When the doorbell sounded, Selby set the book he was reading on the coffee table and forced himself out of his recliner. His stomach growled as he stood, and he realized he hadn't eaten yet. "I should at least have a bowl of chips," he mumbled to himself as he walked to the door. He realized he hadn't been eating as well as he should since Faith left Monday morning. The night before he had even skipped dinner and didn't realize it until he woke up still in his recliner at two in the morning, book in his lap. He had offered Tracey to keep him company, but she turned him down. "I don't want her to think I jumped at the chance for her to leave so I could play house with you." He wasn't exactly happy about it, but had agreed. What choice did he really have? Three more days, Selby. Life will be back to normal in three days. As he opened the oak door, he wasn't sure he would last three more days.Tracey stood there, holding a bag with steam rising from it. "My guess is you haven't eaten, ye
Morgan walked beside Faith down the hotel corridor. She had checked her phone three times between the restaurant and the hotel, but still no word from Edwin. Could he have forgotten her so soon?"Stop worrying about your boy. Last time I talked to him he was having an emergency at work as well as at home.""At home? He lives alone."Morgan just shrugged. His room was directly across from Faith's, and as they neared it, he smiled at her and said, "I'll be over in a minute. I need to make a quick call."Faith pulled her card key from her purse as she looked at him. "Okay," was all she said. She couldn't deny the heat between her legs at the thought of him in her room, but could she go through with it?Not knowing how long Morgan would be or even what he really wanted, she went ahead and slip into her nightclothes and get ready for bed. After slipping into Selby's Mario pajama pants and an old Dr. Pepper T-shirt, she washed her face and then climbed into bed, flipping on the television as
Selby stared at the clock on the wall. Five o'clock. Usually, he'd already be flipping the OPEN sign to CLOSED and heading for his car. However, with Faith in Tampa his eagerness to go home was simply not there. The house was empty, and he hated it. He hadn't slept well at all because of the abrupt ending to his phone call with Faith. It just seemed off to him, and he wasn't sure what was going on. It wouldn't have surprised him if Edwin had made a special trip to visit her.He sat back down in his swivel chair. Might as well see if there's any nighttime business. He opened up a Terry Goodkind paperback and tried to get lost with the Sword of Truth.He couldn't focus on what he was reading, however, so he tossed the book on the counter and began rearranging his shelves and contemplating adding an online store for his books. He was running through his mental list of acquaintances for anyone who might know web design when the cowbell on his front door gonged. Maybe I'll have a customer,
Faith rose out of bed that morning not knowing what to expect from Morgan. He had finished his dessert, so to speak, after Selby's call, but that was as far as it went. He had acted like it was no big deal and kissed her hand before returning to his own room, his own bed. However, the reaction she received that morning was the last thing she expected—silence. Morgan had been on the phone talking work the entire way to the office, and as soon as they arrived, he had driven off with Kent. They said nothing about the previous night and what had happened.To make matters worse, there had still been no word from Edwin. Three days and not one "Hey, there. How's the trip?" How stupid could she have been? Out of sight, out of mind.C'mon, Faith. It was a game. Why are you acting like a jilted lover? She stopped filling out the equipment release she worked on and just stared at the wall. Why was she behaving like a lovesick puppy? Did she have feelings for Edwin after all? It was just sex, a ga
They ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. Morgan tried to keep the conversation going, but Faith's attention was inward, not outward. She wasn't sure when he stopped talking and began working via his phone again, but when the server cleared the plates away, it surprised her. She didn't even remember eating.Morgan paid for the meal as she gathered her stuff, and the two walked to the elevators. She hugged herself as she rode the elevator up the four floors. She could feel Morgan watching her and felt guilty for her mood, but she couldn't help it. Too much was going through her mind and her heart. Morgan was probably disappointed, hoping for some more impromptu fun after the previous night, but Faith just couldn't bring herself to think about that at the moment. All she could think about was Edwin and Selby, and she wasn't even thinking of them in the right order."Look, if you need to talk, I'm right across the hall," Morgan said as they reached their rooms. "Of course, if you need anyt
Faith slept like shit that night. Throughout the day, her head pounded like it had a high school drumline following her around. She had a war going on inside of her, and she was afraid of which side would win. If Selby hadn't called last night, Faith probably would have ended the game on her own but hearing Cherish's name brought into it just sent her spiraling out of control.The odd thing was that the battle within her was no longer about Selby and Edwin; it was about Edwin and Cherish. If he was sleeping with her sister, did it really matter? This was just a game about sex, not a relationship. Wasn't it? What difference did it make who else Edwin was doing the dirty deed with if it was just sex? After all, it's not as if Faith had an exclusive right to him. That wouldn't be at all fair considering she went home to Selby every night. There was no commitment, no future planned out. Edwin didn't check in with her. That's obvious from how often he's called me since I left Brevard. She d
Selby locked the door to the bookstore and made his way to his car. However, after stowing his briefcase in the passenger seat, he decided he wasn't ready to go home just yet. Three nights walking into an empty house had been bad enough. He wanted to postpone the fourth as long as he could. He glanced over at Joe's Bakery, but decided he really wasn't in the mood for company either. Scanning the downtown, scene he decided clubs were out, as well.Shoving the keys in his pocket, Selby crossed New Haven and decided to see where his feet would lead him. Maybe he just needed to walk.The afternoon—early evening? He never knew which category five o'clock fell into—held a slight breeze that tugged at the small maples that lined the street. Selby walked with his hands in his pockets, watching the people as they browsed the antique shops and specialty stores. Couples walked hand-in-hand as they leisurely strolled the sidewalk. Some sat whispering at small tables outside the cafés that lined th
Edwin stared at his glass as he shrugged. "Cherish has lost her drive and ambition. Work has become a bore to her, which she tries to avoid at all costs now. It wasn't as obvious while Faith was here, because Faith picked up the slack and was eager to do it. She loves to work and throws herself into it."Selby smiled. He could picture Faith working at a feverish pitch. "I've always thought Faith found her identity in her work.""I can see that," Edwin said as he nodded. "However, her sister doesn't, or at least, not anymore. Cherish used to be like Faith, but that ended several months ago. Cherish felt entitled and soon stopped caring as much about work. As Faith underwent her metamorphism and came out of her shell, Cherish grumbled and withdrew even more.""Glen thinks she's jealous." Selby had been staring at the table in front of him when he said it and hadn't even realized he said it out loud until it was too late to retract it."Glen? Cherish's husband? What would she be jealous o