my ears ring. My head sticks out of the door, cautiously scanning my surroundings. There is a person with a long ponytail right in front of me, fluffy ear muffs hiding her ears. I think it's a female. But it's hard to tell. She is ripped.
Her arms are extended, a black pistol snug in her hands. I don't see the targets because of a wall, so I'm assuming she is shooting at them. She has to be aiming at something.
Shaking my head, I push myself in, eyes scanning the dozens of people practicing their aim. They are all in these slots, separated by a grey wall between each of them.
It doesn't take me long to spot him because he is the only person who is out of these cubicles. His arms are crossed over his chest, an unimpressed frown upon his face. It makes me smile how he can go from wearing a suit one day, to owning a black T-shirt the next.
Better for me, I get to see his tattoos.
His eyes find mine and he looks like he's seen a ghost. Seen a ghost like Eric would see a ghost- curious, probably coming closer, probably wanting to touch it. A normal person would run away.
"You're early," he growls, grabbing my arm and crashing his lips against mine.
I pull away, "But you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind," he chuckles, hands finding my hips in record time.
I look around ostentatiously, gesturing with my head, "I didn't know you taught how to shoot," I didn't know a lot of things.
"I'm full of surprises," his face stays straight, a line appearing between his eyebrows. I giggle, and he steps back to yell, "Okay, wrap it up!" Everyone in the room puts down their guns, eyes on the floor, "We're finished for today."
I watch as muscular men and women walk out of the door, some nodding a goodbye to Eric, some completely ignoring him. A smile finds my face when he kisses my forehead.
"You're not exactly an open book, are you?"
Eric smiles, shrugging one massive shoulder apologetically, "I'm working on it."
The room becomes loud with the whirl of air conditioning. I look up at the metallic ceiling, knowing how his eyes are on me all the time.
"Want a free lesson?"he suddenly asks.
I laugh because it's funny, "Um, no thanks," he furrows his eyebrows, "For all I know, you could charge me afterwards. And... I don't need to learn how to shoot."
"Because you're so good?"
"No," I smirk, placing a hand on his chest which he immediately covers with his own, "Because I don't need to."
He seems to be buffering a machine in his head for a moment, looking around and moving his lips from side to side, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," I answer. I told him about my parents. But I didn't tell him how they died. And quite frankly, coming this close to a gun will not do me any favors emotionally.
"Fair enough," he says, wrapping his arms around my whole body, "Are we going up to my office?"
I giggle, noticing a spark igniting in his eyes. Going up to his office has become our thing. We eat, make out, and do nothing productive. I nod. But then I ask, "Wait, don't you have a lesson?"
"I'll cancel it,"
"Eric," I say, shaking my head, "Don't be stupid."
"From what I can see," he leans in closer, kissing the corner of my mouth, "I have more important things to do."
SHSHSHSHSHSH
He allows me to sit in his big chair. And I take great pleasure in answering his calls. Well, I only get as far as introducing myself, and then I have to pass the phone to Eric... who is standing behind me, hands on my shoulders. Then he speaks into the device, resting his chin on my shoulder. I have to suppress my giggle for the sake of whoever is talking to him.
He hangs up, going back to squeezing my (apparently) tense shoulders. My whole body shudders when his hand finds the base of my neck. I look over his office, my vision becoming spotted with fireworks.
"What are we having for lunch?"
I close my eyes, leaning back into his touch, "Hmm... I dunno."
I feel the vibrations of his laugh through his hands.
"Do you know when we're having our date?"
I open my eyes, looking up at his upside down face, "You want me to decide?"
He nods slowly.
"Umm..." I lean forward, feeling his hands pull away, "I don't think Violet is up for going to another sleepover," I have a mini heart attack because it sounds like I'm insinuating that we sleep together. His face is plain, so I don't think he noticed.
"Yeah," he agrees, looking out into the distance. Through the window, at the rainy city of Chicago.
"Should we tell her-"
"Not yet," he barks, coming round me and leaning down on the floor, his head hovering above my lap. I place a hand on his hair, enjoying the way it glistens when I push my fingers through it, "I could take a day off,"
"No, don't neglect your duties," I reply, raising an eyebrow when he grins. It's obvious he wants to say something, but he lets it go.
"I'll take the day off."
"Eric-"
He shuts me up with a long, hot kiss... which somehow turns into a five minute make out session. Afterwards, we pull away and order a pizza. His receptionist delivers it up to his office, an envious scowl on her face.
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