Erik
When I make it to the front of the café Marco watches me sit at one of the vacant tables as I wait for Harley.I don’t know what it is about this particular Marco but he’s suspicious of me. The other one accepted me almost immediately, but this one’s been giving me funny looks all morning. He gives me the impression I’m invading his turf. It was his hand on Harley’s waist in that photo I saw this morning. Maybe they have a romantic history?Harley comes from the kitchen carrying a bag of coffee beans. When Marco sees her, he goes to take the bag from her and starts talking to her in rapid Italian. It irks me to see how comfortable she is with him. She laughs and throws back some banter his way.I know I’m not the most approachable looking person. It’s not just my height, I have this permanent glare fixed to my face that I can’t seem to shake. Not that I want to. It’s not up to me to have to change the way my face looks just so other peoplHarley That suit, that fucking suit. I swear a well-cut suit does to me what lingerie does to men. John sees me in the kitchen, strides through the café and plants his lips onto mine ignoring everything and everyone around us. “Hey beautiful.” “John, what are you doing here?” John hands me a rose and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in. “It’s finally over, all the bullshit, all the long hours. I got the promotion. I was hoping you’d join me in a little celebration.” I’ve known John for about amonth now, but we’ve only had a handful of dates. Since a new position was made available at his firm, he’s been working his ass off to get it. I’m not sure where this is heading, and I’m not sure where I want it to go, but I start to feel a small knot form in my stomach. Something’s not right. This is wrong. He’s wrong. I practically have to force the words out. “Oh wow, that’s great. Sure, where do you want to go?”
Erik I don’t understand the feeling that consumes me when I watched her get into that car. I needed to hit something. Repetitively. Preferably that John guy. Boxing has always been my release. Training and sparring are okay, but I only feel sated after a real match. In Norway I usually fight once a month, now it feels like my ever-filling cup is spilling over with whatever this torrent of emotion is. I’m sitting in what was Jack’s old room, now my room. It’s simple but stylish. The furniture is all mid-century modern with colorful prints on the wall. I spent most of my afternoon unpacking and organizing my clothes. I’m still not convinced living here is a great idea, but I have the freedom to leave whenever I want, and go back to my life in Oslo. I sit on the bed and take out my phone. There must be a boxing gym somewhere in this city where someone can point me to a match. I find one nearby, Harry’s Gym. No website, just a number and address.
Harley “Your boyfriend is a fool?” Mikayla comes out of the changing room. This is only the second wedding dress she’s tried on and I’m already over it. Thank the coffee Gods for my triple shot Americano and this soft plush sofa. I’d just filled Mikayla in on my date with John and my interaction with the Grumpy Viking afterwards. She steps up on the little platform in front of the giant gilded mirrors and twirls around. “No, you gotta do the eyebrows, like this.” I exaggeratedly furrow my brows, “And the Scandinavian Christian Bale Batman voice like this; your boyfriend is a fool.” Mikayla glances at me in the mirror’s reflection. “Do you like him?” “Meh.” I wiggle my hand in the air, like I could go either way. “Not John, the dishwasher.” “He’s hot, but I don’t really know him. Plus, he always looks like he’s about to strangle a puppy, as in, all the puppies are getting strangled.” I take a sip of my co
Erik Jack shows me his plans for his café. The architect did a decent job. Restaurants and cafés aren’t my specialty, but I strongly suggested one of the walls be removed. After putting a few holes in the walls, we look inside and find it’s a load bearing wall. As I start calculating the beam strength required to hold up the roof from caving in I hear a loud motorbike pull up out front. The female ridder catches my eye. I’d recognize that body anywhere, I see it often enough in my dreams. Harley dismounts her bike and removes her helmet. Christ, she’s going to kill me in that leather get up. I watch her bend over to look at something on her bike. "Fuuuck!” She comes inside clearly unhappy about something. “Hey Jack!” Harley notices me watching her. She stops in her tracks. "I didn’t know you’d be here. Why are you so dirty?” I look at my shirt and realize I’m covered in debris from our little demolition session. “I was help
Harley I stick as much of my body as I can into the freezer. Holy shit, what is this man doing to me? I couldn’t keep my eyes off him and his muscular arms as he rolled my bike all the way to my place. It’s not heavy by any means, I never ride a bike I can’t pick up on my own in case it tips, and I’ve pushed it up that hill more than once, but he doesn’t need to know that. Those arms, dripping with sweat, and when he poured that water on his face, let’s just say he wasn’t the only one getting wet in that moment. I can’t hide in here forever. I grab some lemonades from the fridge and return to the garage to find Erik sitting on the work bench. He thanks me when I hand him the lemonade and I thought I felt Eriks finger linger on my hand a little longer than necessary. I put it down to my imagination playing tricks on me. I feel his gaze on me as I grab a screwdriver and start to remove the old fuel hose from the Ducati. “Mayb
Harley When I arrive at the bar everyone’s already there at our usual spot, all except for John, which I’m a little grateful for. When they finally spot me, everyone raises their glasses and cheer. Ahh, my friends. I catch Erik watching me as I sit. Damn he looks hot. Ripped bleached jeans and a white t shirt stretched across his chest. Wow, he’s braided his hair into one long braid. Modern day Viking right there. “Bitch, you’re late!” Vanessa shouts slamming down a bunch of bills. “This week’s swear jar, three hundred and fifty bucks Harley. It’s a new record.” “Must have been one hell of a week.” Sam mutters into her long island iced tea as she looks from me to Erik. Jack stands up and takes my hand. “Let’s get you drink so you can catch up.” He grabs the wad of cash, and drags me to the bar. When we get there, he puts on his serious face. "Okay, spill.” “Spill what?” “What happened with you
Erik I step out of the pub for some air and mentally reprimand myself for tempting Harley away from John. What the fuck am I doing?! She has a boyfriend. I need to hit something. “Erik?” The blonde girl from earlier looks up at me. I don’t remember her name; I don’t care what her name is. Maybe a night with her might cure me of this Harley obsession. Fuck, I’m an asshole. After today’s incident on the motorcycle, I highly doubt anyone else will placate my appetite. I wanted to take her then and there. Slip my hand down into her, pull her head back and sink my tongue into her mouth. I’m getting hard just thinking about it. I was so broken after Klara’s betrayal I pushed away any woman that came near me. I was going to wait until I found someone worthy. I know Harley was tempted, I felt her want to kiss me just now, but she didn’t, and I respect her for her loyalty. It makes me want her more, and we always want what we can’t have.
Harley Well, this certainly is unexpected occurrence of events. I tried to get in and out of here quickly and quietly, but I guess my ninja skills are rubbish compared to the grumpy Viking. And now I’m on Erik’s bed, watching him search for music to play on his laptop, about to get high as a kite with him. I ogle him in his sleeping attire while he’s distracted. Simple loose pants and a white t-shirt; probably the most casual I’ve seen him. He almost looks like an approachable human being. Except for those giant biceps, goddamn, if this is what architects look like in Norway then I am clearly living in the wrong neck of the woods. I chuckle and he looks over at me somewhat amused. He presses play and the room fills with chill lo-fi beats. “Is this okay?” “Perfect.” Erik comes over and makes himself comfortable on the bed, leaning back on a whole bunch of cushions I’ve never seen before. "What kind of music do you like?” He asks putting a fluff