Chapter 16 Long Lunch

Chapter 16 Long Lunch

Thursday morning, Brittney woke from a dream. She was walking down the street with David. Everyone they met was someone who knew her, and she was introducing him as her lover. They were simply nodding and saying, “Nice to meet you.” Then she saw Alex and the girls. When they came up, she introduced David as her lover. The girls gave him a hug. Alex shook David’s hand and walked away with the girls without saying a word.

“Thank God,” Brittney whispered.

“Thank God for what?” Alex said.

“Sorry. Just had a strange dream.”

“Wanna tell me about it?” Alex said.

“I can’t remember it, only that it was strange.”

As Brittney dried herself after peeing, she wondered if she’d see David. Was he serious about a long lunch? Was he serious? she thought.  That was an absurd question. Of course he was. Everything was life and death for David.

Sure enough, her phone pinged at 9:00. The text read, “11:30 at the Hilton on Sheridan Street. I’ll be waiting in the lobby.”

They’d have two hours together. So much could happen in two hours.

From the parking garage, she walked into the lobby and there he sat waving like a schoolboy. She glanced around the quiet lobby to see if there were any familiar faces. All clear, she thought.

She followed David to the elevator, and they began the ride to the nineth floor. He gave her a peck on the cheek when the door closed. She smiled. “We’re so bad at this,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone who knows me is going to see us.”

David was quiet.

I don’t like this sneaking around,” Brittney said.

“Me neither. I’m sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for. We’re in this mess together,” Brittney said.

“Mess? I don’t think of this as a mess,” David said, and Brittney knew she’d hit a nerve.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to hurt my family. Or you.”

The elevator door opened, and David held out his hand. “I know. It’s difficult, but I wouldn’t trade anything for knowing you.”

Brittney paused slightly and looked up at him. Then she looked ahead and stepped into the hallway.

“We’re in room 924,” David said.

Brittney noticed the arrows and turned quickly down the correct hallway. When she reached the room, she looked at the wall with a solemn expression. What are we doing here? she thought.

David pressed the keycard against the door. It flashed red. “Damn,” he said under his breath before trying again.

Brittney held her breath. If it flashed red again, she knew what she needed to do. It would be a divine sign.

David felt Brittney’s uneasiness as he held the key out again.

It was a steady green. They both sighed in unison, and he opened the door.

The room was a nice suite and had a light, fresh smell. The air hummed softly but lights were out. David turned on the entrance light and Brittney made her way to the bed where she stood kicking off her shoes and unbuttoning her blouse.

Her hands moved methodically with precision. After her blouse fell to the floor, she unzipped her pants before looking back to David. He took her look as a cue and quickly discarded his shirt and pants. In the dim light, Brittney saw his outline clearly. Her eyes fell on him and he sensed her gaze. His response was physically evident, and Brittney moved to him where they hugged softly for a couple of minutes.

“I’m chilly,” Brittney whispered.

“I’ll warm you up,” David replied with a smile.

Brittney felt him against her. He was truly warm. He folded his arms around her in a way that reminded me of bear hugs from her father when she was a child. It didn’t even feel sexual at all, but as they embraced, she began to feel the length of him growing against her tummy.

After what seemed like a couple of minutes passed, Brittney leaned back a little and looked down. David watched her face and, for the first time, noticed little scare on her forehead. He imagined her as a child tumbling from a bike and cutting herself. Suddenly he was amazed by this sister to him in the family of humanity. How was it that cut skin heals? How was it that she reached adulthood, missing so many changes to die along the way. What powers were at work in the world for these repeated healings to occur?

Brittney jarred David back into the present when her hand found him and her cool slender fingers began to stroke. She raised her head, and they kissed a long exploratory kiss.

Panting, Brittney said, “I’ve missed you.”

“Me too,” said David as he leaned down to kiss her breasts. She must have splashed lilac between her breasts that morning, he thought as his tongue tasted the bitter residue of perfume.

Brittney couldn’t wait any longer and dropped to her knees ready for worship.  

David looked down at Brittney’s parted blonde hair that shown like silk threads in the mid-day sun reflecting from the plate glass window. He looked up and realized they had a view of the modest Oklahoma City skyline. He didn’t feel embarrassed at his nakedness but proud. Oh, how he wished others could see Brittney and her beauty.

Her lips brought him back into the room. God, her mouth was so warm and mysterious. His eyes fell on Brittney’s shoulders where he saw a silver chain. Her neck was smooth like an ivory column but curving gently to her shoulders. He marveled that he was inside of such a beautiful sphere of creation.

Brittney leaned back and her eyes met David’s. Her eyes were those of a child, he thought. Always bright and seeking to know.

She walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed then took David’s hand and led him to the bed.