The sweltering heat that had plagued the previous weeks showed mercy that day. It was eighty degrees with low humidity. Jillian and Lilith nursed their iced teas and watched the ducks and geese play in the algae-infested pond. Before Lilith had a chance to finish her drink, she drifted off to sleep as Jillian drifted back in time.
*
Day
Luke insisted Jessica take the day off to recover. No work, no therapy, no Luke. Jessica appeased him by playing the part of the good patient, only because she’d caught a glimpse of her hideous reflection in his GTO’s window. Who was she kidding? Soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and a comb were the absolute minimum requirements before her charm and sex appeal would have a chance. And even then, she knew he was immune to her spells.
The loose-fitting cargo pants didn’t turn any heads, but they also didn’t rub against her road-rash covered legs. Her sleeveless blouse that revealed her cleavage, one of the few areas of her body that was unscathed, made up for the not-so-sexy pants. She left her hair down to veil the scrape high on her cheekbone. Armed with a pizza, Heineken, and a bottle of Riesling, she knocked on Luke’s door.
“Jessica?” Luke answered wearing an authentic look of shock, but it didn’t distract from his fitted button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up, and jeans that flashed like a neon ‘fuck me’ sign. At least, that was Jessica’s humble opinion that was reaffirmed when she inhaled what she’d come to think of as Chanel No. 69 – Jones le fonder de culotte—Jones the panty melter.
“I’m not a take-the-day-off kind of girl, so …” She shrugged.
“You should have called first.” Luke’s expression morphed from surprised to a reprimanding scowl.
She wrinkled her nose. “I wanted to surprise you. The call would have ruined it.”
“True, but at least you would have known that I already have plans this evening.”
“Plans? What plans? Your place is immaculate thanks to yours truly and less than twenty-four hours ago your plans were with me?” Jillian leaned forward and sniffed, trying to decipher what she was smelling other than pizza and Chanel No. 69. “Are you cooking?”
“Yes,” Luke answered, enunciating the word as if Jessica was deaf or just dumb.
“Luke?” A female’s voice called from inside.
“Is that … a woman?”
“Yes,” he repeated his same enunciation.
“A date?” Jessica said with loud surprise.
“Shh … yes, a date. Now, do you mind?”
“Where’s your bottle open—Jessica?” A familiar body accompanied the mysterious voice.
Luke sighed as his date peeked around him.
“Ellie?” Jessica gritted her teeth.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Ellie’s gaze moved to the pizza box and sack of beer and wine.
“Jessica cleans my house.” Luke smiled at Ellie.
“But, I thought Kelly and Gabe said they fixed you two up and it didn’t work out.”
Jessica smiled at Luke, waiting for his explanation.
“They did, and we didn’t work out romantically, but I was looking for a cleaning lady and Jessica was looking for some part-time work so …” Luke shrugged like that’s all the explanation that was needed. “So, I take it you’re both mutual friends of Kelly’s?”
Jessica interrupted before Ellie could get one syllable out of her pouty lips. “We all went to college together.”
“I dated her brother, Jude, for a while.” Ellie flipped her blond hair over her shoulder as if dating Jude was worthy of a spot on her dating resumé.
“I think he said he screwed you in the alley behind a night club and couldn’t remember your name so he referred to you as ‘the girl who would lick anything.’ So if you call that dating, then sure … you dated my brother.”
Ellie laughed. “Oh, Jess … you’ve always had such a great sense of humor.” Ellie retreated from Luke’s view and gave a pleading, wide-eyed look to Jessica.
“Well, listen up, Jones. I’m busy for the next two weeks so it’s now or never for cleaning your place.”
“Never.” Luke squinted and started to close the door.
“Now? Great!” Jillian pushed it open and wedged her way between him and the door. “You don’t mind do you, Ellie? I’ll be done in no time. You won’t even notice I’m here.”
“Uh … well…” Ellie stepped to the side “…what’s with the pizza?”
“A girl’s gotta eat.” Jessica sauntered down the hall toward Luke’s bedroom. She shut the door and leaned up against it, blowing her hair away from her eyes. “Ellie?” she grumbled. “Ellie fucking … what is her last name? Lehman? Lawson? Lieberman? Lickey!” She laughed in spite of the frown on her face. “It’s not Lickey, but screw it, I’m going with it. How could Kelly fix him up with her? Shit!” Jessica jumped as a loud knock vibrated the door just opposite her head. She turned and opened it.
“Jessica …” Luke stormed inside his bedroom. It was more like a small gust. Nothing Luke did ever appeared out of control. “Once again you are crossing the line. I told you to stay home and rest. Now you’re here crashing my date, which is completely inappropriate, and the web of lies keeps getting bigger and it’s all going to blow up in your face—”