TEAGAN MARON.
There’s a moment when a smidge of fear flickers. The chase of being with him, and getting to the point beyond almost, is something that she has minded, but it made the wait all-more blissful. However, it’s the fear that they both have gotten to this place where they have begun to write symphonies against each other’s petals that he got a dose of the healing medicine that it will cause him to pull away. Not out of fear, but because he got a taste and thought it was enough. These thoughts are beginning to circulate in her mind, finding their way to her chest as it’s a combination of her heart’s abnormal beating due to the emotions and anxiety interlaced at once.
But, the auburn-tressed woman tells herself not to think about it. Not to plan further into the fear even though past experiences harmed her and want to etch through. John has been a constant in her life ─ a few moments here and there slipping through them not talking ─ but he’s proven millions to her in the time of their reunion. His undying loyalty. The adjustment of his schedule to be with her. His head lying beside her at the end of the evening and the first sight she sees when she wakes up. He helps her envision the dim-light empty lot they currently find themselves in as it makes her heart yearns further for him. In a way of forever. In ways that may be selfish, Teagan is ready to be selfish for once in her life because this man is everything she has ever wanted in a lover. A love that came without warning ─ starry eyes that sparkle up even on her darkest nights.
The lack of illumination upon her features since Sutton’s loss is slowly but surely returning to the surface as her head begins to get screwed on tight again. His comment about his years of knowing her and the lack of cursing on her behalf is accurate as a chuckle escapes. Maybe that’s what makes this moment even more powerful. He hadn’t expected to hear those words, let alone ever, but it proves the kiss’s bliss empowers her and brings out a side that’s rare and comes out when emotions are powerful. “It doesn’t happen often, but when I’m on cloud nine. I want to reassure you that… this is everything. Everything I’ve been waiting for and it’s perfect,” it comes out in a gentle whisper as if someone else was listening into their conversation as she lets him know she doesn’t regret right now or the kiss from a couple of days ago. If anything, her desires for more without coming on too strong.
Chartreuse hues flicker over his face as she studies him like her favorite medical journal, beam widening further, hearing that he’s ready to go home. They jumped numerous steps in their relationship lately, but there’s no one else she would want to break the rules for other than John. So, with a glance over as she wonders how he’s real and how he chose her of everyone, feeling the light continues to grow within her. Teagan’s something to someone ─ even when her mother tried to belittle her and told her no one would ever find solace in her. There’s someone who wants her. And it’s then, the last flicker of her thoughts, the short trip to the motorcycle comes from her behalf as her hand found his own, tugging him along to allow the evening to consume them.
Considering how compact their Southern town happens to be, the trip from the bare community garden to her home takes less than ten minutes. The grip of her arms around his waist cling on for dear life ─ just like she did the short distance from the hospital to the community garden. However, she wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a symbol of how much she needs him and how, after years of them being this story of almosts, the neurosurgeon is finally granting him access to see all of her ─ even the moments when clouds loom over her head and make it difficult to function. It’s going to be scary, but she doesn’t think she’s going to run.
As they pull up to the gunmetal gray, two-story home in the quiet, family-friendly neighbor, the light beaming from the living room comes on promptly at five-thirty for Trixie. The woman knows the growing dalmatian will be thrilled and jumping at the sight of someone coming home, especially John, showing the dog has taken an immense amount of liking of the male since his visits have become constant. Her arms untwine themselves from his waist before getting off the motorcycle and standing a near distance to John. The houses nearby remain light, and the reverberation of crickets signaling harmony tonight.
But, there’s something in his expression as the cell-phone illuminates.Suddenly, there’s the ping of fear glazing over her as Teagan’s hand rests upon his clothed shoulder, giving him the same touch of warmth and reassurance as earlier post kiss. Could something that big have happened on their way home? “Is everything okay?”
The air is calm but thick with potential. John feels as though he’s finally shed his summer skin and inched into something more comfortable, something that’s been out of reach for years and years. He rides and basks in the feeling of Teagan’s arms around his broad waist. He passes homes with the lights down, homes with old women on the front porch drinking tea and taking in the early-November evening.
There’s a vibration in his pocket mid-ride, his phone. The sound of wind pushing against them muffles the sound but John can still feel it moving against his thigh. For a moment, he’s stunned, nervous he was going to pluck his phone from his pocket to another death. Another casualty. He has to swallow hard to keep a steady grip on his emotions, moving through Olympus streets and various neighborhoods to get to Teagan’s front door.
Once they arrive, John doesn’t spend much time before he reaches a hand into his pocket. One leg moves up and around his bike, standing with his back to Teagan now. He doesn’t recognize the number that’s just called which alone makes him paranoid. So much so that he thinks to call Seth first, or maybe even Andy. Just to be sure. The pads of his fingers hover over his phone, thinking to delete the number entirely before it calls again, his cellphone buzzing in his hands.
With evident nervousness, he picks up, pressing the device to his ear, “Hello?” In a way, John already knows. Something inside him would always know. Everything about that makes him feel sick, from the audacity and to the cliche nature of the entire scenario.
“Oh, John, honey, you really need to pick up the damn phone when somebody calls.” Jennifer Dalton spews on the other end, most likely holding her phone to her ear by her skinny shoulder. Her manicured fingers were probably tapping at a wine glass filled to the brim while her too-young boyfriend showered in the other room.
With the phone pressed to his ear, he turns to Teagan, who has since rested a hand on his clothed shoulder. He hadn’t even noticed, the sense of shock pooling through him a tad too paralyzing. He hadn’t spoken to his mother in a few years. The last time he spoke was on some holiday he couldn’t remember. Probably Christmas where she called to give her good tidings before hanging up by mistake. The calls never lasted long. Five minutes, tops. To think she was calling on a random day makes John wonder if there was a holiday he skipped by mistake.
“Guess what! I’m in Olympus. What’s your address? God, this town is atrocious, John, I’m a little disappointed. Like, you drive through the wonderful New Orleans and end up here? Christ Almighty...” With that, John hangs up on impulse and regrets it instantly after doing so. “Shit,” John says under his breath, staring down at the now dark screen of his cellphone.
Green eyes finally look to Teagan who’s grown more concerned over the last couple seconds. “That was my mother,” The man says reluctantly, “She’s in town.”