Coffee in Common (37 page)

SUNDAY, May 16

7:10 AM

Paul was making love to Jillian on her sofa. Her lips pressed hungrily against his while his hands roamed to places he'd previously only imagined. He moaned when she touched him and again when his fingers found her furry softness. Through all of it, their lips never parted. Long, luscious minutes passed as they each grew hotter and hotter. Still, their lips remained locked until, unable to stand it any longer, Paul tried to break the kiss so he could undress her and consummate their passion, but found he could not. Their lips seemed to be glued together. He strained to pull away, to wrench his lips from hers and…

His eyes opened. He blinked a few times, still able to feel her lips against his own. Then he realized the ceiling didn't look right. And those weren't lips touching his.

"Good morning, sweetie."

He turned to find Jillian sitting on the coffee table, a sweet, loving grin lighting her face.

"Have a nice snooze?"

"Good morning. What time is it?"

"A little after seven. I've been up for an hour, but you looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake you. Plus, I figured you needed the sleep."

"What time did I nod off?"

"I'm not sure. I noticed about 10:30 when I paused the movie to go pee. Do you even remember what we were watching?"

Paul sheepishly shook his head.

"Groundhog Day. You picked it out. Didn't you get any sleep at all yesterday morning?"

"Not really. We dropped you off about, what, six-thirty? Then Gary and I sat in the car comparing notes for awhile. And then Steve called as I got home. Marcus will be coming for a visit next month and my parents are planning a cookout. Your cousin's wedding is the thirteenth, right?"

Jillian nodded.

"Good, because the cookout is the twelfth. Will that be a problem for you?"

"Shouldn't be, now that you thought to mention it to me."

Her reproving glare made him laugh.

"Hey, I found out yesterday, I told you today. What's wrong with that? Besides, I was obviously out of my mind with exhaustion. And by the way, did you kiss me or something right before I woke up?"

"I was sort of lightly rubbing your lips with my fingertip. I wanted to see if it would get you talking in your sleep. Why?"

"How long were you doing it?"

"About ten or fifteen seconds."

"Well it made me have the most incredible dream."

His detailed description caused her to glow with a combination of pleasure and embarrassment.

"Let me run in the bathroom and then you can jump in the shower. When you're dressed, we can walk over to my place so I can shower and change. Then we can get some breakfast. How's that sound?"

"If I wasn't so hungry it would sound great. How about you take care of business, then go home and get ready while I get ready here. Then I'll walk over and meet you. That'll save at least thirty minutes."

An hour later they stepped out of a taxi and into Coffey's Coffee. "Oh my lord! What is that incredible aroma? I've never smelled that in here before." She took a second deep breath.

"That's Gil's Sunday Strudel. He must have just taken a batch from the oven. Go grab a table and I'll get us some."

A few minutes later, Paul placed on the table two cups of coffee, two plastic forks, napkins, and two paper plates with large, thick squares of strudel that looked as fabulous as they smelled.

Jillian grabbed a fork and tried a bite. "Oh! That is
sooo
good! It's almost as good as the Zuccotto! What's in it?" She hacked off another piece without waiting for the answer.

"Apples, raisins, apricots, plums, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and I'm not sure what else. It's Gil's secret recipe. I guess it takes a while to make because he only sells it on Sunday. Hence the name, Sunday Strudel."

"Oh Paul, we have to come here every Sunday, Only we'll have to jog both ways to burn off the calories. But it'll be worth it."

Their table by the window afforded them a nice view of the mostly empty street. Jillian had never before been in the shop on a Sunday and marveled at how different it felt from the weekdays when there were invariably lines and noise inside that rivaled the crowds and cacophony outside. They chatted between bites and sips, talking about nothing in particular and having a wonderful time of it. What they said and what they did wasn't really important. They were just happy to be together and it showed.

Jillian was laughing at one of Paul's terrible double entendres when she turned her head and glanced out the window. Her laugh died as the forkful of strudel slipped from her hand.

Paul was cutting another slice of his own strudel when her fork hit the table. His head snapped up and he could see her face had drained of all color. "Are you okay, Jilli? You look like you've seen…"

"A ghost," she said, completing his cliché.

Did I just see a ghost? It was only a glimpse from the side as he turned away. It couldn't be. It had to be someone who resembled him. Right. It can't be him, not now. Not after all this time. Not when Paul and I…

"Are you sure you're okay? Who did you think you saw?"

