Love Unexpected

Chapter 5: Sophia

the moment we got on the road I shot Eddy a text letting him know we'll get to him in fifteen minutes. we lived in squirrel hill which was not far from Oakland, the home of the university of Pittsburgh. Alex and I were both U.Pitt Alumni's so when Eddy told us where he was staying at we knew exactly where it was so there was no need for a GPS, thus onward we went. the closer we got to where Eddy said he was waiting the more impatient I got, tapping my foot against the floorboard and biting at my nails until i saw him standing there, leaning against a street lamp post. My hand dropped and I smiled looking at him tapping away at his phone oblivious to the rest of the world like the gen Zer he was. we stopped at the red light and Alex must have noticed him too because he honked the horn, Eddy looked up from his phone his gaze zeroing onto our car and his mouth stretched into a beautiful dimpled smile. Damn he was a sight to behold, he was wearing one of those black muscle shirts that hugged the biceps and pecs but were kind of loose further down. the shirt wasn't obnoxiously tight, but he did have well defined muscle so they did sort of pop out in the shirt, He was tall, handsome, charming and in possession of a certain magnetism that was going to make some young boy or girl out there fall head over heel for him someday. when the light finally turned green the bus that had stopped to pick up some passengers mistook Alex honk for a permission to cut in and did just that while another car went on to block the parking spot close to Eddy, so we were forced to drive up the block to find somewhere to park. the moment the car stopped I jumped out, we met in the middle because me running and Eddy's walk at a fast clip ate up the same distance apparently. I jumped up in his arms and he twirled me around while I wrapped my legs around his waist.

-I'm happy to see you too princess. he said kissing my forehead and then both my cheeks, the way French people greet each other on TV. We stopped spinning about, and walked toward the car with me still attached to his body. I liked that he kept his hands around my waist and didn't take liberties with my body just because my dumb brain decided it would be a fun idea to climb the man like a jungle gym. I had those WTF moment sometime when I got comfortable around a person, Alex took it all in a stride, but I knew most people didn't. Pavel one of Alex's brothers was one of those people. He used to have those long Moses from the bible beard. and one Christmas my stupid brain was like " do you know what would be fun, if we braided that beard and sparked it up with some tinsel!" I did..., so now Pavel still held a grudge and the beard got shaved off much to his wife's happiness.

-Oh damn! Alex said when he reached us, he'd also gotten out of the car at a normal people gate, I guess he might have suspected I would do something like this by the way I jumped out of the car. I'm so sorry, I'll get her off you! he said with his hands on my shoulder.

-Alex. Eddy said curling his hand around Alex's wrist. do you want to get her off me because seeing her on me like this bothers you or do you think it bothers me

-Because I think you might not like it? he asked

-Don't ask me Alex, tell me, there is no wrong answer here, she is your wife.

-I don't have a problem with any of this.

-you'll tell me if you start to mind anything I do?

-okay

-thank you, boundaries, normal social norms and I are somewhat of very distant acquaintances, at best. Eddy smiled letting go of his hand to grab my husband's face like he did yesterday and proceeded to kiss both his cheeks like he did me. I watch as a slight blush spread through Alex's cheek, before Eddy threw his arm around Alex's shoulders and started to walk us back toward the car. how about you princess, will you tell me if things get too weird for you?

-Weirder than me jumping you?

-Feel free to do that anytime you feel like it, I quite enjoy this! we got to the car and he opened the front door after Alex unlocked the car. your carriage awaits my lady! he helped me to my feet by grabbing hold of my waist.

-why thank you my good sir! I got in the car and he closed the door behind me, he got in the back seat and we waited a bit for Alex to maneuver around the moving vehicles to his seat

- where are we off to first? Eddy asked

-I'm not sure but I think we'll probably start with the Duquesne incline, its the only place with a closing time for the lift. right? I asked Alex who'd made it in the car.

-yeah, we're starting with the incline first. the lift closes in three hours Alex buckled himself in and merged into the traffic. We were stopped at a red light on Craft avenue right before we had to merge into the highway, and the car had been pretty quiet when Eddy gasped.

-I can't believe I forgot! he said

-What did you forget?

-to check out Alex behind of course!

- Ah damn it! Alex groaned banging his head against the steering wheel.

-I expressly wore shoes with laces just for that reason, then you jumped on me and I totally forgot! he said accusingly narrowing his eyes at me

-well, should I apologize for my greatness?

- Never that! just help me rectify that slight, I'm sure Alex must feel left out

-I do not! Alex said merging into East Liberty bridge.

-That's just bravado talking, Don't worry Eddy I shall help you make things right the minute we get to the incline.

