Author's note: I started another Art and Other Distractions prequel about Finnick and Annie called Is There Life Out There? if you're interested. It's going to be pretty smutty if you're in the mood for that. lol. This chapter isn't smutty. But I'm very interested in hearing what you think about its content.
Happy reading!
Chapter Nine
Effie looked in the mirror and smoothed down the front of her blouse. It was bright yellow and had a pattern of daisies around the hem. She wore a pair of tight dark wash jeans. Her shoes were yellow with a heel that would be dangerous for most people to walk in, but not a former runway model.
Haymitch arrived and Cinna let him in. The men were in the middle of a conversation about the warmer weather when Effie walked in. Both cut off and Haymitch gave her an appreciative nod after taking in her appearance.
"You are beautiful." He sighed.
"You really think so? I used to have room in these pants. Not much anymore." She looked down and shook her head. "That was uncalled for. You gave me a compliment and I'm told I have to stop making excuses. Thank you, Haymitch. You look so handsome in that green shirt. It brings out the flecks of green in your eyes."
He gathered her close and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Thank you. I'm so proud of you and your progress." He rubbed his hands over her arms. "Getting toned up. I bet you could pick me up."
She grinned. "Not yet. But I can almost bench a hundred without wanting to die after six lifts."
He laughed and kissed her again.
"You two have fun." Cinna said as Effie gathered her purse and keys at the door.
"Don't wait up." Effie told him with a wink.
They made themselves comfortable in a booth at a casual dining restaurant. Effie ordered water and smiled when Haymitch voiced his preference of a strawberry lemonade.
"I used to order rum and Coke. Or whiskey and Coke. Anything and Coke, so I'm not much of a soda drinker anymore. It's just not quite the same without alcohol. But I do like me some lemonade."
She giggled. "So what do you like here?"
"There's a jalapeño burger that's good."
She made a face. "Trying to cut back on the red meat. My trainer says too much isn't good." She read a little. "Ooh, blackened chicken. That sounds good."
"It does." He commented. "I think I'm going for a steak though. Twelve ounce T-bone. Rare." He sighed. "A cold beer would be nice."
She reached across the table and rubbed his hand. "I was just over here thinking of all the ways I can reduce the calories of my meal. And what I should give up for the next couple days to make up for it."
He turned his hand over and squeezed hers. "Recovery takes a long time."
"Will I ever get over it?" She asked softly, focusing on their joined hands.
"That depends on who you ask. Some people think it's a constant battle. Some people are sure there is a time when it won't be an issue. For me, at a place like this where it's everywhere," he picked up a special drinks menu and held it up, "I want all of these. And I've never been one for cocktails. Not even margaritas. But I can taste it just looking at the names of the drinks."
She lifted up his hand and kissed his knuckles. "We'll work on it together. For tonight, at least."
The waiter came back and handed them their drinks. "Ready to order?"
Effie said, "I'll take the six ounce sirloin, medium well, with a baked potato and the steamed veggies. Please put plenty of butter on that potato." She smiled and handed over her menu.
Haymitch squeezed her hand and ordered his own steak with the same sides. "You know you don't have to eat all of that."
She nodded.
"But if you do, we can go back to my place and lapse into a food coma."
She giggled and rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand. "Better to pass out from too much food than too much alcohol, right?"
"Right." He leaned over and kissed her softly. "So tell me about your day."
"It was a day." She shrugged. "Not very eventful."
"Did you make anything pretty today?"
"No. But Cinna did." She swirled her straw around in her water. "I like working with him, but I'm not an artist and I'm not sure I fit in the fashion world anymore."
"So what do you like?"
She shrugged again. "Not sure anymore. I used to be. I was in control of everything."
"You'll figure it out." He smiled. "When I was in high school I played football. I was really good, even got a decent scholarship to play in college. Then I got to the drinking really bad and that ended that. Dropped out of school and went on a really long bender. Iris married Caleb and he helped me get clean and I found a new purpose helping other people recover. It all just takes time."