Oh, no. Look at his face. He's so worried. But I can't get into this now. It's too soon. But I have to tell him something.

"I thought I saw someone I used to know when I was in college. Someone…someone who hurt me a lot. But it couldn't be him."

She reached across the table for one of his hands.

"It was a very painful experience, Paul, and someday soon I promise I'll tell you about it, but right now I can't. I'm sorry, but it's just…"

"Hey, don't worry about it. You'll tell me when you're ready. Let's forget about it and enjoy the day."

She forced a smile.

"Yes. Let's enjoy the day."

And she did her best. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't drive the ghost from her mind.

11:17 PM

Paul lay in bed replaying his first full day with Jillian.

We had so much fun today. But underneath all the jokes and smiles and laughs something was bothering her. Ever since she thought she saw that guy outside Coffey's. I wonder who he was…what he did. Cripes, I hope he didn't beat her up or something. If he did I'll…

He grunted.

…I'll what? Hunt him down? Hurt him back. Why not? If she asked me to, sure. But I don't think it was physical. She didn't look scared this morning, just, I don't know, flustered…or troubled.

He shrugged.

Whatever he did, it's clear the pain is still haunting her.

He sighed.

I wonder if I should be worried.

MONDAY, MAY 17

12:50 PM

Lisa, Hector, and his assistant, Nadia, slid into a booth at Papa Gino's. The three were taking a late lunch after a morning meeting had run long.

The pizza shop was crowded when they sat down, but soon began to empty as people headed back to work. By the time their food arrived, only a few tables and booths remained occupied.

Sometimes, Lisa enjoyed the hustle and bustle of a busy place, but other times, like today, she was grateful when the noise subsided enough to hear without straining and be heard without having to yell.

As they waited for the pizza to cool enough to eat, Hector told the girls about his latest argument with Frank.

"It's like he doesn't even hear me sometimes. He wants to know what's bothering me but then he doesn't pay attention when I tell him."

Nadia was fascinated but Lisa had heard it all before. Hector was a good friend, but his troubles with Frank seemed to be never-ending. As she pulled a slice from the tray to start eating, she found herself half-listening to Hector and half to some of the conversations at tables close to theirs. Eavesdropping was one of her guilty pleasures. Often, she would take lunch alone so she could sit and listen to the conversations around her.

Today, the only people within earshot were two college students, sitting two tables to the left and the four guys in the booth directly behind her. The students seemed to be discussing classes but it sounded like the four guys were in full bragging mode.

There was deep voice number one, who had just finished telling his friends about the funny noises some girl named Susan made in bed. They all laughed as high voice guy started imitating the noises. Soon, deep voice number two and raspy voice joined in. If she hadn't seen they were actual grown men when she sat down earlier, she'd have thought they were a bunch of sixteen-year-olds.

Their conversation continued in that vein for the ten minutes it took Lisa to consume two slices of pizza. Then it took an unexpected turn.

"Hey Mike," the higher voice said, "what was the name of that Indian girl you were trying to nail a few months ago?"

"You mean virgin girl?" the second deep voice answered. "Her name was Priya. Why?"

"You know Brian over in networking?"

"Is he the geeky guy with the black glasses?"

"Aren't all those computer guys geeks?" asked the first deep voice, which drew laughs from all four.

"No, the other guy."

"Yah, I know who you mean. What about him?"

"I think he's trying his hand with her."

"Oh yeah?"

"A bunch of us were drinking over at DHL last week when she walked in and Brian was like, mesmerized or something. All night he was staring at her. I knew who she was and started to tell him about you and her, but he'd already figured it out and it didn't make any difference to him. When the rest of us left, he stayed. Said he wanted to meet her."

"Why? He's not gonna get laid. She's some kind of religious nut or something."

"I told him that, but I guess he thinks otherwise. He took her out last Friday."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him to ask. But he's a pretty smart guy. And he has that innocent thing going, you know? If anyone can figure out a way into her, it'd be him."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. Can they be talking about the same Brian I met last Wednesday? It has to be.

The shock on her face caused her companions to ask what was wrong, but she just shook her head.

Poor Priya. Should I tell her? I have to tell her. I can't let her be taken in by this bastard.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Guys can be such assholes.

2:10 PM

Rob was working on the layout for chapter three of their current project when his cell phone rang.

