Author's blatant sniveling: Sorry, I got addicted to the
story I've been doing for the Nottingham's Nymphs site.
I know, like I needed something else to keep me from sleeping. Anyway, here is
the next installment. To everyone who has reviewed, may you get lots of
chocolate. The rest of you I hope get brussel sprouts.
Chapter 4
The stove timer
dinged and Sarah opened the oven door to remove the bread. As soon as the door opened,
the aroma of baking bread smothered in homemade garlic butter filled the
kitchenette. Sarah looked around; Danny was still in the bathroom. She grabbed
a piece of the garlic bread and juggled it in her hands until it was cool
enough to eat. She took her first bite into the crusty bread. Her eyes closed
in bliss as the flavor filled her mouth, it was even better than it smelled.
"Starting without
me I see." Danny said from behind her.
Sarah jumped and
crumbs sprayed everywhere as she choked. "Damn it Danny, don't do that! I hate
it when you sneak up on me."
Danny pounded on
her back, "I couldn't resist the opportunity. Anyway, your bathroom is once
again pristine."
"That's an awful
fancy word for a flatfoot in training." Sarah raised an eyebrow at him.
"I figure it will
make me look good in the report writing class." Danny chuckled. "It wouldn't
hurt you to increase your vocabulary either Pez."
"Alright, but I
think one word a day may be all I can stand." Sarah gave in.
"I take it from the
reek of garlic that we are having Italian for lunch." Danny said.
"Reek!" Sarah
exclaimed.
"Yeah Pez, I could
smell it in the bathroom, with the door closed, and over the Pine-Sol
cleanser." Danny pointed out.
"There's nothing
wrong with the amount of garlic I cook with." Sarah huffed.
"True enough. It's
probably what keeps the roaches out of your apartment." Danny laughed as he
moved to put the counter between them.
"You'd better run
mister." Sarah replied as she followed him around the counter he was trying to
use as a shield.
They circled the
counter completely before Danny made a break for the living room. As he dodged
behind the couch, Sarah came over it. The tackle was beautifully executed, and
she brought him to the apartment floor. Danny was incredibly ticklish, and
Sarah used it to her advantage. She tickled him mercilessly.
"Give up?" She asked as she continued to tickle his ribs.
"I … ha ha ha…
give…he he" Danny blurted between uncontrolled laughter.
Sarah got off him
and offered a hand up. Danny took it, still chuckling. He waited until his
breathing was more controlled and said, "Seriously, have you ever considered
cutting down? You know, the twelve step program could be adapted for compulsive
garlic users. It wouldn't be that hard, and I promise I would help you if you
started to backslide."
Sarah gave him a
hard look. "You want to go around again?"
Danny held his
hands up in surrender. As soon as she turned to stir the alfredo sauce, he
grabbed a piece of the much denigrated garlic bread. Sarah turned as she heard
the distinct crunch of the bread crust.
"You've got a lot
of nerve to eat that after everything you just said." Sarah glared at him.
"Consistency is the
hobgoblin of little minds Pez. Danny chuckled and took another bite. "Mmm, this
is great."
"Glad you feel your
intestines are up to the challenge. Maybe you should only eat one slice Danny,
I wouldn't want you to have a garlic overdose." Sarah slapped his hand as he
reached for a second piece of bread.
"A garlic overdose
would be more pleasant than going by my ex's place to get the things I've left
over there." Danny sighed.
"You think it'll
still be in one piece when you get there?" Sarah asked.
"Probably not and the
longer I wait the more damage she'll do." Danny said.
"Well, after lunch
we can get your car. We can work on those ten codes on the way to her
apartment." Sarah shrugged. "It's not like she could make a bigger scene than
she did last night."
"I'll have to take
your word for that. Thank you for helping, it's going to be very awkward going
back there." Danny looked her in the eyes, "Are you sure you don't mind going?"
"I'm looking at it
as a field study of domestic violence." Sarah gave him a smile.
"I hope not, my
head already hurts." Danny touched the bruise lightly.
"Just wait until
Monday; you know everyone is going to give you hell for that." Sarah pointed
meaningfully at his head.
"Not if they don't
know that I got it from my ex-girlfriend." Danny looked at Sarah warningly.
"You're going to
have to buy my silence, and it won't be cheap." Sarah grinned.
"What happened to
the whole 'partners watch out for each other' agreement?" Danny asked
plaintively.
"There is a little
sub-clause in that agreement about being stupid in public. It clearly states
that in occasions of extreme provocation, your partner has the right to add to
the humiliation of the situation. It's for your own good. It makes a lasting
impression, and hopefully will curb you of the desire to behave in such an
embarrassing fashion again." Sarah stated.
"Don't worry about
that, I have learned my lesson. I feel absolutely no urge to compound the
damages." Danny looked at her and projected complete seriousness.
"I don't know Danny; it makes such a good
story. How can I possibly keep from telling it to everyone we know?" Sarah said
impishly.
Danny buried his
face in his hands and said, "What will it take?"
"I think I'll just
have you owe me a favor, a really big favor." Sarah mused.
"Done." Danny
raised his head and reached out one hand to cement the deal, relief clearly
written on his face.
Sarah clasped his
hand and they shook on it. Still grinning, Sarah opened the cupboard and pulled
out two plates. "Dig in, Italian food is not meant to be eaten cold."
