Chapter 7.
. 37 hours to bet .
Memphis had taken over from Sway on highlighter duty after he could see it was getting to her. She had begun to rub her eyes every few seconds and was getting frustrated with herself. After the third heavy object sailed from the desk and landed with a thump on the floor followed by an anguished cry from Sway he had relived her and set her on another task. And now, after an hour at the desk he could see why she had been so strained. His eyes seemed completely reluctant to focus on the paper in front of him, so all of the text was merging into one black blur. He had highlighted several ladies at once accidentally so many times he had lost count, and was amazed how Sway's immeasurably short fuse had lasted nearly nine hours hunched over this desk without throwing anything more harmless than a stapler.
He rubbed his tired eyes for the hundredth time, and lent back in the chair exhausted. A familiar, gentle arm snaked its way around his neck and Sway's breath was hot on the back of his neck as she spoke.
"Tough work eh?"
"Mmmm." He murmured kissing her arm softly "How the hell did you manage this for nine hours!?"
She spun the swivel chair around so that he was facing her and shrugged.
"I threw things." She said matter-of-factly.
This brought a grin to Memphis's features, and he pulled her face down towards his and kissed her.
A voice from across the room interrupted their intimate moment.
"Jeez! Get a room will ya, people are trying to eat here!" Sway looked up and smirked at Rachel who had a sandwich paused halfway to her mouth.
Memphis laughed softly and Sway looked back down at him.
"I think now would be just about the perfect time to go for that spin don't you think?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She smiled and reached down pulling his keys from the front pocket of his worn black jeans.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she sent him a coy smile, the Ferrari look sinking back into her eyes.
"I think now would also be a good time to go home." She whispered headily into his ear.
***
After he had cleared away his papers and told everyone to finish up and go home, Memphis hurried out of the garage after Sway who had left a couple of minutes earlier. He found her loitering against the hood of the mustang, hands in pockets, staring down at a small fragment of twisted black fiberglass on the ground. He knew exactly where it had come from. Josephine.
She looked up as she heard him approaching and offered him a weak smile.
"You okay baby?" He asked as reached her and slid his arms around her waist.
"I'm fine," She said indignantly, crushing the black shard under the heel of her Doc and looking smolderingly into his eyes "But if you don't get me home soon I won't be held responsible for my actions."
"Really?" He asked as she brought her lips up to his and kissed him hungrily. Her hands slowly traveled up under the back of his shirt and he could feel her nails digging gently into his flesh. The kiss deepened of its own accord until Memphis pulled away breathing heavily.
"Get in the car." He said and Sway grinned running around to the passenger door and sliding into the seat next to him.
***
Rachel watched from the doorway as Memphis's mustang pulled out of the drive and peeled off around the corner. She sighed as she watched the couple go, hoping to god that this crazy plan would work. She knew how much that guy meant to her friend and to loose him in any way would ruin her.
Stepping out of the garage and walking down the drive, a sultry smile returned to Rachel's lips as her baby came into view before her.
"Hey there Maria!" She said as she stroked the roof of her flame red 1984 Porsche 911. It had taken her over 3 years to save up for the very well used second hand classic, and a further year's love and restoration to make it drivable, but now she had it she wouldn't give it up for the world. She had fully cleaned out the interior adding expensive hints of chrome and polished wood, and had also spent a lot of time, effort and money turning her from the original lime green to the sexy red she gleamed in today.
It was her dream come true, she owned something she had wanted her whole life. An original Porsche 911. Someone let out a whistle from behind her making her turn back around in the direction of the garage.
"Man, that is one mighty fine looking honey you got there girl." It was Donny. He took off his black hat and approached her and Maria to get a better look.
Rachel smiled proudly as he inspected her car with awe.
"What is this?" He asked, as he looked over her interior "an 84?"
"Yessir!" Answered Rachel polishing a smudge off the front right headlamp.
"This is in great condition!"
"You should have seen it when I bought it." Laughed Rachel.
"Wow girl you've got talent," Said Donny straightening up to talk to her "You should let Otto see the work you've done here he's always after new restorers."
"Thanks," Said Rachel letting herself into the driver seat "but I'm getting along fine."
"Just a thought." Smiled Donny placing his hat back on his head and shutting the door for her.
She sent him a two-fingered salute through the window and pulled out of the drive.
"Wow." Said Donny to himself as he watched the Porsche snake sleekly around the corner and away "that is some girl."
***
As they approached the freeway, Memphis looked over at Sway. She had her head back against the restraint and her eyes were drooping softly closed. He smiled to himself and turned his attention back to the road. Without being behind the wheel herself, driving at night had always sent Sway to sleep in a matter of minutes.
Memphis cut off the engine after pulling into a spot in their lot and looked over at her again. She was breathing softly her chest moving rhythmically up and down, her intentions from earlier long forgotten. He reached over and brushed a stray strand of hair off her face.