-you're as generous as you are beautiful Sophia. Eddy smirked

-I am! I concurred. Plus look at him he went through all the trouble of shimmying into those skin tight jeans the least we should do is admire the result.

-I will veer off this road and drive us off this bridge if the two of you don't stop it right now!

- Fine there's no need to choose violence, we'll stop! Eddy threw me an impish smile and added. it's such a shame though your cheeks get stained with the most lovely shade red when we talk about you bum.

-Damn it! let me move to the far right lane right now and the next person who mention my bum can blame themselves and question their life choices in the afterlife! he followed through with his threat and moved the car to the lane closest to the edge of the long bridge we were on. Bridges were one of Pittsburgh most noticeable features, there were a lot of them and quite a few that were so long you'd forget you were on a bridge. I didn't think for one second that he was capable of sending the car careening into the empty, not with me in the car and the children we did have. Plus I was also a Pittsburgh native, I knew he needed to be in this lane so we could go up the hill, which is were the incline and lift were. but I let him have his win anyways, he was driving and there was no need to get him riled up to distraction. Sure enough he took the exit and we went up to the very top of the tall hill to where the lift were.

We'd paid for the ticket online, the website had provided a picture of the small stone houselike structure where the lift were located, so we had no trouble finding the place. Even as a Pittsburgh native I've never used the lift, I've been to the Duquesne incline plenty though, it was a prime prom pictures spot, even in my time. I'd pointed out the building to Eddy while Alex was parking the car, we were lucky enough to find a parking spot very close by. We walk the short distance to the building with Alex trailing behind us for obvious reason but both Eddy and I didn't comment on it. Eddy held the front door open for me and I got in, when he waited for Alex to also get in and the later refused, and demanded Eddy go in first. Eddy just smiled without saying anything and came in. I drew Eddy toward the line since there were some other people also waiting for the lift down, although it wasn't packed so full that hoping to have the train to ourselves would be an impossibility. Alex went to print out our tickets while making sure to walk in way that never exposed his backside to our view.

-I think we've scared him for life! Eddy laughed

-you're right, just look at him walk around like he's protecting his family jewels!

- Which is kind if true! Eddy snorted

-oh you nasty! I laughed smacking his arm

-Maybe we stop with the butt jokes for a bit? or he's bound to get even more self conscious.

-yeah, agreed. wait... in the car you said Alex would feel left out!

-I did! he smirked focusing all his attention on me. Eddy was leaning against the steel queue definer whatchamacallit that were bolted to the ground. he pulled me between his legs and leaned down to close the gap between our faces. Right this instant I was thankful for the pandemic because even if we were at the back of the line the people in front were far enough away that I didn't fear them overhearing us.

-When did you stare at my bum?

-You asked that question wrong princess, you mean to ask when didn't I stare at you bum! He laughed at my gasp, but still he went on. I'll admit I didn't get a clear enough view of the beauty that is your bum until today, not for lack of trying if I may say so myself, but it wasn't until you got in the car today that I had a clear view.

I was completely at loss of word things, gosh even my though didn't make sense. I did not expect that level of undisguised honesty, Alex would have never! once during our third date I caught him staring at my breast and he averted his gaze quickly, and apologized even. it'd made me laugh since I had worn that dress for the sole purpose of drawing his gaze to my bountiful bosom as they would say in the olden times. But this right now, the fact that he was looking at me like he wanted to swallow me whole and we stood so close to each other that our breaths mingled together, I couldn't come up with something witty or sassy to say. Sassy and witty was sort of my brand, but I was drawing a complete blank. That's how Alex found us, he asked what we were talking about making me jump out of my skin in surprise and I went "huh?" like a dumbass. But Eddy, that devil, didn't suffer the same affliction as me.

-I told your wife where and where I feasted on the view of her magnificent bum today. Eddy responded calmly like he was saying normal human things, and my husband did the darndest of things.

-aah! he sigh. better you than me, oh look! he added sidling up with Eddy. She's blushing too!

-She is? I can't see it, how do you see it?

-she's darker and wearing make up so you can't really see it on her face but look at her neck he said pointing at my neck the traitor!

- Ouh! I see it too! Eddy smiled staring at my neck, I slapped my hands around my neck to hide it from their eyes. I stared at them in disgust, leaning against the stanchions side by side, gosh I wish it caved under their weight and they fell on their stupid smiling faces!

-et tu Brute? I can't believe you would do this to me Alex!

- Why not? you had no problem with it when it was my turn back there!

-That's fair. I agreed. You got the tickets okay?

- yeah, do you guys want to get in with the people in front or wait for the next one? Alex asked.

- I say we wait for the next one. Eddy?

-Lets wait for the next one.