Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the last chapter and to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Sorry, this chapter is behind schedule, and not out as promised. But, as I was out of the country still as hubby and I ran behind schedule getting home so I was unable to post before it was back to work for me. :) Happy Reading!
Chapter 7 Playing With Fire
As I am running to the door, thinking that Peter left his keys, or that he is checking up on me. My mind is skipping to all the ways that he will try to blame me if he did, in fact, leave his house keys. I open the door quickly, to avoid Peter's accusations, knowing that no matter what, I am most likely too slow for him. Instead, there is a man standing on the porch. It looks like the guy from next door, but he looks different, for some reason. He is standing next to his duffle bags, looking nervous. He should be nervous, if Peter ever knew that he was over here, talking to me, without him here, his life would be in jeopardy. "Hey Bea, I know we just met, but Stacy kind of threw me out of the house, my cell phone is dead. Is it possible that I could use your phone to call someone to pick me up." He asks.
I cross my arms over my chest and say "Sure, but I'm not going to let you in."
"Why not?" He asks curiously.
"Because I don't even know your name." I want to tell him that I can't let him in, that Peter has spies everywhere, like Drew, who watch the house constantly while he is at work. That his life would be in so much danger if I let him in, but I can't.
"I'm sorry Bea. I thought Peter told you who I was. I should have introduced myself to you personally, but your boyfriend said you weren't comfortable talking to strange men. I should have known better after dinner tonight. Everyone who is a friend calls me Eaton." He says casually, as his name hits me like a rock, knocking the air out of my lungs, as I begin to wonder if this is the man, that I accidentally misdialed from the hospital when I was trying to call Four.
"Okay fine, but stay here. Let me go get the house phone, and you can use it." I say begrudgingly.
"Come on Bea! It's cold out here. Plus, I forgot my jacket over here earlier." He says, smirking at me.
"Fine, but make it quick Eaton," I say sternly.
He enters the house, I hand him the phone, he quickly makes his phone call, and he hangs up the phone. As he does, he says "Zeke should be here in half an hour."
"Good, then you can go stand outside."
"Come on Bea, that isn't very nice."
"Who said I was nice. Unless you want on Peter's bad side, I suggest you go stand outside," I say sternly, pointing to the road.
Eaton shakes his head as he says "Please, Peter doesn't scare me. I'm in the Air Force, and on leave from a combat zone. What could he possibly do that is so scary. Punch me? Mess up my pretty face. I have had those things done plenty of times."
I quip an eyebrow at him as he laughs, shaking his head. He has the gall to laugh when I point to the door again. "Eaton, you need to leave this house right now. I don't appreciate you laughing at me either. Call me Bea, one more time and I will make you regret it." I say, wanting to punch this handsome, irritating man. I take crap, every single day of my life from Peter, but I certainly don't need to take it from Eaton, who I just met today.
"Oh! I'm sorry. Did I insult the princess?" He asks jokingly. I raise an eyebrow at him. "Why exactly did Stacy toss you out of your house?"
"None of your business, Princess." Eaton grumbles at me "Let's just say that we aren't seeing eye to eye on something at this moment. It doesn't matter anyway, because I'm leaving soon. First thing tomorrow morning, my ass is back on a plane headed towards Afghanistan."
"Oh." Is all I can think to say, after all, what do you say to someone who is going overseas to risk his life.
I quietly say, "Good luck with everything and be safe." Because that is all, I can think of to say. When suddenly a question pops into my head,
"Can I ask you a question before you leave?" I think at that moment about asking about Four, maybe he knows where he is, and what his phone number really is since, I didn't remember the right one.
"Yeah." He stares at me as his hand touches the front door. "Are you the only Eaton in the Air Force?"
"Yes, why?"
"No reason," I say as I chicken out about asking about Four and the phone number that I had memorized that Four had given me. I can't believe Four played me like that. That he gave me someone else's phone number.
He has a tight smile playing on his lips as I hand him his jacket, he replies "Thanks for the help," as he walks out the door into the cool night air. I feel bad about making him stand in the cold in the middle of December, but then again it is California.
I stand in the doorway watching Eaton's silhouette in the night by the road. He sits on his bag, staring at the night sky. As I watch him, I wonder what he is thinking about, is he scared to be going off to war? Eventually, a truck pulls up, and Eaton gets in. I wave goodbye from the doorway, lock up the house again. I go to bed. Peter comes in drunk once again from work. He whispers darkly in my ear, "I know that another man was in this house all alone with you. Stacy and Drew both told me."
I shiver knowing that means bad news for me after he passes out on the bed.
Please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter. My next chapter should be up as scheduled sometime along the weekend of August 18. Until Next Time!