By the time Joan was ready to go to work, Linda had calmed considerably and she deliberated her next actions.
“Joan, I think I’m going back. I have to find out why Gavin was acting that way. It was so unlike him; so uncharacteristic. He’s snappy sometimes but nothing like this.” Linda followed her friend out the front door.
Joan turned to Linda. Worry etched her face. “Do you think that’s really the best idea? I mean, you don’t even have a clue as to why he was fighting in the first place and then he wouldn’t tell you anything about it and turned on you. It worries me for you to go back right now, Linda.”
Smiling at Joan, Linda said, “I love you, Joan. I shouldn’t have worried you with all this in the first place, but I was just so upset and I didn’t know who to talk to or what to do or think.”
After a long pause, Joan said, “You have my number and you know where I’ll be if you need me. Do not hesitate. If anything starts to go sideways, you leave. Don’t argue with him. You don’t know that he wasn’t on some drug that turned him violent, Lin. I know he doesn’t do drugs, but you can never be sure when someone just goes off like that. You can’t be sure. And, if that’s what happened, you also don’t know how long it will be in his system causing problems.”
Linda looked away uncomfortably. Several years earlier, Joan’s adult son had come to a weekend cookout at his mother’s house and had become aggressive with one of his cousins. When Joan had tried to calm the argument, her son turned on her, also. In the end, Joan, her nephew, two cousins, and Joan’s son were hospitalized. Sadly, her son never recovered. He’d taken a fatal dose of an illicit drug and he died in hospital.
Joan was rightfully worried. Linda didn’t like to talk about the death of her friend’s son. She liked even less that Joan saw some similarity between her past tragedy and Linda’s present situation.
“I promise if he even looks off-kilter, I’ll just leave and come to the diner. Okay?” Linda tried to smile reassuringly even though she was beginning to wonder if going back was such a keen idea.
Flipping her key ring, Joan studied Linda for a moment and then relented. “Okay. Deal. I’ll call you in an hour. If you don’t answer, I’ll send the sheriff, I swear it, Linda. I have to hear your voice when I call to know you’re really all right.”
“Deal.” She laughed nervously and hugged Joan tight and quick.
Parking by the sidewalk at her home, Linda took several deep breaths to steady her nerves before walking inside to confront Gavin.
Inside, Gavin was stretched out on the sofa, idly flipping through the channels on the television. He looked up at her with no expression. “Not working today?”
Linda’s pulse raced. Gavin’s expressionless face was unnerving. “No. Actually, I thought it might be a good idea to discuss last night, Gavin.” She slid her hands into her pants pockets, too nervous to sit.
“Mmm. You did, huh?” He didn’t make eye contact but his expression clouded over.
“Don’t you?” She sidestepped toward the door. Gavin’s stormy expression scared her a bit.
Sudden as a snake-strike, Gavin sat upright, leaned forward, tossed the remote control to the coffee table, and stood. “No, actually I think it’s a really bad idea. I don’t want to get upset again over it and talking about it will just stress me out.” He took three quick steps and stood before her. His expression cleared. “I think we should go out and get something to eat. Let’s make the best of your unexpected day off, Lin.”
Backing away, Linda said, “Gavin. I don’t know; I’m worried about you.”
Chuckling, he replied, “Well, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me; let’s just go have a decent time. I got into a fight and I had been drinking. That’s all. Stupid on my part; I know that now, but shit happens, you know?” He reached out to stroke her upper arm.
Linda tried to not flinch. She studied his face and his posture. All his body language suggested that he was telling the truth, but Linda had her doubts still. If he had taken drugs, there was no sign of them now. That was a plus. She nodded slightly.
“Great! Is that a yes? Should I go get the car?” Gavin moved past her and toward the door, pausing only to look back at her and confirm that she was in agreement.
“Yes. That would be good. We deserve a good time, eh?” Still feeling as if she were phoning it in from a distance, Linda smiled weakly. Something was off still; something wasn’t right with his actions, but she was fearful to let him know that she sensed it—she didn’t want to argue with him, after all.
As he brought the car around the house, Linda ended her short call with Joan. She had called her friend just to let her know that she and Gavin were fine, no arguments, and that they were going out to eat and have a day together.
Reluctantly, Joan agreed and ended the call.
Chapter 6
(Gavin)
Gavin did his best to shrug off his night in the cross-bar motel and focus on Linda. She was, after all, his girl of choice for the day. For some reason, he felt that his world was beginning to crumble around him; the debris could build up quickly. He wou
ld do all he could to prevent Linda from finding out about the others and to keep any of his women from finding out about each other—that could be disastrous. What was his, was his forever—or at least until he tired of it; the women were his and he hadn’t tired of any of them yet.
Linda would not ask many questions if he focused on keeping her attention away from the subject of last night. A day of wandering through the antique shopping malls just across the state line and eating out at semi-fancy restaurants should do the trick—and that’s exactly what he planned to do.
Linda opened the passenger door and leaned to look in at him. “You need anything from the house?” Her smile was a bit warmer; less fearful and anxious.
Shaking his head in negation, Gavin smiled what he knew was his best, charming smile to disarm her completely. That very smile had gotten him laid by some of the prettiest, sexiest women around. “Not a thing. Only thing I’m missing is your fine derriere in my passenger seat.” He waited until she buckled up and leaned over to loudly whisper, “I can think of a few other places I’d love to see and feel that fine behind, too.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and was rewarded with a flirty giggle.