Finding Faith (8 page)

What happened to her? I decided I needed to find out. Blessed to find her again, one way or another I was going to get Faith back.

I hadn’t made it very far into her place, but from the looks of it she lived alone. Last I knew her sisters were going to move in with her. They were inseparable. I let my relationship with them end because I couldn’t handle seeing Faith every time I looked at Joy. Not only did I lose my first and only love, but I also lost others I considered family.

Faith’s relationship with George piqued my interest. If George and Faith were serious he never did make it known, and Faith sure didn’t say anything while she and I were doing whatever that was we were doing. Working with George for twenty-four hours at a time let me get to know the guy pretty well. So well I knew not to make chili if I wanted a peaceful night.

Come to think of it, nothing jumped out as any male spending much time with Faith. I would have left things everywhere to mark my territory and stake my claim. A pair of boxers under a cushion, a love note about the great sex on a Post-It on the fridge. Another note about how hot she was on the bathroom mirror, or maybe the album I put together of us on that lonely bookcase. Basically, I would leave anything lying around that would make a strange guy uncomfortable. If I knew I could get away with it, I would mark things like a dog and Faith would be the first one.

By the time I set foot into my condo on Michigan Avenue, I was drained. This place was the only luxury I allowed myself to splurge on with the money I had been left. The only reason I had ended up buying something so extravagant was because everything else I looked at was a pit.

I glanced around noticing how much it shouted typical bachelor pad compared to Faith’s small place.

In the dining room, instead of a table, I had a pool table that was centered between a wall of windows and a solid wall that had a dart board on it. One of the corners was taken up with a keg orator for when I hosted sports parties.

I had a media room on the opposite end of the condo. Who has a media room? This guy, that’s who. I wasn’t looking for it but it was part of the layout, so who am I to argue? On the longest wall opposite the door of that room hung an eighty-inch flat-screen with a chocolate microfiber sectional directly in front.

A burst of loneliness hit me knowing she was so close and wasn’t here with me where she should be.

Between taming my hard on and my temper, I couldn’t handle anymore. I dragged my lead-filled legs over to the fridge. Relieved that I still had a supply of beer from when the guys came over I snagged one. Before taking a chug I put the cold bottle against my still very present bulge to see if that would shock it into submission, it didn’t help.

Not wanting to go any further, I collapsed on the bourbon colored leather couch in the living room, staring out at the lake. I felt as if I had just gotten hit head on by a truck. A very attractive truck named Faith.

Tired of shifting around dealing with what was quickly becoming blue balls, I finished the beer while deciding how I should handle the situation.

The thoughts of Faith that kept reeling in my mind, past and present, is what was prolonging my torture. Instead of ignoring it hoping the pain would go away on its own, I decided to take it into my own hands, literally. I toyed with the idea to jerk myself off while I sat here, but with how much pent up desire I had it would be messy, and I did need a shower, so I figured I’d take care of two birds with one stone. Painfully, I pulled myself up, hobbling to the bathroom undoing my pants as I went, wanting to get a head start on feeling better. I wasted no time in rubbing the throbbing cock, imagining my hand was Faith’s wrapped around me. I already felt the relief with each stroke. I couldn’t wait to get in the shower.

By the time I managed to crawl out of bed the next day it was almost noon. I was balancing a bowl of cereal that had marshmallows floating around in it, about to take a bite, when the intercom buzzed.

“Yo, bro, let me in. I got beer,” Luke drawled. He was downstairs ready to watch the Bears game.

This year would be one of the hardest for me in a long time. Faith always spent Thanksgiving with my family. When I had neither, I started my own tradition of football to escape the sorrow even though it wasn’t nearly the same. This year, since Luke didn’t have family close either, we decided to spend Thanksgiving Day doing what I usually did alone, watching football.

Faith wasn’t with me so it still sucked like it did every year. The worst part this time being she was so close yet so far away.

I took a quick look at all the empty beer bottles that were sitting on the counter and thought about tossing them out and then decided who really cared.

I waited in the doorway. When Luke said he had beer that meant he had no free hands, and I didn’t feel like having a permanent hole in my door from his foot.

The elevator opened revealing my friend just like I thought. He had three cases of beer stacked one on top of the other, carrying them with ease. The only part of him that could be seen was the top of his disheveled blonde head and his dark blue eyes peeking over the top box. The man really was a beast.

He was tall and lean, but he had muscle that he kept hidden, it wasn’t about bulk for him.

The most intimidating facet of him, some would say, was his complete tattooed sleeves.

“What the hell, Luke! We’re not having a party.”

“I wanted to make sure we had enough in case anyone else decides to come over.” Luke dropped the cases next to the fridge. When he turned around he saw all the empty bottles sitting next to the sink.

“Looks like you already had a party. Did you forget my invitation?”

“I didn’t have a party,” I grumbled, walking past him and collapsing on the couch. My head flopped backwards in pain. It’s been years since I had a hangover and now I realized how much I didn’t miss them.

“I saw you chasing Faith out of the bar last night. Then not long after Mike and Grace left. George was pissed by the way. It was awesome,” Luke smirked.

“You know Faith?” I managed to pick my head up long enough to look at Luke.

“Yeah, I know Faith.” Luke put the beer he brought away and grabbed the last cold one sitting on the shelf, then he joined me on the couch. “So tell me again how you didn’t have a party if all you guys drank that?” Luke asked.

