|
Chapter 8
Gwen and Hank sat in an awkward silence the next morning.
Each would steal glances at the other, while the other was either eating breakfast or reading the paper. Neither
one knew what to say, each for different reasons. For Gwen, it was because of what she heard last night, and
for Hank, it was about his strange dream. Finally decided to clear the air, Hank cleared his throat.
"I’m going to work on my room today, so if you hear someone cussing, it’s probably me."
"Alright. I was thinking of going to Sheridan’s today, anyway, so it won’t be a problem." Gwen smiled.
"When do you start work?" Hank asked, tilting his head.
"On the eighth." Gwen replied.
"Really? That’s the same day I leave for Quantico." Hank announced.
"Oh," Gwen quietly said, not realizing he’d be departing so soon. She looked up and found herself gazing
into his deep, brown eyes. She was hypnotized, and unable to break the stair, until the phone rang. Sighing,
she watched as he got up and went to answer it.
"Hello?....Yeah....Sure, count me in.....Alright, see ya later. Bye" Hank said into the black cordless
phone. He turned about to look at Gwen, who was now reading the paper again.
"That was my niece Kay. She’s going to stop by later today." He explained. Gwen looked up from his
paper and nodded. After taking in one more glance, Hank sighed and left the room. ‘I’ve gotta get my mind of
her, and focus on other things.’
Gwen sighed as she picked out her outfit for today. ‘I can’t believe he’s leaving in less than a week! That
only gives me a few days.’ She pulled out a black long sleeve shirt, and a bootcut pair of jeans. She turned
and entered through her door to the shared bathroom. After setting her outfit down on the counter, she turned
the water on in the shower and got undressed. Gwen entered the shower, and let the hot water and steam soak
her and sooth her. She began to sing a song she had recently heard on the radio. ‘That’s it! We can do a little
going away thing! Sheridan, Luis, Hank, and myself can go out before he leaves.’ Gwen thought. She began to
lather shampoo in her hair, and rinsed it away. After she lathered her ‘puff’ and scrubbed her body. The warm
water rinsed her skin, and she turned the water off. She grabbed the nearest towel from the rack, and wrapped
it around her body.
She quickly got dressed, and did her make up and hair. Smiling as she glanced in the mirror, she blotted her
eye lashes. ‘Perfect. I’m ready to face the day.’ She grabbed her winter jacket, from her bedroom closet, and
entered the hall. Lightly she knocked on Hank’s door, where low music was playing. A second later he opened
the door, sweat beading on his forehead. He smiled at her, and she felt her heart melt. ‘He’s so handsome when
he’s working.’ She thought. After a minute of standing there, she remembered her original task.
"Um, I just wanted to tell you that I’m leaving now. So you’ll have the house to yourself. And for future
reference, you can have your radio louder. I don’t mind most music." She smiled.
"Thanks. Have fun today. I’ll see you back here later." He smiled.
"Yeah, bye." Gwen stood there for a moment longer and stared. Finally she forced her legs to move,
and walked away from him. ‘That’s getting harder each time.’ She reflected as she exited her house and entered
her car. Starting it up, she drove off, towards Sheridan’s cottage.
Sheridan laid in Luis’ strong arms, blissfully recalling the past events. She had had sex before, but it never
was making love. With Luis, it was that, making love. She smiled, and turned over to face him. His breathing
was light, and she could tell he was a sleep. ‘I could do this forever and never get board.’ She thought. Luis
began to stir, and Sheridan sat up.
"Hey sleepy head." She called out as his eyes opened.
"Hey yourself." He smiled. She was positively glowing, being more beautiful then he thought she could
be.
"I didn’t want to wake you." Sheridan explained.
"You didn’t." He replied, snuggling up next to her. He began to kiss her arms, and she closed her
eyes and moaned.
A sudden knock jolted them from their actions, and Sheridan jumped from the bed. Luis gave her a pouting look,
and she laughed.
"At least we weren’t too hot." She smiled, slipping on her jeans and a sweater. The person at the
door knocked again, and Sheridan hollered, "Coming!" She turned back to Luis, who was still laying
on the bed. "Get dressed. We have plenty of time later." She teased him, leaving the room and entering
her living room. She quickly walked to the door, and opened it to reveal Gwen.
"Hello Sheridan, I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything." Gwen smiled, having an idea why Sheridan was
so late.
"No, nothing that can’t wait ‘til later. Come in." Sheridan invited, backing away from the door.
Gwen walked in and followed Sheridan as she walked to the couch and sat down. "So, how’s the new condo?"
"How’d you know? I didn’t tell you yet." Gwen replied, astounded.
"Hank stopped by here yesterday. He told us. How are you living with him?" Sheridan asked.
"Oh, it’s fine. He’s a great friend." Gwen replied, a bit of sadness seeping through her voice as
she said ‘friend’.
"You sound like you wish it was more then friendship." Sheridan pointed out.
Gwen glanced around the cottage to make sure no one could over hear her. "I do, kinda. I don’t know. He’s
said some things that really made me feel good. I get this different feeling around him, something I never had
with Ethan. And then, I...." She paused, and leaned closer to Sheridan. "Our walls are really thin,
and I over heard him talking to himself. He, well, it sounded like he wants a relationship with me."
"Really?!" A surprised Sheridan yelled.
"Yes." Gwen whispered. "I don’t know what to do from here. I’ve only really had a relationship
with Ethan, and he started it." Gwen confessed.
"Don’t worry about it. I’ll help you." Sheridan smiled.