"Sway" He whispered.
"Mmmmm?" She muttered not opening her eyes.
Memphis kissed her brow softly "Come on baby we're home. Wake up." "Mm." She opened her eyes and looked around herself disorientated. "What?"
"We're home." He got out of the car and walked around to undo the passenger door.
Sway groggily undid her seatbelt and dragged her heavy limbs from the car. Clicking the lock button on his key remote Memphis wrapped a steadying arm around his girlfriend's waist.
"Come on." He said, "Lets get you inside."
By the time they had walked the distance up the stairs to their 2nd floor apartment, Sway had woken up and stood yawing as Memphis unlocked the door and flicked on the lights. She followed him inside and flung her jacket over the back of the armchair, he instinctively moved and picked it up, as he always did, hanging it on the back of the door with his own.
In the time it took him to turn back around Sway had disappeared into the kitchen and he could hear the refrigerator door being opened. She returned with two beers and sat down on the sofa to drink hers.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Memphis asked as he sat down next to her and took the second beer from her hand.
"Yes Memphis!" She snapped "Jesus man will you stop asking me. I'm fine."
He looked at her for a second but didn't push it. She'd had a long hard day, and he knew her limits, and what was beyond them.
They sat in silence drinking for a few more minutes before Sway finished hers and set the empty bottle down on the coffee table.
"I'm goin to bed." She said standing up and stretching out "You coming?"
"I'll be there in a sec babe." He replied shaking his nearly empty drink "Just gonna finish this."
"Okay." She leant down and kissed hi briefly on the lips before walking away in the direction of their bedroom.
As he watched her go, Memphis couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong. She was far to quiet. He had never expected tears, Sway didn't cry, but he had at least been prepared for shouting, screaming, any way for her to release the aggression he knew she was harboring. He was used to being her punch bag, of course not literally, but if she needed to let off steam he usually bore the brunt of it. Sway threw things, she swore, she never, went to bed early if she was frustrated, and she never, ever, did so quietly.
He drained what was left of his drink, cleared away the empty bottles and padded into the bedroom after Sway.
She already appeared to be asleep as he walked in. He couldn't quite decide if she actually was. He stood above her for a second, gently twisting a blonde dreadlock around his finger, watching her breathing softly. Something was up, and he knew that soon enough he was going to find out what it was, and had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.
***End chapter 7***
. 37 hours to bet .
Memphis had taken over from Sway on highlighter duty after he could see it was getting to her. She had begun to rub her eyes every few seconds and was getting frustrated with herself. After the third heavy object sailed from the desk and landed with a thump on the floor followed by an anguished cry from Sway he had relived her and set her on another task. And now, after an hour at the desk he could see why she had been so strained. His eyes seemed completely reluctant to focus on the paper in front of him, so all of the text was merging into one black blur. He had highlighted several ladies at once accidentally so many times he had lost count, and was amazed how Sway's immeasurably short fuse had lasted nearly nine hours hunched over this desk without throwing anything more harmless than a stapler.
He rubbed his tired eyes for the hundredth time, and lent back in the chair exhausted. A familiar, gentle arm snaked its way around his neck and Sway's breath was hot on the back of his neck as she spoke.
"Tough work eh?"
"Mmmm." He murmured kissing her arm softly "How the hell did you manage this for nine hours!?"
She spun the swivel chair around so that he was facing her and shrugged.
"I threw things." She said matter-of-factly.
This brought a grin to Memphis's features, and he pulled her face down towards his and kissed her.
A voice from across the room interrupted their intimate moment.
"Jeez! Get a room will ya, people are trying to eat here!" Sway looked up and smirked at Rachel who had a sandwich paused halfway to her mouth.
Memphis laughed softly and Sway looked back down at him.
"I think now would be just about the perfect time to go for that spin don't you think?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She smiled and reached down pulling his keys from the front pocket of his worn black jeans.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she sent him a coy smile, the Ferrari look sinking back into her eyes.
"I think now would also be a good time to go home." She whispered headily into his ear.
***
After he had cleared away his papers and told everyone to finish up and go home, Memphis hurried out of the garage after Sway who had left a couple of minutes earlier. He found her loitering against the hood of the mustang, hands in pockets, staring down at a small fragment of twisted black fiberglass on the ground. He knew exactly where it had come from. Josephine.
She looked up as she heard him approaching and offered him a weak smile.
"You okay baby?" He asked as reached her and slid his arms around her waist.
"I'm fine," She said indignantly, crushing the black shard under the heel of her Doc and looking smolderingly into his eyes "But if you don't get me home soon I won't be held responsible for my actions."
"Really?" He asked as she brought her lips up to his and kissed him hungrily. Her hands slowly traveled up under the back of his shirt and he could feel her nails digging gently into his flesh. The kiss deepened of its own accord until Memphis pulled away breathing heavily.
