Days of Darkness

Chapter 57

Absolutely," Teegan answered. She stood up with Wendy, and they said their goodbyes, promising to be back before the concert began. Tom and the band got up and collected their drinks to bring on stage. I waited a moment longer, watching the ladies leave. Both pairs of jeans wove between the tables as they headed toward the door. Teegan was a hair shorter and had a much better figure. From what I could tell, Wendy was sweet. Teegan was sweeter.

"Eyes off the asses," Tom said. Zachary started laughing. I tore my eyes away and headed on stage with my violin case. It certainly was a sexy a*s.

.9 - Teegan

Wendy was exactly what I needed. I was afraid I was going to be sitting alone, twiddling my thumbs during practice. It's not that I wouldn't have. Sitting for that long was going to dent my a*s and with no one to talk to, it may have felt longer than two hours. Wendy seemed practiced with it all and desired my company as well. I liked her sense of strong independence. She didn't ask Tom's leave and Tom didn't question her leaving. I could tell they were a couple, but they weren't glued at the hip. I only just met her and already I admired her.

"I'm glad you came," Wendy said as we left the club. "Tom will start playing, and the world disappears. It's like I don't exist until the music stops."

"It looks like he loves you," I commented. The way his hands moved around her waist and the soft kiss. It had meaning.

"When he's not playing," Wendy said with a chuckle. "Music is his mistress, and she's a demanding bitch." I laughed, surprised she thought me old enough for such language. Usually, adults toned it down in front of me. I was pleased she saw me worthy. "Isn't Caleb the same way?"

"I don't know," I replied, slightly blushing. "I just met him. We're not dating or anything." Wendy laughed as she signaled we were going to take a right at the corner.

"Did you tell him you're not dating?"

"Not in words," I replied. "He knows I'm just here as a friend, to hear him play."

"Well, don't break his heart too hard," Wendy continued as we rounded the corner. "Tom tells me he's a nice boy. If Tom likes him, I like him."

"Were not dating," I repeated, forcing a fake chuckle. "How can I break his heart if we haven't even been on a date?"

"Get some glasses, girl," Wendy said, pulling me close as we walked. "That boy couldn't keep his eyes off you. If he were Superman, you'd have holes in your butt right now." She sighed and released me, "I remember when Tom looked at me that way. I miss the new eyes."

"We're not dating," I said again. I was staring straight ahead trying to remember how Caleb looked at me. There were some out of place smiles, but I didn't remember any undo attention. Wendy laughed again.

"So you like him," Wendy surmised.

"I didn't say that."

"No," Wendy agreed, "nor did you say 'He's not my type' or 'Not in this lifetime.' " She was right. I didn't discount the possibility.

"He's going to MIT," I said, thinking out loud. "Full-ride."

"Damn," Wendy said with surprise, "brains and music. And you must admit, he didn't exactly hit the ugly trees."

"He needs to cut his hair," I said without thinking.

"That's the artist," Wendy said. She chuckled, "If you told him to shave it off, he would."

"He would not!"

"Today he would," Wendy said. "Men loose all judgment when they are in love."

"He's not in love!"

"If you say so," Wendy said, pointing down the block. "I've wanted to look in that antique store there. You mind?"

"No," I replied, "I'm not as smart as he his."

"Let's cross here," Wendy said, seeing that the traffic was clear. "What's that got to do with it?"

"I have no musical talent," I added.

"Like I do," Wendy laughed. "Did I tell you that Tom arrested me once?"

"What?" I asked, "Like a citizens arrest."

"No, no," Wendy continued. "He was a cop a lifetime ago. A bartender got a little fresh with me and - well - let's just say the bartender was claiming assault, and Tom was the cop that showed up." I tried to stifle my laugh and failed. Wendy found it amusing. "It took him two minutes to realize that the asshole deserved the beer in his face, but he threatened to arrest me anyway. He had the same eyes for me that Caleb has for you. I was halfway to the police station before I finally agreed to a date with him."

"That's illegal," I pointed out.

"It was lovely," Wendy said. Her smile was huge. "He wasn't the best looking man. Not the most articulate or even romantic. He simply saw something in me and desired it beyond reason." Wendy looked at me. "Nothing else mattered after that. Three dates later and I wanted him n***d more than anything." I covered my mouth with my hand. Wendy enjoyed shocking me. "Love doesn't have any rules."

"He risked his job for you," I said, enjoying the romance.

"Not really," Wendy corrected me. "He had already put in his notice." She opened the door for me at the antique store. The place smelled of musty wood.

"Still, he risked a lot," I said, trying to preserve the romance.

"Oh, look at that rolltop," Wendy said, pointing at an old desk with a bunch of little nooks. We started walking over. "Tom had some kind of religious experience. An epiphany if you like. I guess I was part of it. He started playing his sax and never looked back."

"You can't put a monitor on this," I said absently, looking at the desk.

"Nope," Wendy said smiling, "this is pre-email furniture." I had to admit it looked kind of cool with all its cubby holes. She ran her hand along the curved edge as if it were silk. "Imagine writing a letter and waiting a week or so for a response."

"Texting is faster," I said.

"Yes," Wendy sighed.

"So," I said, "Tom turned over his life for you." Wendy laughed.

"I think I did most of the turning," Wendy said. "He was on a path of discovery and just knew I would like to ride along. I became the pseudo-manager, and the rest is history. It's a good life, though. We're happy and unlike some musicians, he doesn't stray."

"I like these," I said, pointing out some oval end tables. They were stained dark but had floral inlays that were done in a much lighter wood. I ran my fingers along it and couldn't feel the edges of the inlays.

"Those are nice," Wendy agreed. "They don't make furniture like they used too. It's so utilitarian now."