Thanks so much for the reviews guys. You're awesome!
Chapter 8
My first wild, crazy and impulsive night and I had no regrets. I awoke, stretched out my arms and yawned. I pulled the blanket over my naked body and smiled. I treasured the memory of the night before and dismissed all my own chastising about what I had permitted to happen. It wasn't the worst thing in a world, not with all the turmoil and devastation happening all around it.
It took a few moments for it to click in my brain that I was not being roped down on the bed by his huge arms. For a moment I was confused, but I figured he had only awoken before me. It was possible even though he was normally the last of us to wake.
I sat up on the edge of the bed and was surprised to find myself slightly sore, especially in the thighs. I looked around. The next challenge; finding my clothes. Saying that he had tossed them was an understatement. I found articles all in different areas. I slipped on my panties and my shirt and then slipped out to get the shorts that I had been going for the night before.
I was the only one inside the RV and I wondered if everyone had left without me, but while I was getting a cold drink I caught a glimpse of Randy sitting outside.
"Good morning," I said from the door.
"Good morning." Randy didn't greet with a smile. He kept his gaze downcast and puffed on his cigarette. By his feet were several already smoked buts. "I hope my snoring didn't keep you up last night." He didn't laugh or look at me. He sounded depressed. Whatever was on his mind had him really down.
"I like your snoring." And it was the truth. The couple times I had fallen asleep beside him I had laid awake and listened to the slight noise.
"No you don't." He managed a light laugh and then leaned back in his chair. "I feel like I should apologize for last night."
"I'm not sorry, why should you be?" he cast his eyes down again.
"I don't know how to deal with you." He whispered.
"You don't know how to deal with me?" I don't know why, but his words just rubbed me the wrong way.
"You know I'm crazy about you Abbi. If you don't than I don't know what to say."
"Look, I don't have any expectations. You don't have to try and sugar coat what last night was. I'm a big girl. I don't need some big dramatic moment from you meant to spare my feelings." I returned to the RV.
"Abbi." I groaned. Why did he have to follow me?
"I told you last night, Orton. I don't want to get involved with a co-worker. Damn it. Why couldn't you just act normal?"
"You want me to act like nothing happened between us?"
"That's exactly what I want."
"I don't think you mean that." I didn't face him. I did want that. I just wanted to have as a friend just as I had before we'd made love. I wondered if it was possible to share a moment like that and then go on as if we hadn't. "We are still friends, right? Abbi, I couldn't handle …"
"Let's just say you won't have to figure how to deal with me." I spat and closed the door to bathroom. All I wanted was a hot shower. I had to get ready for work. I had a job to do and that was what was most important. Then I remembered his words.
"Son of a bitch." I jerked open the door and shoved the viper who was still leaning against the door hoping to continue our conversation. "You tried to knock me up! And now you have the nerve to stand here and try to give me an excuse. It was supposed to be a one night stand and you're the one who crossed the line so don't you dare give me the let's stay friends speech."
"I'm not trying to give you an excuse!" he screamed back at me. "I'm trying to be honest."
"Do you even know how?"
"Yeah, I do." He seemed hurt. "I managed to stay faithful to my wife for years and I was never tempted. Not once. That should count for something, shouldn't it? Because it sure as hell didn't mean anything to her." He slipped into a chair. "That's what I've been trying to explain. It was never about brushing you off. I really like you. I know what you said, but I don't want that. I can't work with you, forget about making love last night, it wouldn't have mattered. I really like you."
"You didn't even know I was alive until you saw me in a pair of short shorts." I countered.
"I didn't?" he challenged. "I know you're smart, Abbi. Hell, you're probably a hell of a lot smarter than me, but you don't know everything."
"Sure." I snorted a laugh and thought about how much he had noticed me in Vince's office that day.
"I saw you." He said as if reading my mind. "You were sitting on the sofa. Steadily reading over that mess that Vince calls his paperwork. You were wearing a black skirt and a white blouse and you had ink smeared across your cheek. I've always noticed you and I thought you were cute even when you were covering yourself like a nun."
"You never spoke to me."
"Of course not. I was sure you had this big shot lawyer boyfriend or husband waiting for you somewhere."
"I'm not dating anyone, Randy. I've never dated."
"I know and when I found out, I really wanted to ask you out, but I've been married for so long and it's like being unavailable became part of who I am. Even though I know it's okay for me to move on, I still feel like I'm doing something wrong. Does that make sense?"
"Yes. It does." I kissed his cheek. "That's why it's okay. We don't have to rush into anything. Let's just enjoy what last night was and not complicate it, alright?"
He delivered a sweet, gentle kiss and gave me a squeeze.
"I still feel bad." He whispered. "Your first time should have been with someone you love, someone who …" I put my finger on his lips.
"It was special. It was with a friend. So, I know I'll never regret it."