Damn, always at the wrong moment.

He had a great idea and didn't want to lose it so he flipped open the phone, saw it was Lisa and said, "Hold on for a minute."

He quickly scribbled his thoughts on a piece of scrap paper then snatched up the phone. "Hi baby. Sorry about that. I had to get an idea down before I forgot it. What's up, and why are you calling on the cell instead of the office phone?"

Tom was out of the office until four, so only Paul and Priya saw Rob's face cloud over as he listened to his girlfriend. They saw him nod, then glance up at both of them. "Hold on a minute," he told Lisa, then to Paul and Priya said, "I'll be back in a few minutes. I think she wants me to talk dirty to her." He forced a grin as he rose and hurried out of the office.

"I wonder what that's about?" Paul asked.

"Obviously something he doesn't want us to hear. But he looked funny. Did he look funny to you?"

"Yah, he did. I hope they're not having problems again."

Priya nodded as they went back to work.

Twenty-five minutes later, she stretched and said, "Where the heck is Rob?"

"Maybe he was serious and they're having phone sex."

She rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "I still can't get over what happened Friday. I mean, what are the odds of Gary and Jessie meeting again like that?"

"It
was
pretty amazing." A thought popped into his head and he started to frown. "You know how I've been saying Jilli and I were fated to meet? Well, I hope it wasn't just to get Jessie and Gary back together again. That would suck if…"

"Don't be stupid. Jessie and Gary are just a happy coincidence. You and Jillian are the real thing." She thought for a second then continued. "Well, maybe Jessie and Gary are the real thing, too, but don't start doubting what you and Jilli have."

Paul grinned. "I know, I know, but…"

At that moment, Rob, Lisa, and Jillian walked into the office. None of them appeared happy.

"Jillian! Lisa! Hi! What are you two doing here?"

"Hey Paul," Rob said before Jillian could answer. "Take a walk with me. It's important."

Paul and Priya were clearly confused by all of this. What were the girls doing here in the middle of the workday? And why was Rob dragging Paul out of the office?

Concern flashed through Priya.

Something horrible's happened. Is it dad, or Raj? But how would Lisa and Jillian know?

She saw Paul cast a bewildered glance over his shoulder as Lisa closed the office door.

Out in the hall, Paul turned to Rob.

"What the hell is going on? Why are the girls here?"

"Remember Brian, the guy who hit on Priya last week?"

"Sure. She went out with him last Friday. Oh shit, he didn't get hurt, or killed?"

"Worse."

Rob related the gist of what Lisa told him.

"That rotten bastard."

"Indeed. But, ahh…"

"But what?"

"But didn't we used to be like that once?"

Paul flinched, realizing Rob was right. Both of them had been exactly like that in high school and college, more interested in the sex than the person with whom they were having it. He'd played girls the way Brian was evidently playing Priya. He'd flattered them, feigned interest in whatever they liked. He'd played the game well, scoring often. Now, as he imagined what Priya must be feeling as Lisa told her the truth about Brian, he felt himself growing warm with embarrassment and humiliation at his past.

Silent tears were rolling down Priya's face.

After verifying that Brian was a network guy and that Priya had dated a guy named Mike a few months ago, Lisa repeated the conversation she overheard at lunch. As she talked, Priya sat quietly, listening attentively. It was only after Lisa was done, and Priya's silence caused the other two to mistake it for depression and start to console her, that the tears had started to flow.

"Don't cry, sweetie," Jillian said, "there's lots of guys way better than him."

Priya smiled through her tears. "I'm not crying because of Brian. Who cares about Brian. I only went out with him once, and believe me, I'm used to guys like him trying…well, you know."

"Then why…?"

"I'm crying because you two were concerned enough for me that you came here in the middle of the day. I've never had friends like that before. Never had friends who worried about me getting hurt. Friends who cared enough to do this kind of thing for me. I'm not crying because I'm sad." She jumped up to hug them. "I'm crying because I'm happy!"

7:15 PM

When she arrived home after work, Priya dropped her jacket and purse on a chair, stood in the middle of her living room, and hugged herself for almost a full minute. Then she threw her arms into the air and let out a long, loud whoop of joy.

I have girlfriends! Real girlfriends who aren't threatened by me, who don't want something from me, who like me as much as I like them!

Another happy shout filled the air as she started to dance around the room.