“I drank that.” I waved a lazy hand in the general direction, keeping my eyes closed. The sun that shone in reminded me of how stupid I had been. Not only was I feeling lousy, but also guilty. The last thing I felt like doing was explaining my past to Luke. The guy was a walking hard on. The only consolation I had to drinking that much was I woke up alone, unlike all the other times.

“There’s at least a case of beer there. I’ve never even seen you drink two in a single hour much less an entire case in a night.” He ran a hand through his messy hair, not making it look any different.

“So how do you know Faith?” A sharp pain shot across my forehead as I said her name. I wanted to get Luke to stop grilling me about the beer. So, like distracting a kitten with some catnip, I waved Luke’s own addictive treat, women.

“We’re friends. I met her at the hospital. Did you get a piece of ass or what? I really want to date her, but she won’t give me the time of day.”

After taking a drink he mumbled behind the bottle, “I knew we shouldn’t have nicknamed you Killer, dammit.”

Luke hopped off the couch and strode over to the balcony doors, peering out into the calm city. “Damn, you’re one lucky bastard. What a view.” He took a long swig of his beer as he surveyed the landscape. “I bet you get to see hundreds of topless girls out on the boats during the summer.” He shook his head and came back to the couch.

“Yeah, lucky bastard, tThat’s me,” I said vacantly, watching him through heavy lids. What I wouldn’t give everyday to be unlucky and have my parents.

On Luke’s way back, he detoured over to a side table picking up the faded brown journal with the crimson bookmark. The bookmark still in the same spot as it had been that night I meant to give it away. He set his beer down in its place and started smacking the journal against his hand, checking the weight of it, flipping it from front to back a few times.

What the hell, man. Put that book down before I tackle you.

He started to flutter the pages between his fingers but hadn’t opened it yet.

Shit!

How would I explain a book of poetry to a horn ball that only wanted to stick his dick in every available hole? I sat watching and waiting.

Unimpressed with the worn book, he set it back down. You get to live another day, I thought.

“Now I know why you have the nickname ALF, you annoying little fuck!” I blindly swung a lazy fist into Luke’s gut. A pounding behind my eyes joined the raging pain.

“Watch the beer, if I spill it I’ll be committing abuse,” Luke whined. After taking a long pull he let out a sigh of contentment. “Ahhhhh. That’s some good shit right there,” he said holding out his bottle in appreciation.

I couldn’t keep my thoughts away from her.

“Do you have a death wish? You can’t date Faith, George would kick your ass,” I said making a weak attempt to shake my head. I felt like a bobble head from the spinning.

“What is she a nurse?” My naughty nurse.

“Do you not pay attention to the ladies when you go to the hospital?” Luke asked. “I’m starting to think we need to revoke your nickname. She’s an X-ray tech, dude. A very fine one I may add. I love to see her bend over when she’s reaching for one of those cassettes they use. I imagine myself standing behind her when she does it.” Luke had his eyes closed as he spoke, thrusting his hips. “I wish she’d take me into that room she likes to go hide in and turn my knobs. Mmmmm,” a dirty smile plastered across his face.

Through gritted teeth I said, “Hey, Alf, not all women are sex objects. Do you need to be talking about her like that? You’re really starting to piss me off.” My fists were clenched on my lap as I tried to hold back the anger that was growing. “And if she has half a brain she’ll know to stay away from you.”

If Luke wasn’t all worked up about her I was going to ask him more, but obviously the man had problems focusing on things other than what was in his pants.

I remembered she finished X-ray school before she left.

“What? What did I say?” Luke asked.

Thinking about her was giving me a woody. “Never mind. I’m gonna go take a shower. Save me some of that beer. I’ll need some hair of the dog when I get back.”

I had to get away from this idiot or I was going to go ape shit on him. Hopefully when I was done and felt better Luke will have found some cheerleader on TV to focus his perversions on or there would be a beating. I didn’t like being reminded that the woman I loved and had known very intimately was suddenly a stranger to me who other men were attempting to claim.

After a very cold shower and a few beers I was starting to feel human and more in control, but my temper was still a slow simmer.

Luke was sprawled out on the couch in the media room with a new beer in one hand and the other digging around in a chip bowl making himself at home.

“Why are we watching this instead of real football again?” I asked irritated. Puppies larger than life were on my flat screen rough housing on a fake football field. I was smashed against the end of the couch glaring.

“Dude, this is a rerun from last year. If I remember right there is a super hot ref. I can’t wait till this year’s is on.”

Luke must have figured out how close he was to eating his beer bottle. He only looked at me from the corner of his eye and asked, “How did you end up drinking all of those by yourself again? Especially if you left with Faith.”

“I didn’t leave with her. I left after her. I wanted to make sure she got home all right. George obviously didn’t care that his girlfriend was leaving alone at night in the city.”

I was purposely dodging Luke’s question about the beer. I avoid talking about my past, especially when part of the reason I had done those things had reappeared giving me a second chance.

After jacking off in the shower the night before I was still tense. All the cold water took care of was the pain in my dick, not my heart. I decided I needed another drink to forget that discomfort. Then that one turned into another and another until I ended up with the lovely collection that Luke kept pestering me about.