"Get in the car." He said and Sway grinned running around to the passenger door and sliding into the seat next to him.
***
Rachel watched from the doorway as Memphis's mustang pulled out of the drive and peeled off around the corner. She sighed as she watched the couple go, hoping to god that this crazy plan would work. She knew how much that guy meant to her friend and to loose him in any way would ruin her.
Stepping out of the garage and walking down the drive, a sultry smile returned to Rachel's lips as her baby came into view before her.
"Hey there Maria!" She said as she stroked the roof of her flame red 1984 Porsche 911. It had taken her over 3 years to save up for the very well used second hand classic, and a further year's love and restoration to make it drivable, but now she had it she wouldn't give it up for the world. She had fully cleaned out the interior adding expensive hints of chrome and polished wood, and had also spent a lot of time, effort and money turning her from the original lime green to the sexy red she gleamed in today.
It was her dream come true, she owned something she had wanted her whole life. An original Porsche 911. Someone let out a whistle from behind her making her turn back around in the direction of the garage.
"Man, that is one mighty fine looking honey you got there girl." It was Donny. He took off his black hat and approached her and Maria to get a better look.
Rachel smiled proudly as he inspected her car with awe.
"What is this?" He asked, as he looked over her interior "an 84?"
"Yessir!" Answered Rachel polishing a smudge off the front right headlamp.
"This is in great condition!"
"You should have seen it when I bought it." Laughed Rachel.
"Wow girl you've got talent," Said Donny straightening up to talk to her "You should let Otto see the work you've done here he's always after new restorers."
"Thanks," Said Rachel letting herself into the driver seat "but I'm getting along fine."
"Just a thought." Smiled Donny placing his hat back on his head and shutting the door for her.
She sent him a two-fingered salute through the window and pulled out of the drive.
"Wow." Said Donny to himself as he watched the Porsche snake sleekly around the corner and away "that is some girl."
***
As they approached the freeway, Memphis looked over at Sway. She had her head back against the restraint and her eyes were drooping softly closed. He smiled to himself and turned his attention back to the road. Without being behind the wheel herself, driving at night had always sent Sway to sleep in a matter of minutes.
Memphis cut off the engine after pulling into a spot in their lot and looked over at her again. She was breathing softly her chest moving rhythmically up and down, her intentions from earlier long forgotten. He reached over and brushed a stray strand of hair off her face.
"Sway" He whispered.
"Mmmmm?" She muttered not opening her eyes.
Memphis kissed her brow softly "Come on baby we're home. Wake up." "Mm." She opened her eyes and looked around herself disorientated. "What?"
"We're home." He got out of the car and walked around to undo the passenger door.
Sway groggily undid her seatbelt and dragged her heavy limbs from the car. Clicking the lock button on his key remote Memphis wrapped a steadying arm around his girlfriend's waist.
"Come on." He said, "Lets get you inside."
By the time they had walked the distance up the stairs to their 2nd floor apartment, Sway had woken up and stood yawing as Memphis unlocked the door and flicked on the lights. She followed him inside and flung her jacket over the back of the armchair, he instinctively moved and picked it up, as he always did, hanging it on the back of the door with his own.
In the time it took him to turn back around Sway had disappeared into the kitchen and he could hear the refrigerator door being opened. She returned with two beers and sat down on the sofa to drink hers.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Memphis asked as he sat down next to her and took the second beer from her hand.
"Yes Memphis!" She snapped "Jesus man will you stop asking me. I'm fine."
He looked at her for a second but didn't push it. She'd had a long hard day, and he knew her limits, and what was beyond them.
They sat in silence drinking for a few more minutes before Sway finished hers and set the empty bottle down on the coffee table.
"I'm goin to bed." She said standing up and stretching out "You coming?"
"I'll be there in a sec babe." He replied shaking his nearly empty drink "Just gonna finish this."
"Okay." She leant down and kissed hi briefly on the lips before walking away in the direction of their bedroom.
As he watched her go, Memphis couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong. She was far to quiet. He had never expected tears, Sway didn't cry, but he had at least been prepared for shouting, screaming, any way for her to release the aggression he knew she was harboring. He was used to being her punch bag, of course not literally, but if she needed to let off steam he usually bore the brunt of it. Sway threw things, she swore, she never, went to bed early if she was frustrated, and she never, ever, did so quietly.
He drained what was left of his drink, cleared away the empty bottles and padded into the bedroom after Sway.
She already appeared to be asleep as he walked in. He couldn't quite decide if she actually was. He stood above her for a second, gently twisting a blonde dreadlock around his finger, watching her breathing softly. Something was up, and he knew that soon enough he was going to find out what it was, and had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.
***End chapter 7***