"Hey girls, what’s up?" Luis asked, entering the room. He was wearing a cream pair of cargo pants,
and a blue, turtle neck sweater.
"Hello Luis. I was just telling Sheridan how we should go out together." Gwen answered, winking at
Sheridan.
"Wonderful!" Luis replied.
"Well, I was thinking since Hank’s going away for a while, we could kind of send him off. Just us four going
out to dinner. Four friends enjoying each other’s company." Gwen explained.
"I love it. Hank will too. We never got to give him a proper send off the first time he left." Luis
commented.
"I say we go to Hank’s favorite restaurant. Luis do you know what that is?" Sheridan suggested.
"Yeah, it’s been the Lobster Shack since we were kids." He confirmed.
"Great. He’s leaving the eighth, that’s a Monday. So how about that Saturday?" Gwen asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Luis smiled.
"Don’t Think I’m Not"
"Hey Uncle Hank! You here?" Kay asked as she entered her uncle’s new condo. "Damn, they really
went all out." She commented to herself.
"Kay? Is that you?" Hank asked, coming from the kitchen. His hair was flowing every which way and
sweat was beading on his forehead.
"Hey Uncle Hank. I’d hug ya, but I don’t wanna smell." Kay smiled.
"Funny." Hank sneered.
"Really Uncle Hank, you’ll never impress a girl looking like that." Kay laughed.
Hank sighed, and changed the subject, "So how do you like the place?"
"It’s excellent. You must have some room mate."
"It’s Gwen Hotchkiss." Hank answered.
"Really!! The one Ethan Crane broke up with?! Isn’t she rich?" Kay rambled.
"Slow down turbo. Yes, it’s that Gwen." Hank placed his hand on her shoulders.
"Well, that explains the furniture, the condo, everything." Kay said, glancing around. "Dad told
me you’re leaving for a while. I just wanted to stop by, incase I didn’t see you later." Kay explained.
"Thanks Kay. I’m sure you’ll see me again. Harmony’s not that big." Hank replied.
"I know, but with school, I’ve just been busy. So I don’t-"
"Hey, anybody home?" Gwen called out as she entered her house. "I love saying that."
"Hi Gwen!" Hank said in a peppy voice. His entire face brightened as she entered the living room.
"This is my niece Kay Bennett, I don’t know if you’ve met her."
"Nice to meet you." Gwen said in a cheery voice. Kay smiled and watched as her uncle and Gwen carried
on a conversation. She saw the stolen glances, smiles, and twinkles in their eyes. "Well, if you’ll excuse
me, I need to get a few things, then I’m meeting Sheridan." Gwen smiled and left the room.
"Uncle Hank." Kay sang. "I think someone has a crush."
"Kay!" Hank said, blushing.
"It’s true, isn’t it!"
"I think you need to leave now. I’ve gotta finish my room." Hank said, pushing her towards the door.
"Alright Uncle Hank, if I don’t see you again, have a good trip." Kay leaned up and kissed her uncle
before turning around and leaving the condo. Hank shook his head as he watched her leave. ‘She’s always so observant.’
He thought.
"Your niece is nice." Gwen said, breaking his chain of thought.
"Yeah, she’s something." Hank smiled. "So that dinner thing you were telling me about earlier
sounds fun."
"Yeah, well, I’m starting my job, and you’re leaving for a while, so I thought we should have a little fun."
Gwen smiled.
"A little fun sounds great. I’m in the mood for fun."
Saturday
Evening (Before the Dinner)
Gwen sat in front of her vanity resting in the southeast
corner of her room. Gently she applied blush and some red eye shadow, that matched her black skirt and red
long sleeve top. She brushed her hair out, making sure it complied. After batting her eyelashes a couple of
times, she grabbed her black cherry lipstick and graciously applied it.
"Perfect." Gwen took tissue and blotted her lipstick before standing and admiring herself in her full
length mirror. She went over to her closet and picked out her comfortable knee high boots. Sitting on her bed,
she pulled them up to her knee, and stood up. Once again she went to her full length mirror. She smoothed her
skirt, and smiled. Turning on her heel, she left the room, ready to go to dinner.
Hank combed his hair and added breath spray to his mouth. He grabbed his jet black leather jacket and headed
out of his room. He was ready for this ‘dinner’ and hoped it’d be a memorable evening. He had been awaiting
this ‘dinner’ for three days. His nerves were shot, and he was giddy with anticipation. Sure, it was only four
friends going out, but he hoped it’d turn out to be more. The past three days had only made him want her more.
Every conversation, every glance, every meal, he was distracted by her beauty, her wit, everything about her.
And now, in two days, he had to leave. Did the FBI have worse timing? He sighed aloud and entered the kitchen.
That’s when he saw her. At her appearance, he took in a sharp breath. She was beautiful. Absolutely stunning.
They stared at each other for a few moments, until she finally broke the silence.
"So, you ready?" She asked.
"Yes." Hank choked out.
"Alright, let’s go. I’ll drive." Gwen exited the room in a hurry, for fear that if she stayed, she
wouldn’t be able to control the desire that pulsed through her veins. She went to the front hall closet and grabbed
her coat before opening the door and stepping out into the frigid air. It was dusk, and winter, so she expect
to be could, but found her self too hot. Of course she was still thinking of Hank. She entered her car, and started
it up. Hank entered on the passenger side, and smiled as they pulled out of the condo’s parking space. ‘This
will definitely be a night to remember.’ Both thought.
|