She kissed his hand again. "I don't think I want to model anymore, that's for sure. I'm too old anyway."
"Any help you need, let me know."
She smiled. "Would you say that to anyone else?"
"Depends on who it is."
"Your sister?"
"Yes. But my patience is wearing thin and I hate it."
"Your nieces?"
"Yes. But Katniss wouldn't ask unless she had no other choice. Prim would ask if Katniss would let her." He slipped his arm around her back. "But no one else. No one else deserves it."
"So what makes me so special?" Effie asked, leaning into his touch.
Haymitch rubbed a spot between her shoulder blades. "A lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that you are so strong and you are so sweet and you are talented and kind and…loving. You're a good friend. A good girlfriend. If I can call you my girlfriend."
She smiled. "I'd like very much to be your girlfriend."
They went back to his place and cuddled up on the couch to watch TV for a while. Both had eaten so much they didn't feel like moving.
Effie yawned and stretched after a while. "I'm ready for bed."
Haymitch watched her a moment. "For sleeping or sex?"
She laughed. "I'm not really in the mood."
"Me neither. I'll get the lights and double-check the door."
"And I'm going to go put on one of your giant t-shirts and get comfortable." She kissed his cheek and bounced toward the other end of the house. She changed and settled into the bed just as Haymitch came into the room.
He stripped down to his underwear and climbed into bed with Effie. They shared a kiss. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She draped her arm over his chest and drifted off to sleep pretty quickly.
It took him much longer. He watched her sleep. She was peaceful. She was always calm and chipper, but her eyes told a different story. And in sleep, they were no longer stressed or calculating every bite she took or how many steps she had to take.
Haymitch finally fell into a light sleep after Effie rolled away. He had always been a light sleeper, but a night of sex with Effie usually knocked him out cold for at least a while. Tonight was different, though. So every time she adjusted her position, it jolted him awake.
She suddenly rolled over and tried to wrap herself around him. He pushed her away. "It's too hot." He mumbled and rolled away.
"Sorry." Her voice sounded pitiful and he heard her sniff.
"Effie?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine." He put his hand on her hip and pulled gently until she rolled back over. "Talk to me."
She blinked a few times and then wiped her eyes. "I had a dream that you decided you didn't want me anymore. And you were calling me all sorts of rude names and making fun of me for my eating habits. And you said I was fat and you didn't date fat girls." Her voice finally broke and she rolled over to press her face into the pillow.
He rubbed her back. "I'm very proud of your eating habits. And I like the way you treat yourself and how you're healing. And I'm not falling in love with your body, I'm falling in love with your personality. But as far as the body goes..."
She turned her head. "Did you say you're falling in love with me?"
"You have a great bone structure." He said with a smirk. "And a really cute nose."
She turned and shoved his shoulder. "What was that part about falling in love with me?"
"And your hands have worked wonders."
She pushed him onto his back and hovered over him. "Answer me, Haymitch."
"Slip of the tongue." He rubbed his hands down her back.
She straddled his hips and sat back. "You know, I hear somewhere that when you make a slip of the tongue it really means you wanted to say something and didn't know what to say."
He smiled and pushed the shirt up until her hips were exposed. "Maybe I'm just not ready to say it."
"And that's fine. I just want acknowledgement that you said you were falling in love with me."
"Come down here." He pulled her down to lie on his chest. "I had this girlfriend in high school. She was killed by a jealous ex-boyfriend. I told her I loved her for the first time the day she died."
"Well, I promise I don't have any jealous exes. I don't have any exes. One night stands, remember? Not even a high school boyfriend. So you can tell me you love me if you want. I'm not going anywhere." She kissed him. "And I love you."
He smiled and rubbed her back. "Give me a little more time."
"Okay." She yawned and moved away. "I'm going back to sleep. But I like it when you put your hand on my hip."
He moved behind her and rested his hand on her hip. He kissed the back of her head. "I'm so glad you're in my life, Effie."
She placed her hand on top of his. "I am too."