The ringing phone woke them from their half dream state. They had pleasured each other until they fell asleep, still touching and exploring. Suzie opened her eyes. Jeff’s hand was still on her breast as she tried to distinguish which phone was ringing. Jeff picked up the phone with his other hand.
“Yeah,” he mumbled.
“Why are you answering Suzie’s phone?” Jared asked.
“Uh, sorry bro, she left it out here and I just grabbed it when I heard it ring,” Jeff stuttered.
“Still sleeping then. That figures. Get your ass up and find Suzie for me, you are going to be late,” Jared said in his condescending tone.
Jeff counted to three silently and passed the phone to Suzie who was removing herself from on top of him. She sat up and distanced herself from Jeff, pulling the blanket with her. She took a breath.
“Hi babe,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.
“Hey sweetheart, I wanted to check on you after yesterday and say I love you before you start your day.”
“Oh, thanks. I am fine, still a bit shaky but will be fine. Hope your day goes well too.” Suzie mumbled an I love you when Jared said it again. Then he asked to talk with Jeff.
“Is she really okay?” Jared asked Jeff.
“Yeah, she is fine. She is amazing. I mean okay, yeah she is okay. No worries,” Jeff said in reply.
“Okay, thanks. You have to look after her for me. I am so glad you are there with her,” Jared said with concern.
“She can handle herself just fine,” Jeff said.
“Yeah, she acts tough but she has been through a lot, she needs strength and support. So I need you to give it to her since I am not there,” Jared said.
I will give it to her alright, Jeff thought. I will bend her over the table and give it to her right now. Clearing his throat he instead replied, “Sure. Chill out.”
Suzie was panicking. She was late for work, again. Everything she had to wear was at her house and she had to rely on Jeff to get her there. He got off the phone and still had not got up. Suzie paced, then slowed as her stomach clenched in hunger. She ignored it and focused on getting to work.
“Can you drive me home?” she asked him.
“You don’t want to go to work wearing that?” Jeff gestured to the black sweater she had put back on.
“I just need to get some clothes on and get to work. Can we go?” Suzie insisted.
Slowly getting up, Jeff pulled on his jeans and shirt and followed Suzie out the door. Halfway home both their phones started going off. First it was a message from her boss asking her to call ASAP. Then Laura called at the same time Jared called Jeff, who pulled over to sort the chaos.
“OMG Suzie where are you. Everyone thought you were dead,” Laura gasped.
“Whoa, what? I just left a message saying I was running late,” Suzie said. “How could I be dead?”
“Your place, it burned to the ground. We all thought you were in it. Where are you?” Laura explained.
“No I’m fine. Look I got to go I will talk to you when I come in,”
Suzie said then ended the call. Turning to Jeff who was still on the phone she said, “Drive. My place, now.”
Tossing the phone to her, Jeff drove. Jared was still on the phone and confirmed that there had been a fire. No one had been able to locate her so they called her work and chaos had ensued. Finally, Jared had been called and sorted everything out informing work she was safe and sound though would not be in to work that day. Jared then insisted she go back to his place and stay there until he arrived.
“It’s all taken care of babe. I will be home tonight, until then, take a day of rest.”
She did as she was told and allowed Jeff to take her back to Jared’s apartment. There was nothing left of her place, it had burned to the ground. Everything she had, which was not much, was gone. In shock, she fell silent. Jeff opened the door for her and guided her inside. She sat down on the couch shivering. Jeff went into the kitchen to make coffee. When he returned she was wrapped in his blanket. Locking eyes with her, he saw she was scared but there was fierceness there, a spark. Her hands shook when she took the cup from him and he helped her set it on the table. Then he turned and walked out of the room.
It was not just the shock of the fire that kept Suzie quiet, it was Jeff. She felt like the fire was punishment. Her house had burned while she was ravishing her boyfriend’s brother. It was quite fitting. Thinking about the previous night with Jeff, she started to warm up. Her mind was all over the place but it always came back to Jeff, preferably naked.
At that thought, Jeff walked back into the room carrying two plates. He set one down in front of her. It smelled delicious.