Deadly Dosage (56 page)

     I
placed the sandwich and a slice of coffee cake before him and returned with the
coffee pot. I refilled his mug and mine. I took my breakfast to the table and
sat down across from him. “Funnies, please.”

     He
passed the comics over to me. “Intellectual, huh?”

     “I
start off with the best part,” I said and proved it by eating the coffee cake
first. “This is great. I like the walnuts and raisins. It’s even better than
the last one she made. Think she’ll give me the recipe?”

     He
turned a page of the front section. “I’ll see what I can do.” He flipped more
pages while he finished his sandwich. “Tastes good, Sunny.”

     “Thanks.”
I chuckled at a few comics and reached for the ads.

     “I’m
not sure I like Brandi bringing all those strange guys over to your apartment.
It’s not safe for you.”

     “Thankfully
I’ve only had a few encounters with her men. Once I woke up when one of them
decided to climb into my bed.”

     Lloyd
put his newspaper down. “When was this?”

     “Before
I met you. I surprised him though when I pulled my Beretta from my nightstand
drawer and aimed it at head. He jumped out quick enough. I’ve learned to keep
my bedroom door locked at night.”

     He
returned to breathing. “Keep that thing loaded.”

     His
cordless phone rang and he went to answer it. “Hello?” He smiled. “Thanks.
Yeah, eating breakfast. You too. Bye.”

     He
sat back down. “That was Nik. She called to say “you’re welcome” and I’m
supposed to say hi to you.”

     “Gotta
love that girl. She sure knows you well.”

     “Too
well. I’m not sure I like her being friends with you. She could turn you
against me.”

     “Disclose
dastardly deeds of the past? I doubt it. She loves you. And, she’s your number
one fan. Very loyal.”

     “I
thought you were my number one fan?” he asked slightly pouting.

     “I’m
almost there,” I said with a wink. “Want anything else before I do the dishes?”

     “No
thanks. And leave the dishes. You’re my guest.” He got up and put the leftover
ham in a container, saving a piece for Rufus.

     I
watched him clean up and feed Rufus.

     “Want
to lounge on the couch?” he asked when he was finished.

     “Sure.”
I grabbed my handbag from the back of the chair and dropped it on the coffee
table.

     He
joined me on the couch and flipped on the television. Rufus jumped onto the arm
of the couch and watched while he channel surfed until finally turning it off.
“Let’s talk for a bit.”

     “Okay.
About what?” I drew my legs up to stay warm and he pulled me closer.

     “Us.
Friday afternoon. I know we made up but I want to clear the air. You need to
know I’m sorry about how I treated you. If I could, I would take back
everything I did to hurt you.”

“I know, Lloyd. That’s why I forgave you. But why did you do
it? I realize Sam egged you on, still that was a poor excuse not to believe in
me. I trust you. I felt we had something really special going on between us.
Then wham! You dump me. Was I wrong about us?”

“No,
you weren’t wrong. I don't know why I let myself react to him.” He paused
for a moment before admitting his feelings. “Yeah, I do. Jealousy. Sam’s a
handsome, successful guy and I hate him being anywhere near you,” he said
honestly. “He saw his opportunity when I showed up at your door. I held all the
cards and like a fool, I played right into his hand. I knew better.”

“There's
no need to be jealous, Lloyd. Not only are you gorgeous, and extremely
talented, jeez, just looking at you makes my pulse quicken. He's got nothing on
you.”

“Thanks
for that,” he said sweetly.

“It’s
true.”

He
kissed me gently and pulled me even closer.

“I
want to be honest with you though. When you left I was devastated. With you
gone, Sam moved in for the kill.”

“You
don’t owe me any explanations,” he said quickly. “I left you feeling
vulnerable. Anything that happened,” he said sadly, “I caused.”  

“Lloyd,
I didn’t sleep with him. I considered it, only because I was hurt, but I made
him leave shortly after you left.”

“Sunny,
I’m glad you didn’t…”

My
cell phone went off in my handbag.

“Hang
on a sec, Lloyd, that might be Autumn. I won’t talk, I’ll just answer so she
knows I’m all right.”

I
pulled my phone out. Sam’s number appeared on the screen. I stared at it
wondering why in the world he was calling.

     “Is it
Autumn?” Lloyd asked kissing my head.

“No.”
I showed him the display.

Lloyd’s
jaw clenched when he read the caller id. He took the phone and hit the talk
button. “Nice attempt at sabotage,” he said angrily. He listened. “I think you
know who this is. Let’s get one thing straight. You try to come between Sunny
and I again and I’ll beat the shit out of you.” He paused again to listen. “No,
that’s a promise, pal. How’s that? Yeah, fuck you too.” He hung up and handed
the phone back.

I
stared at him open mouthed.

“What?”
he asked calmly, smiling innocently.

“My
hero. Nik’s just been bumped down to number two fan. I take it that means I’m
still your girlfriend?”

“You
never stopped being my girlfriend,” he said with assurance.

“Is
that so?” I smiled back at him before letting it fade. “Lloyd, the thought of
you jilting me again scares me. So far our relationship has been an emotional
rollercoaster.”

 “Sunny,
I can't promise I won't get jealous anymore—unless of course you turn into a
disgusting, pork rind eating slob in pink stretch pants. Then Sam can have you
back.”

I
laughed. “Not more of me to love?”

He
shook his head. “No. Point I’m trying to make is that though I can’t help the
jealousy, I can control my reactions. You know, squelch my temper, before
it flares up and I blame you for it.”

     “Will you
trust me?” I asked, hopeful.

     “As much as
any man trusts the woman he adores—within reason.”

     I laughed
again. “Acceptable.” I kissed him. “I love you, Lloyd. I just worry about doing
what’s right for everyone.”

“You
only need to do what's right for you. I won't like it if you foolishly decide
to go back to Sam, but I'll accept whatever makes you happy.”

“I
don't think I'd be so generous if the tables were turned,” I said astonished.

“Good.
Because I'm lying through my teeth,” he laughed.

We
both laughed. The mood turned sensual.

“I'll
miss you while you’re gone. Call me when you get there so I know you arrived
safely.”

“Sure,
I can do that. I'll miss you too. I wish you were coming for the wedding.”

“Do
you?” he asked, running his finger down the side of my cheek.

“Yeah.
Probably best that you declined though. You’d only get jealous of Aggy and me
dancing cheek to cheek.”

He
laughed. “You're right. It wouldn't do to kill the best man.” He hugged me
closely and grew quiet. 

“Something’s
bothering you,” I said, attuned to his feelings.

“Sam.
He's a great manipulator. I don't trust him.”

I
dug into my handbag and pulled out a key. “Look, he gave my apartment key back.
Said it was too tempting to hold on to.” I dropped it into his hand. “I want
you to have it.”

“My
anxiety level just dropped down a notch,” he said relieved.

“Only a notch?” I quipped.

“He may have duplicated it first,”
he replied sourly.

     “Yikes!
I never thought of that.” I reached over and gave him a reassuring hug and
smile and he smiled back. I had no idea what the future held for Lloyd and I,
but I was looking forward to it.