Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'Hello girls,' Clive grinned holding up some shopping bags in his hands. 'I have arrived.'

'Clive!' Esme said throwing her arms around him. 'What are you doing here?'

'I thought I'd surprise you girls and make you dinner tonight,' Clive grinned as they walked to the kitchen. 'Where is everybody?'

'I think Verd's in his room,' Ecie replied. 'I'm not sure about Lauren, she's probably out with Ethan.'

'Okey dokey then,' Clive nodded as he set his shopping bags on the counter. 'How have you girls been?'

'Good,' Esme replied. 'Nothing has been happening with me at all. Things are just normal.'

'Ecie?'

'What?'

'What I've found over the past nineteen years that I've known you girls, is that something is always happening with one of you, if not both,' Clive replied. 'Spill the beans.'

'Landon asked me to move in with him,' Ecie replied. 'That's really big, isn't it?'

'That's huge,' Clive said. 'What did you say?'

'I said we'd have to talk about it,' Ecie replied. 'I couldn't speak to him anymore so I hung up on him.'

'Why?'

'When I find things to be too intense, I either run away or I laugh,' Ecie replied. 'I couldn't laugh so I ran. I hung up and I didn't pick up my cell when he tried calling me back eight times.'

'Eight times?'

Ecie nodded.

'Why don't you want to move with him?' Esme asked. 'You guys are perfect for each other.'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied. 'I guess I'm scared.'

Clive nodded. 'If you want my opinion I would say that Landon has gone above and beyond what he should have done,' he said. 'I think you need to stop running and laughing and just be an adult about it. Talk to him; he is your boyfriend and that is part of his job now. You two need to talk about lots of things.'

Ecie nodded. 'That's easier said than done.'

'Ecie, darling,' Clive said looking at her. 'Just think about it.'

'Yeah,' Esme agreed. 'You've got nothing to lose. Landon is so sweet and he's been so great with you. He deserves more than you just hanging up on him without an explanation or anything. Talk to him and tell him the truth.'

'See,' Clive smiled. 'Even Es agrees with me.'

'Of course I do,' Esme grinned at him. 'What are you going to make us tonight?'

'How many of us will be eating?'

'Five,' Esme replied. 'I'm sure Lauren'll eat when she gets back.'

'Okay,' Clive nodded. 'I'm going to make Sicilian roast stuffed eggplant.'

'That sounds interesting,' Ecie replied. 'Where did you come up with that?'

'I have to be honest,' Clive replied emptying the bags. 'I stole this from Rachael Ray. Man, I love that woman.'

'Pity she's married eh,' Ecie and Esme laughed. 'If only she were single.'

Clive laughed. 'She's an incredible woman.'

'Do you still watch her show?' Esme giggled.

'It's my guilty pleasure,' Clive grinned as he turned on the oven. 'You know, her recipes are so easy to follow and all her food is so accessible. You should go onto her website later.'

'Can you remember when we all used to watch her show together?' Ecie laughed. 'Those were some good mornings.'

'Oh yeah,' Esme nodded. 'I love reruns.'

'Like I said,' Clive grinned. 'She's an incredible woman.'

'What is this?' Lauren asked lying on Verde's bedroom floor. 'This sounds cool.'

'It's The Trays,' Verde replied. 'It's not the best thing in my collection.'

'You really like your music,' Lauren smiled. She sat up and went over to the CD player. 'So what else do you have here? I feel like I've never been in here.'

'You've been in here once,' Verde said watching Lauren as she traced her index finger along the spine of his CD's. 'But you weren't exactly admiring the décor.'

Lauren chuckled as she pulled out a CD and read the back before returning it back to its place.

'Are you looking for anything particular?'

'Not really,' Lauren replied. 'Do you have anything you'd like to listen to?'

Verde got up from his bed and stood behind Lauren. He breathed on her shoulder and kissed her neck. He wrapped his arms around the front of Lauren's body for a moment as he kissed her shoulder then stretched them to pull out another CD.

'Is that one any good?'

'I think you'll like it,' Verde smiled. 'This band is called Apple. They're cool.'

'I'm sure they are,' Lauren smiled moving to the side as Verde inserted the CD. She went over to his desk and looked at her phone. 'Hmmm.'

'What is it?' Verde asked looking at Lauren.

'Nothing,' Lauren replied as she quickly typed a message. 'It's just Esme asking what time I'll be home. Clive's here and he's making dinner.'

Verde laughed. 'You are home.'

'I know,' Lauren replied. 'But perhaps it's not the best idea to tell them where I am.'

'Why not?'

Lauren laughed and rolled her eyes.

Verde laughed and sat back on his bed while Lauren picked up the CD and lay down on the floor reading it.

'So what do you think about it?'

'Honestly?'

'Yeah,' Verde said leaning forward and looking at her. 'Do you like it?'

'It's crap,' Lauren laughed. 'What are some of these songs called. They sound like car parts.'

'Oh come on,' Verde laughed. 'These guys are like the best thing about the eighties. Don't diss.'

Lauren shrugged, laughing. 'I'll keep it to myself.'

'Fine then,' Verde laughed getting off the bed and standing over Lauren. 'If you're going to disrespect you can't read the CD.'

'I'm not finished...'

Verde bent down over her and tried snatching the CD from her hands. Lauren held on tight as she laughed.

Verde breathed on Lauren and kissed her on the lips. Lauren raised her upper body a little and kissed Verde back. He pressed her against the floor and ran his hands through her hair. She held his face with both her hands as Verde's hands trailed down her body.

Lauren unbuttoned the top of Verde's chino pants then unzipped them and pulled them down. Verde lifted Lauren's dress and pulled down her Carine Gilson knickers.

Verde kissed Lauren passionately and she bit his bottom lip softly as he gradually pushed harder and harder. Lauren looked at his chest and bit her bottom lip. Verde raised Lauren's chin with his hand and kissed her on the lips holding her face and smiling.