It's coming together. My life is finally starting to come together. I worried so much about moving here and it was for nothing! It's the best decision I ever made. I have a great job, a really special friend in Paul, and two real girlfriends. All I need now is someone to share it all with. But that'll come. I know it. The fates have smiled on me and all I have to do…

The shrill ring of her telephone interrupted her reverie. A second later, her cell began to play the
Oompa Loompa
song from
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
, her favorite childhood movie.

That might be Brian on the regular phone. No way I'm talking to that jerk. But he doesn't have my cell number.

She turned down the volume on the answering machine and fished the cell out of her purse. She didn't recognize the number and hesitantly said, "Hello?"

"Hi Priya, it's Jillian. I hope you don't mind but I kind of coerced Paul into giving me your cell number."

"Hi. No, that's okay. I'd have given it to you next time I saw you anyway. When I saw a number I didn't know, I was afraid it might be Brian and I didn't want to talk to him."

"And that's why I called. I, uh…well, Paul said to leave you alone, but he's just a guy and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know you said you were okay this afternoon, but I was kind of worrying that you'd get home and start feeling bad about what happened."

"Well thank you." She smiled as she flopped onto her sofa. "But Brian is already a distant memory. I suppose if we'd gone out for a while and I started having feelings for him it might be different, but I've learned not to let myself get hopeful about any guy. It cuts down on the pain when they stop calling."

Jillian didn't respond for a few seconds as the implications sunk in.

"Oh, Priya, I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to shelter your feelings…to, umm, not let yourself hope too much too fast. I was hurt really bad once. And it left scars. And I kind of get the feeling you've had more than your share of hurt, too."

If you only knew how much I'd like to share my past, to tell you about the loneliness, about the guys I let myself care for, about the girls who never let me get close, but it's much too soon to dump all that on a new friend. The last thing I want is to make you think I'm some pathetic, needy drama queen.

"Well, sure, we've all been hurt. That's part of life, I guess. But I like to think about positive things. Like making new friends!"

She hesitated a few seconds before continuing.

"There is one thing, though, that we really need to talk about, but I'd rather do it in person."

"Tonight?"

"Whenever you're free."

"Tonight then. Mind if I come over, or would you rather meet someplace?"

"Oh, you don't have to come all the way out here. I can come to your place. Besides, don't you and Paul have plans for the night?"

"Paul's having drinks with a few of his friends as we speak. He said he'd call me later, but…" She giggled. "…I think it will do him good to miss me a little. There's no reason I have to sit around waiting for him to call. If I'm not home, I can't answer the phone and can't answer the door. And it's perfectly reasonable to put my cell on vibrate and then forget to take it out of my purse. Don't you think?"

Priya laughed. "Jillian! All this time I thought you were so sweet and demure! Well I think you're right. Let him wonder and worry a little."

She arrived about twenty-five minutes later bearing a shopping bag full of gifts.

"What's all this?"

Priya watched Jillian unpack two bottles of wine, a pinot noir and a chardonnay, some cheese and crackers, a bag of carrot sticks, a bag of chips, and two small containers of dip.

"I wasn't sure what you like, so I bought a bunch of stuff and hoped for the best."

"Well thank you! But you didn't have to do that."

"Oh yes I did. If my mother ever found out I went to someone's house for the first time without bringing something, I would never hear the end of it. Years from now, she'd be like, ‘Remember the time Jillian went to visit her friend Priya for the first time…empty handed? I was
so
embarrassed when I found out. Priya must have thought the girl was brought up by wolves. Can you
imagine
! A daughter of mine couldn't even bring a bottle of wine. Lord knows what else she does that I haven't heard about. Her sisters probably know, but they won't tell me. They don't want to upset me. Oh, the years I spent teaching her manners and that's the thanks I get. To find out she couldn't even be bothered to buy a bag of chips. I bet her
friend
never showed up someplace empty handed like that."

Jillian's performance had Priya doubled over with laughter.

"You think I'm exaggerating, don't you?"

Unable to stop laughing, Priya could only nod.

"Well, maybe I am. A little. But only a little. Manners are everything to my mom."

She opened the chardonnay while Priya, still chuckling over the floor show, arranged the carrot sticks and cheese on a tray and brought them into the living room. Then she flipped on the radio, turned down the volume to conversation level, and settled in on the sofa next to her new friend.