MANDY
I looked around the room one last time before I went back to the counter and took another drink of the wine in the glass. There was nothing that I could do but wait. Greg had always been the type that wasn’t very good at being on time. There had been several times that he had left me high and dry. I started to wonder if it was going to be one of those times as well. I checked the time on the phone and was surprised that it was only five after. It just felt like an eternity waiting for him it seemed.
When I heard the doorbell, I practically jumped out of my skin. There was no other way to explain how I was feeling. I had been waiting for him, cursing him for his tardiness, but now that he was there and my heart was pounding in my chest, I wondered if I really wanted to see him again. It was only a mere fluke that I had the house to myself that night, but now I worried about everything. Was I really ready to tell Greg what I was so afraid to tell him so long ago?
Opening the door, I knew that I couldn’t just not answer it, even if I didn’t want to turn the knob all of a sudden. I had called him over of course and I took one last look behind me, making sure all of the pictures of Alfie were up. I still wasn’t sure if I would tell him the truth, all of the truth, so I didn’t want him to see pictures and start asking questions. While I thought that they looked a lot alike, he may see the uncanniness as well.
“Hi Greg.”
His eyes swept over my body and I was glad that I had kept up with my gym membership. Nothing would have been worse than seeing him like he was and letting myself go. He was still as hard and gorgeous as he always was and I hoped that I had held up as well. Having Alfie had added more curves that I had come to love, but Greg knew me before all of that. We had been so young and back then I was as close to perfection as I was ever going to be. If nothing else, I was glad that he liked what he saw now, regardless of the changes.
“You look great Mandy. You look just like you used to.”
I waved him off, sure that he was just being nice, but I did see the lust in his eyes. That part of him hadn’t changed and I loved that I made him feel that way. It had been a while and though I knew that I didn’t bring him home for that, I knew that it was nice to be thought of in that way. It just meant that at least I still had it.
“Come in Greg. It is good to see you again.”
He walked through and I could feel his body heat coming off of him as he passed me to move into the small house. Like everything, he overwhelmed the small foyer and I found myself backing up as he came closer. “Just hang your coat there and I will get the door.”
I don’t know why I was blabbering, but I could hear that I was, though I didn’t seem able to stop it. I was just so nervous that there was nothing else that I could do but do as I said I would. When I turned back around though, I knew that I was in for some trouble and the night was not going to go as planned. Greg had not moved from the spot where he stood and was just staring at me in that way that told me that he wanted to have me for dinner. I didn’t know if I was meant to be an appetizer or a snack, but it was hard to hold his view when I knew exactly what he was capable of and what he could do to my body if he was so inclined.
Before I could really understand what was going on, Greg was leaning forward, pressing his lips against mine. I moaned against his soft lips as his tongue pushed through to my own. His arm went around my waist and he pulled me to him. I was left to meld against his hard chest, my body reacting to the memories of what he had done to me in the past. Greg had given me more pleasure than I had ever had and so help me, I wanted it now more than ever.
Pulling back, I knew I had to get my wits about me before I lost everything in his gaze. There was part of me that wanted to give into the temptation. I had to remind myself that it wasn’t the past and we weren’t teenagers anymore. Now I had responsibilities and I was sure that he did too. I knew that Greg was the one man that could turn my life upside down. It is what he had done in the past. Love had a way of doing that.
“I don’t think we should Greg…”
He stopped me and apologized, citing an urge that he couldn’t control, but promised that it wouldn’t happen again. I wished that I wasn’t so disappointed in the idea of it never happening again. I had missed his lips on mine and I had to fight the urge to touch them, knowing that they were tingling still from his touch.
“I don’t know what got into me. You were just looking at me in that way that you used to.”
I didn’t know what look he was talking about, but I made sure to turn away so that whatever my eyes were saying, they weren’t talking to him. I didn’t want him to know how much I cared and still cared about him. Greg didn’t need to know how much power he had over my happiness. I didn’t want him to know that about me.
“It’s okay. I uh, wasn’t expecting it as all.”
“You’re lips are still soft and I swear you taste like strawberries.”
I didn’t believe him when he used to say it before, but I liked the continuation of how I hadn’t changed. I felt older most days, but at the moment I felt like I was seventeen again and I was looking at the man I loved. No wonder he was pouncing on me, when I was looking at him like that. I turned away and tried my best to make sure that I didn’t send him anymore looks.
“I got some drinks out if you would like one. Do you still drink whiskey?”
He nodded that he did and asked me how I remembered. All I could ask in return was how could I forget.
“It was a long time ago and we were just teens after all.”
“Of course. I guess I just remember the little things for longer.”
“I remembered everything about you Mandy. It doesn’t feel like it has been that long. When we kissed, it was just like the last time, right before you left me.”
I was waiting for that and I knew that I had more than I realized to explain myself. I couldn’t help it, but I had just left. I was the one that was going to need a drink and when I finally got to the kitchen, I poured something a little stiffer than wine. I was going to need it.