Tessa sat on the floor, her nude legs splayed in front of her. Not only did she not want to move, she didn’t think she could even if she had to.
“Well, that’s a first,” she said, Atticus sitting next to her.
“What, having sex?”
Tessa playfully slapped Atticus on the arm.
“No, jerk.”
“Having sex with the electrician, then?”
“Well, I guess that would be another first. But I was referring to cheating.”
“Ah. That’s what some might call a dubious honor.”
“I suppose so,” said Tessa, debating how much to tell about her situation with Lucas to this man who she still didn’t know.
“I’ve never been married myself, so I wouldn’t really know about those kinds of things.”
Tessa raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“You’ve never been married?”
“No, ma’am,” he said.
“That’s…surprising,” said Tessa.
“How do you mean?”
“Well, you’re about my age, right? Late thirties?”
“Yeah, thereabouts.”
“When I think of a man my age who hasn’t ever been married, a man like you isn’t who comes to mind.”
“Oh?” asked Atticus, raising an eyebrow. “And what kind of man does come to mind?”
“The kind of guy who still lives with his parents. And spends most of his free time jerking off and playing video games.”
“Who says I don’t live with my parents?” he asked, a sly smile on his face.
Tessa slapped him on the arm again.
“And who doesn’t love jerking off and playing video games?”
Tessa laughed.
“OK, I get it,” she said.
“Seriously, though, I’ve had my fair share of serious relationships that went on for years, but nothing that ended in getting hitched.”
“Hmm,” said Tessa. “Sounds like someone’s got high standards.”
“More that I’m the sort of guy who enjoys his freedom. Well, take our little rendezvous just now,” he said. “Not really the type of thing you can do when you’re tied down.”
“Didn’t stop me,” said Tessa.
Atticus let out a quick laugh.
“I suppose you’re right. Though I get the impression there’re some extenuating circumstances in your case.”
“You’d be right on that.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
Tessa did want to talk about it. She wanted to blurt out the who situation with Lucas, to get it off of her chest, to hear someone else’s opinion on the matter. But, again, she decided against it.
“Like I said, I think I’ve got an ex.”
“Say no more,” said Atticus.
Reaching across the kitchen and grabbing his pants, Atticus checked his phone.
“Whew,” he said, looking at the time. “I think I need to get going.”
“Duty calls, huh?”
“Something like that.”
He got up and stepped into his pants. Moving around the kitchen, he picked up his clothes and put them on, one after the other.
“I suppose we should talk business?” asked Tessa, standing and fetching her own clothes.
“Huh? Oh yeah, I did fix your electricity.”
He furrowed his brow in thought.
“You know what? I think this one’s on me.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“I hope you’re not thinking we have a quid-pro-quo arrangement going on.”
“Ha. No, not at all,” he said, pulling his shirt on, Tessa feeling a slight tinge of disappointment as he covered up his body. “It was an easy job and I think it’s the least I can do for someone who’s going through what looks to be a tough situation.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
He reached into his back pocket and slipped out a silver card case.
“On one condition: You need any help, be it electricity-related or otherwise, you give me a call.”
“Aren’t you a good Samaritan?” said Tessa, taking the bone-white card with his information on it from Atticus and looking it over.
“Just think of me as a friend,” he said with a smile.
Tessa smiled, noting that part of her wanted to think of him as more than that.
His boots on, he walked towards the door.
“Anyway, I should get moving. Pleasure doing business with you, ma’am,” he said.
“Likewise, sir,” Tessa responded.
Atticus gave her a slight nod and headed out, Tessa’s eyes on him as he walked out to his black truck, tossed his tools in the back and with a final wave, drove off. A strange sense of longing in her heart, she watched as truck disappeared down the curving, winding road of the forest.